Chapter 6: A Contract and Not a Marriage

Amanda's POV

“I don’t understand.” I whispered before I could stop myself, and I hated how desperate my voice sounded. 

I should be used to the sting of rejection, but for some reason this one hit hard.

He cleared his throat, his eyes searching as he looked for the man beside him and then to me, my confusion evident. 

“There’s no reason to be confused.” He said, dragging air into his lungs. “What we are going to have is not a marriage, neither is it the romance that comes from being mated by the moon goddess.” He explained. 

I stayed mute, patiently waiting for him to drive the nail home. “I need heirs, and you’re going to give them to me.” He said, an order not a plea. 

I scoffed, folding my hands beneath my breasts. “Why should I agree to this?” I asked. 

It was both courageous and reckless to question the Alpha King, but at that moment I didn’t care. He could behead me if he wanted.

“You need protection…” he paused, gaining a nod of agreement from the man I was yet to place a title on. “You need to be kept away from that young alpha and the hundreds of guards who are after you.”

“Or do you think he’s going to stop? You are clearly valuable to him.” He pointed out and my eyes fell to the ground. 

I never thought I’d hear the word “valuable” used in the same sentence as me. But he wasn’t wrong, Duncan was after me and going back out there would be handing myself to him on a platter.

I took a deep breath weighing my options and trying to understand the severity of his request. I’d be tied down here forever with no love and the only thing binding us together would be nothing but children. 

Well it was high time I gave up on love….

“You’re right.” I muttered, holding his gaze, my fists tightening at my sides. “You need heirs. I need protection.”

He nodded, relief glistening in his eyes. At least I was wanted for something I could provide and not for who I was.

“So do we have a deal?” He asked. 

I took another deep breath, staring into space and taking the time to think for myself. 

“I have one condition.” I announced, unfazed by the scrutiny of his piercing gaze. 

“I refuse to spend another day in a man’s territory without a mark to my name.” I said, my voice firm. 

I watched him exchange a glance with the other man. “Thor, leave us.” He ordered and the man bobbed his head and walked out the door immediately. 

The king waited until the sound of his footsteps faded before continuing. “You make demands like you’re doing me a favor by agreeing to this. Meanwhile, we both have something to gain.” He said, his tone rising.

I swallowed hard, refusing to back down. “I’ve seen what happens to a woman with no standing, three years I witnessed it and I refuse to go through that again.” 

He sighed, dropping his chin into his palm. “Fine.” He growled. “I’ll have the pack gathered tonight and then I shall mark you before them.”

I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. For the first time in a really long time I felt exonerated. “Then we have a deal, Your Majesty.” I replied. 

After that, I was dismissed and I walked out of the throne room trying my best to recall the path the maid led me through before frantically abandoning me. 

Slowly but surely, I found my way back to the room.

I took my time to finally look at it, it was small and most of the space was taken up by a large wooden bed. 

At the other end of the room was a wooden vanity, and a closet. That was it. But it was still more than what Duncan had ever given me.

I dropped into the bed, letting the exhaustion of the day claim me and soon I drifted off into a much needed sleep. 

I don’t know how much time had passed but I woke up to a soft knock on the door. I sat up, my body aching as I did. “Come in.” I whispered. 

The door opened and the same maid from earlier walked in. “Sorry to disturb you my lady but the king has requested you to introduce yourself to the rest of the pack.” She explained. 

Our deal! 

I threw the covers off and got out of bed immediately. One glance in the mirror told me the loose sundress would have to do, even if it wasn’t exactly first-impression material.

She led me to what I believed was the living room and then out the front door. 

The alpha king stood at the steps and just below it was a crowd of wolves both young and old, ranked and unranked. I joined him while the maid joined the rest of the people. 

“Without wasting any more time.” He announced, clearing his throat. He shifted his gaze to me and I forced a smile trying to shake off the anxiety. “This is my mate, Amanda Patrick from the Moonstone pack.” He announced and murmurs erupted in the air. 

Was there something about my pack that I didn’t know? 

“His mate is from that vile pack?” I heard someone say. 

“How do we accept such a wolf as our Luna?” Another said. 

“Silence before King Ambrose!” Thor called out from within the crowd and they all went quiet immediately but I could still feel the tension in the air. 

The King cleared his throat, grabbing all attention to himself once again. “Before you all, I’d like to mark her as mine….bound my the moon goddess and the one who would bring me heirs.” 

He grabbed my wrist and before I knew it, he sank his teeth into it. But the burn flared at my neck, not where he bit. I knew instantly what it meant.  

I’d been marked… by the Alpha King and our deal had been sealed.