Rules Of A Contract

Chapter 4: The Rules of the Contract

Her POV

I stumbled back, my legs trembling. My heart was pounding so fast I thought it would break. The hallway spun, and I almost fell again. My hands clutched the wall for support.

“Th-thank you,” I whispered to the man who had caught me. His hands were warm, firm, and strong, holding me steady. My small wolf trembled inside me. I didn’t know him, yet I felt safe, calm—like I could breathe again.

He said nothing. Just gave me a quick, small nod, then stepped back. I watched him, unsure why my chest felt strange. My mind was spinning with questions: Who is he? Why did he help me?

Before I could think more, the door to the room slammed open. My body froze.

Théo was there. My golden-eyed Alpha. My heart leapt and then sank. He looked furious. Cold. Angry. Every step he took toward me made the floor feel smaller, the walls closer. My wolf shrank in fear and excitement at the same time.

He grabbed my wrist, strong, firm, and unyielding. I gasped. “Théo! Let go!”

“You couldn’t win me over" he said, voice low and sharp, “and now you want to win my brother?”

I froze. My mind spun. His brother? That man who caught me… was his brother? My heart skipped a beat, fast, wild. My small wolf curled tight in my chest, confused, anxious, and… excited.

“No! That’s not it!” I stammered. “He just… helped me! I almost fell. That’s all!”

Théo’s golden eyes narrowed, and he stepped closer. I could feel his heat even across the short distance. My chest tightened. My small wolf whined quietly, frightened by his sharpness, but also strangely happy to be near him.

He let go of my wrist, but I could feel the tension in the room. It was thick, heavy, impossible to ignore. He watched me, unblinking, silent, his presence pressing down on me like a mountain.

“The contract,” he said finally, voice low and dangerous, almost a growl.

I blinked. My throat felt dry. “The… contract?” I whispered. My voice trembled. My small wolf shivered, unsure what was coming next.

“Yes,” he said, stepping closer. Each word was deliberate, sharp, like claws scraping at my chest. “You need to know the rules. My rules. If you want to stay in this house, if you want to be my mate… you follow them. Exactly.”

I swallowed hard. My hands shook. My wolf shifted nervously, curled tight against my ribs. I thought of last night. Of him. Of how close we had been. My chest warmed at the memory, but my stomach twisted with fear. He was angry now. Untouchable.

“You do not go near my family,” he said firmly, his golden eyes burning into mine. “Not my sister. Not my father. Not my mother. Not even my brother. Especially him.”

My cheeks flamed red. I remembered the man who had caught me. My heart beat faster, and my small wolf twitched. I wanted to hide, to shrink into nothing, but I also felt a strange thrill. I was this close to them, but only because of him.

“No touching. No leaning. No talking unless I allow it,” he continued. His voice was sharp, unyielding, cold. “Don’t think I will like you. Don’t think I will give you my trust. Do not test me.”

I swallowed hard. My small wolf whined softly, but I straightened my back. I had to listen. I had to obey.

“You belong to me,” he said, voice low, almost a growl. “Not anyone else. You are my mate. Mine. You follow my rules, and maybe… just maybe… you get to stay.”

“Yes… Théo,” I whispered. My voice was soft, trembling, but firm enough to show I understood. My small wolf stirred quietly, anxious but hopeful.

Even if the rules were strict. Even if he was cold. Even if he didn’t look at me with warmth or love right now… I was closer to him than ever. My heart ached with longing, but there was also a spark of happiness.

I realized something. Even under these rules, I would see him. Even from afar, I could feel him. Even for a little while, I could be near the Alpha I had dreamed of my entire life.

My small wolf pressed against my ribs, shivering. I wanted to reach out to him. I wanted to fall into his arms. But I couldn’t. Not yet.

I swallowed my fear and nodded slowly. “I understand, Théo. I will follow the rules.”

He studied me, eyes sharp. My chest thumped painfully under his gaze. Then he finally took a step back.

“Good,” he said. His voice was still cold, but there was a weight in it… a warning, a promise, a challenge all at once. “Remember… if you break the rules, there will be consequences.”

I nodded again, my hands trembling. My wolf whined softly, conflicted—scared, proud, excited all at once.

Even if the rules were harsh. Even if he pushed me away. Even if he didn’t smile at me… I was his. And he was mine. A little.

And that was enough… for now.