Chapter 2: The contract

My eyelids fluttered open weakly, my vision swimming as the world around me came into focus. The first thing I saw was a man—no, not just any man. He was the most dangerously handsome man I’d ever laid eyes on.  

He leaned back lazily in a black leather chair, a cigarette dangling between his lips as he exhaled a stream of smoke. His sharp, chiseled features were carved like stone—high cheekbones, a strong jawline, and lips that looked like they were molded for sin. A faint scar ran from his eyebrow down to his cheek, giving him an even more menacing aura. His dark, almost predatory eyes pinned me in place, making my stomach churn with unease.  

He wore a black tailored suit that clung to his broad shoulders and chest, the open collar revealing a hint of tattoos that disappeared beneath the fabric. 

I swallowed hard, feeling my pulse quicken.  

His eyes flicked toward me, locking onto mine as if he could see straight through me and my breath hitched in my throat.  

I wanted to look away, to disappear, but my body wouldn’t move. He rose from the chair with the grace of a panther, his steps measured and deliberate as he crossed the room. The closer he came, the heavier the air grew.  

I tried peeling my eyes away from him, steadying my heart racing rate and suddenly I noticed my surroundings.

 The bed I lay on was soft, covered in black silk sheets that felt too luxurious for someone like me. Everything in the room—from the heavy velvet curtains to the gleaming black marble floors and dark leather furniture—spoke of wealth and power. 

I was in a room and this up mostly didn't seem like a hotel, it felt like a room of a house or something 

Fear slithered down my spine, and I shivered.  

“Look at me.”  His deep commanding voice yanked me back to reality, making me flinch and I quickly obeyed, my body trembling as I forced myself to meet his eyes.  

They were so cold I could feel my heart stop for a second. His eyes trailed down my body and I instinctively tried covering myself up. 

Oh shit! Of all places why will the two fucking bandit kidnap me and bring me here. They fucking left me here all alone to face a hungry looking man that seem like he wanted to eat me for lunch?

“P-please,” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. “Don’t hurt me… I-I’m a virgin. I swear I am! I don’t want my first time to be like this. Please, I’m poor! I have nothing to offer you—”  

He cut me off with a low, amused chuckle, stepping closer until he loomed over me.  

“Oh, but you do.”  

I blinked as he reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a stack of papers. He tossed them onto the bed beside me, and I barely resisted the urge to flinch again.  

My eyes lingered on the document and back to him, just right to see his lips curling into a smirk. “Sign the contract.”  

I scoffed at his order, who the hell does this mother fucker think he was?

“And you expect me to cower like a coward?" 

He let out a low hysterical laugh like a lunatic before turning to me. "Would I be judging? I wanna reply with yes so bad”  

“Yunno arrogant girls are intriguing the most, I love seeing them express the fear they hide behind all this demeanor as I tear them into sheer pieces. The question now is…would you?” 

A cold shiver ran down my spine as I cowered involuntarily. He seemed damn serious. 

“Were you…did you…did you ask them to kidnap me?”  I stuttered before placing the words together.

I bit back a whimper as his gaze bore into mine and almost immediately, he let out a cold laugh as if he were rejoicing seeing me cower in fear.

 “Kidnap? Why would I? In case you haven't noticed yet, I'm actually saving your sorry butt”  

“Saved me?” My voice cracked. “From what?”  

He leaned closer, and I felt his presence like heat pressing into my skin. “From wasting your life chasing stuff you’ll never catch.”  

I swallowed hard, he had no right to judge my life when he knew nothing about how I'd fought to even live. I felt tears prick at my eye-side and instantly blinked them back.

“You don’t know anything about me.”  

His smirk sharpened. “I know everything.” 

“Let's start with your mother being framed for your father's death and banished. She's gone without a trace. And then your mate, just as expected he rejected you and tossed you aside like garbage.”  

My breath hitched. 

“Which brings us down to the last score, your wolf…” He paused, letting the silence crawl between us. “...who’s sleeping so deeply, she might never wake up.”  

Tears pricked my eyes, but I shoved them back just as before. “Why do you care?”  

“Because,” he said, his voice like velvet over steel, “I want something in return.”  

I stared at the folder, already knowing what was inside. “What is it?”  

“A contract.”  

“For what?”  

“To be mine.”  

My brows wriggled up in amusement and disgust.  

“You’re insane.”  

“And you’re out of options.”  He cooed in the exact tone

I shot to my feet. “I’m not doing this!”  

In an instant, he was right in front of me, close enough that my breath hitched again. His fingers brushed my chin, tilting my face up until I had no choice but to see him—really see him. The hunger in his eyes held me right in place.  

“You will,” he murmured. “Because if you don’t, I’ll destroy everything you’re searching for.”  

My knees wobbled. And then, just like a switch flipping; his expression softened, just enough to make me question what I’d seen before.  

“Sign it,” he said, gentler this time, “and I’ll help you find her. I’ll make the mate who hurt you pay.”  

I shivered, trying to wrap my head around why he was so bent on me “Why would you do that?”  

“Because I can.”  

With his constant change in demeanor, it was clear he was nothing but a chameleon and chameleon can be deadly. 

My gaze met him again and he had a smirk plastered on which made dread pool in my stomach. 

His empty threats aren't gonna work for me and I know that, but if I sign this contract, I can find more much faster and I can finally kick off my plan. If it gets to overwhelming, I'd just run away My head kept buzzing with thought as I tucked at my shirt.

“If I sign…” My voice cracked. “Will we…?”  

His eyes darkened, and his smirk returned as he grabbed the document and pen handing it over to me. “You’ll be my girlfriend, Martha.”  

I gulped down finding words to be direct but wouldn't sound so obvious. 

 “That’s not what I meant.” My grip tightened around the pen, using it as some kind of comfort as I scripted my signature on every part of the document.

“Didn’t even read it first?” He arched an eyebrow. “You trust me that much?” 

“Do I need to spell out ‘No’?” I growled and he chuckled 

“So, can I get a response?" I breathe out, nibbling at my shirt again.

His gaze flickered to my lips before dragging lower.  

“You mean sex?” He smirked. “That will be your topmost responsibility.”  

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but fear swallowed it whole. 

I just signed the contract, I was trapped. Completely and utterly trapped. And the worst part?  

He knew it.  

His eyes suddenly shifted—turning a vivid, glowing red. The sight froze me in place, my breath catching as my pulse pounded in my ears.  

Before I could react, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me against his chest. His heat seeped into my skin, setting my nerves on edge.  

He leaned in, his lips brushing against my ear as his voice dipped to a sinful whisper.  

“Call me Raphael,” he whispered, the name rolling off his tongue seductively.  

The sound of it sent a ripple through me, but before I could form a response, his lips closed around my earlobe.  I gasped, my body stiffening at the sudden intimacy before a shudder tore through me, leaving my knees weak.   

“Thank you, mate,” he murmured, his voice low and possessive, “for keeping your virginity.”  

My eyes widened almost bulging out if it socket, Mate?  He was my second chance mate?

 My gaze locked onto his glowing eyes, and I felt it—a sudden, invisible heat that wrapped around both of our wrists, binding us.  

I gasped, staring at the faint marks forming on my skin. A bond.  

The Moon Goddess really has given me another chance—another path just as I begged for but why with a Mafia?

Before I could fully process what was happening, his strong arms wrapped around my waist, pulling me flush against his chest.  

His thumb traced my lips again, slower this time, before he leaned in and captured my mouth in a searing, possessive kiss.  

I stiffened, my mind screaming at me to resist, but my body betrayed me, melting into his touch.  

And just like that, I knew—I wasn’t just signing a contract. I had sold my soul to the devil himself.