The Agreement

Amber’s POV

Jumping to my feet, I whirled around, making sure I kept my eyeballs glued to my feet. Who was it that found me, and what punishment would I face this time for being caught out here? That was the thought that ran through my mind until I heard the most angelic voice that could ever exist.

“What are you doing out here, Lady, when everyone else is celebrating a successful red moon? Or do you have no intention of finding your mate?” The man said, causing my heart to stir. If his voice had a taste, then it would be vanilla and cinnamon, which complemented his cedarwood scent perfectly.

“I asked you a question, lady. Common courtesy demands that you answer.” His voice was too sweet for my weak heart; still, I could not bring myself to look at his face. I had never heard or smelled anyone so... so glorious in the pack. Was he an outsider? A peek would give me an answer to my questions, but I could not risk it.

An involuntary whimper escaped my throat, my lower lip quivering pathetically. “I’m s-sorry,” I stuttered, throwing myself away from him. “I only came out here for air. Please, don’t punish me.”

“Interesting,” his deep, sweet voice rumbled. “Are you usually punished for going out for air?” Rough fingers came under my chin, pushing my face up until I was looking into a river of grey and blue eyes.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. The man before me was the very definition of the word handsome. His dark hair was slickedback, and it almost gleamed in the moonlight, but his eyes were what held my heart captive until I realized who I was andwhat might happen if I was caught here like this.

“I—I thought I was alone.” I squirmed out of his grip, only stopping when I was a safe distance from him. I had no idea who this man was, but I could feel the power radiating off him, even without my wolf. One hit and I would be six feet under, no shortcuts. As tempting as that thought was, I would rather not die here with a stranger.

“Come forward.” He ordered.

I took a hesitant step forward and kept my eyes to the ground, waiting for the blow that I knew was coming.

“Don’t shy away from me, girl. I am not going to hit you. Your scent... it is different, yet you are a werewolf?”

My brows creased. He did not know me? I was famous around here for my wolfishness. That meant he was an outsider then. I should breathe a sigh of relief, but what if he was worse than my pack members?

I kept my guards up.

“Are you without your wolf?”

I nodded, waiting for the laughter of mockery, which never came. I peeked up at him from below my brows, wondering why he did not laugh or why he did not find my wolfishness weird like the others did.

“How long has this been?” he growled. “How long have you been bound?”

My head snapped up with such force that I was sure I heard my bones crack. “What do you mean, bound?” I queried. Clearly this was his way of mocking me. He was no different from the rest then. “My wolf is not bound. I simply do not have a wolf.”

He nodded. “I see. And how long have you had to believe that?”

I whipped my head down, thinking of all the punishments I would have to endure for speaking back to this man. A whipping? A visit to the well? How long would I have to stay without food? Maybe I would be tied at the post like last time.

“... because I can see your wolf, but you clearly cannot.”

I shook my head, taking a step back. I had endured enough this night to stand here and be insulted by a stranger, no matter how handsome he was or what punishment I would face. It wouldn’t be worse than the others.

“What is your name, girl?” she asked before I could flee. “I am Dale Wolf, but most people just like to call me Alpha.” he said when I hesitated to answer.

I lowered my head even more. Shit, he was an Alpha, and I looked into his eyes. It was no wonder his aura was so powerful and dominating. Was he really an Alpha? I have never heard of any Alpha with that name.

“Amber, sir.” I conceded.

The man, Alpha Dale, leaned forward, carefully placing his rough hands on my shoulder. Only then did I realize that I was still naked and I was standing in front of a man in the middle of the fucking forest. “Just like your eyes.”

I took a step back, wincing as his hand fell heavily back to his side. “I—I should get going now. If I am caught here like this...”I turned around before the rest of the words poured from my lips and fled, leaving the strange man behind.

My clothes are still at the same spot where I had left them—thankfully—but so are a couple who, upon closer inspection, turned out to be Alpha Derrick? And the moon priestess? What were we still doing out by this time when the rest of the pack was on the hunt? Wasn’t Alpha Derrick supposed to be leading the hunt?

The answer to that question was not something I wanted to know, nor was it something that concerned me. If any of them felt my presence around here... I hated to think of what would happen. Gathering my clothes, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me, not stopping till I was in front of my home.

I had no idea when I slept off after hitting my pillows last night, but a harsh knock on my door roused me from a dreamless sleep. Catapulting myself to the door as fast as I could manage, I peeled the door open to find Lydia standing in front of my door.

I groaned inwardly. What fresh hell brought this woman to my door this early?

“The moon goddess bless you,” I greeted, lowering my head.

“Don’t you think you need that blessing more than me? Go wash up; you stink,” she said, scrunching her nose. “The Alpha is asking for your presence in his office immediately.”

My heart missed a beat. I was in trouble? Did they sense me yesterday? What punishment would he give me?

“Quickly!” Lydia shrieked, startling me. “I don’t have all day.”

It did not take me more than five minutes to finish preparing. Five minutes was how thin I knew I could stretch Lydia’s patience without it snapping. Any longer and I hated to think what would happen.

Together, we hurried to Alpha Derrick’s office. The last thing I wanted was to be punished for something I could have prevented.

“Alpha Derrick,” I greeted as we stepped into the office. A harsh glare from him was what greeted me in return. “You asked for me.”

“Slave, do you know this man here?” he asked, gesturing to the man sitting across from him. My cheeks flamed, not from embarrassment but because I knew exactly who was sitting there. Our encounter yesterday was still fresh in my head.

I glanced at the stranger’s face at the same time his bluish-grey eyes fell on me, and I lowered my headimmediately. Biting my lower lip, I glance around the room. Do I lie or tell the truth?Which would not get me... my brainfroze when I caught Alpha Derrick’s glare.

Slowly, I nodded. “Yes. He is Alpha Dale.”

Alpha Derrick nodded. “Alpha Dale here is not just any Alpha; he is the Lycan King.” I gasped, immediately bringing myhand to my mouth to mute the sound, but it was too late. All eyes in the room were already on me. “Are you aware of thatfact?”

I shook my head.

“I see,” he continued, drumming his fingers on the table. “I was just telling the Lycan King here that I was going to take you as a mate, and he wanted to meet you in person.”

Alpha Dale—the Lycan King—glanced at me with a look I could not translate. “You say she is a slave?” he asked with his eyes still on me.

“Yes. It is how she repays our pack for taking her in many years ago.” Alpha Derrick replied. I had heard this story many times, but it still irked me. Forceful payment, you mean? Which came with punishments and whatnots?

“As much as I would love to go into details about her past and how she came to be in this position, I would love to say one thing first.” This time, he turned his attention back to Alpha Derrick, and he did not look so happy. I wrung my hands, wondering what wrong I had done.

I was always the one at fault.

“You cannot take Amber as your mate. As the Lycan King, I forbid it.”

What?