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Chapter Two
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2024-10-29 19:42:56(Riley's POV)
Growing up, there are so many stories I hear about rejections, the pain that comes with it, and then the sense of loss, like something was missing. I knew what was coming, and I was prepared, even as I said the words. "I, Riley Kaidon, accept your rejection," I respond, and that gave him a pause. Of course, he doesn't expect me to accept his rejection so easily; every female is dying to be the Alpha's mate, and I had been one of them till I discovered that he wasn't as charming as my thoughts had painted him to be. I felt the pain, just as I had anticipated. It's a different kind of pain, one that is deep within, but what I do not feel is the loss. How could you lose what you never had? It was over. All my dreams of finding a mate had all come to nothing. I was given the monster as a mate, and he had used me, taken from me, only to dump me like trash. I couldn't stay in this pack any longer; I had to leave. "Banish me also from this pack; I no longer see the use of remaining." "Oh no, Riley. I want you here, by my side." "Zara had taken up that duty." "I want you to be something quite different." "A sex toy?" I questioned as that had been my only use to him earlier before he found a new toy. "More like a pet, but you can call it that." "I refuse to bring myself down to that level." I said, looking him in the eyes. He had said it straight to my face that he wanted me as a pet. There really was no boundaries to his cruelty. "Did you really think there is anyone out there who would really want you? After everything?, don't flatter yourself; you are quite an average." "That's not what you said when we were in bed." I reminded him, refusing to let him see how hurt I was. "Others would be proud to even have such a position, but you ungrateful girl." "I would leave this pack, whether you want it or not, with due respect, of course, Alpha," I sneered out. The pain in my chest had built up to the point where I felt completely numb. "That's not going to be a very nice thing to do, seeing as your mother cannot go with you," he says, and everything seems to slow down. How could I have forgotten? My mother had been nothing but a slave, treated as dirt. Ryker is the only reason she was not in other 'worst' places; how could I have forgotten that so easily? My heart pounded now, fast. How didn't I think of my mother and what Ryker could do to her, especially when I was gone? "Leave my mother out of this." "No, dear, that I cannot do. As you know, she has ten years left to serve as a slave. So many things can happen in ten years. She could be placed in other positions; she might be an old hag, but I'm sure the male pack soldiers could find a use for her. When they are done with her, she will beg for death. But if you stay, I could do you the favor of letting her remain in her current position, so what do you say?" I wiped off the tears. This had been one of the reasons I had hung on to Ryker, too slow to let him go. I knew if I was mated to him, then my mother would be free. This was what she had wanted for the most part of her life, what she had dreamt of. I had wanted her to be finally free, but that would only be another wish left pending. "I'll stay, but I refused to be used by you, Ryker." "We would see about that, and it's no longer Ryker to you; we are no longer mates, remember? It's Alpha now, and I really hope you don't slip on that again." He says, but the smirk on his face tells me his hoping her I slip, just so he could punish me. I wouldn't let him see me weak; I would hold in my tears, till when I was alone, crying in front of him would only show him how much he hurt me, it would only show him that he won and I... lost; That would be boosting his already extremely large ego. I wiped away my tears; that would be the last time I would ever cry before him. "Good," he muttered. "Now I need you to come to the intra-mating ball celebration with me," he says. "You are to attend the upcoming ball with your luna, Zara; what do you need me there for?" "You will be there. I want you to watch as I announce to the whole crowd that she is my mate. I want you to watch me kiss and touch her just as I did you, but she... she would be the Luna. I want you to watch as she takes your place. At least I told you early enough to prepare. When the day comes don't you dare be late. Also, I would send your mother in to help you pick something presentable for the occasion. I am sure you have something other than rags in there somewhere" he said before walking away, right through the door he came through, back to Zara, his mate. The mate ball was in two weeks, I didn't need to pick out a dress yet, but I did need my mother by my side right now. He hadn't cared about the fact that I just lost a baby and needed medication; he didn't care one bit. If I wasn't wrong, I believed he loved hurting me; he was a sick, twisted person who attained satisfaction in hurting others. A few minutes later, my mother walked in, and I ran into her arms, letting myself become a child again. I cried in her arms. "The baby's gone. He cheated on me, and now the baby is gone." "Shhh, you would be alright," she said, holding me in her arms. "You are the strongest shewolf I know, and I am not telling you this simply because you are my daughter, but because it is true." "I do not feel very strong, mama." "Your tears don't make you weak, nor do the mistakes," she said, holding me. Just as she had always done, every single time I had gone to her, broken and in pain, she was always there to comfort me. She thought I was the strongest she wolf, but she was wrong; she was. Even through all she had gone through, she still stood strong, and I made another promise to myself that I would free her. I was going to watch her walk around a free woman, and I didn't care how long it took me to achieve that. "I know the Alpha rejected you," she said. "How did you know?" "A mother can tell," she says, "but he was never the best for you; he would only hurt you more and more; you deserve better." "I don't think I can ever trust anyone again... I just can't be betrayed once more; I don't think I can take it." "You deserve love; you deserve better than this kind of life, and I wish I could give you that... and that's why I won't blame you if you leave this pack. I want you to know that whatever happens, I would always love you and never blame yourself for anything that goes wrong. I am strong enough to take what comes my way, but I want you happy. You are young and beautiful with a clean heart. You deserve a life, and you should have it." "No, mama, I would never leave you here with him. Never; we are together in this and will always be. I would stay," I promised. . The mating ball ceremony occurs every last day of the month; it was every girl's dream and mostly where mates are paired, but that had been the beginning of my own nightmare. If Ryker wanted me at the ball, then I would be at the ball, but he got one thing wrong: I didn't care who he ended up with; nothing he did could make me jealous; he was no longer mine, and I was glad he wasn't.
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The Mating Ball. (Riley's POV) Ryker sat with his mate, and I was to sit besides him, close enough to hear him whisper the same words he had told me to her, close enough to see him kiss her, close enough to hear her soft moans as his hands disappeared beneath her dress, but that wasn't the worst part of this all; the worst part was having to see my mother, refilling his cup like the servant he wanted everyone to know she was. All I felt was anger, burning furry. I turned away from them, focusing on keeping my breath steady. "You work slugglishly, old woman," Ryker said to my mother, she had pretended not to hear that as she refilled his glass for what seemed as the hundredth time. My mother glanced at me, her eyes a warning, begging me to stay still and not do anything crazy, and it took everything in me to seat still. "You forgot to refill mine," Zara said to my mother, and of course, my mother did refill hers, muttering a silent appology which wasn't even due. Zar
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(Riley's POV) There was a lot running through my mind, but I couldn't stop myself as I let my lips move against his, his hands raked through my hair, and I let him touch me in more intimate ways. His kiss was unlike anything I had ever felt; it was like a breath of fresh air and, at the same time suffocating. I felt everything and nothing; the electricity rolling down my frame had nothing to do with a mate bond; it did have everything to do with the fallen angel standing before me. No, he was no angel, maybe quite the opposite, but he did have the looks of a Greek god. Finally he pulled away, and I was left panting, wanting more, my lips all swollen. What the hell just happened, and why is Alpha Thane calling me his mate when I was sure I wasn't his? From the look he gave me, he knew that too. "Pretend," he whispered in my ear, low enough for only me to hear. Pretend?. He meant I should go along with this. Why would I do that? , why... My trail of thoughts was cut off.
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(Riley's POV) Everything about Alpha Thane screamed sexuality: the way he walked, his height, his look, his lips- oh, those very beautiful lips, and the way those lips had formed out my name. Never had I thought my name could sound that sexy and enticing... Also the last thing I should be thinking about right now was how sexy he was. . He was right though; if he wanted me dead, he wouldn't need to go through all that stress to get it done; he only needed to do it right there in the mating ball. After all, they were known for just that, so it wouldn't exactly be a surprise, and not many would care about the fact that I was killed; my mother would, though. "Then what do you want?" "I want you to come with me, as my mate," he answered, as if that were the simplest and most obvious thing. "What?" "I guess you heard me clearly, and you need a while to process it." "No, I do not need a while; I am not your mate; I know that; you know that; and I cannot leave my pack a
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(Riley's POV) It didn't make sense. That Alpha Thain of the Nightshade pack had chosen me; I had so much to gain—my mother's freedom, 'my freedom', and wealth—lots of it. It felt almost too good to be true. He had told me that he never made any deals in which he had nothing to gain, but I can't imagine what he had to gain from being mated to me. Yet, his promises had been mouth-watering, every single word, and I knew he was right. I knew I would agree to his terms, whatever they might be, as long as my mother was free. He was not a gentleman; he had told me just that, and that was the one thing I believed. After the little conversation, he had left me here all alone, to think about his proposal. No, he didn't bother escorting me back to the ball where he had taken me; he was letting me know, even from the little gestures, what kind of a man he was. When he meant he wanted me as a mate for a period of time, did that involve intimacy? Maybe it didn't; maybe I just had to play
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(Riley's POV) I didn't know what my mother had against Alpha Thane and his father, but she had agreed to come with me after I had persuaded her. I had to tell her what Ryker had wanted me to be—a little pet for him—and that was all she needed to finally change her mind. Though she didn't like this idea and I knew it, we both knew we had no other choices, and I would rather die than leave my mother here. She helped me pack up. I had only a few things; I picked out only the important things, and a single bag was enough to contain my stuff. . Alpha Ryker walked into my room, not bothering to knock. "You know it is very unappropriate to walk into a lady's room without knocking, right?" I questioned, and my mother gave me a questioning look, but this time I didn't listen. "Now the true Riley shows herself; I knew you had all that pent-up anger in you for a long time; I actually expected you to slip in the mating ball last night, and I am totally surprised you didn't." "That's
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Eight
(Riley's POV) I hadn't realized I stood there, staring at him. Finally recovering from the momentarily drool, I walked into Ryker's office. "I believe you are ready and packed, Riley." "Yes, Alpha," I said, a moment too late. "Call me Thane," he says, his burning gaze on me, and in that moment, I forgot about Ryker in the office with us. "Just as I had promised you, your mother is free, and she will come with us," he says. My mouth fell open in surprise. That quickly? Ten years of slavery had ended in just minutes. He was right; there was only a little he could not do, and I couldn't help but wonder what he had done to make Ryker give in. "I would be waiting in the car; pick up your things and join me; your mother would be transported to my pack tomorrow; and not to worry, she is already a free woman," Thane said, his eyes slipping from mine to Ryker's. I wasn't the only one affected by Thane's piercing gaze; I noticed how uncomfortable it made Ryker too, and I know he
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Nine
I stared at the document in my hands. Slowly, I opened it—I hadn’t even realized I was holding in a breath.I skipped the introduction and began:“This is an agreement between the ‘contractee’ (Thane Blackwood) and the ‘contractor’ (Riley Kaidon).”I paused, about to ask how he knew my full name, but after one look at those cold eyes, I continued. “The duration of this contract is a year (twelve months), if agreed by both parties." I paused again. “A year is more than I can handle,” I whispered. A lot could happen in a year. The thought that he would have control over me for a whole year sent a chill down my spine. I never really considered what would happen if this went all wrong and things could easily 'very wrong’. “Three months,” I say, and I hated how shaky my voice sounded.His jaw tightened; it was such a small movement, but I noticed it. Thane didn’t like the fact that I was bargaining; I knew what was written down was only there to make me feel like I had a choice—a say in thi
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I passed the signed document back to him, but his eyes, they never left me.“Do you know the severity of the contract you just signed?” he asked, the smirk stretching along his lips again. I could hear Ryker’s words in my head ‘you wouldn’t last two weeks with him’, I could remember the panicked look in my mother’s eyes when he proclaimed me as his mate, never had she looked so afraid, not even when I was mated to Ryker – that should be enough to tell me that something was very wrong with this alpha sitting before me, and maybe his whole pack too, but no, I was willing to do anything – to escape my past, even if it meant running head first into danger.“Yes, I know” I answered but I lied, I was yet to understand the severity of what I had just done.Alpha Thane rose to his feet and it took everything in me to sit there and not bolt out of the ‘office’, he walked towards me.“What are you doing?”“Afraid?” he asked and I wanted to say ‘no’, I opened my mouth but no reply came forth. He
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Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Forty Two
I always knew Bailey wasn't a good person; from the very first time I saw her, something about her was off-putting, but this was beyond evil.She was not only going to torture Thane but torture me too. He would hate me; even in my death, he would never discover the truth that she had been the one compelling me, and yet... it would be worth it if he stays alive in the end. Yes, he wouldn't have his wolf, but he would still have his life."And how do I know you won't stab me in the back after I am done with what you've asked?" I questioned. I couldn't trust Bailey; I knew that."You don't really have a choice here, do you?"That was equally correct; I didn't exactly have a choice. "Take me to him.""Give him a day; he is too weak to react now.".....A day.That's what Bailey asked for, but I would have preferred if I walked right into that space and said it all to him at that moment; at least it would be over, but now I sat here, alone, thinking about what I was about to do; I didn't
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Forty One
RILEY'S POVI was alone in the empty containment room, chained to the chair I had been placed on. The footsteps approaching got my attention.Bailey was back, again."Your mate is here. Just as I had said, feelings make us weak, and that was his downfall.""Don't you dare harm him." I warned, struggling out of the chains."I guess you would want to see him, right?" She questioned me, and I gave her no answer; I wouldn't let her see how desperately I wanted to go to him. She walked to me, taking off the chains, and I immediately bolted for the door. The moment I touched the handle, the silver burned my hand. "You may call it karma—you remember the silver dagger you used on me?" she asked."Let me out.""I'll do that, but first, we need to make things clear. In whatever you do, you will not try to escape this place. Got it?" She ordered, and I nodded, compelled. "Good, now come with me."I followed her out of the room. The building seemed ancient, clearly an underground hideout. It made
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Forty
THANE'S POVEvery single commander and a few high ranked members had been interrogated, but none had been found wanting.I couldn't stop thinking about Riley. In the room, all alone, it was clear that she wanted to spend the night a different way, and I was going to make it up to her."None of them did this." Axel said to me when we were back in my office. "Yes, I could tell they weren't lying."Just then there was a knock on the door, and Regnux, one of the commanders, walked in."I wanted to speak with you," he said. I noticed how nervous he looked."Go on," I said."So from the investigations, it is clear that the murderer is not a Commander or a high ranked. What if we've been looking in the wrong place all these while?""Skip to the point, Reg."He nodded. "The point is, what if it's someone closer... maybe the Luna, I mean after what…"Axel walked to him. "Do you have proof?" He asked, cutting him off."No, not exactly...""So you come here and accuse the Luna with no proof?"
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Nine
I spit out blood, my gaze returning back to Nick."I am not afraid of you, Nick; do your worst.""You were always a bold one, but the problem was your emotions; they are your greatest weakness.""Why not take your crappy insights and shove it right up your manhole."That earned me another slap, and I smirked knowing I was getting to him."Bailey would betray you; I mean, that's what she does best; you are nothing more than a tool to her.""Are you any different from her? You used me; I helped you heal from all the hurt the bastard inflicted on you; we made a deal, but of course, you broke it; you went back to him and returned my wedding ring like that solves it all. You aren't much different.""You lied to me; you hid the truth from me and left me suffering the consequences.""What did you think? That there would be no consequences? That the dark side would grant you power with nothing in return? If you thought that, then maybe you are the fool.""You want to know why I left you even
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Eight
Bailey's eyes widened in shock as she stared at the dagger now prodding out of her chest. I didn't stop at that. I pulled the dagger out, only to strike over and over again, till I was sure she was dead. She fell to the floor in a puddle of her own blood, and finally I paused to stare at her. It was over; I couldn't believe it. I would be free.I didn't know I was crying till I felt the tears against my cheeks; this wasn't tears of pain or sadness but of relief. It worked. I couldn't believe it worked; I had been one step ahead of her.~~~I took Bailey's body deeper into the woods, a shovel in my hand, and when I was completely out of sight, I began digging as quickly as I could. I dumped her body into the hole I had dug. I had been about to cover her up when I heard the footsteps. I turned, but I had been a second too late. Something hard came into contact with my head, and I fell to the ground.The last thing I saw before I blacked out was Nick's figure standing over me..I awok
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Seven
It was all supposed to be a dream. A very bad one. But it wasn't; it hadn't just been a dream. My hand shook as I held the bottle. "Add this to his drink." Bailey's voice reechoed in my head. I walked back into the room, staring at the glass of apple juice on the table. I hadn't asked the maid for it, and I doubted Thane did either. Sending the maid here must have been a part of Bailey's plan—I realized. Tears rolled down my eyes as my body acted on its own, pulling the bottle open. The harsh smell hurt my nose. "No, no, you can't." I said to myself, but still I found myself pouring the content into his cup. It had mixed so nicely, one couldn't even tell. ... Thane arrived home, and he paused to stare down at my choice of clothing, or rather, my choice of underwear. "I like being welcomed like this." "You can have all of this, but first, join me for a drink." I said with a smile on my face. "It's apple juice." He picked up his glass, and I stared at him as he lifted t
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Six
I didn't know exactly how I got here, but I had been in the pack safehouse when a figure approached me.Bailey. I realized."Why am I here?" I asked, keeping my face bare of emotions."You are here because I wanted you to be." "What do you want from me?" "I did tell you I would be back, didn't I? Well, here I am, and I have a mission for you." She said, passing me a small glass bottle filled with a greenish-yellow substance. "Go on, take it," she urged, and I took the bottle from her hand."What is this?""That, my dear, is wolfsbane extract.""Why are you giving me this?""Don't worry, it isn't for you but for the Alpha King, Thane. You will put this in his drink. The Wolf's bane when in his system would weaken him, and so we could proceed to the next step, but for now, this is all you have to do.""He could die." "That would be a pity, a death too quick, not at all worth all the time I spent plotting. You are right though, with the quantity in that bottle, it can kill regular wol
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Five
"Riley, what is going on?" Thane questioned."Nothing...""No, just don't tell me that; don't lie to me, Riley; something is wrong and you are keeping it from me. What is it?"I remained silent because I had no response to his question."You think I don't notice? The sudden desperation to tag along everywhere I go makes it seem like you are afraid to be left alone, like you are scared of something, and I want to help you, Riley, but I have to know what is wrong to help you; you have to open up to me, Riley.""Just let me be, okay. I am fine.""No, you are not." He said he wasn't going to let this go. "Are you sick?" he questioned, clearly concerned."I am not sick; it's just..." I couldn't say the words. Thane waited, eyes hopeful; he was willing to help, and I wish I could tell him everything, but I couldn't. "I still think about Jake," I lied. "I'm willing to do anything to take my mind off him, but... there is something else I didn't tell you. When I left this pack, I had paid a vi
Contractually Yours, Alpha Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty Four
I stepped back on her request, my body once again acting against my mind. Inside I was raging; I wanted to hurt her so badly, but I felt like I had been caged in the inner parts of my mind; I could only watch what was happening, but I had no control over my own actions.Nothing was as torturous and infuriating as that."Bad bad, Luna. Look what you made me do." She drew out each word as she walked deeper into our room, she pulled open a drawer, taking out Thane's cuff. "Kinky," she said, tossing it to me; it fell at my feet. "Put the cuff on.""You have control over me; you don't have to make me wear that to control me." I said to her,"Oh, I know that. Still I just needed to show you how much in control I am, now be snappy about it." I put the cuff on, just as she had ordered. "Good. Now ask me what I had to do to get you."I inhaled deeply; I hated this feeling of powerlessness."What did you have to do to get to me?" I questioned; those words had come out against my very own will.
