Bound by promise not love

Only the sound of my erratic breathing could be heard, filling the room in a thick silence. My knees were on the verge of giving out under the weight of his gaze as I stood in front of him

"Protection and all the luxuries you could ever think of ."Alpha Callum said in an emotionless tone ." But one more thing." He said raising a finger up and I saw triumph in his eyes."This will be done under a contract. " He said abd took a seat watching me closely.

Leaning back in his chair , he exuded a commanding presence that filled the entire room.

His piercing perceptive gaze seemed to be trying to extract every thought from me as if thinking I was trying to outsmart him.

The lump that was growing in my throat made it difficult for me to swallow.

"A contract? I asked again trying to steady my trembling voice.

"Yes." he said abruptly a small almost contemptuous smirk curling his lips. "A formal agreement will serve as our bond. There will be strict boundaries and rules. This mating is not motivated by sentimentality or love. It is merely a duty. " Then he smiled." Making you my mate will help me get my other inheritance as the Alpha."

"Other inheritance, you didn't —" I said confused but he raised his palm cutting me off

His remarks sliced through my hopes brittle strands like a blade.

"Mates are supposed to love each other ."I muttered my frustration seeping into my voice.

His expression became unreadable as his eyes darkened. I even thought that he would react and explain the callousness of his order but all he did was look at me in silence.

No matter what he said or wanted to say the weight of his silence was greater than anything.

" Is that not what the Moon Goddess intended? "I demanded my voice failing from the stress I had gone through and my anguish and frustration.

"For mates to complete one another? To share something more profound than. . . this?"

He leaned forward until his elbows were resting on the desk and let out a sharp exhale.

"I am not a man who lets fate control my behavior even though the Moon Goddess may have picked us ." Then he pinched the bridge of his nose like speaking to me was a burden." You speak like the moon goddess is my grandmother." Then he exhaled

"I don't plan on engaging in fairy tales and love. Just following orders."

I felt my heart tighten. " Fairy tales?" I repeated with a tone of bitterness that even surprised me. "You make it seem so unimportant. Do you think that I will find it easy to accept this , to stand here and watch you turn something holy into a business deal? "

Callums eyes became hard and his jaw tensed. "Ease or fairness are not at issue here. This is about keeping a promise my father made to you which is an obligation. No more no less. "

I let out a bitter laugh." And you think that makes it better? It will be easy for me to handle knowing that Im just a debt youre paying back?"

"I didnt ask for your approval." he stated icily without allowing any room for debate. "Aurora this cannot be decided. Its a duty. Under the conditions I establish you will be my Luna. "

I experienced a wave of rage but it was swiftly overtaken by a shattering sense of hopelessness. Why now? Why me? I forced myself to look into his eyes and asked my voice hollow And what are these terms?

Arguing with him was a waste of time, it was better to accept this.

This was my chance to enjoy luxury, I had suffered, abused and kick around by my step mother and step sister.

Going back wasn't an option. Besides no one would know that the Alpha's mate was an Omega.

If this was the way the moon goddess was going to answer my prayer then so be it.

His voice was void of warmth and was so informal as if we were talking about some routine business deal and he leaned back in his chair again.

" First of all there won't be any entanglements. As I so delicately stated , no catching of feelings. We'll have a professional bond. operational. Not much more. "

My pride prevented me from showing him how deeply hurt I was, even though the words were a dagger to my chest but I made myself nod.

Even though the words felt like ash on my tongue I said softly when he stares at me.

"Understood. "

Secondly he added his voice as piercing and uncompromising as ever.

" You will fulfill the responsibilities of a Luna. In addition to leading the pack with me, you will stand for courage and solidarity and carry out your assigned duties. Not any more not any less."

I suppressed the urge to scream as I clenched my fists my nails digging into my palms.

"And what about me? I said hardly raising my voice above a whisper. "What about my happiness and what do I want.

Callum' sface softened for the smallest of seconds but it vanished as fast as it had appeared.

"Happiness ?" he said in a mocking fashion. " Are you deaf kr you just haven't been listening Aurora? When I mentioned luxuries at its finest what do you think I was referring to?"

Startled by the unexpected vulnerability in his words, I blinked.

"I apologize, sincerely and I perfectly understand now but what do you want too ?"

That's when he stood up, his massive frame looming over me as he moved across the room. In a final tone he stated.

" What I want is irrelevant.Want is not the issue here. It all comes down to duty. And we will be united tomorrow as mates. This conversation will end when you take your place as my Luna and you will have everything you want "

As the finality of his words swept over me like a tidal wave, my breath caught. "Tomorrow? "I repeated my voice hardly audible.

" Yes ,"he said his eyes unblinking. "The ceremony is scheduled to begin at sunrise. Prepare little mate. " He smirked.

The ground seemed to have been torn out from under me. My head was spinning, ideas crashing into each other in a maddening whirlpool. Ideas of how to escape from all this.

*Tomorrow. Too soon. I wasnt prepared. **.

"Callum ."I said my voice cracking. *

"Please I—"

" Please,Aurora this is not debatable. You will follow instructions.He broke off his voice as icy and uncompromising as steel ." If there's anything you need you can say it. Your favorite color, do you want to wear a shimmering blue dress or yellow dress?"

Was he taunting me ?. Tears were burning at the corners of my eyes I fought the urge to cry.

I averted my gaze because I could no longer stand this arrogant fellow

I'm

His words and the knowledge of what lay ahead weighed heavily on my heart as he left the room.

Was I really destined to be a slave to a man who viewed me as nothing more than a duty?

_____

Sitting by myself in my room that night, the silence felt like a physical burden.

A storm of doubt ,fear and a glimmer of hope that I couldnt quite put out swirled through my mind.

My father ,the man Callum said had fought alongside his own and given his all to defend this pack came to my mind.

Did he really want me to be forced into a life I hadnt chosen and confined to a man who didn't think of me as anything more than a responsibility?

Instinctively , something that had come naturally to me since I found out that life was developing inside of me, I put a hand on my stomach.

How could I provide this child with a future?.

Callum was standing in the doorway when I turned around as the door creaked open, the sound jolting me out of my thoughts.

His presence remained commanding and his expression was unreadable.

I tried my hardest to sound strong but my voice was shaking as I asked him , avoiding his gaze.

"What do you want?.".

"I came to make sure you realize how serious whats coming is ."he said in a clipped voice.

"I understand."I said just raising my voice above a whisper .

. His eyes grew a little softer as he hesitated. With a softer tone he asked, pushing further , annoying me on purpose.

"Do you?. Do you really get what it means to be my Luna ,my mate?"

I swallowed hard and looked him in the eye with all the anger I could muster. "I realize I have no other option" I retorted." And I think reading a book or two on how to be the best Luna ever will be sweet." I said sarcastically.

He remained silent for a while looking into my eyes as if he were trying to find the answers to questions he was afraid to ask, then as usual a smirk came on his lips.

" The maid will serve dinner soon , you better have something to eat." He turned and walked away without saying anything more the door softly closing behind him.

When the quiet returned I let the tears that I had been suppressing spill out.

Everything would change tomorrow. I would be mates to a man who didnt love me tomorrow.

I sighed, this was how my life would change.

Everyday I had hoped am that the moon goddess would give me what I wished for, what I desired.

I had prayed to be faraway from my step mother and her wickedness,to find a mate .

But I did leave home, I did get a mate but it wasn't just as I had wished.

The moon goddess had heard my prayers but I guess I wasn't just specific on how I wanted my wish to be.