Sign a Contract

Vespera POV

For the rest of the day, I didn’t catch a single glimpse of Alpha Varkas. Garrick made absolutely sure of that. With shameless audacity, my husband had hosted a formal welcoming lunch for our esteemed guest and deliberately excluded me from the guest list. Zanya, his pregnant mistress, had been paraded around in my place. It was glaringly obvious that Garrick and Zanya were working together to completely isolate me, ensuring I wouldn't get a moment alone with the visiting Alpha.

When evening rolled around, Garrick didn't even bother to send a messenger to invite me to the grand ball he was throwing in Varkas’s honor in the main hall of the pack house. Instead, he orchestrated a pathetic, fabricated trap. He had supposedly ordered Beta Axton to escort me. It was a laughable lie. Axton despised me and would never show up at my door. Garrick’s master plan was clear: leave me stranded in my room, wait for me to miss the event, and then casually inform Alpha Varkas that his Luna was simply too unwilling or subservient to make an appearance.

I wasn't going to let that happen. This was my only chance to strike, and I was going to take matters into my own hands. I reached out to the only person in this pack I could still trust: the fiercely loyal Gamma Zorien.

Determined to crash the event, I spent hours preparing. I slipped into a shimmering golden silk gown that clung to every curve of my body, the luxurious fabric catching the light with every subtle movement. I paired it with a delicate yellow amethyst necklace and matching earrings—ironically, a gift from Garrick on our last anniversary. I left my long hair cascading in loose, elegant waves down my back. I needed to look powerful. I needed to look like a Luna.

When I stepped out of my quarters, Gamma Zorien was waiting for me in the dimly lit corridor. Dressed in a sharp black suit, his dark hair neatly swept back, he looked incredibly handsome. But the tight line of his jaw and the nervous shifting of his weight betrayed his anxiety. I couldn't blame him. By sneaking me into the ball, he was directly defying the Alpha’s unspoken orders, risking severe, brutal punishment.

"You look absolutely beautiful, Luna Vespera," Zorien said, offering a tight but genuine smile as I stepped up and curled my arm through his.

I smoothed down the silk of my dress and let out a soft, steadying chuckle. "Thank you, Zorien. I think it’s finally time for a showdown."

He nodded, his expression turning serious. "I should warn you. Alpha Garrick told the guards that Beta Axton was assigned to escort you to the ball tonight."

My eyes widened for a fraction of a second, confirming my suspicions. "I knew it," I muttered, shaking my head. "It’s just another one of Garrick’s twisted games. Axton never came to me. He was never going to. Garrick just wanted an excuse to tell Varkas I refused to attend."

"I know," Zorien said softly, looking at me with eyes full of deep, sympathetic pity. He gently patted the hand resting on my arm. "But don’t worry, Luna Vespera. I’m here. I've got you."

My chest tightened with gratitude. Zorien was risking his own safety for my sake. As we walked down the grand corridors toward the main hall, my heart began to hammer against my ribs. I clutched the side of my silken gown so tightly that my knuckles turned white, slightly crumpling the pristine fabric in my nervous grip. The faint, rhythmic sound of classical music and the low hum of hundreds of chatting voices grew louder with every step.

When we were just a few feet away from the towering double doors of the ballroom, I abruptly stopped and pulled my arm away from his.

"Zorien, wait," I whispered, keeping my voice low. "Here’s the thing. You already know that Alpha Garrick will be furious to see me here. If you walk in there with me, his wrath is going to fall directly onto your shoulders. It will be a complete disaster for you."

Zorien frowned, opening his mouth to protest, but I held up a hand.

"I'm going to walk through those doors alone," I stated firmly. "You can slip in through the side entrance a few minutes later and blend into the crowd. Please. I need to protect you from this."

A wave of visible relief washed over Zorien’s tense features. He bowed his head respectfully. "Are you absolutely sure, Luna?"

"I'm sure," I replied, taking a deep breath.

I turned to face the heavy wooden doors. I lifted my chin, squared my shoulders, and pushed them open.

The moment I stepped over the threshold, an awkward, suffocatingly heavy silence instantly fell over the entire, sprawling hall. The music seemed to fade into the background as hundreds of eyes snapped toward the entrance. Whispers died on people's lips. The crowd parted instinctively, creating a wide, empty path down the center of the room.

I kept my gaze fixed straight ahead, mustering every ounce of courage I possessed as I walked forward. I scanned the room and immediately spotted Garrick. He was standing near the center of the hall, with Zanya clinging possessively to his side.

Garrick looked absolutely stunned. His jaw went completely slack. As I glided further into the light, his eyes suddenly filled with a chaotic, turbulent mix of profound shock, reluctant admiration, and raw, unfiltered lust. He even took a subconscious half-step toward me, completely ignoring his mistress.

But Zanya was quick to react. She viciously grabbed his arm, anchoring him in place.

If Garrick looked stunned, Zanya looked as though she had swallowed a mouthful of pure, acidic vinegar. Her face twisted into a deeply ugly scowl of hatred and insecurity. She was wearing a gaudy, overly tight hot pink gown that clashed horribly with the elegant decor. I almost laughed at the pathetic sight of her, until my eyes locked onto her neck.

My blood ran instantly cold. A flash of blinding, white-hot anger ripped through my chest.

She was wearing it. Nestled against her collarbone was the delicate, blood-red ruby necklace Garrick had gifted me on the morning of our wedding day. It was a sacred, intimate piece of jewelry, symbolizing a vow he had thoroughly shattered. The sheer, shameless audacity of her parading around in my wedding jewelry fueled my determination like gasoline poured onto an open flame.

I forced my face into a mask of total indifference. I completely ignored them both, maintaining my regal posture as I walked past them. The murmurs in the crowd began to start up again, loud enough for me to catch fragments of gossip about how Alpha Garrick had lost his mind leaving his gorgeous Luna for a classless mistress.

As I moved through the room, a sudden, ominous, electric prickle washed over my skin. The tiny hairs on the back of my neck stood straight up. Someone was watching me. The weight of the stare was so heavy, so intense, it felt like a physical touch trailing down my spine.

I scanned the crowded, glittering room and immediately found the source.

Alpha Varkas.

He was standing at the far end of the hall, easily the most handsome and imposing wolf present. Dressed impeccably in tailored gray trousers, a crisp navy button-up shirt that strained against his muscular chest, and polished black shoes, he commanded the space effortlessly. He was staring directly at me, a crystal glass of amber whiskey held loosely in his large hand. He was completely surrounded by an impenetrable, terrifying circle of massive Boreal warriors.

I let out a rough, shaky exhale and began to walk straight toward him.

As I approached, a ripple of shock moved through the nearby guests. I heard audible gasps from the elite pack members as Varkas’s heavily armed, lethal warriors took one look at me and, without a single word being spoken, seamlessly parted down the middle to let me through. No one else had been allowed within ten feet of him all night.

I stopped in front of him, dipping into a light, polite bow. He was impossibly tall, easily over six feet of pure, coiled muscle. At my five feet four inches, I had to crane my neck sharply upward just to meet his piercing, intense gaze.

"Alpha Varkas," I said, keeping my voice smooth and polite, masking the frantic racing of my heart. "It’s a pleasure to meet you."

He looked down at me, and a low, lopsided smile slowly spread across his handsome face. His eyes glinted with something dark and dangerous. "Believe me, the pleasure is all mine, Luna Vespera."

A sudden, dull ache blossomed in the center of my chest. Through our frayed, dying mate bond, I could feel Garrick’s violent, burning jealousy flaring up like a wild inferno. He was watching us. Good. Let him burn.

I kept my focus entirely on the massive Alpha in front of me. "Did your sister, Katarina, happen to mention my name?" I asked quietly.

"She did," Varkas replied, his deep baritone voice rumbling in the space between us. "And I would very much like to hear about your problem."

My cheeks heated with a sudden rush of adrenaline and desperate hope. "Great," I breathed. "Is it possible to have a private conversation with you, please?"

He didn't hesitate for a single second. "Sure. There’s a study upstairs reserved for my warriors. We can go there."

I nodded, turning to follow him. As I walked behind Alpha Varkas, moving toward the grand staircase, the weight of Garrick’s furious glare bored into my back. I knew he was going to absolutely detest this meeting. He would demand an explanation later, but I didn't care. I already had a perfectly crafted lie ready for him.

Five minutes later, the heavy oak door of the upstairs study clicked shut behind us, cutting off the noise of the ballroom below.

Alpha Varkas walked over to the large mahogany desk and leaned casually against the edge. He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, the ice clinking softly in the quiet room. His piercing eyes remained entirely fixed on me, tracking my every move like a predator observing its prey.

I stood in the center of the room, my heart pounding against my ribs. I didn't want to waste a single second of this opportunity.

"I know you came here looking for the mind behind the Golden Gate project," I began, my voice steady despite my nerves. "But I want to present my own requirements before we discuss implementing that for your territory."

He took a slow sip of his whiskey, his eyes never leaving mine. "I’m listening."

I took a deep, shuddering breath. "Alpha Varkas, I am certain you must have heard the rumors circulating this pack by now. I want to get out of my marriage. But when I leave, I refuse to walk away empty-handed. I want my father's pack back. I need to reclaim my birthright." I stepped closer, looking up at him pleadingly. "Can you help me present my case before the Senior Conclave? If you help me secure my inheritance, I promise I will not only help you implement the Golden Gate project, but I will also offer you significant future financial compensation from my pack's funds."

He paused, the glass hovering near his lips. He cocked his head to the side, and an amused, highly predatory smile played on his mouth.

"I can do that, little wolf," he said, his voice dropping an octave. "But what exactly will I receive in exchange for my favors?"

My mouth dropped open in immediate offense. His notorious reputation as a ruthless playboy suddenly screamed in my head. Did he think I was just another conquest?

"I—I am sorry, Alpha Varkas," I stammered, crossing my arms defensively over my chest. "But I don’t go around jumping into beds to get what I want. I told you, I can compensate you with money once my pack is returned to me..."

He set his glass down on the desk with a sharp thud. He pushed off the edge of the table and stepped directly into my personal space. I froze as his massive frame towered over me. The intoxicating, masculine scent of fresh cedar and rich, dark musk washed over me, completely overwhelming my senses.

"No, Vespera," he said in a deep, dark voice that sent a dangerous thrill straight down my spine. He lowered his head, leaning in so close that I could feel the heat of his breath against my skin. His lips almost brushed the shell of my ear as he whispered, "If I help you, you have to give me something in return. And… I want you."

I gasped, jerking back in absolute shock. "Alpha Varkas!" I breathed out, my hand instinctively flying up to cover the side of my neck, shielding the fading mating mark that Garrick had placed there so long ago.

He didn't look offended by my reaction. He remained entirely unfazed, holding my gaze with an absolute, terrifying intensity.

"I am going to help you get rid of your unfaithful husband and his pathetic mistress," Varkas stated, his voice ringing with absolute, unshakable authority. "I am going to return your father's pack to you. I’m going to help you completely destroy them and make them grovel at your feet, but—"

His lips curled up into a smug, knowing smile.

"You have to sign a contract with me. You will be my Luna for a year after that."

I stood there, completely frozen, trying to process his demand. Before I could even formulate a response, he turned, walked over to the other side of the desk, and picked up a thick manila folder. He pulled out a pre-prepared, impeccably typed set of legal documents and held them out to me.

"Read these," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "And sign them by tomorrow morning."

I stared at the thick stack of papers in his hand, feeling completely bamboozled. My mind was spinning violently. He already had this prepared? How long had he been planning this?

"Tomorrow morning?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper, staring at the contract in disbelief.

"Yes," he stated firmly, his piercing hazel eyes locking intensely onto my wide, shocked green ones. "Because I’m leaving tomorrow morning. With you."