Ch. 36..40: The Alpha Contract Chapter 36-40

Chapter 0036

He leans over me as I press my back into the wall. His eyes hover on mine and move down to my lips. He makes a quick move and presses his lips to mine and this time, I don't flinch. Alpha Dane pulls back, "Do you trust me?" He asks in a gentle tone

"Yes." I whisper

"We can go slow." he whispers back and my head bobs up and down, accepting his offer.

His lips come back to mine, kissing a little harder and his hands settle on my hips.

He breaks away again and I give him another small nod, wanting him to continue.

This time, his lips trail light kisses down my neck and to my collarbone. Each one felt as though my skin was being hit by little bolts of electricity.

He steps backwards, pulling me from the cubicle and towards the showers.

Pushing me up against the wall, he tugs my sweatshirt up and over my head, taking my vest with it and letting my breasts hang freely. He is quick to take a nipple in his mouth, dragging his teeth along it and making me gasp while he kneads the other one. His lips work their way down my body until they meet the waistband of my joggers.

Inch by inch, Alpha Dane lowers my joggers. His lips planting tantalising kisses on every inch of bare skin and making me moan.

"Earth to Neah! Are you okay?"

I'm suddenly dragged back to the gym with Alpha Dane's arm still looped around my shoulders, preparing to attack me from behind.

"I'm fine" I mutter, half hoping that I hadn't been daydreaming out loud

His arm drops from my shoulders, allowing me to turn around and face him.

"Are you sure? You zoned out a little."

I wondered if he could smell my arousal. He doesn't say anything just like last time. "Just....just thinking." I murmur.

His eyebrows rise a little and I was certain there was a hint of a smile, "Anything that I can help with?"

"No.. no... I don't think so."

He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Then I think we are done for the day."

"Okay." I mutter. I was certain my face was the colour of a tomato. "Are you coming back to the house?" I ask, refusing to look back at him.

"I just need to check on some things in the pack first. I think Raven is up at the house, she will keep you company."

Hurrying out the gym, I practically run across the grounds, hoping that I could get into the house before anyone sees me and my red face. "Are you okay?" Raven is leaning on a chair as she looks out of the lounge at me.

"Why does everyone keep asking me that?" I snap and run up the stairs.

What the hell was wrong with me?

It's hours before I see Alpha Dane again.

"There you are!" He mutters as though I was the one who had been hiding. "What's wrong?" He asks as he closes the bedroom door behind him.

"You could smell me, right?" I ask, I had been thinking about it for hours.

"Are you talking about the gym or when you fell asleep in the chair?"

I knew it, he did know!

"You didn't do anything!"

"Is that a question or an accusation?" He murmurs.

I don't answer because I wasn't even sure what it was that I was trying to say.

"You are wondering why I didn't jump on you just because I could smell your arousal." He smiles at me

"That's what male Wolves do, isn't it."

"Not in this pack, no. Have we not had this conversation?"

"Your brother....."

"My brother doesn't count." He shuts my comment down.

"I....I'm a.....I've never...."

"I know."

"You know?" I try to keep the shock out of my voice, it's not like I went around broadcasting it.

He nods his head at me. "You didn't go to school. You didn't leave the packhouse. Trey never let anyone touch you in that way. It's easy enough to put two and two together, Neah." "You didn't say anything."

"Why did I need to? It's not my secret to share. Or are you planning on sleeping with all the men in my pack?"

"No. I.... I made a deal with you."

"You did, but there was no mention of you having sexual encounters."

"Is it a trick?"

"You tell me. You agreed to be my bride for a year. How do you think I will react if someone else takes your virginity?"

I just stare at him. Sometimes, just when I was starting to see the nice side of him. He would remind me of what he is capable of in the most subtle of ways.

By nightfall, I had shrunk back into my shell. Only speaking if spoken too and keeping my eyes low.

Alpha Dane kept asking me if I was alright and I would reply with a simple nod of the head.

When there was silence around the dinner table, I knew the others were having a conversation through mindlink. Most likely trying to figure out why I was so quiet.

"Is this something to do with earlier?" Raven asks when it's just me and her. "I mean, you looked a bit flustered when you came crashing through the front door." "I'm fine."

"What has he done?"

"Who?"

"My brother?"

I shake my head and she stares at me with narrowed eyes.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure he didn't mean it. Dane doesn't have the greatest track record when it comes to women. But I promise, he likes you. Just give him a chance."

"I'm going to bed." I mutter, quickly escaping.

I made the most of being alone by having a hot shower and changing into fresh clothes before climbing into bed. When Alpha Dane comes to bed, I close my eyes and pretend to be asleep.

I listen to him move around the room. He briefly stops in front of me before getting in the other side. Out of nowhere, he grabs me and pulls me in against him.

"I know you are awake. You can pretend all you want."

I remain still and silent.

"You are mad at what I said, but you were the one who came to me about the deal. You agreed to the terms. You didn't have to."

He let's out a sigh. "I said what I said because it's true. I don't want another man's fingers touching your body"

He runs his fingers through my hair, brushing it back from my face. Trailing a rough finger down over my cheek, he leans in, pressing his lips to my cheekbone.

It was strange because it felt familiar, like he had done it a million times before.

Chapter 0037

Dane

She had gone back to her protective state. Barely talking and when she did, it was either 'yes', 'no' or that phrase that I hate, 'I'm fine'. She had completely shut down and I can't even figure out what it was that I had said. I had only told her the truth. Was the truth too much for her?

In my office, Raven stares at me. "Are you sure you didn't do anything?" she demands. "She was chatting to me and now, nothing."

"I just spoke the truth. I reminded her that she wanted the deal, that she came to me. I told her that I didn't want anyone else touching her."

"Why did you even make the deal if she is already your mate?"

"She doesn't know."

"You are an idiot!" She snaps as she drops down in the chair. "I don't even know what you could possibly be thinking. Out of all the brides you have had, why do you have to try and push away the one that I actually like? Scratch that, the one who is actually your mate?" "Raven!"

'I agree with her!' Aero spits

"I'm not trying to push her away." I snap

"Well you are doing a damn good job!"

'You don't know why she is upset either!' I remind her, "And you need to watch your tongue."

"I'm talking to you as my brother, not my Alpha!" Raven scowls. "I bet even Aero agrees with me that you are an idiot!"

I give her a warning glare to tone it down.

"She isn't like us." Raven tells me. "She wasn't raised like us. And you seem to be missing the point."

"And what's that?"

"She wants to be wanted. She's not upset, she's scared."

"I would be able to scent it if she was that scared."

"What if she is in a permanent state of fear? Since before you first met her. What if that is contributing to her strange scent?"

"Thank you for your input, Raven. I will figure it out."

She rolls her eyes at me and leaves the office.

'Just claim her.' Aero mumbles. 'She is our mate, just claim her. Let her know that you have only agreed to this deal because you already know she is our mate.'

Ignoring him, I head upstairs to check on Neah. She had spent so long, pretending to be asleep last night, that I still expected her to be curled up in bed now. Instead, I hear the shower running.

Pushing the door open, I keep my eyes off the shower, hoping it would make her feel a little better. "Neah, I'm going to be out of the house alot today. You are more than welcome to stay put or go over to the hospital and hang out with Raven."

She doesn't answer and when I look up, I see that she isn't in the shower. But sat on the floor behind the bath. Her bare knees pulled up to her chest as she rested her head on them. Her eyes are closed, her lips parted a little. She was asleep and this time, she wasn't faking it.

She hadn't even fully stripped before deciding that taking a nap behind the bath was a good idea.

Quietly turning the shower off, I squeeze in behind the bath and lift her off the floor. Her head rolls back over my arm, exposing her neck. I was so tempted to mark her and claim her but I just about manage to push the thought aside as I put her in the bed. It wouldn't be fair to do that to her while she was asleep.

Moving away, Neah suddenly grabs my hand. "Stay." She sleepily whispers, tugging me towards her.

Kicking off my shoes, I slide into the bed behind her. Pulling her back flush against my chest. Trying to ignore how her naked ass was pressed against my cock.

After a few moments, she shuffles away. Rolling on my back, I sigh, grateful that I had some morals.

Leaving her to sleep, I head outside to find Eric kicking a ball around with his sons but as soon as he sees my face, he tells them to go to their grandparents.

Chapter 0038

"Have you told her?" He asks quietly as his boys run across the grounds, racing each other.

"No."

"I take it she still isn't talking to you, then?"

"No."

He nods. "Remind me, why haven't you told her? That dickhead is dead. She has no tie to anyone, she's yours to claim."

"It's complicated." I mutter

"I get that, but...." He pauses. "You wouldn't be able to hide it if she hadn't been bound. Or is it because of this apparent Lycan thing? Because Wolves have done alot worse and shacked up with humans" "About that," I mutter, getting the subject off of Neah. "Has Devon said anymore?"

Eric shakes his head. "I told you, he won't speak to me. I don't know why."

"I literally can't find anything on them. I spent hours searching every database. How can something like that exist and there be no record of it?"

"I take it that it has something to do with Moonshine hiding. And the rules that Neah spoke of."

"I need to speak to him." I mutter

Eric comes with me to the dungeon, hitting the bars to wake up the guy who called himself Devon.

"You said you were removed."

"Good morning to you too." He yawns sleepily, scratching through his dark hair. There was no denying that there was a strong resemblance to Neah. "Yes, I told you, I was placed in adoption."

"Then how did you find the pack? If you were three, there is no way you would be able to remember where to find them. You wouldn't have known where the pack was."

"It's a Lycan thing."

"You are saying you can find them?" Eric asks. "Even though you were kicked out the pack."

"Yes."

"How?"

"We are.....connected. The same way I know my sister is here. You lot have the ability to link one another, right?"

"How did you find them?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I can't explain it. It's like if there were other Lycan packs out there, they would be able to find Moonshine too."

"Are there other packs?"

"No. Why do you think Trey is so keen on keeping the pack hidden? Our kind are dwindling. The ones you saw at Moonshine are the last of their kind. My sister is the last Alpha." His blue eyes pause on mine. "You still haven't told her." "It's none of your business."

"She's my sister." He argues

"You don't even know her."

"Do you?" He mutters sarcastically. "You are in love with her and yet you won't admit it."

""Shut up!" I growl.

'He makes sense'. Aero tells me and I see Eric cocking an eyebrow at me.

Devon holds his hands up, "I'm just saying, how do you think she will feel about you keeping this from her? A secret that has been kept from her, her whole life?"

"You know you are lucky to be alive."

"I know. But so is Neah. Have you not stopped to wonder why Trey was keeping her alive?"

"Why?"

"Now that is something I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out for years. Binding her abilities doesn't even make sense. If he had brought her up differently. She would be just like them." "You said he didn't believe in a female Alpha."

"I did, but then why keep her alive? You have to admit Alpha Dane, something doesn't quite add up."

"And you could be making all this up to keep yourself alive."

"I could, but even you can see that what I'm saying makes sense."

'Do you believe him?' I ask Aero

'I don't know.' He replies. 'He has no reason to lie and yet at the same time, he has every reason.'

'If I kill him and Neah finds out.... She will never want to be with me. If he's a liar and is plotting an attack with Trey. Then I would be stupid to ignore it.'

There was only one thing for it, to tell Neah the truth, but would she be able to handle it?

Chapter 0039

Sitting up in bed, I look around the room in confusion. I was certain that I had been on my way to the shower.

It takes me a second to realise that I only had my sweatshirt on and nothing on my legs. Looking around the room, I spot my joggers and underwear on the chair. I felt sick, had Alpha Dane done something to me. My eyes flash around the room, checking to see if I was alone.

"You are overthinking it, Neah." I mutter to myself as I race across the room to grab fresh underwear and jeans from the closet.

There was no blood on the bed sheets and everything felt normal. Alpha Dane did say he would never do that, but what if I had involuntarily given him consent because I was daydreaming again?

Quickly dressing. I slip out of the room, only to meet Alpha Dane on the stairs. His brow is wrinkled into a deep frown.

"I was just coming to see if you were awake. We need to talk."

A lump in my throat forms. What was he going to say? Did he want to end the contract already? Or was he going to remind me again that I insisted on it?

"Do you mind coming to the office? There's a lot to discuss."

"Okay."

"Neah, I need you to talk to me properly. This is important! I know that you are upset or maybe even angry with me. But if it's just going to be a one sided conversation, I am not going to be able to help you understand." I scowl, what would there be to understand? I just nod.

Alpha Dane rolls his eyes, and stands back against the railings to let me pass. He follows a few steps behind, keeping a little distance between us.

In the office he asks me to sit as he closes the door and slides the lock across. My heart starts to race, I had never seen him lock the door before.

I couldn't see what he was doing as he stayed behind me for a few seconds, eventually moving around the desk to his chair. The deep frown still sits heavily on his brow.

"Neah, we have a man in the dungeon who is claiming to be your brother?"

"Trey?" I ask, confused.

"No. He claims to be your younger brother. He calls himself Devon."

"....I don't.... There was only Trey."

"I know you believe that."

Believe? That was my only brother. He had met him, he should know.

"But what the prisoner is saying is that Trey isn't your brother, he is biologically your uncle and I have to admit, the family resemblance between our prisoner and you is unmistakable whereas you and Trey don't even share the same features." I look all around the room, at everything but him. I had called Trey brother right up until I was forced to call him Alpha. And there had never been another.

"Are you.... Are you saying that one of my parent's had an affair?"

"No. He thinks that when you were bound the first time, he was erased from your memory. He didn't grow up in Moonshine, he was rejected by the pack and ended up with humans adopting him."

He stares at me with his crimson eyes as I try to think of something to say. It sounded ridiculous.

"You are in fact the eldest child of the Alpha. There is a reason you needed to be bound twice." Alpha Dane states. "When you turned eighteen, you were old enough to take over as Alpha. The Alpha gene surged through you." "I'm not an Alpha. I mean look at me."

"You may not think so, but your blood believes otherwise."

I lean my head back against the backrest and close my eyes. "It's a lie."

"Is it? You were bound twice Neah. Twice. I don't agree with binding on any level, but to have it done twice? You would have to be pretty powerful. I think there is an element of truth to his story."

"You believe him?" It surprised me that he believed a story so easily.

"He isn't holding back."

"Are you going to kill him?"

"Not right now. Neah, look at me." I open my eyes to see him focussed on me but now, the frown had gone. "Do you want to meet him?"

I shake my head

"I will respect your decision, but can I ask why?"

I shrug my shoulders. I didn't have a specific answer, I just didn't want to.

"Okay." He mutters. He doesn't push for an answer.

"Where did you find him?" I ask quietly.

"Eric found him when searching for Trey and Cassnadra. The guy fell out of a tree."

"So he is from Moonshine?" I ask, curiosity getting the better of me.

"Yes and no. He was kicked out by Trey, apparently he has been trying to help you."

"Me?"

"The only thing he kept asking me was if you were safe. If I had got you out. He has not pushed to see you. He just wants to know that you are safe. And for me to tell you the truth." "That he is my brother?"

He clenches his jaw. "Unfortunately, there is more to it. He wasn't in human form when he fell out of the tree."

"He was a Wolf up a tree?" Wolves couldn't climb trees, well not in Wolf form.

"No."

"I.... I don't understand."

"He looks like that thing that attacked my men." He studies my face, "He calls himself a Lycan."

"Ly....Lycan." What the hell was a Lycan?

I pull my knees up to my chest and wrap my arms around them.

"I... I don't know what that is?"

"You are not the only one. I've been searching for information and there is nothing. The prisoner claims Moonshine are the only ones left. That they are a dying race."

It didn't register straightaway. "Are you..... Am I..... Are you saying I'm one of them?"

"Yes."

"No." I whimper. The beast that had attacked was hideous, a monster like something from a nightmare.

"We won't know for certain, not until you are unbound."

I had spent my whole life wondering what it's like to actually be able to shift. To run as fast as possible through the trees. I wondered if the others had truly enjoyed it. If they liked becoming an animal and feeling total freedom. But I didn't want to become a monster. "Don't."

He cocks an eyebrow at me. "Don't what?"

"Don't find someone who can unbind me. Please!" I whisper

He looks shocked. His eyes are wide, his eyebrows raised as he stares at me. "You don't want to be unbound?"

I shake my head. "Not if I'm going to become a monster."

"Is that really what you want? For almost all of your life you have been bound."

"Then it won't make a difference, will it." I shrug my shoulders

"You won't be able to heal. You won't be able to protect yourself. You won't......"

"I understand." I whisper. Lowering my head so he couldn't see me blinking back the tears that are building.

He stands up and moves to the window and I use the opportunity to wipe my tears on my sleeve.

"Are you sure?" He asks quietly

""Yes.....I don't want to be a monster."

Chapter 0040

Dane

Raven had been right about the constant fear. Now I was paying more attention, I could hear it in Neah's voice but her scent stays exactly the same. The strange scent she carried from our first encounter to now, the only difference was the lavender essence that her.

accompanied

I could see her reflection in the window. I could see how she uses her sleeves to wipe away the escaped tears. Barely making a sound.

"For what it's worth. Devon doesn't sound like a monster." I mutter. "His priority appears to be you and nothing more. As I said, he is very forthcoming with information."

"You mean you haven't had to torture him." She speaks the words slowly as though she was talking about herself. I see how she fidgets on the seat. Her head turns over her shoulder to look at the locked door. Talking about torture was a trigger. "No, it was not needed." I wanted to get her thoughts onto something else. Turning around to look at her, I see how the tears make her blue eyes bright.

'Just tell her.' Aero moans

'Do you really think now is the time? She has just asked me to stop looking for someone to help her. To find out that her mate is right here and she can't even sense me, what do you think it will do to her?!'

He rolls his eyes at me and shuts his mouth.

Another tear rolls down her face. I hated seeing her like this.

Moving around to her, I crouch down in front of the chair and cup her face. With my thumb, I wipe away the escaped tear. Her eyes close and she leans into my hand, like it was a comfort to her.

The words tumble from my mouth. "Neah, I am your true mate."

A little wrinkle appears above her eyebrows as they knit together. Slowly, her eyes open. She keeps her face resting against my hand and just stares at me. Properly staring into my eyes like she had when I landed on top of her at Moonshine. My heart thuds and I feel a pull to her. I just about hold it together and stop myself from doing something stupid.

"My.... my mate?" she whispers while still frowning

"Yes."

"No."

"Yes, Neah."

"I was mated to Kyle."

"And yet you are mated to me too." It was definitely not the reaction I was expecting. I thought she would be happy. Or at least feel a sense of relief.

She pushes herself back as far as she can in the chair and away from me. "Mated....to you?"

"Yes."

"Are you sure?"

"Trust me. I know and so does Aero."

"How....how long?"

"A while." Something told me that if I said, from day one, she would freak out.

She presses her pink lips into a thin line and once again, looks over her shoulder, at the locked door.

"No." she mutters again. "You...you....you made a deal with me. Why? Is this what you say to all your brides? Is this... Is this supposed to.... make me feel better?"

The more panicked she became, the more she stuttered. It would be cute if she was happening for any other reason then panic. She really was nothing like any of the other brides or any of the women I would typically go for.

Moving to the door, I slide the lock back and hold the door open. "If you need to leave, go. I know I have sprung a lot of information on you and you probably need some time to think."

I watch her nod her head, but she doesn't move from the seat. "You...you didn't answer my questions."

I leave the door open and sit on the desk directly in front of her. "I have never said it to any of the others. I told you I have been looking for my mate for a long time. Did I expect it to be you? No. Am I happy it's you? Yes. I don't care if you are a Lycan or whatever. That is not important to me."

She bites her nails, not quite looking at me.

"Is that why you were so angry when you found out what they were doing to me, because of the matebond?" She doesn't stutter this time. "You are the only one who didn't join in. And you lied to Trey too, you said I met you at the front door. You said that I was the one to show you to his office." "If I hadn't lied to him, he would have beaten you. My priority was getting you out of there."

I sigh, this was not going at all like the way I wanted it too. "You can't sense the bond, Neah so I understand that you don't believe me. I promise you it is there. Think of the smaller things. Think of how you feel comfort when I'm holding you or how you curl up against me in your sleep. I know you feel safe when I am around. You can't deny that."

Aero was oddly quiet too, because this hadn't gone the way he had hoped.