The Alpha’s Contract (Contract by Alpha’s #3)

Chapter 0142

Raven

"Damien is a good guy. He has a dark side, like all of us Lycans," Mallory says, her lips twisting into a half-smile. "It’s strange, isn’t it? Almost like only those with a troubled past get turned into Lycans."

She lets out a short laugh, but there’s no humor in it. "Messed up, right?"

"You really believe that?" I ask, tilting my head.

"I saw that girl’s arms—Jess, right? Kids don’t do that to themselves unless they’ve been through something terrible," she replies, her voice quieter now.

"And you?" I prompt.

Mallory’s expression hardens. "I watched my father stab my mother. Over and over, like he wasn’t even human. And after I attacked your friend, all I could see was him in me. I became exactly what I feared. Exactly what Cassandra wanted me to become." She runs a hand through her blonde hair, frustration evident. "Cassandra never picked normal, happy people. She always went after the broken ones. The ones she knew could be twisted into something worse."

A sinking feeling settles in my gut. What about Damien? What was his past? Why did she choose him?

"And Damien?" I hesitate, almost afraid to ask.

"He never talks about it," she says, her tone final.

"Never?"

"Never," she confirms. "I know that’s not the answer you were hoping for, but it’s all I’ve got."

I stand, ready to leave, but pause at the door. "You should tell Dane and Neah what you just told me."

She lets out a bitter snort. "And you think that’ll change how Neah sees me?"

"She has her own dark past," I say simply. "The difference is, she’s pureblood—the last one left. She’s spent her whole life surrounded by lies, so trusting people doesn’t come easy for her."

"Well, that wasn’t what I expected!" Midnight remarks as I walk back toward the pack house.

Neah and Dane are no longer outside arguing—most likely making up when she should be resting—but Jenson is sitting out front, looking thoughtful. Maybe he can give me some advice.

He glances up as I approach. "What were you doing at Mallory’s?"

I drop down onto the seat beside him. "I’m mated to a Lycan too."

I don’t have to look at him to know he’s staring at me.

"Mallory?" He scoffs. "Didn’t think you were into girls."

I roll my eyes. "Not Mallory. Someone named Damien. His scent was on her. You’ve met him, right?"

Jenson nods.

"And?"

"I don’t know what you want me to say, sis," he replies. "He’s tall—maybe a little taller than Dane. Covered in tattoos. Kind of standoffish, but he seems to care about Mallory. Are you sure he’s your mate? Because I would’ve sworn those two were a thing."

"Yes, I’m sure," I say firmly.

"Then I feel sorry for you," he says bluntly. "Knowing who he is and never getting the chance to meet him? That’s rough."

"Wow, thanks for the encouragement," I mutter sarcastically.

Jenson smirks, but I shift the subject. "How’s Jess?"

His expression darkens.

"Don’t pretend you don’t care," I press. "The second you heard she was missing you went after her."

"She’s fine," he grumbles. "Locked herself in her room."

After a beat of silence, he exhales. "Do you think the Moon Goddess is messing with us?"

I chuckle. "You, maybe."

He ignores my jab. "It’s weird, right? All three of us being mated to Lycans?"

"Funny thing is, I said the same thing to Neah. If Jess and Damien were never turned, we never would’ve been bonded to them. Does that mean we were destined to be alone? Or were we always meant to be mated to Lycans?"

Jenson shrugs. "You know me—I would’ve been fine without a mate."

I roll my eyes. "How you’ve managed to stay alive is beyond me."

He stands, giving me a pat on the back. "Love you too, sis."

Then he walks off, leaving me alone.

I sit there for a while, watching the pack move about, going about their lives without a second thought about me. If Dane weren’t my brother, I wonder if anyone would even know I existed.