0022
Neah
His face wrinkled up into a mixture of surprise and confusion. Maybe there was even a little hint of anger there. But I just wanted to know where I stood with him.
My life at Moonshine, although unbearable, was predictable.
I knew what I was supposed to be doing and when I was supposed to be doing it.
I knew people would come to my room to hit me.
I knew that the only food I was allowed was leftovers, if there was any.
Here, each and everything was a surprise.
They spoke to me like I was actually one of them.
I had thought about it while I was alone.
Pulling at every thread of conversation with Alpha Dane. He had said I was the only one he had ever wanted to mark and maybe now that the contract was over with my brother, he would be willing to make a new contract with me.
"Is that what you want? You want to provide me with an heir, nothing more?" Now I could hear his annoyance.
I lower my eyes. "It's what you want isn't it? Someone to give you an heir. Wasn't that the idea of these contracts with female Wolves? So make a new contract with me, just me!" I had no idea where my confidence was coming from.
"You don't need a contract. I have already said you can stay."
I nod, but I knew what Wolves were like, especially the men from Moonshine. I heard them every night. I wanted to make sure that no one here would touch me.
"I see," He murmurs, "You want a contract for your safety."
"Y....yes." I knew I was pushing my luck. He was an Alpha, I had no right to request something from him.
I feel him staring at me and kept my eyes low and my mouth shut. I had said what I wanted to say. It was his move now.
"No."
"Oh."
"It's not fair for me to draw up a contract and expect you to sign it when you can't even read."
I feel my shoulders drop with disappointment. I was certain I was making the right move.
"I will make you a verbal agreement. One year. You stand by my side for one whole year, three hundred and sixty five days and then if we are happy, you carry my heir."
"W...What's the catch?"
"No catch, Neah. It's as simple as that."
"What if you find your true mate?" A year was a long time, I was willing to carry his heir now and maybe then, the fantasies would stop creeping into my mind..
"I won't."
"You....you can't be sure."
"I've searched for ten years, Neah. I would know if I had found her. Do we have a deal?"
I glance at him and he is watching me, waiting for my answer.
"Isn't this why you wanted to see me, to make a deal?" He presses
"Why a year?" I whisper.
"I think a year serves its purpose. There are a lot of questions surrounding my ability to keep a woman. You know what happened to the others."
"Who decides when the year is up? What if something bad happens in that time? What if.... what if I do something wrong or can never be unbound?"
He smiles at me. "You ask a lot more questions than Trey ever did."
"I just....."
"You want to be sure." His smile turns into a grin.
"You may not be able to read or write, Neah, but you are smart. You really should give yourself some more credit. So let's try it this way. You act as my mate or bride, whichever term you prefer, for an entire year. During which, you will be protected by the entire pack. I will teach you how to protect yourself. I will search for someone to unbind you. I will provide you with a life that you deserve. I will get you a tutor so you can learn to read and write. I will provide you with anything you need." A life that I deserve. It didn't seem possible.
"Okay." I mutter in agreement
Alpha Dane was still smiling, pleased with himself about his new deal.
"Good. Now that is out of the way. You can come with me." He holds a hand out expectantly, patiently waiting as I take it.
"Where are you taking me?" I mutter, a sudden surge of panic races through me.
"I told you, training would start when you are healed."
Walking across the grounds, he keeps his hand on mine. I wasn't sure i f he was trying to make a point or not. Though I didn't care, his warm hand was comforting.
As we move, I spot Beta Eric, standing outside of a small building with no windows and a single door and quietly wondered where it went.
Alpha Dane pushes open a set of double doors that lead into a gym. It was already busy with sweaty men and women.
"Everyone out!" Alpha Dane orders.
One by one, they grab their things and exit the building until it is just us.
"Right," He guides me to the mats and turns me around. "Make a fist."
I ball up my hand and he shakes his head.
"Give me a thumbs up." He waits as I do what I'm told. "Now wrap your thumb around the outside." He grabs my newly formed fist, "If you punch someone with your thumb on the inside, you will break it. And while you can't heal, I would prefer it if we don't have any more hospital trips."
After watching me hit a punch bag a few times, Alpha Dane tells me that maybe it's better to teach me how to block attacks first. I would have been more frustrated if I hadn't agreed. The punch bag had barely moved.
He spends time teaching me how to defend myself from attacks that came from the front. But the moment he moves behind me and locks his arms around me, I don't move. Getting lost in the warmth that enveloped me.
"Neah, are you going to try and do something?" His minty breath grazes my skin as he whispers into my ear. A hand is pressed flat to my stomach while the other locks my shoulders in place.
"Earth to Neah?" He muses, releasing his grip a little.
"I.....I need..... I need to use the bathroom." I mutter, flustered.
He lets go of me and points to the end of the gym.
Running away, I don't look back. Hurling myself into the women's bathroom and shutting myself in a cubicle.
I had never felt like this around any man, ever. To the point I thought there was something wrong with me. Why did he make me feel this way?
"You don't have to be embarrassed." His deep voice comes from the otherside of the door. "I can help you with your....... needs."
I could hear the amusement in his voice.
"After all, you are mine for the year."
He pushes the unlocked door open. His crimson eyes seemed to be a little darker than usual, but they were heavily focussed on me and only me.
I thought I was ready. I thought I was certain when I said I was ready to carry his heir.
As he stared at me with a growing hunger, I knew I couldn't just give myself to him.
"I can help you release that frustration." He smiles. "Or I can teach you how to release your own frustrations."
I push the door closed in his face. "I'm not....I'm not ready."
"You are only going to suffer. It will only get worse and you will grow more and more restless, maybe even angry." Was he talking about himself?
I rip the door open and glare at him. "What does that mean? Are you just saying that to get in my pants?"
"You are part animal. It's a natural instinct. You may be able to ignore it for now, but it will start to consume you and will become part of your everyday thoughts. Even right now, I can still smell your arousal and it's only getting stronger." I clamp my thighs together and his eyes move down to them
"Your underwear is soaked. You feel a dull throb deep inside, an ache, a longing."