Chapter 42
He gave her a narrowed look. “You really do have deep trust issues, don’t you?” he questioned with a scoff.
Viola didn’t deny it. “You give me no reason to trust you, Alpha Kade. Can I see the contract p>
This had become important to her now, and she didn’t want anything to mess it up. He was the most powerful werewolf in all of their world; having him give her an opportunity she could possibly use in the future wasn’t easy. She knew that if he didn’t truly believe she would fail, he wouldn’t have given her this chance in the first place.
He turned and placed the papers in front of her on the desk.
“Fine, have it your way, niñita,” he told her with a faint smirk, and that name made her grit her teeth slightly.
Viola picked up the papers and, ignoring his intense stare, began to read.
[Clause of Contest and Consideration]
Should Viola Linden emerge victorious in the sanctioned competition set forth by the Silver Pack, the Alpha shall grant her three wishes, to be fulfilled in full, without delay, condition, or refusal. These wishes may be of any nature, material, social, political, or personal, regardless of how unreasonable, excessive, or unconventional they may be.
Upon victory, Viola Linden shall be entitled to all rights, protections, privileges, and standing afforded to the Alpha’s Luna and lawful wife, lacking nothing that such a position commands p>
That was exactly what she wanted, Viola thought as her fingers trembled slightly while reading those words. She continued to the next section.
[Should Viola Linden fail in the competition, yet survive its completion by miracle, she shall forfeit all claims to Alpha Sebastian Kade, his pack, his territory, and his protection. She shall leave the pack lands immediately and never return, nor seek aid, compensation, or acknowledgment from the Alpha or his people for the remainder of her life.
This agreement is binding, final, and irreversible upon signing.
Signed this day by both parties in full awareness of the risks, consequences, and obligations herein.
Alpha Sebastian Kade
Signature: ______________________
Viola Linden
Signature: ______________________
“Satisfied enough, four eyes?” came his words, making her look up at him.
She placed the papers back down on the desk and pushed her annoying sliding glasses up her nose before nodding. “With this, we both know you can’t take back your words,” she said as she took his pen from the desk and leaned forward to sign her name.
“Don’t worry. There will be no words to take back when you have no chance, Miss Linden,” he said, watching her fingers curl around his pen. His gaze lingered as he noticed the raw skin around her nails. Did she do that to herself? he wondered with a frown.
Viola finished signing and slid the papers toward him so he could add his own signature.
Without looking away from her, Sebastian swiftly signed both copies of the agreement, one for each of them.
“Done.” He slid her copy back toward her and placed his inside a desk drawer. He watched as she clutched the papers to her chest and let out a sigh of relief. Did something like this truly mean that much to her?
Sebastian knew that many shewolves would give anything just to have a single wish granted by him, and anyone who received it would be ecstatic, over the moon. Yet as he watched her, he couldn’t help but notice and realize that this little woman wouldn’t be asking for half his money or his properties in the future. She looked genuinely relieved simply to have the contract in her hands.
That realization made an unfamiliar heaviness settle in his chest. He couldn’t help but feel bad that he was allowing her to walk straight into something that could very well kill her. Still, he suppressed the feeling. He had given her a choice, and she had chosen to step into this on her own.
When she didn’t immediately stand to leave, Sebastian guessed her legs were troubling her. So, out of what little goodness he still possessed, he decided to distract her so she could rest a moment longer. He pointed toward her neck.
“What happened to you there p>
’Are you kidding me? Didn’t you creep into her room to bite and lick her neck yesterday?’ his wolf scoffed.
Viola, still marveling at the fact that this document promised her protection and power if she became his wife, couldn’t help but feel a strange sense of safety in those written words. When she heard his question, her hand immediately flew to her neck.
“I got a love bite from Zoe’s dog,” she said without thinking.
Sebastian nearly choked on his saliva. ’Did she just call us Zoe’s dog?’ his wolf gasped, deeply offended, as being referred to as a dog was a serious insult to any werewolf.
“Zoe’s dog?” Sebastian arched a brow. When did Zoe have a dog? And how on earth did she come to that thinking believing him a dog?
Viola, strangely buoyed by the contract, found herself talking more than she should have. “Mm. He was so warm and cozy, and his bites and licks made me—” She stopped short, suddenly realizing who she was talking to.
“Made you feel what?” Sebastian asked, his voice dropping low as he came around the desk and planted his hands on either arm of the chair, caging her in when she began to stand up.
Had she felt it too, what he had felt last night? The intense desire to have her naked, to have his cock buried deep within her warmth. To press her body against his, to kiss her, lick her, taste her, and claim her even though he despised the bond?
Did she—
“Safe Viola said softly, looking up at his face now dangerously close to hers. She saw his brows draw together in confusion and repeated herself. “Zoe’s dog makes me feel safe. So I don’t mind if he bites and licks me in my sleep. Now please move back. I need to go p>
So she hadn’t felt what he felt. Sebastian exhaled slowly as his wolf mocked him. ’Of course, you perverted creep. She can’t feel your desires, and she certainly doesn’t feel the bond the way you do. Her wolf isn’t there. This is all you p>
Sebastian studied her eyes, wary, guarded, unyielding, and felt something inside him soften against his will.
“Did Zoe tell you she has a dog?” he asked quietly, unsure why his voice had softened.
Viola nodded. She didn’t understand why he was speaking so gently now, but she found herself tensing all the same. No one had spoken to her softly in a long while, and it unsettled her more than harsh words ever did.
“Do you want a dog of your own?” he asked, his gaze flicking briefly to her pale pink lips as her tongue peeked out to lick them.
Something inside him clenched at the way her tongue swept across her lips. His fingers tightened around the arms of the chair.
’Ahem, you have forbidden dogs in your pack.’ his wolf reminded.
’Shut up p>
At that moment, with how small and innocent she looked, with those lips so distracting and those eyes holding the confusion of a woman who had learned not to expect kindness, he knew, if she asked him for a dog as a pet, he would give it to her. He would give her anything, damn it.
And that was the problem. She was a weakness to him.
Viola blinked at his question. “I p>
She didn’t get to finish. A sharp ding sounded as the door slid open, followed by the clicking of heels against the floor. They both turned toward the entrance at the same time. What Viola saw made her eyes widen as she pushed Sebastian away and rose quickly from the chair.