Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 101

Fiona stood before a massive wooden door, its surface weathered and carved with symbols she didn't recognize. Each symbol pulsed faintly in the dim light of the cavern, as though alive with hidden energy Arlen hesitated, her hand trembling as she raised it to knock. The

sound echoed dully through the space, followed by a long, oppressive silence.

After what felt like an eternity, the door creaked open slightly, revealing nothing but pitch-black darkness beyond. Fiona frowned, her instincts peckline. She couldn't make out a single detail within the room-no walls, no light, not even a shadow. It was as if the doorway led to an empty

void

Arlen stepped forward cautiously, her head bowed. "It's me," she said, her words stumbling dightly. "I brought brought the healer."

Fiona's frown deepened as she observed the way Arlen's posture shifted. The woman's earlier bravado had completely evaporated, replaced by a nervas deference that made Fiona's stomach churn. Who or what was behind this door to elicit such a reaction? Was it Romero?

No. This wasn't something that an ordinary Werewolf could do.

The darkness within the doorway remained impenetrable. Fiona tried to peer into it, leaning slightly to the side, but it was useless. Her eyes met only an endless void. She wondered briefly if it was some kind of corridor or another chamber, but even the faint glow from the moss and candles behind them didn't penetrate it.

A voice emerged from the darkness, ancient and brittle, like the creak of an old tree. "Come in."

The command sent a shiver through the air, a low vibration that Fiona could feel in her chest. She exhaled slowly, taking a step forward. Just as she was about to cross the threshold, she glanced at Arlen, expecting her to follow

Arlen remained rooted to the spot, her face pale and glistening with sweat. She clenched her fists, her knuckles white, and seemed unable to meet Fiona's gaze

"What are you waiting for Fiona asked, keeping her tone neutral.

no sound came out. After a tense moment, she took a small

bang, cutting off the faint sound of Arlen's retreating footsteps. Fiona turned sharply, her pulse quickening. She reached out instinctively to test the handle but froze as the oppressive darkness

burst

golden glow across the space. The contrast to the void she had seen earber was so stark that Fiona found herself

with things she couldn't identify, Symbols similar to those carved on the door were etched into the stone floor, glowing faintly with the same pulsating energy. At the center of the room stood a figure, cloaked and motionless, their face obscured by a

the candlelight. She stepped closer, brushing her fingers against it. "Why couldn't I see the room before?" she murmured, more to herself than anyone else. "It is an enchantment," the voice said again, closer now. It sounded like a combined voice of both male

cloak. "Only those who are invited may enter.

Instead, they walked toward a chair and

before him. The flickering

carry the name Rosenthal, do you

her stomach twisting. "I

Rosenthals who abandoned the Werewolves that shielded them for generations. How curious

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2:47 PM C

Chapter 101

Fiona could sense amusement in the air. "Deflection. Interesting. So, the stories of your kind's sharp tongues

didn't waver. This wasn't a casual accusation. Whoever this was must

another member of the

the strength of unity and the necessity of allegiance. Yet they turned their backs on their protectors, severed

his posture rigid. "Your name carries the weight of that betrayal, whether you accept it or not. And now you stand before me. a Rosenthal,

to engage further. Her silence didn't seem to bother the figure. Instead, he shifted his tone, gesturing slightly toward a small table nearby. A delicate goblet appeared out of thin air. filled with a dark