Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter Three

The Mating Ball.

(Riley’s POV)

Ryker sat with his mate, and I was to sit besides him, close enough to hear him whisper the same words he had told me to her, close enough to see him kiss her, close enough to hear her soft moans as his hands disappeared beneath her dress, but that wasn’t the worst part of this all; the worst part was having to see my mother, refilling his cup like the servant he wanted everyone to know she was.

All I felt was anger, burning fury.

I turned away from them, focusing on keeping my breath steady.

“You work slugglishly, old woman,” Ryker said to my mother, she had pretended not to hear that as she refilled his glass for what seemed as the hundredth time.

My mother glanced at me, her eyes a warning, begging me to stay still and not do anything crazy, and it took everything in me to seat still.

“You forgot to refill mine,” Zara said to my mother, and of course, my mother did refill hers, muttering a silent appology which wasn’t even due. Zara held the glass in her slender hand and then her eyes turned to me, a small smirk playing on her lips and I watched as she let it go—purposely, the content spilled down my mother’s plain blue dress.

“Ooops,” Zara says. A hand on her mouth, I had watched her, it was no mistake.

“You did that on purpose.” I sneered at her. Zara had an innocent look on her face, which was of course false.

“Sorry, who are you?” she asked, an eyebrow inclined.

I wanted to

don’t you ever speak to her that

to my feet in an attempt to help my mother clean up the broken pieces of

to get in trouble, and I hated it. I hated the fact that she thought this was okay. Slowly, I took my seat; my eyes blurred, but I never let the tears out. I had promised

am sorry, Luna; I know the glass must have slipped off your hands,” my mother apologized, and Zara gave a

feeling a thick lump in my throat. I wanted to stand up and leave, but I knew Ryker wanted me here, he wanted to torment me some more; he wanted me to watch and listen, and I didn’t want

ball with their mates; others waited. It was a beautiful experience to watch a werewolf find their mate,

you accompany me for this dance, my love?” Ryker asked Zara,

taking his extended hands, and he led her to dance. He paused, turning

could mingle now, Riley, but I doubt there would be a partner available for you,” he says before walking

somewhere in the

.

was once again jostled

stopped, even if

there puzzled, and that’s when I noticed the

had just walked

in the ball; people could go in and come without anyone noticing, but there was

could be their striking beauty, it was unlike anything I had ever seen, or the aura they carried with them—it seemed to settle over them like an extra layer of clothing. Everyone watched, and so did

this man before,

Thane of the Nightshade

I have noticed that?. Beside

even Ryker, who had an amazing six feet four, couldn’t

like the red sea, staying very