Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter Six

(Riley’s POV)

It didn’t make sense.

That Alpha Thain of the Nightshade pack had chosen me; I had so much to gain—my mother’s freedom, ‘my freedom’, and wealth—lots of it. It felt almost too good to be true. He had told me that he never made any deals in which he had nothing to gain, but I can’t imagine what he had to gain from being mated to me.

Yet, his promises had been mouth-watering, every single word, and I knew he was right. I knew I would agree to his terms, whatever they might be, as long as my mother was free.

He was not a gentleman; he had told me just that, and that was the one thing I believed. After the little conversation, he had left me here all alone, to think about his proposal. No, he didn’t bother escorting me back to the ball where he had taken me; he was letting me know, even from the little gestures, what kind of a man he was.

When he meant he wanted me as a mate for a period of time, did that involve intimacy? Maybe it didn’t; maybe I just had to play the perfect actress, and that was it.

Even as I thought about it, I knew they were all lies. I was lying to myself, and I saw the look in his eyes.

beg to stay when the time is up,” he had said, “I am not a gentleman” he

he didn’t deserve it; he had put me through too much pain. I had lost everything, and it was all because of him, but

back to the mating ball, and to my surprise, after I had left, the music had stopped, also the dance. Everyone hung there looking tense; some had left the hall. I didn’t think I was that important to the pack, but again, everyone wanted to know what truly was going on between I and Alpha Thane, not that they really cared for

to me; tears streamed down

Thane to lie; he couldn’t announce me to the crowd when he knew I wasn’t his mate—that was what they thought, but they were all wrong. I couldn’t tell my mother the truth; I couldn’t tell anyone the truth, and a part of me knew that telling anyone would not only put me in danger but would endanger them too, there was a reason he wanted

go home, mama,” I said, holding her by the arms and leading her out. I felt the gazes of my fellow pack members piercing into me, one

.

not impossible; it had happened in the

and in my room. My mother

man as a mate. He had caused

judged him wrong all these

listen to me. I know his father, but Thane, he is worse than his father; he

truth, but this was the last thing I needed to hear. If only she knew the truth—that this had been an offer and he was going to give me far more than I had ever hoped for—I wondered if she would

I doubted it.

mother seemed to know something more about the Nightshade Pack—something

do to me if I

and I do not mind if I have to give my