Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

Chapter One Hundred and Forty Eight

Aric had been the Beta, second in command-it only made sense for my father to leave him in charge of the pack, but he never did. He had seen something I hadn't. Instead, he wanted me mated to Alexander, believing it was the best way to keep me safe. I had thought it was just to protect me from Cynthia, but that wasn't the only reason. He knew there were others who posed a threat.

Cynthia waited for me to piece everything together and slowly, I did.

My father never informed Aric of his plans to marry me off had found that strange but never thought much of it. Now, thinking back to their conversation—when Aric had tried to convince him to end the agreement-my father had firmly refused.

"The letter... it was false." I finally spoke up.

"Your father would never have sent you against her. He wanted you far away from her. But it wasn't entirely false -there was some truth to it," he said, his eyes never meeting mine.

"You advised me against telling Alexander about my plans to face the Empress." The words came out in a whisper.

Aric had failed me once-he had drugged me-but I had been willing to forgive that. Despite everything he had done, I had still seen him as family.

Cynthia's voice was laced with satisfaction. "How do you think I got to your father? I needed a healer and someone who could get me into the

Nightshade Pack members under the guise that our pack was being mistreated-our people weren't receiving the best treatment, but I had a feeling she

and regarded him as a brother. If he had suspected anything, he had kept it to himself—and in the end, this was his reward: a stab in the back and an insult

ground. My fists crashed into him over and over, tears streaking down my face. He didn't fight back; he just lay there, letting

wanted to break him.

never trusted Aric. But I had been the one to stand in his defense. He was my

Empress said, but I didn't stop. My anger was stronger than her compulsion-I refused to let

"You bastard." Punch. "I cared about you-he cared about you." Punch. "You took them away from me."

and the force of her compulsion hit me hard. I couldn't fight it. Amanda pulled Aric's limp form away with a strength that surprised me; he had been knocked out, barely breathing but still alive. Her skin had the smallest contact with mine, and

will kill you all; I will tear

no remorse in

had once desired from the god of light. The little girl wanted immortality-same as Sarah. They chose death over the struggles

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