The Alpha’s Contract by Taylor West

Chapter 0007

Neah “You know my brother really likes you.” Raven smiles at me as she shoves a crumpet into her mouth

My eyes flash up to hers across the breakfast table. She had been put on babysitting duty while Alpna Dane runs those errands he had mentioned Clearly my comment about being alone had made him reconsider.

He hadn't told me where he was going and I didn't ask. I didn't think it was my place. “You are prettier than the last girl.” Raven mutters, distracting me from my thoughts. “Last girl?” I almost choke on my juice.

“You are his contracted mate, right?”

I nod my head.

“Did you really think you were the first?”

It wasn't something that had crossed my mind. I was more concerned about what Alpha Dane was going to do to me. He hadn't made a move except for halding me against him while we slept. He hadn’t tried sneaking a hand between my thighs. He hadn't insisted I sleep naked, nothing. And that only made it worse. Waiting for the unknown. He didn't seem like a man that would wait.

“Hopefully, you will stick.” She adds, reaching for another crumpet. “I will stick?” I wasn't used to these phrases or the way she spoke to me so casually. Orders and abuse, that was what I was used to.

‘I probably shouldn't be the one telling you this but it’s better for you to be prepared.” She takes a deep breath. "My brother has been looking for his mate for a long time. He's twenty eight. Doesn't have an heir yet. The others, they stay no more than a few weeks, some run. Some are killed.” She tells me with a shrug of her shoulders, like it was normal

“Because they won't give him an heir?

She shakes her head. “Because he loses interest.”

“Why are you telling me?” I whisper. I would prefer not to know if I was going to be killed.

“There's something about you. He looks at you differently. I saw it at the hospital.”

Her words don't exactly make me feel better. Everyone looked at me differently. They always had because of my strange scent. “Your biggest concern will be if he finds his true mate.” She mutters

the second I turned eighteen. Barging into the basement in the middle of the night and screaming his rejection at me. He had beaten

mate, don’t you? I can tell by the

I whisper. “He rejected me.” I remember the pain I had felt and not just from the beating. It had felt like my heart was being torn from my chest. And because I had felt the bond, my brother had me bound for a second time. That is when I stopped being able

out what pack I'm from and who my brother is, he wanted nothing to do with me. Anyway, like

last a little while longer than the others. That because he likes me, he might keep

work and apparently Alpha Dane had told her to not let me out of her sight unless it was

most of the time doing inventory. It almost seemed pointless having a pack hospital. No

she comes towards me. "I’m going to be here for a while yet. so I

just stare at them. I had no idea who the people were in the photos, nor

my head, I didn’t want to admit the truth. She stares at me from the other side of the counter, her eyes slowly narrow to slits. “You can't read, can you?” How did she know? I shake my head, feeling my cheeks flame ‘I'm guessing you didn't go

was patient and kept trying. Suddenly, she grabs the pieces of paper and shuffles them all into a pile and shoves it

is back.” “How do you know?” “A

His crimson eyes

with my mate!” He snaps at Raven. “Sure.” she mutters and quickly escapes, leaving me

and turns to face me. My eyes drop

“Huh?”

I need to repeat

my mouth to tell him

was no one there, Neah. No one.” I feel his glare on

How

empty. The packhouse, empty. Where have they gone.

head, confused. “You... you went to see my brother?” I whisper,

to me. “A set up so you could get some dirt on me?” He was so angry. "What does Trey want?" I close my eyes

me. But that was when I believed I was helping you. Open your

my closed eyes. Raven was wrong, this was

me. Slowly his face starts to soften. “You don’t know what I’m

go of my chin,