The Alpha’s Contract by Taylor West

Chapter 0378



Dane

"Stay here." I tell Neah, pulling on a shirt

"Who is it?" She asks, already climbing out of bed and heading to the closet.

"It doesn't matter. You need to stay here."

She carries on pulling on underwear as though I hadn't said anything. "I was right." She murmurs. "My gut feeling was right." She shimmy's herself into a pair of jeans. "Is it Cooper?"

"No."

"Who? Maddie. Did something happen? Has she said something?"

"It's not Maddie. Please will you just stay here until I know more."

"Our children are not even in the house."

"Athena and Sebastian won't let anything happen to them." I reassure her.

"Do they need to be kept safe? What's happened? You are not answering my question Dane!" She plants her hands on her hips and stares at me. She was trying to read my mind.

I shake my head because I knew what her reaction would be when she found out who was at the gate.

"It's Blair."

She stops what she's doing to stare at me.

'Three, two....' Aero starts counting down, preparing for Neah to snap. Instead, she sinks into the large chair, her soft blue eyes hovering on me. "Why is she here?"

"I don't know, but will you please stay here? Just until I know what she wants. Besides, you are supposed to be staying in the house."

She doesn't answer me.

"Neah?"

out her cheeks,

leaving. Whether she

is asking her questions. The blonde with her was sitting on

was expecting

have me." I snap. "Why are

with a response. She tugs her sweatshirt

"Well?"

unsure. "I could have left. I wanted to leave. I was ready to go. All

I'm guessing he has heard a similar story

I decided to come here or maybe it wasn't

"Why?"

trying to figure that out. I'm probably going to die here. I deserve it." She puffs out her cheeks just like Neah does when she is contemplating something. She screws her face up. "I think

for years. You go and lose your Lycan and suddenly you have seen the light. Maybe

snap. "There is no need to wish this on someone." As much as I despised Blair, no

gestures to Samara who is snoring. "She helped me understand a lot." She returns her gaze to Ryken. "I made

"Mistakes?"

and thrive from it. I made money. Got myself a home. I lived a life that I thought I loved. And now I

takes a few steps away. I'm not sure if he was trying the tough

tried hunting down my mate and also slowly sent my brother over

keeps her gaze off of mine. "I didn't feel it, but I thought

to pull off something that hasn't been done before. He didn't survive it." Damien growls. "But you, you

him and let him mark me and then...." She shakes her head and her hood falls down, revealing her short hair. She quickly hikes the hood back up and pulls it down around her face. "I'm sorry. I dragged him into my mess, preyed on his need to get revenge. You're right, I screwed him up, because that is what I do. I have always worked alone. That was why I was known as a Lone

I demand. "Do you think I'm going to welcome you with open arms? Let you stay in the pack? I could give you a list as long as my arm for everyone who wants you dead. Me

She bobs her head. "I told you because can't hide it. Because your Hunter will know the moment he sees me if I am lying, that's if he doesn't kill me first, I screwed with his life too." She frowns and takes

on me." But I

who slaughtered

I am scared, because I think

over the possible hiding places, maybe she was lying and someone was

her in the dungeon," I point at Samara, "And bring

she is