Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Two Hundred and Eight

The knock on the door cut our momo

short.

Normally, when a door's locked, it's a clear sign that the person inside doesn't

want visitors. But I guess the heads outside couldn't take the hint.

Kaida got back in her dress, and I helped adjust her hair.noveldrama

"How do I look?".

"Beautiful."

"Thanks, but not that. Do I look like someone who just had sex?" She asked, and I shook my head.

"No, you look fine."

Well, sometimes a little lie was necessary. Her hair, smudged lipstick, and rumpled clothes would surely give her out, but she didn't need to know that.

I pulled the door open to find two teenage girls with wide smiles-smiles that dropped the moment they saw us.

Their eyes quickly raked over both of us, immediately figuring out what we'd been up to, and their cheeks flushed deep red.

"Sorry, we didn't mean to interrupt. We came to pick up our rented dresses, but we can – just come back... later," one of them stammered, and they both hurried off without waiting for a reply.

"Hey?" Kaida called, and I turned to her, eyebrow raised. She punched me in the

arm.

"What was that for?" I asked, feigning hurt.

"For lying, jackass."

The mate ball was over, and everything had returned to normal-thankfully.

I was just returning from the training field, where I had spent a few hours and was now heading to my office.

"Alpha." The voice called out. I didn't stop, but Keith caught up to me, just like I knew he would.

"I was wondering if we could talk."

I knew just what he wanted to talk about.

"I wanted to know... If I hadn't walked out of the council like I did, and things weren't the way they are between... well, us, would I have been appointed as beta or gamma?"

"No."

"No?"

I stopped walking. "I'm really considering making you disappear right now. I mean, she might not even notice you're gone."

Keith was trying to figure out if this was a joke or a threat.

"I think you made the best choice though. I have to admit, they do deserve it," he

said, but I could tell that that hadn't been exactly what was on his mind.

Two Hundred and fight

"Yes. They were the only ones who stayed when things got difficult."

Keith nodded, a tight smile on his lips. "I should head back

"Good idea."

*

Austin was already in my office by the time I arrived, a large, red, gift box in hand.

"Where is that from?" I asked.

"The label says it's from the Rogue leaders.".

"Rogues sending gifts now? Guess the apocalypse is closer than I thought. Open

it."

Austin opened up the box, and then his face drained.

The foul smell of decayed blood hit my nose.

I walked over to him and peered into the box. Inside were two severed heads. One I recognized-Edna, the rogue leader who had orchestrated the attack on the pack. The other, I couldn't place. Beneath that lay another note, stained with filthy blood.

We hope you consider this a peace offering. Inside the box lies the head of the man who attempted to murder your Luna-and, of course, Edna, one of our own.

We were unaware of his plans, and we had no idea what he was doing until everything was already in motion. We will not pay the price for his greed.'

That was another thing about rogues-they would never risk their necks to save anyone, not even Edna, who had been one of the leaders.

Of course, I couldn't be certain if the other man was truly the one who had attempted to kill the Luna, but if they had killed Edna, then a lowly rogue would likely mean even less to them.

"Send the rogues a letter," I ordered, "and tell them their message has been received."