Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter Two Hundred and Four

Chapter Two Hundred and Four

The Rogue leaders had waited. When the two days were over, I invited them into the meeting room.

A maid brought over bottles of beer, and Edna was the first to take a deep gulp, the others following soon after. The maid excused herself.

"Edna, Skale, Kev, Gal, and of course, Timothy. Welcome to the Nightshade Pack."noveldrama

"I didn't remember keeping you waiting this long when you paid us a visit." Edna said to me.

"I'd hoped you'd get impatient enough to leave."

Edna chuckled; it was silent and humorless. "Unfortunately, we've come to speak on an important matter."

"I assumed as much."

"We allowed a peace treaty with you once, and now we've come to discuss the terms."

"I made you a promise, Edna. I told you that if you couldn't keep the rogues under control, there would be war. This time, something tells me you were the brains behind the earlier attack."

"Yes. I was. Like the rest, we believed you were gone, and we did what anyone would do-we attacked."

"But I guess you were wrong."

"Sorely."

Timothy spoke up next. "Many see you as some kind of god Only a god could bring hell to earth. So tell us, Alpha. What are you?"

"A god? No. Not even close. I'm just a man of my words.

You've come for peace, but peace isn't something I have to offer. You attacked my Luna; the arrow was meant for her. Fortunately or unfortunately, someone else took the hit.

I had every intention of staying out of your business, as long as you stayed out of mine. That was the agreement. But you didn't honor it. If you want to know what I am... I'm your greatest fear. I'm your downfall."

There was silence for a moment, then Edna slammed the bottle of beer onto the table with a sharp 'thud'.

"You will not succeed."

"I've heard that before. They always get it wrong"

"We are here to make a deal," Edna said, his patience thinning. I waited eagerly for it to snap.

"You have nothing of value to offer me."

"Maybe I do. I could offer you the rogue who shot the arrow at the Luna. He survived with only a few burns. Consider this my attempt at making peace."

"That won't do. But I know what will count as an effort at 'making peace.'

I expected him to crack right there, but instead, he set his pride aside. "What is this thing?" he asked.

"Deliver your own head to me, and I'll decide if it's good enough. After all, you led the attack. Why should the man who followed orders suffer while you go scot- free?"

That did it. He sprang to his feet so quickly that his chair flew to the opposite side of the room.

Chapter Two Hundred and fo

"Who do you think you are?"

"Some refer to me as a 'god,' but I prefer the title 'Alpha King."

"You want a war? Then a war you will get."

He walked away, but the others remained for a moment. They exchanged glances before rising to their feet, offering a small bow before walking away too.

The pack's annual mating ball was set for two days from now. Unmated werewolves from other neighboring packs would also be in attendance. Preparations were in full swing, and it seemed like it was all the pack could talk

about.

I never saw anything special in the mating balls, maybe because I had always known who I was mated to. I now wondered what would have been different if I had approached Kaida earlier-if our first official meeting hadn't been over an agreement.

Chapter Two Hundred and Five