I Signed A Contract With The Moon Alpha

Chapter Four: The Invitation

Aria's POV

The black SUV waited across the street like it had all the time in the world.

Rain drummed against its polished roof, washing streaks of silver over the dark windows. I couldn't see who was inside. The rear door remained open. Waiting.

"Aria."

Lily caught my wrist before I could take another step.

"Don't."

I looked at her. "What if this is the only way to find out what's happening?"

"What if it's exactly what someone wants you to think?"

She wasn't wrong. Less than an hour ago, I was a bride. Now I was standing in the rain with mascara running down my face, holding a bouquet I'd forgotten to throw away, while mysterious strangers seemed to know more about my life than I did. Nothing made sense anymore.

"I'll call the police," Lily suggested.

"And tell them what?"

"That a man I don't know called me and offered me another contract?" I shook my head. "They'll think I've lost my mind."

Her shoulders slumped. "I don't want you going alone."

"You won't have to."

I reached into my bouquet and pulled out my phone. "If anything happens, I'll share my location with you."

She still looked unconvinced. Before either of us could say another word, another vibration came from my phone.

Unknown Number. A text message. You have three minutes.

After that, the offer disappears forever. Three minutes. Whoever was behind this wasn't asking. They were giving me a deadline.

I looked toward the SUV again. The door was still open. No movement. No pressure. Just... patience. Taking a slow breath, I handed my bouquet to Lily.

"If I'm not back in an hour, call the police."

Her eyes widened. "Aria..."

"I mean it."

She nodded reluctantly. I crossed the street. Every step felt heavier than the last. When I reached the vehicle, I hesitated for only a second before climbing inside.

The door closed behind me with a quiet click. Warm air surrounded me. The scent of cedarwood and leather lingered inside the cabin.

The driver, a man in his forties wearing a tailored black suit, adjusted the rearview mirror. His expression remained calm.

"Miss Winters." He knew my name. "You've been expected."

I tightened my grip on my phone. "Who are you?"

"My name is Gabriel." "I work for my employer."

"And who exactly is your employer?"

He smiled politely. "I'm afraid he prefers introductions in person."

The SUV pulled away from the curb. The hotel disappeared behind us.

"So, where are you taking me?"

"You'll know soon enough."

His answer did nothing to calm my nerves. The city lights blurred past the window.

At first, we stayed on familiar roads. Then we turned toward the northern outskirts. Away from the traffic. Away from the crowds. Away from everything I recognized.

"You're very calm," I said, watching his reflection.

"I've had years of practice."

"At k********g brides?"

A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"If my employer intended to kidnap you, Miss Winters..." "You wouldn't have been given a choice."

A chill crept down my spine. He said it so matter-of-factly that I couldn't tell whether it was a threat or simply the truth.

Several minutes later, the SUV slowed before a pair of towering iron gates. They were at least fifteen feet high, crowned with intricate designs of wolves beneath a crescent moon.

Without the driver saying a word, the gates began to open. No guards appeared. No security booth. Someone had been expecting us.

Beyond the entrance stretched a private road lined with ancient oak trees. At the end stood a mansion unlike anything I'd ever seen. It wasn't merely large. It was imposing.

Stone walls climbed toward the stormy sky, their windows glowing with warm amber light despite the rain. The place looked less like a home and more like a fortress.

My pulse quickened. "Whose estate is this?"

Gabriel parked the SUV beneath the covered entrance. For the first time since we'd met, his expression turned serious.

"The home of the man who already knows everything about you." My breath caught. "And who is that?"

Before Gabriel could answer, the massive front doors swung open. A tall figure stood in the doorway. His face remained hidden in the shadows behind him.

Only his broad silhouette was visible against the light. For reasons I couldn't explain… My heart skipped a beat.

Gabriel stepped out first and opened my door. Then he looked at me and spoke the words that made my stomach tighten.

"Miss Winters..." "The Moon Alpha will see you now.”