Chapter 1: The Contract
1023 Words
The air in Aarav Singhania’s penthouse smelled like money, power, and danger.
Anaya Sharma stood in the middle of his glass office, clutching the papers in her shaking hands. Her brother was in the ICU. She needed 20 lakh rupees by tonight. Or they’d pull the plug.
And the man sitting across from her, legs crossed, suit worth more than her entire house, was her only option.
Aarav Singhania.
CEO of Singhania Group. Alpha of the Silver Moon Pack.
The most feared man in Mumbai.
He looked up from his laptop. Dark eyes. Sharp jaw. A predator studying his prey.
“Sign it,” he said. His voice was low, cold. “90 days. My wife. My rules.”
Anaya swallowed. “And after 90 days?”
“You get your money. I get my freedom. We divorce.”
No love. No feelings. Just a contract.
Her pen hovered over the paper. One signature. And her brother would live.
She signed.
Aarav took the contract, a slow smirk on his lips.
“Welcome to the contract, Mrs. Singhania.”
The word "Mrs" hit her like a slap. She was nobody. Just a desperate girl selling 90 days of her life.
"Why me?" she whispered.
Aarav stood up. He was tall. Too tall. His shadow covered her.
"Because you're the only human my wolf doesn't want to kill. For now."
What he didn’t tell her was this:
An Alpha never lets go of his mate.
And in 90 days, he would do anything to make her stay.
Even if it meant chaining her with love.
The contract was signed. The game had begun.
The hospital lights were blinding.
Beep... Beep...
Anaya Sharma clutched the bill in her shaking hands. 10 Lakhs. Due today.
Or they pull the plug on her 8 year old brother, Aarohi.
"Mrs. Sharma?" The nurse called. "Last warning."
"Mrs." The word hit her like a slap.
She was nobody. Just a 22 year old girl selling 90 days of her life to save one.
Her phone buzzed. Unknown number.
"Come to Malhotra Tower. 30th Floor. 10 Minutes. Or your brother dies."
The CEO's office smelled like expensive whiskey and danger.
Floor to ceiling glass. Mumbai city below looked like toys.
And then he stood up.
Aarav Malhotra.
Tall. Too tall. Black suit. Eyes like a predator.
His shadow covered her completely. The air became cold.
Anaya's knees shook. "W-who are you?"
"The man who will save your brother." His voice was low. Deadly.
He slid a paper across the glass table.
90 DAY MARRIAGE CONTRACT.
"Sign this. Become my wife for 90 days. I'll clear your hospital debt. 5 Crore extra."
Anaya laughed bitterly. "And what do you want in return?"
"Your body. Your name. Your obedience." He leaned closer. She could smell him.
"And one more thing."
He grabbed her chin. His eyes flashed gold for one second.
"Because you're the only human my wolf doesn't want to kill. For now."
Anaya's blood ran cold. Wolf? Was he crazy?
"Why me?" she whispered.
"Because the contract says I need a wife. And you... you look desperate enough to say yes."
Her pen shook over the paper. Aarohi's face flashed in her mind.
With one signature, she sold herself.
She signed. Anaya Sharma.
Aarav smiled. It didn't reach his eyes.
"The contract was signed. The game had begun, Mrs. Malhotra."
What he didn't tell her was this:
An Alpha never lets go of his mate.
And in 90 days, he would do anything to make her stay.
Even if it meant chaining her with love.
Even if it meant breaking her.
But as Anaya walked out, her phone buzzed again.
Unknown number: "You just signed a deal with the Devil. Run while you can. Anaya's hands were still shaking when she reached the hospital.
The contract papers were folded in her bag. Like a bomb.
Aarohi was sleeping. IV tube in his small hand.
"Payment received, Mrs. Sharma." The nurse smiled. "Your brother is safe now."
Safe. For now.
But at what cost?
Anaya touched Aarohi's forehead. "Didi ne tumhare liye apni zindagi bech di, baccha."
Tears fell. She quickly wiped them.
Her phone rang. Aarav Malhotra.
"Pack your bags. You move into my penthouse tonight. 8 PM sharp.
Be late... and I'll come get you myself."
The line went dead.
Anaya looked at her brother, then at the contract in her bag.
90 days. A cage made of silk and money Aarav Malhotra stood by the glass window, watching the city burn in sunset.
"Alpha, are you sure about her?" His beta, Kabir, asked. "She's just human."
"She's my mate." Aarav's voice was final. "My wolf chose her the second I saw her."
"But 90 days? She'll run."
"Let her try." Aarav smiled darkly. "An Alpha never loses what is his."
He picked up the contract. Anaya Sharma's signature at the bottom.
Shaky. Desperate. Perfect.
His phone pinged. A text from unknown number.
A photo of Anaya leaving the hospital.
Caption: "She's weak. Break her and she'll be yours forever. -R"
Aarav's eyes flashed gold.
"Someone's playing with my toy."
He crushed the phone in his hand.
"The game just got interesting."
The rain had started by the time Anaya reached her 1BHK chawl.
Leaking roof. Broken fan. And a hospital bill that was now gone.
She had sold herself for this.
Her phone buzzed. Again. Same unknown number.
New message: "8 PM. Malhotra Penthouse. Wear red. Don't be late."
No name. No please. Just a command.
Anaya laughed bitterly. "Red? So he wants to see blood?"
She opened her small wardrobe. One red saree. Her mother's.
The last thing she owned that was precious.
At 7:55 PM, a black Maybach stopped outside her gali.
Driver in black suit. "Mrs. Malhotra? Mr. Malhotra is waiting."
As she sat in the car, leather seats cold against her skin,
she saw her reflection in the window.
She didn't look like a bride. She looked like a prisoner.
And somewhere in the 30th floor of Malhotra Tower,
Aarav was waiting. With the contract. And with a wolf that was hungry.
For her.
- Writer
