MY CONTRACT WITH THE COLD LYCAN KING

CHAPTER 2

Aurora's pov

“Thank goddess! It was about time that you realized and left that man."

My mother had never accepted my union with Jake. “Why him? There are a dozen other men of better choices. In fact, I can even go out on the street right now and pick someone better than him,” she said, when I first introduced him as my fiancee. After her own failed marriage, she always wanted the best for me, but it turns out my taste is as crappy as it was when she was my age.

Now that I was divorced, she didn't even waste time telling me I told you so, or even asking what caused the separation. She just moved straight to finding me a new man like I requested.

“What are your criteria now?” She asked, probably how I want it? What I had learned from my failed 5-years marriage?

“I want someone wealthy, literally swimming in cash. That's my only criterion. I don't care about his looks, how old he is–as long as he's not below my age– or any other thing like that. Just get me someone loaded.” I could hear her eyes roll on the phone. I chuckled.

“It seems like my daughter has become a little vain,” my mom said, her voice streaked with pleasant surprise.

For the past 5 years, I've lived like a beggar. No, maybe even worse than one.

Father had thoughtlessly left the pack in for too much debt, and the luxuries that were often available to the Luna were unreachable for me. I stitched up my torn clothes until the fabrics gave up completely, skipped meals, or mostly gulped water, and if I ever bought something, it was always second-hand, or third-hand.

And Jake? Well, Jake lived like an alpha and even more. He was spraying the money around like we had more than enough to spare. If I tried to advise him, he always put every blemish on my head.

“You don't respect me, Aurora! I know it's in your eyes, you still see me as a lowly servant who isn't even good enough to talk to you, not to mention being your mate. You should know that you are the cause of everything.” And why would he always blame me for what I was struggling to fix?

I cringed as I rested my head backward, leaning my whole body against my window seat on the plane, remembering that all this caused a headache, and it drenched my entire body in shame.

To think that I had to put up with all of this for a man who was hopping between my bed and that of my stepmother, peeling my skin, and twisting my stomach.

So, if the price of living a comfortable life was me being called vain, then I would gladly accept it and wear it like a badge on my chest.

My mother sent a list not long after our conversation, and I had a feeling that it was already prepared before I asked her for it. I knew my mom didn't joke about things like that.

There were a lot of good choices. Mother was well-connected with 60+ Alphas to high-ranking wolves. If I were looking for a loveless marriage where I only had to humor the man and spend his money, then all of them seemed quite okay, but I wasn't particularly inclined towards any until I saw one who looked younger than the rest, but still mature. I snapped my fingers in great excitement.

He fit all the criteria, and didn't look like a grandfather. It would not be an exaggeration to state that he was handsome–and had an appealing aura just from his picture alone.

I called my mother back, a small smile playing on my lips.

“Mother, I've chosen a man from the list,” I said, and paused for dramatic effect., “So, when can I meet Alpha Zayne Woods?” There was complete silence from the other side of the line for a long time until my mother's voice came through again.

“Are you being serious?” My mother asked.

“Yes, I am.”

“Did you go through the background information that I sent to you?”

I raised my eyebrow even though my mom couldn't see me, “What was wrong with the man?” I inquired quickly. I needed to know if he had any violent tendencies or any unpleasant history with women.

“No,” mother replied, “I just didn't think that you chose him.”

“This isn't a love marriage anymore, Mom. I just need somebody who will give me a comfortable life. That's all. Besides, if I meet up with him, and I don't like him, then there are still other people on the list, but so far he's the only one I'm interested in, now.”

Mom finally gave in and arranged a meeting, instructing me to call back as soon as we meet.

It was at an exclusive Italian restaurant in LA where my plane was landing.

I got off and gave directions to the cab driver as I slipped in. Less than 15 minutes later, I was working in an empty restaurant, safe for the waiters and the other employees. Then there was one single customer. I saw him.

Alpha Zayne Woods.

He had a tall, bulky man next to him wearing sunglasses and a fitted suit, obviously a bodyguard of some sort.

Alpha Zayne himself was impeccably dressed; he looked more like he had just come out of a model shoot. Broad shoulders, observant blue eyes, and gorgeous hair. The closer I walked, the more handsome and chiseled he looked.

When I finally sat down in front of him, I felt underdressed, my high ponytail and simple gown, all of these blended with the opulence of the restaurant, made me stick out like a sore thumb.

Even so, I tried to be graceful, “Hello, I'm Aurora–”

“I already know who you are,” He said with a deep voice that carried a hint of hoarseness.

He slipped a piece of paper under my nose with a pen on it.

“Here's the marriage contract. Sign it, and you'll immediately become my mate and wife.”

I blinked several times, my fingers on the table anywhere else but close to the piece of paper he thrust in front of me. I had expected that some courtesies would be overlooked, but he couldn't even allow himself to greet me with a simple ‘good afternoon' before shoving this in my face.

“I think I should be able to go through this first, in case any changes need to be made.”

“Then read it quickly.” He said, and it almost came out like a pained groan, “If there's anything you don't like, then it can be worked on immediately.”

“Why are you in such a rush?” I couldn't help but exclaim.

He froze, then relaxed, stretching towards me, “Did I forget to mention that I have fallen ill and I am dying?”

I shook my head and reclined on my seat as his words struck me. I think I'm in the wrong place. I silently said to myself.

“What did you mean?” I quickly asked, as I couldn't be silent at this point.

Suddenly, my phone rang, and it was my mom.

“Oh, Mom. Sorry for not calling you back. He has fallen ill and is dying; he might pass away any time, any day now.”