A Contract With The Ruthless Alpha

Chapter Three

/-Serena-/

After signing the contract, I was escorted to a room on his side of the mansion. It was extravagant, far more luxurious than anything I had ever known.

I have never felt more anxious in my life. My contract with him starts tonight and I was supposed to start tonight.

The thought of giving my virginity to not only a total stranger but my mate made my stomach twist, but what could I do?

I didn't dare let my wolf out because I knew she would get impulsive, take over and ruin things for both of us. So I shut her out, completely this time.

Later that evening, a maid arrived in my room. She was sent in by Xander to ensure that everything was ready and in place.

“Alpha Xander has requested you take a jasmine-scented bath,” she said, motioning for me to undress.

I hesitated but complied, slipping into the warm water. The scent of jasmine filled the air, calming yet heavy, and I sank deeper into the bath, unsure how I was supposed to prepare for what would come next.

The maid’s gentle voice broke the silence. “You should try to relax, my lady. It won’t do you any good to be this tense.”

“I know,” I said softly, my fingers skimming the water. But knowing was easier than doing.

As I soaked, I couldn’t stop the questions from bubbling to the surface. “What kind of man is Alpha Xander?”

The maid paused, considering. “He is… a man of many faces. He is kind when it serves him, and merciless when required. But above all, he keeps his word. You can trust that much.”

It was a vague answer, but I nodded. He sounded like a disciplined man. That was enough for me, but knowing he was just as ruthless as they said he was sent chills down my spine.

After the bath, she dried me off and began applying jasmine oil to my skin.

“Why jasmine?” I asked, more to distract myself than anything.

“It’s the Alpha’s favourite,” she replied with a shrug, handing me a gown. It was a transparent nightie that gave a delicious view of my lingerie and panties.

I stared at it in disbelief. “This? Is there nothing else?”

“This is what he chose,” she said plainly. I couldn't imagine what kind of person he was for him to want me to dress like this.

Reluctantly, I put it on, feeling entirely too exposed. Do I really have to wear this? What if I didn't look appealing enough? The maid soon exited the room, leaving me to battle with my nerves while waiting for him to arrive. Seconds turned to minutes, then hours, and soon, I was on the verge of dozing off when my room door opened.

He stepped in and all forms of sleep vanished from my eyes. My throat dried up when I noticed he was in nothing but a dressing robe.

His hair was wet now, trickling water down his exposed tatted torso. My eyes trailed down, following every drop until it disappeared under the robe, and I swallowed thickly.

My palms became sweaty as my heart drummed against my chest. What do I do now?

His cold violet eyes fixated on me, locking gazes with me. My breath caught my throat. Is he waiting for me to make the first move? I bit my lip and slowly climbed out of the bed.

His eyes dropped, raking through my body. I fisted the dress, subconsciously pulling it down in hopes of escaping the burning intensity of his eyes. I knew I was half naked, but having him look at me this way felt like my entire soul was bare before him.

He looked at me like a predator staring at prey. It felt like he would devour me if I made one wrong move.

I swallowed hard, my pulse quickening. His gaze met mine, unwavering and intense, and I felt frozen in place.

“Good evening,” I managed to say, my voice barely audible.

He didn’t reply, simply crossing the room in long strides. His eyes roamed over me, lingering on the gown I wore. The scrutiny made my skin prickle, and I fidgeted, pulling at the fabric in a futile attempt to cover more of myself.

“Come here,” he said, his voice low but commanding.

I hesitated, then stood on shaky legs, closing the distance between us. He reached out, his fingers brushing my arm, then trailing up to cup my jaw.

“You’re trembling,” he observed, his thumb grazing my cheek.

“I’ve never… I don’t…” The words tumbled out, and I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. This was so embarrassing.

“You’ve never been with a man before?” he asked bluntly.

I nodded, feeling my face burn with embarrassment. I wanted the ground to just open up and swallow me.

He sighed, his expression softening slightly. “You should’ve told me.”

He didn't sound angry, thank the goddess but there was something else underlying. Something I couldn't decipher. He led me to the bed, his touch surprisingly gentle.

I had expected him to completely shun my worries and take me by force but instead, he treated me like an egg.

“We’ll take this slow,” he said, his voice quieter now. “Tell me if anything feels wrong.”

I nodded, though I wasn’t sure how to find the words if it did.

But then, doubt clawed at me. “And if I don’t want to go through with this?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

The softness in his expression evaporated, replaced by a glint of steel. “If you choose to refuse, I’ll consider the deal broken. You know the consequences of that.”

The reminder was enough to send a chill through me. I would have to pay him back all the money he spent and I was broke as f**k.

“Fine,” I muttered. “Just… don’t hurt me.”

“I won’t,” he said simply, his voice calm but detached. “Now stop stalling.”

I did as he said and surprisingly, it was good. It started with an intense pain that almost drove me insane, but over time, I began to enjoy it. From the crying, thrashing woman, I was reduced to a moaning mess, and I loved every second of it.

When it was over, I expected him to leave without a second thought, but instead, he got up and began tidying the room. He changed the sheets and prepared a warm bath for me. His actions were surprisingly thoughtful.

Watching him move, I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of something I didn’t expect. It was a strange kind of warmth that made my heart flutter, and I hoped for the same of my sanity; it wasn't what I was thinking.

A few months later

I had been in the CrystalGreyPack for months now. Enough time for my mother’s recovery to become a reality, not just a hope. Her surgery had gone well, and each visit filled me with relief. Knowing she was getting stronger made this arrangement worth it. I reminded myself of that daily. I was here for her.

And yet, something had shifted.

When I first arrived, I thought of Alpha Xander as nothing more than a powerful, imposing stranger. His icy violet eyes and commanding presence had no effect on me. Or so I told myself. Over time, those feelings changed, against my will and better judgment. What had begun as a cold, transactional arrangement had become something more complicated.

I hadn’t expected to feel my heart race every time Xander entered the room or to catch myself watching the way his cold blue eyes softened, barely, when he thought no one was looking. I told myself it was just biology, that it didn’t mean anything. Yet, somehow I couldn't take my eyes off him.

Every night, he treated me with care, not just like a s*x object. He got me gifts occasionally, even though we never went on dates, and I found myself drowning deeper and deeper in his world. I wanted to know everything about him.

While he was strict and stern and explicitly warned me not to catch feelings, he never for once did anything to make me feel insecure or even bring another woman.

He was faithful and it didn't take long before I was falling for him. Like the stupid fool I was.

One morning, restless energy drove me into the kitchen. I was excited to cook for him because even though I was helplessly in love with him, I could tell it was one-sided, and I wanted to change that. The maids tried to stop me.

“Lady Serena, there’s no need for you to trouble yourself,” Clara insisted politely.

“It’s no trouble,” I replied, rolling up my sleeves. “I want to do this.”

Cooking was one of the few things I was good at. Everyone who ever came across my cooking praised it and it gave me this giddy feeling.

I hummed softly as I stirred the soup, imagining Xander’s reaction when he tasted it. Would he even notice the effort? I hoped he did because I was making this with my whole heart.

A sudden wave of dizziness hit me, and I gripped the counter for support. The room spun, my vision blurring.

“Clara,” I managed to whisper before everything went black.

*******

I woke to the sterile scent of a hospital room and the sound of hushed voices. Clara and another maid stood nearby, their worried faces coming into focus.

“Lady Serena, you’re awake!” Clara exclaimed.

“What happened?” I murmured, my throat dry.

“You fainted,” she said. “The doctor ran some tests.”

A middle-aged man in a white coat entered, clipboard in hand. His neutral expression shifted into something softer as he approached.

“Miss Serena,” he began, “we’ve identified the cause of your fainting spells. Congratulations, you’re pregnant.”