Mated To Darkness

4

The Alpha's Terms

Lilith’s POV (Toronzo Pack)

I woke up with a jolt, my heart was pounding as sunlight streamed across my face.

I'd overslept.

That would've earned me a bucket of water, my mum would kill me.

I leapt from the bed and nearly twisted my ankle... where were the others? Had they left without waking me up?

I glanced around quickly but no one was in sight, no other mates, no cold stone floor.

Then it hit me, this wasn't the maids hall. This wasn't home. I was in Alpha Rowan's estate.

My small bag of clothes at the end of the room refreshed yesterday's memory in my head. I sighed in relief and sat on the bed massaging my ankles as my heartbeat gradually returned to normal.

I still had to do something right? I slipped out of bed and tiptoed to the door, careful not to make too much noise.

The corridors were empty, lit faintly by a few lanterns, and the smell was warm and welcoming, unlike the tension I had felt in yesterday.

"Hey. Why are you up so early?" That was Luna Rachel, she had a long red robe covering her to her feet as she suddenly appeared from the corner.

"I... I thought to help and do the morning chores." I stammered and she was surprised.

"By this time? The maids are not even up yet. Take your time to rest, then have a bath before you think of helping out, we have enough helping hands already." She said softly with a small smile on her face.

"So, what am I to do if I don't help with the chores?" I needed to be clear of my roles and duties so I wouldn't fall short of them and end up being punished. It was necessary to keep my new boss and his wife smiling.

"Alpha Rowan will explain better. It's...his place to do so, but for now, go to bed. Sleep all you want, okay? Go on." She nudged me into my room and I bowed and went back inside closing the door behind me.

Now that was weird. I was supposed to sleep for however long I want?

No, that had to be a trap. Let me sleep all day, then judge how lazy I was.

But, I think I liked this better than home.

I laid back on the bed and listened... the room was quiet, soaked in unfamiliar peace, yet I couldn't lie still. The soft furs and warm sheets wrapped around me felt like I was dreaming, soft and tempting, but I wasn't comfortable as I had never been good at doing nothing.

So, I stood up, took a long time to pick out a dress from the new set I was given before finally going into my personal bathroom to have a hot shower.

By the time I was out from my room, the maids were already at work. They were all over the place, kneading dough, chopping vegetables, tending fires. I walked into the kitchen slowly, unsure of what to do, but if I was going to stay here, I couldn’t just sit around and be waited on like I wasn't a slave too.

“Can I help?” I asked the closest maid who was scrubbing something in a large bowl.

She froze at the sound of my voice and turned to look at me. Her eyes widened slightly before her gaze dropped.

“I… please, Lady Lilith,” she murmured quickly. “You shouldn’t be here. You’re a guest.”

“I’m not a guest,” I replied gently, though my voice still held the edge of someone used to being ignored. “I live here now, don’t I?”

Another maid nearby glanced at me, then leaned in toward the first, whispering something I couldn’t catch.

“I’ll just help with the herbs,” I said quietly, moving toward the basket on the counter.

But before my hand could even touch a leaf, one of the older maids stepped forward with a soft but firm smile. “Please, Lady Lilith. We were told… it’s not your duty. You shouldn’t.”

I opened my mouth to ask then what is?, but a voice interrupted behind me.

“Good morning, sweet girl.”

I turned. Luna Rachael. She looked graceful as always, wrapped in soft-colored silks and smelling faintly of roses. Her voice was kind, like someone who knew how to raise wolves, not just rule them.

“Good morning, Luna,” I said with a small bow of my head.

She stepped forward and touched my cheek gently. “How was your night?”

I gave her a small smile. “It was good.”

“I’m glad to hear that. But, you shouldn’t be here. This is not your place anymore.”

“I'm not used to being idle,” I said simply.

“You won’t be,” she assured me. “But not like this. As I already told you, the maids will take care of the kitchen and house chores. Your duty, for now, is to rest. Eat well. Sleep well. Stay healthy.”

“Stay healthy?” I echoed, watching her closely. "Why would u need to?"

She sighed with a smile. “Yes. You’ll understand soon enough.”

There was a pause. My fingers fidgeted by my side.

“Now,” she continued, “I’d like you to go to the throne room. Alpha Rowan is expecting you. He’ll explain more about your duties.”

I hesitated, “I… don’t know where that is.”

She smiled at me again, a little apologetically. “Oh, forgive me. I should have shown you around yesterday.”

She turned to the maids. “Talia,” she called gently.

A tall, slender girl with a neat braid stepped forward. She had kind eyes and looked a little younger than me. “Yes, Luna?”

“From today, you’re Lady Lilith’s personal help,” Luna Rachael said. “Show her around the house, tend to her needs, and right now, take her to the Alpha.”

Talia bowed slightly. “Yes, Luna.”

I followed Talia out of the kitchen in stunned silence. A personal maid?

"How do you like it here, Lady Lilith?" Talia asked as we walked.

"Just Lilith is fine and I can call you Talia, right?" She nodded. "Much better." I whisper to myself.

"About Toronzo Pack? The treatment is weird." I muttered and she shrugged and turned with a smile.

"You'll get used to it, nothing to worry about."

"Thank you,Talia. I’d like to go to the throne room first.”

She nodded. “Of course, my lady... sorry, Lilith."

"That's better." I said, and her knowing smile told me she understood.

We passed through a wide corridor lined with tall windows. Everything here was so grand, and I felt small in it.

Talia stopped before two large double doors guarded by two warriors.

“This is the throne room.” she said. “Alpha Rowan will be waiting for you.”

I acknowledged her with a smile and stepped forward, the guards opened the door without needing to be told.

Inside, the throne room was vast...all high ceilings and stone walls. Banners hung down in rich, dark colors, with TORONZO PACK boldly engraved in them and there he was.

Alpha Rowan.

He sat as if the throne belonged to him long before he was born, one arm resting on the side, composed, with his dark eyes silently fixed on me as I approached him.

I walked across the floor and stopped a respectful distance away.

“You sent for me,” I said, keeping my head slightly bowed.

He nodded once, still silent.

"How was your first night?" He finally asked.

"Good. Too good to be true and I can't wait to return the favor."

He smirked a bit and leaned to the side, pulled something from a table next to him... a thick, leather-bound book, and held it out toward me.

I stepped forward slowly and took it.

“That is your contract,” his voice was even and steady. “Everything you need to know is inside, rules, expectations, your role in this house. Read it. Memorize it and sign it.”

I clutched the book in both hands, refusing to meet his eyes as I nodded while he watched me for a moment.

"There's more to that book than just rules," he said. "There's a future in there too. Yours. Mine. Toronzo packs." I nodded again.

“You may go,” he added finally.

I bowed and turned, walking out of the throne room with the heavy book in my arms.

As I got to the door, I heard his voice again, lower this time.

“And Lilith.”

I paused and turned slightly to look at him.

"This is your new home, anything you need, ask for it." He paused, eyes holding mine. "You belong to Toronzo now, Lilith. Start acting like it."

Something flickered inside me at that, not warmth, not excitement, just a quiet recognition.

I nodded before stepping out to see Talia waiting.

"How long have you been serving here?"

"Since I was born, my mum gave birth to me here in the Alpha's estate."

I needed a right hand man to survive in a strange land, and Talia was the perfect person.

"Good. Because we have a lot to talk about. Take me around the estate. Show me everything. I need to learn fast."

Before we started, I paused, and opened the heavy book still clutched in my hands.

SURROGATE CONTRACT was written on the first page.

My fingers clenched the leather edges of the book.

So this was it.

I was just here as a vessel to carry an heir...for my mate.