CHAPTER 1:THE PRISONER’S CONTRACT
1069 Words
~ Nora POV ~
"Move those hands faster, omega, or I will make sure you don't eat for a week," the guard barked, his shoes stopping an inch from my scrubbing brush.
I didn't look up. I kept my head down, focusing on the wet floor beneath me. My throat felt incredibly dry, and my hands trembled so much I could barely squeeze the dirty rag. The skin on my fingers was bleeding from hours of work, but I forced myself to keep moving.
Stay unnoticed. That was my only goal. If I kept my eyes on the floor, they would think I was completely broken. They would think the war had taken everything from me. They would never look closely enough to see who I really was.
"The Alpha is coming," another guard called out from across the massive room. "Get her ready."
A rough hand grabbed my shoulder and jerked me to my feet. I stumbled, my weak legs nearly giving out under me, but I forced my balance to return. The guard shoved me toward a long table standing near the center of the room.
The doors groaned open.
Alpha Marcus walked in, his presence immediately making the air feel tight and cold. He was tall, with dark eyes that looked like ice and a face that never showed a single human emotion. Every single wolf in the room dropped their head in respect. Next to him was Beta Tyler, a cruel man with a constant smirk who enjoyed watching the prisoners suffer.
Marcus didn't look at the guards. He didn't even look at the room. His eyes locked right onto me, full of disgust. To him, I was just a useless piece of trash left over from an enemy bloodline. I was a reminder of a pack he had destroyed.
"Is this the last one?" Marcus asked, his voice deep and flat.
"Yes, Alpha," Tyler replied, tossing a thick pile of papers onto the table. "The others have already signed or been taken care of. She is the final survivor who needs to submit."
Marcus stopped on the opposite side of the table and just pointed a finger at the paper.
"Sign it," Marcus commanded. "Now."
I looked down at the document. The words were simple but terrifying. It was a formal submission contract. The moment I signed my name, every single legal right I had would be gone forever. My family line would be erased. I would legally become a nameless slave to his pack, completely under his control until the day I died.
My breath hitched. I wanted to run, but there were guards at every exit. I looked up, meeting Marcus's icy stare for the first time.
"No," I whispered.
The room went silent. The guard behind me stepped forward, his hand moving to his weapon, but Marcus held up a hand to stop him. Marcus leaned over the table, his eyes narrowing.
"What did you say?" he asked, his voice dropping to a dangerous whisper.
"I will not sign this," I said, trying to keep my voice from shaking. I had to be strong, I had to know. "Not until you tell me where they are. What did you do with the remaining survivors of my pack? Where is my family?"
Tyler let out a loud, mocking laugh. He stepped closer to the table, leaning in until I could see the malice in his eyes.
"You are in no position to ask questions, little girl," Tyler sneered. "You think you have a choice here? If you sign that paper, those survivors might actually live to see tomorrow. If you keep refusing, I will personally go down to the cells and make sure none of them draw another breath. Is that what you want?"
The threat hit me like a blow. My heart began to race wildly against my ribs. They were using my people as leverage. If I didn't give up my freedom, my family would die.
"Tyler is right," Marcus said, his tone bored and completely uncaring. "Your pack lost the war. Your territory belongs to me, your people belong to me, your opinion doesn't matter here. I demand your instant obedience. Sign the contract, or face the consequences immediately."
He picked up a black pen from the table and held it out toward me. His face was a mask of cold authority.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. I looked at the pen, then at the paper that would seal my doom. I had no choice. To save my people, I had to lose myself.
"Fine," I said.
I stepped closer to the table, my boots clicking against the floor. I reached out my shaking hand, my fingers extending to take the pen from Marcus.
The moment the tips of my fingers brushed against his bare skin, the world exploded.
A violent, blinding flash of bright golden light erupted from the point where our hands met. It was a massive wave of energy that blasted outward in a perfect circle. The force of the energy slammed into the walls, shattering the glass windows across the room. The guards screamed, throwing their arms up to protect their faces as the wave knocked several of them off their feet.
The papers on the table flew into the air, scattering everywhere like snow.
I gasped, my entire body freezing as a strange, overwhelming warmth flooded through my veins. It rushed straight to my heart, locking into place with a sudden snap.
The fated mate bond.
No, no, no. This couldn't be happening. Not him. Not the man who killed my pack.
I pulled my hand back fast, and stubbled away from the table. My breath came in short, ragged gasps as I stared at Marcus.
Marcus was frozen. The cold, unbothered Alpha was gone. His face had turned completely pale, white as a sheet, and his chest was heaving. His dark eyes were wide with horror as he stared at me, his hands trembling at his sides.
He knew, he felt it just like I did.
"Alpha?" Tyler stammered, pulling himself up from the floor, his face covered in confusion. "What was that? What just happened?"
Every guard in the room was staring at us now. They had seen the light, they had felt the energy.
I was the fated mate of the enemy Alpha, and my nightmare had just begun.
- Writer
