A Contract with the Alpha

Chapter 3

It had been three days since Alex had

chosen the guest room over their room, and the silence in the house felt like a heavy blanket, suffocating and oppressive. Marcela lay in bed, staring at the ceiling.

Her belly ached, always reminding her of her husband's infidelity. She turned her head slightly, glancing at the empty side of the bed where Alex should have been. The sheets were still crisp and untouched.

Why had Freya returned? She could almost hear the echoes of their past, the laughter and shared memories that had once seemed so distant. But now, they felt like daggers, piercing through her heart. Did Alex still love her? The question haunted her.

Marcela sat up slowly, the movement sending a fresh wave of discomfort through her abdomen. She needed answers, clarity in the midst of this storm.

She glanced toward the guest room, where she imagined Freya was still sleeping, aware of the chaos she had unleashed. Marcela’s mind raced with possibilities. If only she could catch Freya in a moment of weakness, a slip that would reveal her true intentions. One wrong act, one careless word, and she could prove to Alex that Freya was not the person he remembered.

There was no one to help her in her misery. Beta Kenzo, ever the loyal soldier, had chosen his side without hesitation.

The maids, too, had turned their backs. They snickered behind closed doors, their laughter sharp and cruel, each giggle a dagger that pierced her already wounded heart. Marcela could hear their whispers, the gossip that had spread like wildfire through the pack. “Did you hear? The Alpha’s wife can’t even keep her man.” “What a pitiful figure she’s become.” Each word was a reminder of her failure, a reminder that she was now the subject of their scorn.

Several important events had been canceled, gatherings that she had once looked forward to. She had been asked not to show her face again.

Luna Marcela stood outside the heavy door of the council advisor’s office, her heart pounding in her chest.

Taking a deep breath, she pushed the door open. The advisor, a stern-looking man with gray hair and sharp features, looked up from his desk, his expression unreadable. Marcela stepped inside, clutching her hands together to steady her trembling fingers.

“Council Advisor Thorne,” she began, her voice wavering slightly. “I need your help. My marriage is falling apart, and I don’t know what to do.”

Thorne’s eyes narrowed, and he leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “What seems to be the problem, Luna?” His tone was cool, almost dismissive.

“It’s Alex,” she said, her voice breaking. “He’s been seeing Freya again. I thought we were past this, but it’s like I don’t even know him anymore. I love him, and I want to save our marriage, but I don’t know how.”

“You need to confront him, not me. This is a matter between you and your husband.”

“But I—” Marcela started, desperation creeping into her voice.

“Enough,” Thorne interrupted, his voice rising slightly. “You need to fix your marriage yourself. I cannot help you with this.” He gestured toward the door, his patience clearly wearing thin.

Marcela’s heart sank. She had hoped for guidance, for a glimmer of support, but instead, she was dismissed “Please, I’m begging you,” she pleaded, her eyes welling with tears. “I don’t want to lose him.”

“Then fight for him,” Thorne replied, his tone hardening. “But don’t come to me for help. This is your battle, not mine.”

With that, he turned his gaze back to the papers on his desk, effectively ending the conversation. Marcela stood frozen for a moment, the reality of his words crashing over her like a wave.

Defeated, she turned and walked out, the door closing behind her with a heavy thud.

Across the pack's living room, Alex paced like a caged animal. His fists clenched at his sides, and his jaw was set tight, a storm brewing behind his dark eyes. Marcela stood by the window, her arms crossed defensively over her chest, her expression a mix of fear and sadness.

“Alex, I didn’t know!” she pleaded, her voice trembling slightly. “I swear, I thought he was just a council advisor. I had no idea he was related to Freya.”

He stopped pacing and turned to face her, his brow furrowed. “You went to him, Marcela! You went to report me! Do you even understand how that feels?”

Marcela’s heart raced as she met his gaze, the hurt in his eyes cutting deeper than any accusation. “I thought I was doing the right thing! You’re the one who cheated on me, Alex! I was trying to protect myself!”

“Protect yourself?” he scoffed, the bitterness in his voice echoing off the walls. “By running to the council? By dragging my name through the mud? You think that’s going to help anything?”

She opened her mouth to respond, but the words caught in her throat. The truth was, she had felt cornered.

“Maybe I should have just kept quiet,” she finally said, her voice barely above a whisper. “But I thought you would be honest with me. I thought we could work through this together.”

Alex’s expression softened for a fleeting moment, but the anger quickly returned. “You think I wanted this? You think I wanted to hurt you? I can't help but still be in love with Freya, she's my life.”

“Then why did you do it?” she shot back, her frustration boiling over. “Why did you let it get this far?”

"Please Alex, don't be so angry at her, she's only doing it out of love. I'm the third person in this marriage, I should leave," Freya said in a soft voice and stood up to leave.

"Yes, that's right, you should leave," I blurted.

"Marcela!" Alex snapped. He stood up, his anger evident on his face. I looked at him with teary eyes, feeling his Alpha aura trying to dominate me.

"Alex please, don't be so harsh on her," she wiped her tears. "Luna Marcela, I know you resent me, but I promise I would not harm you in any way. I would definitely..." She slurred and gasped as a result of rushing her words, and Alex patted her back.

"I've been in love with Alex for a very long time. Alpha Reyes has been increasingly distant and preoccupied with work, and I feel neglected and unappreciated. He becomes verbally abusive, and I feel trapped and controlled. When I couldn't take it anymore, I came back to Alex."

"I realized my mistake, and it was too late," Freya said. Then Alex pulled her into a tight hug. She glanced at me, then pulled away. "I promise not to be a disturbance in this house, so please don't throw me out."

"No one is allowing you to leave. I am the Alpha of the Ravenhood pack, and I make decisions here." He sighed and kissed her, wiping her tears. Then he glanced at Marcela and told her he would like to talk to her. Silence followed, she followed him into the room. I looked back, only to find Freya smirking.