A Contract With An Alpha

Chapter 1

SELENE

The grand hall bustled with activity as the pack members moved around, decorating the space for the Moonlight celebration. The scent of freshly baked pastries and pine filled the air, mingling with the sounds of laughter.

I stood by the long table in the center, carefully arranging the floral centerpiece. I had spent weeks planning this event, ensuring every detail was perfect. After all, as Luna, my role is to bring the pack together and remind them of our unity.

As I adjusted the last flower, a familiar voice cut through, “Move that vase over there,” Mira said, pointing to the corner of the room. “It would be better there.”

I stood still, my hands tightening around the edge of the table, trying to keep my anger in check. Mira was doing it again—trying to insert herself into the preparations all week, always finding little ways to undermine my decisions.

“That’s not where it's supposed to go,” I said, my tone sharp enough to quiet the nearby chatter.

Mira smiled sweetly at me, as if my words were mere suggestions. “Trust me, Selene, aesthetics are my specialty.” She turned to one of the younger wolves, “Can you help me move it, please?” she said sweetly.

The young wolf hesitated, glancing between the two of us before complying with Mira’s request.

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to remain composed. “Not here, not now.”

“Selene,” Lucien’s voice broke through my thoughts. I turned to see him approaching, his expression filled with approval as he looked at Mira.

“Mira’s suggestions are really good. You should’ve asked for her help sooner,” he said as soon as he got closer to me, and I clenched my teeth. His eyes never left hers, which made my blood boil.

“I didn't ask for her help. She just decided to take over,” I muttered, my voice laced with annoyance.

Lucien frowned, his expression softening as if placating a child. “She’s only trying to help you. You’ve been so busy, and she has experience with events like this. It’s for the good of the pack.”

I felt my composure crack. “It’s not for the good of the pack. It’s for her ego.”

“You’re overreacting,” he said softly. “Let Mira handle this part. Take the night to relax.”

Relax?

He thinks I’m overreacting?

Lucien has no idea how patient I have been. For the past ten days, I’ve been playing the sweet, calm Luna, always making sure my anger is in check.

He thinks it’s easy to relax when his first love just came out of nowhere after dumping him three years ago for an Alpha I don’t even care about. She just comes here, parading around like she’s Luna, always making sure people notice her, making the whole pack sympathize with her. And at every single chance, she clings to my mate.

He rarely comes home.

He’s always there to attend to her needs, and when I ask why, he always says how fragile Mira is.

Everywhere I go, it’s always Mira this, Mira that. I’m trying my best not to lose it, but this pregnancy isn’t helping at all.

I’m three weeks pregnant with Lucien’s pup. It was joyful news for both of us. We even had a little celebration. He doted on me—until Mira showed up, and now everything’s gone off track.

I know I sound like an entitled b***h, but he kissed her the third day after she came—making me groan in pain all night, with my baby in danger. That night was a nightmare. I cried the entire time, pleading for him to stop, and used what strength I had to mindlink him. That’s when he returned, looking guilt-ridden. He said it was a mistake, that he didn’t mean to hurt me or the baby.

He betrayed the bond. He knew what it meant—what harm it could do to kiss someone he wasn’t bonded with.

He had marked me, and still, he broke that sacred bond.

I forgave him. After all, he did come back immediately. But now, I have doubts.

Lucien hasn’t kissed her again—or slept with her—I’d know if he did. The Moon Goddess ensures that. If your mate cheats, you feel the pain.

But seeing how he lets her get away with things no one else would dare do to their Luna? It stings.

I took a deep breath, trying to find the strength to relax like he asked.

The evening came quickly, and the celebration began. I tried to look happy, tried not to let it bother me that Mira clung to Lucien like her life depended on it, smiling sweetly at every pack member.

“Mira really outdid herself,” one of the elders said, his voice like a dagger to my chest.

“She’s got a gift for leadership. It’s like she was born to be Luna,” another added.

Anger simmered under my skin.

“She fits the role perfectly—delicate, soft-spoken. Not like that so-called Luna who only knows how to command people around like slaves,” I heard another say. I turned to find the speaker—Elder Rowan, the one who always opposed me after I caught him stealing from the pack. I was in his black book the moment I held him accountable.

I shouldn’t let their words get to me. As long as I wear the Luna title, that’s what matters.

But when I saw Lucien place his hand on Mira’s waist, leaning in to whisper something that made her laugh—

I broke.

My wolf, Nyra, couldn’t hold back. One trait of a mated wolf? Jealousy. Deep, violent, possessive.

*I want to tear her apart,* Nyra growled.

“Lucien,” I called out, my voice sharp, cutting through the noise as I approached.

“What is it, Selene?” he asked, tone flat, as though I were an inconvenience.

“A word. In private,” I said, my voice low, steady—barely containing the storm within me.