The Contract
1100 Words
CAROLINE'S POV
When I woke up again, I wasn’t in my dorm.
The air smelled of smoke and something wild. The bed beneath me was softer—silk sheets twisted around my legs.
I felt myself confining myself back to the bed, because the mattress felt way more comfortable than any that I've ever used, even more comfortable than the one in my dorm room that I felt is good.
That brought me back to my senses. If I'm not at my dorm room, where was I?
I sat up abruptly.
I wasn’t wearing my clothes.
Panic hit instantly. I clutched the sheet to my chest, already thinking of different scenarios which could have happened.
Just then the door opened.
An old lady, in a very weird attire walked in, holding folded garments. She looked calm—almost gentle.
“Please do not be afraid, child” she said softly. “Nothing inappropriate happened. You began shifting. We had to prevent injury.”
“Where am I?” My voice shook despite my effort to sound strong. And just what does she mean by I began shifting.
“In Lycan Salvatore’s moonhold.”
“What?”. Could this day get any worse?.
Footsteps echoed behind her.
Two men entered.
The first man walked in slowly, his steps measured and deliberate.
Shoulders back, chin level.
He makes direct eye contact with me… and I float…
If I thought the doctor at the clinic was hot, then this man must be walking around with a fire extinguisher all day.
But you know what they say about beautiful men so I quickly turned to look at the next man.
The secondman_
The second man was the man from my dorm. Seeing him had me alert immediately.
The first man probably noticed this, because he stepped forward again, causing me to have a proper look at him this time.
He was… simply overwhelming.
Dark hair. Sharp jaw. Eyes like molten silver that locked onto mine and refused to let go. Power radiated from him—not loud, not aggressive. Controlled. Absolute.
And the worst part?
Something inside me reacted.
A pull.
Instinctual. Deep. Unavoidable.
He stepped closer, clearing his throat in the process.
“I am Damon.”
His voice too?. Damn
“And you,” he continued, staring directly into my eyes, “are my Luna.”
I almost laughed. I just knew what they said about beautiful men was true, you never can tell with them. Crazy beings.
“That’s insane, werewolves do not exist, you can stop insulting my intelligence now.” I sounded like I was trying to convince myself.
His expression didn’t change.
“A century ago,” he continued eventually, like I hadn't even spoken.
“My mother committed atrocities, she destroyed the balance of our world.” This caught my immediate attention.
“Unfortunately for her, the siren coven were the care takers of the world. They cursed my bloodline. My mate would come from a human vessel. Weak. Mortal. And I would remain with incomplete powers until she turns wolf and returns back by my side”
My heart pounded so loudly I could hear it in my ears. I didn't know what to say so I just said the first thing that came to mind.
“Look, I'm all for cosplaying and all that but you’ve mistaken me for someone else, I don't know how or where you found a werewolf costume you friend here used to bite me but I'm out,” I said firmly, sliding off the bed .
The second man blocked my path instantly.
That’s when I understood.
The doors were heavy. Guarded.
The windows looked reinforced.
This wasn’t hospitality.
It was captivity.
“You can’t keep me here,” I said, my anger steadying me.
Damon’s gaze didn’t waver. “I can.”
My stomach twisted.
“You need me,” I said slowly.
“Yes.”
The honesty stunned me.
“And according to you, until I fully turn… you don’t get your full powers.”
Silence.
Just the confirmation I needed.
“Don't you want to know what happened to your mother and your friend…what was her name, Gabriella?.” He said with a smug expression. Forget what I said about him being beautiful, at this point, he looked nothing less than the devil to me.
Could he be the one that kidnapped mom and Gabby?. I need to play smart.
A contract was placed on a nearby table. Thick parchment. Ink waiting.
“You will remain here until my power is restored,” Damon said. “You will present yourself publicly as though I am courting you. My Alpha cabinet must not suspect any weakness.”
I stared at him.
“And what do I get?” I demanded.
“I will tell you everything I know about your mother’s disappearance, who knows…she might be right in the room next to us.”
The room seemed to shrink.
He continued, voice lower now. Bending closer to me, that smug expression still on his face.
“I know about the man she argued with. And I know why she was near the forest.”
My pulse skipped.
“You’re lying, why should I trust you.”
“Honestly you shouldn't even trust me, but you have no choice in the matter, you do everything I say and listen to every word you're told, unless you won't ever see your mother and your friend, do you understand?”
Oh I so hate him now, but I managed a nod.
“Good, we're done here then, someone will be along to show you around and provide your needs”
As if that wasn't enough, he continued
“Oh and my sweet, I do not lie about matters of power.” Then strutted from the room, with his cat following his trail the way they came in.
My fingers trembled as I picked up the pen.
I didn’t trust him.
I didn’t want this.
But if he knew something about my mother…
If he knew what happened to Gabriella…
Then I didn’t have a choice.
The moonlight streamed through the tall windows as I signed my name.
And the moment the ink dried, I felt it.
Something ancient shifted inside me.
The moon had marked me.
And my life was no longer my own.
But it was okay, I always loved a challenge, I'll make him regret ever threatening me, I would find my mom and Gabby, then I'll burn down this whole place, his stupid smug face with it.
- Writer
