CONTRACT MATE

THE LYCAN PRINCE?!

I returned to my room, pacing up and down, thinking hard, sobbing, sniffing. I couldn’t let Azila win. At least not without a fight.

I met Azila when I was eight. She was my father’s mistake. The first day I saw Azila, I immediately admired her. She was young and beautiful, and she was a strong wolf too. Her wolf was massive, almost like a male wolf, with thick grey fur. She reminded me so much of my mother, Athena Gritts.

Father and Azila used to tell me and Monah stories about how the werewolf curse came to be. She used to be sweet. But everything changed during my mother’s first remembrance ceremony when Father announced me as his successor.

That was the day Azila started hating me.

My thoughts were interrupted by Kaida’s usual barging in and a sudden idea.

“I have an idea, Kaida!”

I grabbed her hand. She smiled.

“Pleasee, I hope it’s a good one. My father told me everything that happened at the council meeting.”

I let go of her hand, stood in front of my mirror, and touched my neck.

“I’m going to use their allegations against them.”

I smirked, and Kaida stared at me in confusion.

“I’m going to find the wolf that bit me, and I’m going to make him sign a contract with me. Once we’re married, we’ll divorce. By then, I’ll already have the crown, and no one questions the crown.”

I explained. Kaida’s jaw dropped.

“You realize how risky your damn idea is, right?”

She frowned, but I smirked again

“I’ve made up my mind, Kaida. Azila thinks she’s smart? Well… I accept the challenge.”

I finalized and grabbed a coat and face cap.

“Where are you off to now?”

Kaida grunted.

“Grab a coat and a cap, Kaida. We’re going to the Afterlight. We only have a few hours left before tomorrow to find the fool that bit me.”

I responded. She raised her eyebrows, grabbed a coat and cap, and followed me.

We drove to the Afterlight but remained inside the car.

I observed the surroundings carefully. From what I could remember, I couldn’t get one particular scent out of my nose. Since this person got close enough to bite me… then the scent belonged to him.

We stayed there until it got dark and the nightlife wolves started arriving.

“Ughhh, we’ve been here since afternoon, Vel. I’m tired.”

Kaida complained.

“You’re tired of the Afterlight? Wow.”

I replied sarcastically. She growled softly.

“We are outside the Afterlight, not inside. You see the difference, right?”

She snapped.

Suddenly, a group of girls stepped out of the club whispering together while a man in a suit walked out behind them. He was on a call while the people around whispered and stared at him.

One of the girls soon caught my attention.

Slim body. Heavy makeup. Dancing clothes. The moment our eyes met, I signaled for her to come over. After hesitating for a while, she walked toward me.

I sniffed her as she leaned closer to make sure she's a wolf.

“What’s all the chaos about?”

I asked her.

She chewed her gum loudly and simply stared at me.

“I uh… I’m here to party too. I just came early to secure my favorite spot in the VIP lounge.”

I tried again but she still didn’t reply.

Kaida sighed beside me and whispered something under her breath.

Realization hit me immediately. I reached into my pocket, pulled out some cash, and handed it to the girl.

She smiled and bent closer.

“That mysterious guy in shades… he's been coming for the past two nights. He’s been asking around to know if any of our girls got bitten the same two nights ago.”

Kaida and I exchanged glances.

“Well that was easy.”

I muttered.

“Easy? How is waiting here until night easy?”

Kaida snapped again, clearly tensed. I turned to the girl and smiled.

“What’s your name?”

I asked. She immediately stood upright.

“That would cost another grand, which I don’t want, so byee.”

She replied before walking off. I turned to Kaida.

“What’s going on?”

I asked.

“This is a bad idea, Velora. You don’t even know this weird tall man with dark shades, and I’m sure the next thing you want to do is approach him.”

She complained. I looked at her smiling with mischief

“You’re right. But I have to try. Do you want Azila leading the Midnight Pack? I can’t give up without a fight. And remember, this coronation is in honor of my mother. I need to make it worth something.”

I tried convincing her, but she only shrugged and turned away from me.

“How about this? We go in there, ask questions, and if anything feels wrong, we leave and do it your way.”

She finally turned back and straightened her face.

“Let’s go.”

We hurried toward the man before he entered his car. He paused and removed his shades, revealing silver eyes, a long pointed nose, and perfectly shaped lips.

Kaida stared at him so intensely that I had to speak first.

“I believe you’re looking for me.”

He raised an eyebrow, confused.

“The bite?”

I said again. He suddenly looked interested.

“Let me see.”

He uttered in a deep voice.

I turned my neck. The mark had appeared again. Suddenly, he slashed across it with his claw, reopening the healing wound. He sniffed it once. Then again.

Then he looked up at me.

“Get in the car.”

He ordered and I chuckled.

“No. I came here with my own car, so drive. I’ll follow you somewhere we can talk.”

I told him before walking off. Kaida smiled sheepishly at him and hurried after me. We followed his car to an empty road where another vehicle was already waiting.

He stepped out and approached us. I got down and told Kaida to remain inside the car.

“So before you ask me anything, I would love to know why you bit me.”

I started.

“I didn’t bite you. Come meet my boss.”

He said, pointing toward the waiting car. I followed him. He opened the door and urged me to get in.

Before entering, I signaled Kaida to keep the car running. Then I turned to finally meet the werewolf who bit me and was courageously searching for me.

My jaw dropped. Anger flooded my chest.

My breath got stuck in my throat while my fists clenched tightly.

Sitting there was a man with black hair falling over his eyes, almost covering them completely except for brief glimpses of his hazel eyes behind his glasses.

His face was sharp in every way. Even while sitting, his head nearly touched the roof of the car. And his scent filled my nose instantly. That same scent that had been lingering in my nose…The Lycan Prince. Zevran Wulfe. A name I hated with just enough passion.