The Alpha's Contracted Luna

A New Shocking Requirement

Vienna’s POV.

Something about the lady in Vincent’s study looked really familiar but I couldn’t exactly pinpoint what it was and I couldn’t dwell much on it because I was still shocked to hear that he had a mate.

Why would he need me if he had someone who could easily fill my role? It made no sense at all to me, but from the way he held her so close, he looked like he had not seen or been with her in a while.

“Stop thinking about him, Vienna!” I snapped at myself as I thrashed around the bed uncomfortably. Ever since the maids brought me here, I was still in my wedding dress and unable to accept my current situation.

How did I not see it coming?I couldn’t help but let the tears I had managed to hold back all these while out. I sobbed uncontrollably, my body shaking with each convulsive cry. Tears streamed down my face, it blurred my vision, and soaked my cheeks. I felt like I was drowning in my own despair, unable to catch my breath as grief overwhelmed me.

My chest ached, and my throat burned from the force of my wails. I remembered the pain and the heartache, and it felt like I was reliving walking in on Marcus and Hera.

My throat ached as if someone had ripped out a chunk of it, leaving a gaping wound that I could only imagine was the source of my tears. I tried to shake the pain away, but it wouldn't go. I whimpered softly, trying to get rid of the pain, but it seemed to have spread throughout my entire body.

It was all too much to bear. I cried for what felt like hours until my tears finally began to subside, and I was left with a hollow, numb feeling. Even then, I couldn't stop the occasional sob from escaping, like my body was trying to release the lingering anguish.

Slowly, I stroked my wedding dress and didn't even realize when the tears started to roll down my cheeks again until the door opened and someone walked in.

I immediately wiped my tears with the back of my hand, but it was too late already, whoever it was had seen me.

“Oh…I’m sorry, I could come back if this isn’t the right time.” A male voice said softly at the door, but I shook my head just as I looked up and saw his familiar face.

I recognized him immediately because I had seen him with Vincent and heard the maids refer to him as his Beta. At the wedding ceremony earlier, he had seemed so close with Vincent, so I didn’t really need someone to spell it out to me that he was an important part of Vincent’s household.

“No…no, it’s fine.” I sniffled loudly as I tried to regain my composure, “Please come in, I was just being…” My words trailed off because I had no idea what to say again.

What was I supposed to say? That I had been crying because my stepmother slept with my fiancée, the same fiancée that sold me off without a second thought and now, I am seated in a strange man’s house as his wife in my dream wedding gown.

I chuckled ironically at the thought of it all. I was surprised at how I still managed to stay sane after all this.

“I am sorry, didn’t mean to intrude, just wanted to welcome you to the mansion, and if you wish, you could have dinner with us.” He said as he gently walked in and left the bouquet of flowers he had brought by my bedside.

“Thank you.” I muttered, surprised at his kind gesture.

An awkward silence took over, and he was about to say something when a loud noise erupted from outside my door. It sounded like someone was yelling, coupled with the sound of heavy footsteps.

Axel rushed outside, and I was too curious to sit still, so I went after him. Although I didn’t step out of the door, all I had to do was crack the door open a little bit, and I got a clear view of the hallway.

A bald-headed man with a stony countenance shoved off a guard roughly as he cursed at him angrily and demanded with a loud voice that he wanted to speak with Alpha Vincent but they wouldn’t let him.

“We’re sorry, Alpha Icarus, but you can’t just barge in here and…” A guard began while he tried to hold him down.

Axel stepped in just in time.

“Unhand him.” He ordered, and they immediately obeyed. “Listen Icarus, this would be the last time something like this should happen. You should leave before I make them throw you out.” He added with a harsh tone, but the other man scoffed and stepped up to Axel angrily.

“It’s Alpha Icarus to you, and very soon, when I become the Alpha of Alphas, I would so much enjoy watching you kneel before me, along with that Alpha of yours” He threatened with a grin.

“In your dreams, Icarus.” A familiar voice came from the bottom of the hallway, and I felt every hair on my skin stand at attention. There was something about his voice that made me jittery as soon as I heard it.

“If there is anyone that would be kneeling before anyone, it’s going to be you.” Vincent growled angrily, and that was when he stepped close to Axel, and I got a good view of him, dressed in casual clothes that looked like it had been tailored specifically for him.

“I am not here to drag things out with you, Vincent. I am here because I heard you took a new bride out of the blue just to meet up with the requirements. It seems you’re really struggling to meet up.” He chuckled darkly before his tone suddenly became harsh, and he continued.

“How far would you go for this?” Icarus asked.

My ears piqued up when I heard him refer to me.

“You have no idea.” Vincent responded with a frown.

“Step down when you still have the chance, and I just might consider appointing you as one of the members of my council when I assume the supreme position.”

“And what exactly makes you think that I would take such a deal?” Vincent shot back.

There was definitely bad blood between these two. Even a blind man could sense it, and the other people present were smart enough to keep their distance.

“Must you really learn the hard way that you can’t win this Vincent? The rules have changed and you clearly don’t know about it because I thought you would be having a meeting with your council by now to let them know that you are no longer interested in becoming the supreme leader.”

“What do you mean by that?” Vincent stepped closer to him and it was at that moment I realized that no matter how tough Icarus tried to act, he was intimidated by Vincent because he had taken a step back and refused to make eye contact with him.

I mean, who wouldn’t be intimidated by a man like Vincent.

“I would advise you to step down while you still can Vincent because I clearly have the upper hand.” Icarus boasted and spun around to leave.

I caught sight of Vincent’s clenched fists and the way his jaw contracted. I knew he was going to attack Icarus, but Axel noticed it on time and placed a hand on his shoulder gently to calm him down.

Surprisingly, it worked.

“About what he just said,” Axel began softly as he turned to glance at Vincent, “we received a notification from the general council that the requirements had been updated.”

I saw Vincent frown heavily. He clearly didn’t like the sound of the news one bit.

“What the hell do you mean by that?”

“According to what they sent, you would be disqualified if you don’t show proof that you have a child or your mate is pregnant.” Axel explained further.

“That’s just absurd!” He yelled in exasperation as he roved his palm over his face, “when did the general council start caring about things like this?”

“I thought so too, so I sent someone to look into the new development, and you won’t believe whose father-in-law is the most powerful and influential elder among the general council.” Axel looked at Vincent with a look in his eyes that I couldn’t quite comprehend, but Vincent understood just fine.

“Icarus.” He growled, “the bastard twisted things in his favor.”

“So what would you do now? Would you drop out or…” Axel words trialed off, but I knew just what he wanted to say.

“No!” Vincent replied sharply, “I can’t drop out, I need to attain that position, I must attain it.” He stated, determination evident in his tone.

As soon as he said that, he turned and our eyes locked. A gasp escaped my lips, and I tried to shut the door, but it was too late already. He stuck his foot in and successfully prevented me from doing that.

“Do you really want to know what I would do next Axel?” He asked as his eyes zeroed in on me, but Axel didn’t reply. Instead, he glanced at me, and our gaze remained locked for a few seconds.

My heart skipped a beat as I tried to figure out what was going on in both their heads, but no matter how hard I tried, both men were like a firewall.

At that moment, a question popped into my head. To what length would Vincent really go for the position he was after? Was I someone he would willing sacrifice on his mission to achieve it?

And why was he so hell-bent on attaining that position? After all, he was already an Alpha, a feared one at that. What could he possibly need it for?