Ch. 12：A Contractual Mating

“Why – Why should I lie for you when there’s – there’s nothing in it for me?” I swallowed down a thick lump in my throat as he stared unblinking at me.
“You’re arrogant.” That damn word again! “Do you not know who I am? When your betters tell you to do something, you do it without questions.”
“It’s my weakness,” I muttered sarcastically in a brave show of confidence. “I don’t like to be – to be used.” My confidence failed when his eyes darkened.
“Does giving you the seat of the Luna Queen count as using you?” His brows furrowed as if he truly could not comprehend that I would be hesitant to be used as his shield.
The seat he was offering was a powerful one but he already told me he wanted the power of that seat. I would be nothing but the face of the Luna Queen while he maintained absolute power over the monarchy and there would be nothing I could do with no pack or family to support me.
“You are giving me a seat without power,” I mumbled. “It’s not – It is not very attractive.”
“Wealth, status, the protection of the Alpha King, all these are not attractive?” He turned cold. “What is it you want then?” Sarcasm dripped from his words.
Protection.
Wealth and status did not matter to me but the last one –
I was on the run from my pack and psychopathic mate. If Noah found me before I found him, the consequences for me would be dire. If I became the Luna Queen, I would be untouchable.
“It’s tempting, isn’t it?” The prince’s soft words cajoled with a knowing smirk. “To become somebody after being disdained as nobody? You will have the highest seat any woman in this kingdom can occupy after being a nobody maid hiding in a man’s carriage.” Fiery flames licked at my skin at the embarrassing memories his words evoked.
Hiding with his luggage was an impulsive move but it worked out in the end. Pretending to be his mate would not be as easy to get out of as getting into his luggage compartment. He was asking for a lifetime commitment with minimal benefits – no, he was demanding a commitment, not asking. He did not seem like a man who knew how to ask. It was written all over his confident stance that he was someone who took without asking. Like he did earlier.
“It’s not –“ I did not know what to say.
The urge to reject his offer was strong but his words were true. I would not be able to influence his rule as I did not have any power of my own. I had no interest in influencing his rule anyway. If I mated with him and became his Luna, I would have enough resources at my disposal to go after those that wronged me. Maybe – Maybe I would even be able to find my family now.
“This is crazy,” I muttered to myself. “How can you –“ It was not my place to question a man of his status so I kept my mouth shut.
“Think of it as a political marriage.” His words made me wince. “A contractual mating if you please. You become a seat-filler for the Luna Queen and in return, you get my protection from whatever it is you are running from.”
Noah.
I was running from the bastard who wanted to torment me and sell me off to an old man for his benefit. I was running from my life in Red Lake, a life that offered no joy, just anguish and hardship. With the protection of the prince – No, the Alpha King, all my worries would be gone.
“I’m not –“ It was all so sudden. When I woke up this morning all I thought of was getting my job done as soon as possible so I could go to bed early. Never would I have dreamt that my day which started up mundane would take such a turn. He sprung this on me from nowhere and he wanted an answer so soon. “You don’t – You don’t even know me –“ I whispered, scrubbing my face.
“You are an unmated woman.” He gave me a once-over. “That’s enough.” I did not have any illusions that a man like the Alpha Prince would have any interest in me but the way he looked at me hurt something inside of me.
I thought the look of indifference that people gave me would no longer hurt but it looked like I was wrong. I hated the dismissive assessment he just gave me.
“Okay,” I responded after taking a deep breath.
This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that dropped from the sky. Some other time I would marvel at how surreal it was to go from being a nobody to the Alpha King’s mate but at that moment, I chose to focus on the magnitude of the opportunity. Every obstacle that came later could be dealt with.
“Good.” He stood and my heart stuttered. He all but proposed to me and now he acted like I was a waste of his time. “I do not need to tell you that you are not supposed to breathe a word of this to anyone, do I?” Ruby eyes flamed.
“I – I am not stupid.” He looked at me as if he begged to differ.
“If you ever try to use this to blackmail me, I will silence you.” I gulped and then hiccupped at the same time, then ended up choking on my saliva. He looked down at me without a care in the world, his eyes cold. “The seat of the Luna Queen may get to your head in the future but make no mistake, you are disposable. Whatever I say goes. I hate arguments so do not try to argue with me. You are a ceremonial Luna, nothing more. In the future, even if you find your mate, you cannot be with him. As you know, the king’s authority is infinite and I’ve chosen you with that authority.”
It may be the time to tell him I had a mate out there but the cold words spilling from his lips made me freeze. I did not dare speak a word to interrupt him and a part of me knew this opportunity would be taken away if he found out I already had a mate. I was not foolish enough to throw away this once in a lifetime opportunity.
“Finally, this is a business deal. I do not have any interest in you. I don’t care what you do but it would be in your best interest not to fall in love with me.” At that point, I almost laughed.
“Only fools love,” I responded bitterly. Even though I was a nobody from a small, nameless pack, I knew that love would be nothing but a hindrance.
“You’re smart.” He gave me a wolfish grin. “In public, we will have to act affectionately with each other so if I kiss you randomly, know that someone is watching. Also, to ease suspicion, you’ll have to wear my scent as often as possible so everyone thinks we are a newly mated couple frolicking in bed.” My skin heated at the offhanded comments.
“Do we – Do we have to – you know – do the deed?” He looked down at me with a sneer.
“It will be too much work for me. Your body does not entice me in any way. Of course, in the future, it would be necessary but until then, we don’t have to.”
“Ah – I see.” Relief coursed through me.
“My coronation will take place in a week. Be ready.” He informed me.
His words were spoken in a crisp dominating tone that left no room for argument. He spoke and he expected me to agree and I did almost on instinct. Everything felt businesslike to a fault. All that was left was for him to bring out a written document for me to sign. He called me his mate on impulse but he spoke as if he planned everything from the start.
“Now, come here.” He spread his arms and I gave him a dubious look. “Did I not just say you have to wear my scent? This is the best way for now. Hurry up.” I walked into his arms at the command.
“You are all bones,” he muttered in distaste. I closed my ears and heart against his tone and words.
I was in his arms when I felt a familiar stab of pain. My breath stopped and the man holding me muttered something but I did not hear. Black spots dotted my vision and I shut my eyes tightly, trying to breathe through the pain.
It passed faster than the first time. All the time he imprisoned me in the dungeons, I had dealt with this pain on a daily basis. The pain of a mate desecrating our mate bond. It stopped since I ran off but today – Noah was having sex with someone else and it ripped my insides to shred as the goddess mocked me.