Chapter 7 The Lunar Contract

Rachel's POV

Standing outside the Blackwood Estate, I shivered as my clothes had been soaked through.

The head housekeeper, Eva, opened the door and her eyes widened slightly.

"Miss..." Eva ushered me into the warm foyer and handed me a pair of plush slippers.

"Alpha Silas knew you were coming. Wait in the drawing room for a moment," Eva tone soothed me. "I’ll brew you some hot lemon tea."

I felt a lump form in my throat. As a low-ranking rogue with no pack to call my own, I rarely encountered such genuine kindness.

The decor was a masterful blend of modern luxury. I remained standing as I was terrified that the mud and rain on my clothes would ruin the sofa.

It was undeniable. Alpha Silas Blackwood was powerful, clean and fabulously wealthy.

Three minutes later, Silas stepped out of his private study.

He didn't keep me waiting for long.

In his dark, casual lounge wear, his damp hair was casually tousled from a recent shower. He possessed the raw looks of a man in his prime but his sharp eyes held an intense depth that demanded total submission.

I instantly felt small. My inner wolf whined and tucked its tail.

Why would a powerful Alpha like him want a broken wolf like me?

"A-Alpha Blackwood," I greeted softly and my voice trembled.

Silas paused on the stairs and his gaze swept over my drenched frame. He flared his nostrils slightly as he caught my scent. "What happened? Did you try to fight a rogue pack on your way here?"

I froze and lowered my head in deep embarrassment.

So much for the man I had expected.

"Eva, take her upstairs to wash up and find her some dry clothes." Silas frowned. "Anyone walking in right now would think I’m harboring a stray."

Despite his harsh words, he turned to the sideboard and poured a dark healing tonic into a glass and handed it to me.

I looked at the glass as I was overwhelmed by the gesture. "Th-thank you."

"Drink it all, take a hot shower and we'll talk." He picked up the prenuptial agreement.

I nodded and downed the bitter tonic before trailing after Eva like a lost pup.

Silas blinked with his hand raised to stop me but I had already swallowed it.

A slow, intrigued smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

When I emerged from the guest bathroom, I found a set of clean clothes neatly laid out on the bed. It was a loose, oversized dark T-shirt and a pair of gray athletic shorts.

Eva knocked gently and slipped into the room with a warm smile. "Miss, these belong to the Alpha’s younger cousin. She left them here during the last full moon gathering. They’re brand new and freshly laundered. I hope they fit."

I waved my hands frantically. "No, they're perfect! I just... I don't want to ruin them."

"Nonsense. The Pack house has plenty to spare. Consider them yours." Eva chuckled and set the lemon tea on the nightstand before bowing out.

I pulled the clothes on and caught my reflection in the mirror. My legs were long and pale. The shorts fully exposed the array of purple bruises and scars. The sight made my stomach turn.

After a moment of hesitation, I dried my hair, swallowed my fear and walked back out to the living area.

Silas was standing by the floor-to-ceiling windows, speaking quietly into a phone.

I lingered behind the stone pillar as I was too intimidated to interrupt an Alpha's business.

Silas’s ears twitched as he sensed my presence, he abruptly ended the call and picked up the parchment contract. "Shall we?"

Stepping into the light, I nodded. "Alpha Blackwood, please state your terms."

He laid the contract flat on the table.

"Marry me. The arrangement will last between three to five years. No divorce until my grandfather, the High Alpha, passes peacefully. There will be no physical obligations, no mating bite, no marking. The marriage will remain strictly confidential from the high council. You will play the role of my dedicated Luna in front of my family. In exchange, you will have access to an unlimited pack black card. Once the contract dissolves, a prime estate in the Crestwood territory will be yours. Everything else is itemized right here."

I stared at him in confusion. The terms were too generous for a rogue.

How did an Omega like me land a deal like this?

A title without a guaranteed territory protection after a divorce?

"What about studying at the High Academy abroad, the Northern Glades?" I asked with my voice, cautious but determined.

The wealth was intoxicating. But building my own strength mattered more. Money could be stolen, territory could be conquered. But knowledge and independence were the only things that would keep me safe from wolves like Daniel and Cassidy.

Silas leaned back and studied me

He had offered me millions, my pulse didn't even spike. But the moment I mentioned the Academy, my scent flared with sharp ambition.

"I will fully sponsor your education at the neutral supernatural academies overseas," Silas admitted. "But I must be entirely transparent with you. The sole reason I need this arrangement is to give my dying grandfather peace of mind before he passes to the great beyond."

I understood completely. That’s why he wanted a rogue orphan with no pack lineage. Marrying a high-ranking she-wolf from a rival pack would trigger blood feuds and political chaos during a divorce.

And from his position of absolute power, he knew I couldn't cross him.

"I selected you because I saw how you handled Daniel at the pack club," Silas continued and crossed his legs. "You were disciplined, patient and sharp. Exactly the kind of calm demeanor my grandfather respects. You’ve also rejected my initial summons multiple times, which proves to me you aren't driven by greed. But if you choose to study abroad, it will have to wait. I need a Luna that is physically present in this territory until the contract ends."

My expression dimmed. This semester was my final window to apply for the High Academy. If I missed it, a three-to-five-year delay could ruin my chances of ever becoming a licensed diplomat.

"I’m sorry, Alpha Blackwood." I whispered softly. The safety of his name and a massive annual stipend couldn't outweigh the need to secure my own survival.

Silas didn't rage as I expected. Instead, he simply nodded. "No need to reject it tonight. Aside from leaving the territory during the contract period, all other terms are negotiable. My Beta will contact you in a week."

It was clear that he was highly satisfied with my independence which only made him want to secure the contract more.

I remained silent though my mind was set. If this door closed, I would just have to fight twice as hard to survive on my own. "Thank you for your hospitality, Alpha. I'll head out now. Thank you for the healing tonic and the clothes."

As I turned and stepped forward, my loose shorts shifted.

"Wait." Silas’s voice rang out and stopped me in my tracks. His eyes flashed as they locked onto my exposed legs.

The bruises were deep, hand-shaped and reeked of aggressive male pheromones.

"I was caught in a pack border skirmish," I lied and pulled down the fabric to cover the marks. "Just some minor scuffles."

Silas’s jaw clenched and his inner wolf growled at the scent of another male's violence on me but he kept his composure. "It's past midnight. The forest borders aren't safe for you. My Delta will drive you back."

I wanted to decline but his eyes told me that an Alpha’s protection was not optional.

Outside my apartment complex, the black armored Maybach rolled to a stop in front of the building.

The doors opened and I stepped out. I turned and bowed respectfully to the driver before limping painfully toward the lobby entrance.

At that moment, I saw Daniel's car packed there.