The Alpha’s Contract

"Hunters." He sighs, "A Hunter's soul doesn't break."

"How is that even possible?"

"It's the way we are born. Maybe it is why I can see souls so well." He shrugs, "When our own is whole, we see things differently."

I look over at his glass. He has only had a tiny bit of brandy and slowly swills the liquid around the glass.

"You didn't think to tell me this before?" I ask.

"Would it have changed anything? You care for my daughter, and as much as I don't like admitting it, I am grateful. You were the Dad she needed when I wasn't around." He knocks back the rest of his drink.

"Even if you are grateful, what happens if Serkan or Thalia find out about her? I know Dottie is capable of something more. I feel it in my bones. She is powerful in her own right, and that means she could be useful to them. We already know Cooper got to Kade. We don't need the same thing happening to Dottie."

"They won't touch her if they know what's good for them. Besides, they want Neah."

"What better way to go after someone than to hurt the children Neah holds close to her heart?"

"They can try." He sneers and taps his empty glass on the table, lost in thought.

"Is it Dottie's mother?" I try again, eager for answers. "Just give me a yes or a no. I can do my own research."

He dips his chin.

"And I guess Dottie's mother is why you won't mark Maddie! It's not anything to do with her being a Lycan, is it?" I press.

Annoyance flashes in his eyes.

"You told me to let go of Raven, to let myself be happy with Samara. Why can't you do the same?"

"It's not that easy." He spits through gritted teeth. "She was a big part of my life and gave me a beautiful daughter. I promised to love her until the day I die."

"You can't move on because you haven't grieved for her." I stare at him in surprise. He was big on letting people accept death. He encouraged people to grieve, yet he hadn't, and it had been years since her death.

He gets to his feet, "Thanks for the drink."

"You're not going to talk about her or Dottie, are you? It could be important given what is going on."

"What do you think? Now tell me, where can I find my daughter?"

I let him know where she is, and he nods as he struts out of the kitchen, slamming the door behind him.

The Hunter, aware of others' souls, couldn't see that this was holding him back.

"Hey?" Silas mutters as he slowly opens the door, "Can I come in?"

I wave him forward.

"I didn't want to walk in on anything again." He mutters as he waits.

"You're in luck, I'm alone."

"Good." He takes the chair Brax had been sitting in and groans.

"Indy?" I mutter. I had seen the white-haired woman hugging him but had kept my distance.

"Dane asked me to meet him at the gates, and the one with white hair launched herself at me. She wouldn't let go, clinging to me like glue while telling me repeatedly that she was so happy to see me, her mate." He frowns.

"That's because she is your real mate."

He doesn't answer and stares at me. Slowly, he closes his eyes, "Not Thalia."

"No. That was Indy, the half Wolf- half Witch you spoke of."

"She's a teenager."

"Is that how you see her?" From my position, she looked to be in her mid-twenties.

"She like fourteen or fifteen." He shakes his head in disgust, "Why would I be mated to a minor?"

"She's not that young. I think this is part of the spell. Designed to stop you from wanting to go to her."

He props his elbows on the table and

you thes his face in his hands.

He mumbles. Content bohat < she was hurt by That

"She lost you, so I would say, yes, she did get hurt. She probably had to watch you two together, knowing you were right there, in touching distance, with no idea who she was.”

BUMS