Chapter 4 A contract marriage proposal

Alpha Zane's POV

The next morning, I woke up feeling refreshed and relaxed after handling everything that needed to be done.

When I saw the time, I quickly rushed to the bathroom, took a quick shower, and prepared myself to face my grieving mother and the pack elders.

I stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist, heading to the bedroom to get dressed.

"Good morning, Alpha," Annie greeted.

I was caught off guard by her presence.

"Morning, Annie," I replied coolly, taking the mug from her and drinking it in one gulp.

I always have coffee before starting my day-it keeps me sharp. I guess I've grown addicted to it.

"Gosh", I exclaimed.

Annie wrapped all over me clinging to me seductively.

I tossed her away angrily; I wasn't in the mood to fuck anyone this morning. I understood why she acted clumsily.

I expected her to read in between the lines but no, she chooses to ignore those signs.

Left with no other option, I called on Bellamy to throw her out of my room and look out for a new replacement for me.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I dressed up, leaving the throne room to meet with the elders.

While taking a stroll around the palace, the way my men manhandled the newly brought-in maids got my attention.

I went to address them and salvage the situation.

It was a rule in the Crimson Pack to empower those slaves and recruit them as maids or soldiers and that is what I'm going to do now before going to meet the elders.

"As you all know, this is the Crimson Pack, and I welcome you all to my pack".

"You'll be given a duty to do in the palace and it will be inspected by the Chief Maid," I rattled on scanning their faces till my gaze fell on Amelia, who was hiding in the corners playing with her hair as she hung her head low avoiding my gaze.

I left the servants after giving out some orders and headed for the meeting room.

Walking into the throne room, I took my seat beside my mother.

Of course, I wasn't crowned as an Alpha yet even though I acted as the alpha and was proclaimed one.

Mom was allowed into the throne room today, which made me guess what the topic of the discussion would be.

I sat there silently, listening to the plight of what my people had to say. The elders represented each clan in the pack.

Hours later, when I thought the meeting would come to an end, one of the elders raised an intriguing topic that couldn't be avoided.

I looked at him with a piercing gaze as he lamented about me getting a wife and Luna for the pack, which I was reluctant to do.

"Son, you have three days to show us your wife or you have no other choice but to marry your betrothed, Princess Isabella from the Red-Moon Pack," Mother bellowed.

Clenching my fist into a ball, I sat there with a plain face that showed no emotions on my face. Deep within me, I felt my heart beating wildly as I imagined getting married to someone I didn't love.

Princess Isabella and I have never been on good terms even though we were betrothed to each other.

Our marriage is more like a peace treaty between the two packs. I also understood that breaking off the bond would bring doom to my pack.

I frowned, lost in thought, trying to find a solution when my wolf spoke to me.

"Why are you being bothered about these threats?" Conan said.

I shunned him and I knew my wolf hated to be ignored.

"I was thinking, why not just propose a contract marriage to someone you like?" he added.

A smile crept into my face as a thought flashed through my mind.

"I have a fiancée!" I uttered.

With a smirk on my face, I watched the elders freeze with shock and confusion on their faces.

I knew they didn't expect to hear that, but I didn't expect to say that too, I scoffed.

My mother wasn't left out as she looked at me with bewilderment, as she searched my eyes for a hint of deceit. I kept my emotions hidden as I put on an innocent look.

"Meeting dismissed," I walked out of the throne room tiredly with droopy red eyes and went to Amelia's room.

The meeting ended quite late in the evening, I slipped into her room to find her looking all elegant and beautiful in a gown.

I narrowed my gaze as I walked deeper into the room, closing the gap between us. Sniffing her scents, I felt my wolf aroused for some reason.

Clearing my throat, I slouched into a seat and watched her fiddle with her hands anxiously.

My eyes darkened at the thought of her fearing me.

Anyone should fear me, not her!

Oh.........no, what was I even thinking? Why must I care about her feelings?

Snapping back into reality, I decided to find out who Amelia was and why she had such effects on me.

We had a passionate and intense evening together.

It was a moment-filled night that almost made me lose control of myself.

I couldn't imagine that I almost marked her.

Jumping out of the bed, I left the room hastily to my room.

I ran my hands all over my hair, pacing back and forth as thoughts of what happened earlier flashed in my mind.

When I met Amelia back then at the field, I felt a connection between us, though I could never have imagined that we were fated mates by the moon's goodness.

Now I had to set the ball rolling upon discovering the truth and the bond between Amelia and me.