Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One

Thit the ground, struggling to grasp what had just happened. I'd been shot twice. Bleeding out. Dying.

Death hadn't been a concept that scared me until now. I was going to die in the woods, murdered by rebels. No one would ever know what had happened, and then I thought of Alexander. I would never see him again; I would never get to look into those beautiful sea blue eyes, I would never get to kiss those lips. My thoughts went to the pack. I had failed them. They were right-I was never meant to rule. I was not as smart as Alexander, and neither was I as strong. The damp earth beneath me drank my blood, as if hungry for more. I choked on the thick, metallic taste flooding my mouth. The scent was so overpowering it made me nauseous. I tried to move-tried to fight-but I barely managed to crawl a few inches before collapsing again.

"I told you a gun would make this easier. But no-you thought rods would be more 'effective.' I should've let her kill you." The bitter voice belonged to the man who had shot me.

"What if someone heard the gunshot?" Stark hissed.

"No one was close by; I don't think anyone would be coming for us just yet."

"What do we do with the body?" Luther asked. His face was bruised; he had gotten the worst of it all.

"We do nothing." Stark said, limping forward, he looked down at me. "She would most likely bleed to death."

"And the soldier?" Kade inquired.

"Kill him." Stark says. "He would only end up being a loose end, we can't afford to keep him alive."

The others seemed to agree to this.

Kade walked forward; he knelt beside the soldier. “Good thing you are

unconscious. You won't even feel it. Sleep on, brother." With that, he shot the soldier in the head.

He then turned to me.

"No," Stark cut in. "Death is mercy to her. I want her to suffer a little longer before her time comes."

Kade hesitated, but then he walked past me.

I was alone in the woods. Cold seeped into my bones.

Stark was right-death was mercy. And I wanted it. Anything to end the pain. I didn't know how long I had been lying there, bleeding out, but then-I felt a presence.

"Alexander?" I called.

"No. Not Alexander. Drink this." The female voice said.

She pressed a vial against my lips. I wonder how she expected me to drink it; I couldn't take down anything. Drink," she ordered, her voice sharper this time. But I couldn't. I couldn't bring myself to do anything. And then, death embraced me. The pain faded.

"1

The bright light was almost blinding.

"Am I dead?"

"No. Thankfully, you aren't." My eyes finally adjusted to the light. I was in my room, on my bed, and Cynthia stood before me, her brown eyes watching me. "You'll feel some pain and discomfort, but I'm sure your werewolf healing will handle the rest."

Chapter One Hundred and Seventy One

"I thought I was going to die," I mittered. "How am I still alive?"

"Well, it's a good thing I got to you in time. I gave you a potion-it saved you."

I finally realized who I was in the room with-she was neither a friend nor an ally.

"How did you know I needed help?"

"I saw it in a vision and so I came to your aid.".

"I want you out of this pack," I snarled.

She arched a brow, clearly surprised by my outburst. "I just saved your life, and this is the thanks I get?"

"I know you, Cynthia. You murdered my family; you don't help people, it's just not

in

your

nature."

ere's a refined version for smoother flow and impact:

"You're right. I don't. But I need you alive. Remember our deal about joining forces? It would all be in vain if you had died," she said. I snorted internally-I was

have the power to compel you to do as I ask. Buver planning to help her. "And I wanted to remind you that I

of the bargain."

you don't have to worry about that... as long as you keep your end

"If you think saving my life changes anything wrong. The moment I get the chance, I will kill you."

"Good. I didn't expect anything to change either." She said and then walked to the window.

"You knew this would happen, didn't you? You told me Alexander would stay the same even without his wolf- but that was a lie too. He didn't stay the same, he changed. The Alexander I knew would never have left me."

"I did tell you that this was a path you'd have to conquer on your own."

I stared at the woman who took my family from me-the same woman who ripped

me away from the love of my life. Then, an idea struck me. Maybe it was time I

used her, just like she'd been using me.

"You must know where Alexander is, right?"noveldrama

She stared at me. "Of course not. What do you think I am?"

The disappointment that followed was almost too hard to hide.

"Well, I did believe you

knew everything."

She scoffed. "If I could magically track people, don't you think I'd be searching for

the god of light's Chosem instead?"

Good point.