Chapter 41
Valencia’s POV
A few minutes earlier, 1 had been wandering through the labyrinth of corridors, trying to avoid the persistent maids. Their constant coaxing to return to my room and prepare for the worlding was grating.
But the truth was, I felt utterly hopeless.
As I passed by a large window on the fourth floor, a peculiar sig caught my eye. Below, Caius strode across the garden, dragging a familiar red–haired girl in handcuffs. My heart stoppel “Marcy. “I whispered, gripping the windowsill tightly.
Without hesitation, I began making my way down. The stairs seed endless, each step more taxing than the last.
My legs felt weak, my body still recovering from the ordeal of the egg’s arrival. By the time I reached the ground floor, I was breathless, but determination pushed me forwardd.
It took some searching, but I finally found where Caius had taken her.
Now, sitting on a plush sofa in this ornate hall, I felt conflicted. My emotions churned as I tried to process everything. Dante’s voice echoed in my head: A one–year contract marriage
My fingers curled around the egg protectively. The tug of its connection to me calmed my racing heart slightly, grounding
Initially I had been worried about Marcy and her safety. Now that she was beside me and safe, I could think more clearly.
Firstly, my marriage didn’t happen on the day it was supposed Secondly, I had a child now, well, technically an egg. But many things had already changed from my timeline and as much as I was worried about this going sideways. If this marriage was the only way to ensure my child’s safety, did I really have a choice?
I took a deep breath, the composure I had learned in my previous life settling over me like armor. Politics were nothing new to me. If I had survived the manipulation of pack Alphas and Lupas before, I could handle this. Right? I had just been too emotional these past couple days.
“Dante,” I began, my voice steady despite the turmoil within. “How do I know you won’t go back on your word!”
His sharp blue eyes met mine, unwavering. “You have my word
I narrowed my gaze. “That’s not enough. If this alliance rests on our marriage, wouldn’t it become null and void after we separate?”
For a moment, his expression didn’t change, but then he sighed. You’re right. That’s a valid concern.”
Before I could press further, Dante turned to Raiden, Caius, and Marcelene. “Leave us,” he said, his tone firm
Marcy tensed beside me, and I spoke “I won’t speak without her”
“I’ll take her to your room,” Caius interjected, his voice unusually soft as he looked at me. “I owe you both an apology for how I…handled things earlier.” His silver eyes flicked to Marcy briefly before he turned back to me. I promise, she’ll be sale.
I hesitated, my grip on the egg tightening, but Marcy touched my arm gently. “I’ll be fine,” she said quietly, giving me a reassuring nod.
After thinking about it, I nodded reluctantly, watching as Caius led her out of the room.
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Chapter 41
Once we were alone, Dante leaned against the edge of the table his arms crossed. His imposing figure seemed to fill the space, the tension in the air palpable,
“Valencia, to answer your question, I need you to understand that I was against this alliance at first.”
This didn’t come as a surprise to me. Considering the alliance didn’t even happen in my past life.
“So what changed?” I asked.
“You.”
My breath hitched. I’d have to be blind not to see his clear attracon towards me. But even now, the idea of someone stopping a fucking war because he fell in love seemed like a far fetched fairytale.
“Honestly, I don’t understand what is wrong with me. But the idea of seeing you hurt makes me want to tear this whole place apart and whether you want to be or not you are part of that pack and clearly, you have people there that you care for.”
He was probably talking about Marcelene but the images of the countless soldiers that had treated me well the past couple weeks passed through my mind and I couldn’t help but nod.
“So….this alliance is happening just because you happened to like me?”
His lips quirked up into a dangerous smile, “Darling what I feel for you doesn’t even come close to something as simple as like. But…for now. Let’s say yes.”
My stomach fluttered and I looked away. I could feel the scent of lavender in the room heighten and my imagination going wild. I cleared my throat, willing myself to focus and speak
“Doesn’t that just reinforce my beliefs? That if we separate, the war will continue.”
He seemed to think for a while then shake his head, “No. If it hurts you, then I will make sure there is always peace between our packs. Whether you decide to leave or stay. But unfortunately I have nothing to prove it. So you will have to take my word for it.
Honestly, just him speaking to me in such a way was a huge win.I hadn’t expected any actual proof or even a proper answer.
But I guess the Alphas in the Wolfe pack had kicked my bar too low. Now that an Alpha was speaking to me with respect it felt like it was a huge deal.
Tense silence enveloped the room after I nodded, unsure of what else to say or do.
“Do you feel anything for me?” he asked suddenly, his voice low but steady.
my lap. Of course, I felt something. The question caught me off guard. My cheeks flushed, and I looked down at the egg in He was handsome, attentive in his own way, and the way he looked at me made my heart flutter despite my better judgmen
“I…” I nodded, not trusting myself to say more.
Dante’s lips curved into a small, almost relieved smile. “That’s cough for now.”
I blinked at him in surprise, but he didn’t elaborate. Instead, he stood straighter, his demeanor shifting. “I’m not a hypocrite. We don’t force Omegas into marriage. Not until they’re fully willing. Even if it is just for a year.” His gaze softened as he took a step closer. “So I’ll ask you again, love. Are you willing to marry me?”
The word hung in the air, heavy with meaning
I knew if I refused, it would only bring more trouble to me.
14:50 Tue, Jan 14
Chapter 41
After a long moment. I met his gaze and nodded. “Yes, Tam”
The tension in Dante’s shoulders visibly eased, and he let out a crooked smile, “Thank you.”
He retrieved a stack of papers from the table and handed them to me. “This is the contract. Take a look and let me know if there’s anything you’d like to change.
I skimmed the document, noting the key points. The marriage would last exactly one year. Both parties were required to remain within a certain proximity to the egg. Regular communication was emphasized, and there were stipulations about attending events together for appearances,
My eyes caught on one clause, and I couldn’t help but smirk. “Send at least two hours outside with the baby?”
When I glanced up, Dante’s expression was stoic, but I noticed the faintest hint of a blush creeping up his neck.
“Laugh all you want,” he muttered, “but natural sunlight is necessary for both the egg and you. The days here are short, and the nights are longer. It’s much colder too. We need to be careful He frowned, mumbling something about schedules and precautions.
I stifled a laugh, but my amusement faded as a more serious thought struck me. I looked up, my tone shifting. “What about
sex?
Dante froze, his eyes widening. “What?”
“There’s no mention of it here,” I said matter–of–factly, tapping the contract. “How many
many times a week are we supposed to-
“Stop,” he interrupted, his tone sharp. “Intimacy will be entirely up to you. I would never force that.”
I studied him, noting the slight flush on his cheeks and the anger simmering in his gaze–not at me, but at the implication.
Satisfied, I nodded and continued reading.
As I flipped through the pages, a memory surfaced, making my face heat. I had mistaken Dante for a sex worker when we first met. And worse, I’d left money andh note for him.
I can’t believe I had forgotten something like this.
Did he even remember that? Had he seen the note?
I shook the thought away, focusing
on the contract. Once I finished. I held out my hand. “I’ll need a pen.”
Dante blinked in surprise but reached into his blazer pocket and handed me one. “Here,” he said, guiding me to the section where I needed to sign.
I hesitated for a moment, the weight of the decision pressing down on me. Then, with a steady hand, I signed my name. The sound of the pen scratching against the paper was deafening in the quiet room.
As I set the pen down, a final question surfaced. My voice wavered slightly as I asked, “What if… what if I breach the contract?”
I knew he understood my implication. There weren’t many clauses mentioned in the contract and I had no real restrictions except leaving. So this was just a roundabout way of asking what would happen if I ran away.
Dante’s expression darkened, lits eyes flashing gold. The air in the room grew cold, and a shiver ran down my spine.
“It would be better for both of us,” he said slowly, his voice dangerously low, “if we never try to find out
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