Contracted To The Alpha Daddy

#Chapter 1: The Mate Trial

I worked 15-hour shifts every day at the restaurant, barely enough time to catch my breath. Parties and banquets? They felt like they belonged to a different world—one I’d never be a part of.

I was just a waitress who was hip-deep in debt, a nobody in the eyes of most people. Therefore, when the Alpha announced the Mate Trial, I figured I would be the only one in the pack who would be completely unaffected.

Besides, even if I was interested in the trial—which I wasn’t—I had no time to take part. I couldn't afford to stop working for even a second, still drowning in the medical debt I took on years ago to save my baby.

“Oh, it’s just so exciting. The chance to be the Alpha’s mate! I hope he picks me!”

As I wiped down the table and listened to a nearby conversation between two women, I sighed quietly. It wasn’t the first time today I’d heard this very conversation, and it wouldn’t be the last, either. I put a wad of tips in my apron as I heard her friend reply.

“I can’t believe all eligible females are being summoned for this Mate Trial. But I mean, it’s nice that the Alpha plans to consider everyone, even the more… unfortunate ones.”

The woman’s gaze flicked to me, and I reddened.

It was no secret around these parts that I was a ‘workaholic’ waitress, which was frowned upon in the shifter world. Most females would rather go to the salon, shop, and go to parties, but I was here every day, working hard.

The comment didn’t bother me too much, though. I liked taking care of myself and brightening the days of my customers that came into the diner.

Besides, there was no way that I was going to participate in this Mate Trial. But these girls didn’t know that.

“Everyone thinks he’ll choose Ava Blake anyway since the Blakes are such an elite family,” the other woman replied with a wave of her hand. “It will give him more connections.”

The conversation faded as I walked behind the counter and topped up a cup of coffee for one of our regulars, who grunted his thanks. My coworker, Betty, smiled at me as she walked past.

“Agnes Blake, Ava Blake,” Betty mused under her breath. “You’ve both got the same last name.”

“Never heard of her. Must be a coincidence,” I replied quickly.

Of course, everyone within 1000 miles of Bark Hollow knew who Ava Blake was. Even lone shifters knew about my stepsister. Our family was prestigious, and word got around fast about how beautiful she was.

But Betty just shrugged, either not caring to press it further or choosing to believe what I said. Either way, I was grateful to spend another day under the radar. If anyone found out that a Blake daughter was waiting tables… Well, it would raise plenty of eyebrows and ruffle just as many feathers.

After all, why would the daughter of one of the most well-known families be waiting tables to pay off medical debt?

No one would understand that there were many reasons behind why I had left my family’s shadow, things I didn’t want to get out.

Things that were painful.

I couldn’t care less about this Mate Trial or my stepsister’s part in it. I also firmly believed that this Alpha would not choose Ava to be his bride. As part of his Mate Trial announcement, he’d also mentioned his prior marriage and his six-year-old daughter—she would be a package deal that came with marrying him, and taking care of her was one of the stipulations mentioned.

My stepsister loathed kids with the same level of disgust she showed to the insects in the garden. She’d never make it past the first stage of the trial.

Just then, the bell chimed to announce a new customer. I glanced up to greet them with a smile but was met with the sight of my best friend, Elise, eyes wide with worry as she barged through the door.

I hadn’t seen Elise in a few months. She’d been my best friend for my entire life, but I’d decided it would be best to minimize contact with her, in case my family tried to follow her to track me down. Not that they had. Or would, for that matter.

My eyes widened. “Eli—”

“Bathroom, now,” she ordered by way of greeting. Whatever it was had to be serious if it had her acting like this after not talking for months. Frowning, I tugged off my apron and followed her. Once we were in the bathroom, she locked the door behind us.

“Elise? What’s wrong?” I asked, confused.

Her red curls were wind-blown, and her blue eyes were red and puffy. She’d been crying. She put her hands on my shoulders and took a deep breath.

“Aggie, I know it’s been awhile, but I desperately need a favor. A major one. I’ll owe you big time.” When I didn’t answer her right away and just stared at her in shock, she added, “Please, Aggie.”

“Alright, alright,” I finally said. “What is it?”

“I need you to pretend to be me and go in my place for the Mate Trials.”

I blinked. “You need me to what?”

“Please, Agnes.” She paused, shuddering a little. But there was also a tiny smile touching her lips. “I… I’ve met someone. Someone I truly love. My mate. But my parents don’t approve and want to throw me into the Mate Trials to get into better standing with the pack!”

Tears began to streak her face. She wiped at them with her sleeve. “Please, Aggie. You’re the only person I can come to. I need your help.”

“Your parents would find out in a heartbeat,” I said immediately.

“Yes, but by the time they do, my mate and I will be gone. We’re leaving the pack. We have it all planned out.”

“What about me?” I found myself asking. I wanted to help my friend, of course, but this was risky. “If we get caught… And besides, I can’t stop working. I have to pay off that medical debt—you know that.”

“You’re a Blake by birth,” Elise pleaded, “which protects you from any fallout, and you’re an eligible female with the right to participate. The Alpha won’t punish you. And I’ll… I’ll pay you.”

For a moment, I just stood there, stunned. But then I shook my head as thoughts of seeing my stepsister began to turn my stomach. “I don’t want to see Ava—”

“Fifty thousand dollars.”

I blinked at Elise, wondering if I had just heard her right. Fifty grand…

I owed so much money and interest on my debt… fifty thousand dollars would change everything. Even if it meant having to see her or potentially getting a slap on the wrist for taking Elise’s place.

“O-Okay,” I finally squeaked out. “I’ll do it. For you.”

Elise squealed and hugged me. “Thank you, thank you! I have to go—we’ll catch up once it’s all over—but here.” She shoved an envelope into my hands. “My invitation,” she informed me as she began unlocking the door. “Be there at noon. Don’t be late!”

I put on the simplest dress I could find in my closet, a pale blue chiffon with a hemline below the knee, paired with plain white flats. I wasn’t looking to draw the Alpha’s attention, if there was even a slim chance he would be interested in me. I kept my makeup simple, not accentuating my full lips or gray eyes, and I pinned my long dark hair up in a bun at the base of my head.

My current look wouldn’t turn heads compared to the other women, that was for sure. But I wasn’t trying to turn heads. I was just trying to blend in long enough for the trial to be over, and then I could get my money.

I took a deep breath as I walked through the large ivory, ornate doors of the Alpha’s mansion. “Are you Elise Matthews?” The burly guard at the entrance asked.

I nodded, and bit my lip nervously, but he waved me on through. My shoulders relaxed. The room he’d waved me into was already filled to the brim with other girls.

It looked like I’d been the last to arrive, but thankfully, none looked my way.

Just like I thought, they were dressed similarly to me, but with hemlines slightly shorter. Most had full blowouts and a lot more makeup, but I’d expected that too. I kept my head down as I found a seat in the corner of the room, thankful that so many people were here. It would make it much easier to go unnoticed.

I glanced up through lowered lashes and saw Ava across the room, chatting with one of her friends.

She luckily hadn’t noticed me, but I marveled at how she looked the same as the day I had left. Not one thing had changed about her, and she seemed like she hadn’t lost any sleep over what had happened, either.

Not that I was surprised. I watched the way she held the attention of the rest of the girls, enrapturing her audience like a queen. It made me glad that she could do so at this moment because it meant that it was more likely that I would slip through these Mate Trials unnoticed, without a second glance from any of these girls.

And hopefully, the Alpha would pass me over and grant me a quick exit that would bring me closer to the plans I had in mind once I finished this farce and Elise gave me that money.

Suddenly, the room began to stir, interrupting me from my thoughts.

The burly guard entered. “Introducing Alpha Elijah Hudson!” he boomed.

The girls who were seated stood. The others preened as the Alpha walked through the doors, murmuring and giggling amongst themselves, but I kept my head down and stuck to the corner.

My view was also blocked by the girls, so I only caught a quick glimpse of a large, toned bicep as the Alpha walked in before I glanced back down, curling my hands into my dress.

He walked around for a minute, not saying a word. The room was so silent you could hear a pin drop, save for the clicking of his shoes against the marble floor.

And then: “Everyone, leave. Except for you.”

I let out the breath I’d been holding in relief. Well, he had chosen someone rather quickly. Which meant I could go home.

With a chorus of confused and disappointed murmurs, the girls in front of me filtered out of the room, and I stood to do the same. But as I scanned the rest of the room, my stomach sank. Something was wrong.

All the girls had left.

I lifted my head and met the icy gaze of the Alpha, Elijah.

I gaped at him. “Me!?”

#Chapter 2: The Alpha

My heart pounded as I held his steely gaze. I’d never seen him before in person. Still, he embodied every physical descriptor I had heard customers give him at the diner: extremely fit, tall, dark, and handsome--with ice-blue eyes.

The type of eyes a girl could get lost in.

Those eyes narrowed.

“Yes, you. You seem to have incorrectly identified yourself, Miss…?”

I swallowed hard. I needed this façade to work for a little longer, or Elise’s parents would catch her before she and her boyfriend left town. I titled my head to the side in pretend confusion.

“There must be a misunderstanding. I’m Elise Matthews; I handed my invitation to the guard on the way in.” I crossed my arms.

He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone. He pulled something up on the screen and showed it to me. It was a picture of Elise, who, might I add—looked absolutely nothing like me.

Crap.

“Everyone who RSVP’d was required to send their picture in with their application. Are you really saying this is you?” He raised a dark eyebrow.

I swallowed and took a deep breath, realizing that there was no point in trying to lie to the Alpha now. Especially not with those blue eyes trained on me. “My name is Agnes Blake. My best friend Elise…her family was going to force her to be here when she already has a mate. She asked me to cover for her.”

The Alpha snorted. “So she left you with the possibility of an impersonation charge if you were caught? Some best friend she is.”

I felt my stomach twist a little. “She’s helped me a lot in the past. She needed my—”

“Do you want to be here?”

I paused at his sudden interruption. Of course I didn’t want to be here, but my mind floated to that life-changing money again. Plus, he didn’t exactly look angry. Maybe I could stay, just until the trials ended, then Elise would pay me and it would all be okay.

“Yes, I do,” I lied.

The Alpha looked at me for a moment, scanning me as if sizing me up. His blue eyes wandered my dress, my hair, an eyebrow quirking at my lack of makeup. He sighed. “Well, your friend’s secret is safe with me. But as for you…”

He placed a hand on his hip and tapped his finger for a moment, considering. My heart pounded, but I managed to keep my expression calm and steady.

Finally, he strode over to the room’s door and beckoned someone over. It was a woman in a maid’s uniform. “Please show Miss Agnes Blake to the Mate Trial dormitories.”

The maid nodded and beckoned me to follow her. I gave the Alpha one last look. Did this mean I was allowed to stay…? But he’d turned to look out the window, his strong jaw set. I shivered.

His look was not a good sign for me. Would he request me be fully ousted out of the pack?

Despite my fears, I followed the maid to the dorms. “Each girl has her own room,” She told me curtly, “And own bathroom as well. Alpha Elijah wanted everyone to feel comfortable here.”

She stood in front of one of the rooms with the number ‘14’ carved into a brass plate. “This is your room,” she said, handing me a key with the same number on it. “Please take some time to get settled.”

I managed a smile. “Thank you.”

Once she was gone, I decided to take a quick look at the room and bathroom, which were a million times nicer than my cramped little apartment. The room was small but well-appointed, with a chandelier hanging from the ceiling, a large four-poster bed piled high with decadent pillows, and a closet filled with clothes that were my size—and Elise’s.

The bathroom had a clawfoot tub, a walk-in shower, and a toilet with a bidet. I hadn’t lived in such luxury in a while, not since I’d lived at home.

Home…

Thoughts of that place drove me to think of how I had the potential to run into Ava at any moment here, and I couldn’t help but wrap my arms around myself to ward off a sudden chill.

If I stayed here, that sisterly reunion was bound to happen sooner or later. I hoped Elise was happy with her mate, and I’d certainly be giving her an earful once this was all over.

Goddess, I needed some fresh air.

I made my way out of the mate’s trial dormitory and found two large patio doors that opened out to a garden. The air smelled of lavender and roses, instantly calming my frazzled nerves.

The garden was expansive, and I decided to take my time walking through it, just admiring the large flower bushes and other various exotic plants. It was when I was looking up, slowly admiring the flowering vines on a tall tree that my foot nudged something foreign. I looked down.

“Oh, I’m so sorry!” I gasped. The toe of my shoe had nudged into the leg of a little girl, sitting under the tree with a pen and paper in her lap.

The girl smiled, and I noticed the freckles dusting her small, rounded cheeks. She couldn’t have been older than six or seven. “That’s okay! I was just trying to draw that bush over there.” She pointed at a yellow rosebush with her pencil. “Can you help me?”

Nodding, I sat down beside her in the grass and looked at her drawing. It was… beautiful. “What’s wrong with it? It looks perfect,” I said.

She bit her lip and grasped the paper, turning it this way and that. “I dunno…”

“May I?” I asked, gesturing for the paper, and she handed it to me. I looked for a moment and pointed at the stems.

“Add thorns,” I told her, handing it back.

“Ooh! That’s it!” she said, grabbing her pencil and quickly scribbling some tiny points along the bush’s branches. She looked adorable, the way she was sticking her tongue out as she worked.

“Do you live here?” I asked.

She nodded. “My mommy is…uh, she’s a maid here. I’m Thea,” she said brightly. “I come out here every day.”

“That’s so cool. It is beautiful here. Does the Alpha come out here a lot too?”

Thea nodded again. “He likes the gardens, too. But what I don’t understand is why so many women want to marry him?” She wrinkled her nose as if in disgust and I laughed.

“Well,” I leaned down conspiratorially, “I’ll let you in on a little secret of mine. I don’t really want to marry the Alpha. I’m just here to help a friend.”

Thea burst out laughing. “He’s gonna be so mad if he finds out! He thinks he’s sooo cool because all these girls like him. Wait till he finds out the prettiest one doesn’t like him at all!”

My face flushed deeper than the roses. As I opened my mouth to respond, my stepsister flung herself around the corner, nearly barreling into me.

“There you are. I thought I saw you earlier. What the hell are you doing here?” Ava demanded. Her blonde hair was still perfectly in place, even with her swift movements, but her blue eyes were red and angry.

I stood up and dusted off my dress. “Participating in the Mate Trial, same as you,” I stated calmly.

She scoffed, “As if an Alpha would want you. You’re just a waitress. Don’t act surprised that I know.” When she saw the look on my face, she added smugly, “Mom and Dad hired a private investigator to keep tabs on you, like, a year ago.”

Of course they did. I ignored her jab and turned to leave, but she blocked my path.

“Tell me what the Alpha wanted with you today.”

“Doesn’t that show that he was interested in me today and not you?” I quipped back.

“Oh, please,” Ava growled. “He probably just wanted a new scullery maid or something and you fit the bill. I mean, seven years ago, you got pregnant with some nobody wolf’s bastard. You left your only family, lost your wolf, racked up a mountain of debt, and the kid didn’t even live! Agnes, your life is a complete joke. You should never have come here.”

The reminder of my baby made me see red. No one got to talk about my experience like that. No one. “She didn’t die,” I hissed. “She was stolen.”

Ava just scoffed. “Even now, seven years later, you’re just as crazy and delusional as you were before.”

My eyes widened. Ava was pouring salt in a wound and she knew it. No one believed me when I said that my baby wasn’t dead—they all said I was nuts, that I’d lost my marbles after my baby died.

But the thing was, I never got to see my little girl’s body. I mean, she’d already been missing for two years by the time she was marked as dead by the authorities. She could still be out there for all I knew. For all anyone knew.

Satisfied by my silence, Ava sneered and turned to leave.

“Hey!” Thea suddenly jumped to her feet, her drawing forgotten. “I’m gonna tell my daddy you were mean to my new friend!”

Ava whirled around, her eyes flashing. “Oh yeah? And who’s your daddy, you little runt? Some servant or another? Get lost!”

Thea shook her head, brown curls swaying. “My daddy is a big and scary wolf! I’m gonna tell on you!”

With that, Thea went to run past us. Ava moved to shove Thea as she passed, but I caught her arm in my hand and placed myself between them before she could reach her. She struggled in my grip. Even ‘wolfless’, as she so pleasantly reminded me, I was still stronger than her.

“Ugh.. freak!” Ava hissed, wincing under my grip. “You’re such a—”

“You shouldn’t hit children, Ava.” I tightened my fingers around her wrist. “Or do you still think you’re a child yourself?”

“What is this?” A voice suddenly boomed from behind us. I whipped my head up to see Elijah standing there, looking at us like we were some kind of spectacle.

And right now, I supposed we were.

I let go of Ava and she rushed toward him, giddy, fixing her hair behind her ears. “Alpha—”

He didn’t spare her a glance. “Leave,” he ordered her.

My sister looked at him agape, then put her head down and hurried past him, out of the gardens.

Thea ran straight to Elijah and gave him a tight hug. “Daddy!” She exclaimed, but his eyes still didn’t leave mine.

My heart hammered in my chest as the truth sank in. She wasn’t the maid’s daughter, she was his.

The Alpha’s daughter.

#Chapter 3: The Dress

Alpha Elijah had once again firmly sent me back to my rooms while he went to console his daughter, probably to ask her what had happened without any onlookers. Now in my room, my mind still whirled as I thought of the encounter. Not with Elijah or Ava, but with her.

Thea.

She must have been a clever little girl, to be able to make up such an elaborate story of being one of the maid’s daughters when she was in fact, the Alpha’s.

Ava had not treated the Alpha’s daughter well during that interaction, either. I wondered if she would’ve pretended to fawn over her more if she knew. If she did, that façade wouldn’t last very long anyhow, since she didn’t care for kids much.

I, on the other hand, was already missing the vibrant little girl. I thought of her age—she had to have been around six or seven. The same age that my little one would have been.

If my child was still with me, would she be as sweet and lively as Thea? I thought.

I often wondered what my child would be like. Would she grow to have long, dark hair like mine? A button nose? Would she love to sing and dance?

The last I’d seen her, she had been an infant. She was born prematurely, and while she was in the NICU, she was stolen.

For two years, I searched for her. I went everywhere I could, put posters up everywhere, spent nights wandering the woods and the sides of highways and truck stops in an attempt to find her. The authorities said they were doing their best, but… it didn’t feel like enough.

And then, at the end of those two years, the news came.

“We’re sorry. We’re marking your daughter as deceased.”

They said that missing infants rarely made it this long. That they couldn’t keep spending resources on a lost cause.

There was a funeral, an empty little casket. But I knew she wasn’t dead.

I never stopped looking. Never. Not even when everyone thought I was fucking crazy. And right now, I just needed to pay off this medical debt so I could get back to my search, because working was taking up all of my time.

Suddenly, a knock sounded at my door. I opened it to the sight of a politely smiling maid.

“All trial participants’ presences are required in the common room,” she said curtly. I wondered if this meant that I was allowed to stay, but she left to knock on the next door before I could ask. Still, I made my way to the common room and took a seat in one of the plush armchairs by the window.

The other participants filed in, giving me either death glares or looks of interest as they took their seats in the room. A few minutes after everyone had arrived, a charming male with short brown hair and green eyes entered the room.

“Hello, ladies. I am Beta James, Alpha Elijah’s second. I have brought you all in here to announce the beauty ball the Alpha is hosting.” He surveyed the room as he spoke. The girls erupted into excited chitters at the news, but I was just busy wondering if this meant that I wasn’t going to be kicked out.

“Of course,” Beta James continued, “the ball is a section of the trials where you each will be put into consideration to be the Alpha’s mate, but there is another benefit to this ball as well. On the night itself you will be judged by fashion, looks, and poise, and the top five contestants will receive cash prizes, with a large sum of $100,000 being given to the winner.”

I widened my eyes in shock. That amount certainly upped the stakes—it would wipe out my medical debt entirely and leave a little extra so I could focus on finding my daughter without having to work for a bit.

I needed to win that money. At whatever cost.

“Now.” The beta clapped his hands together and a group of maids scuttled in. “You will be shown to the dressing room where you may choose from a selection of gowns. Choose wisely.” He smiled at us and exited the room as the maids began shuffling girls to the dressing room.

The gown selection was vast, with a wide range of gowns in every shape, length, color, and size. There was also a selection of fabrics off to the side on one rack, in case anyone wanted something custom made—the caveat being that they would have to create the dress themselves.

Of course, Ava and her clique had found the most expensive designer dresses immediately and were making hurtful comments to anyone else who got near them. I was surprised she was still even here, after that little display with the Alpha’s daughter. Maybe Elijah wanted to give her a chance to make a royal ass of herself.

I ignored my stepsister and decided on taking some of the fabrics, a simple black sheath dress, and some other materials I would need to make my own dress and quietly headed back to my dorm. The simple dress would be my base, which I would make some serious modifications to.

My late mother had been a seamstress, a skill that she had passed down to me. As a kid, I would sit by her feet while she handmade suits and gowns for the elites of our society; sometimes she would stay up all night to finish a piece, and I would fall asleep tangled up in skirts and bolts of fabric.

Knowing how to sew was the one thing I had left of her after her death. Now, I often made my own clothing in my spare time, using thrifted pieces and fabric to come up with something brilliant.

This was easy in comparison to that, especially with all of the resources at my disposal.

After two days of work, I’d finally completed it. The dress was beautiful—what had once been a simple black sheath dress was now a long, flowing gown, with lace sleeves and an embroidered bodice. Threads of silver and gold were wound throughout the bodice, subtle rose patterns.

I added that last part as an afterthought, recalling the rose bush that Thea had drawn. I wasn’t sure why, really; I just thought it would be nice.

As I took a step back to admire my work, I couldn’t be happier with how it turned out. I knew that if my mom were here, she would be proud of me, too.

But I’d been holed up in my room the past two days working on it, and my stomach growled in displeasure, so I went to the dorm kitchen to find something to eat. I grabbed a prepackaged deli sandwich and an orange juice and headed back to my room.

I didn’t get far before Ava walked by me in the hallway with a smug look on her face. She was holding a pair of scissors. “Nice dress.” She snapped the scissors at me with a demented grin, laughing as she passed.

My eyes widened and I rushed to my room.

I gasped as I took in the scene before me. Shreds of lace and black fabric were strewn across the room, threads hanging and swaying in the wind. She had cut my work into pieces, absolutely decimating it past the point of repair.

I groaned and dropped my food, tears welling up in my eyes.

Fury at what Ava had done began to roil in the pit of my stomach, but more than that, I felt… hopeless.

There was no time to fix it now—the ball was tonight. I’d have to beg the staff for something else to wear, and probably only the ugliest dresses were left.

With a huff, I took my food and made my way out to the gardens. I couldn’t even bear to be in my room right now.

I sat and chewed the sandwich miserably, disheartened. I’d lost my chance at the prize now. There wasn’t any point in me even going tonight.

Suddenly, I heard the sound of little footsteps approaching. I looked up, my mouth full of food, to see Thea skipping toward me. She grinned as she saw me and skipped over, but then slowed when she saw the tears in my eyes.

“What’s wrong?”

I sighed, unsure of how much to reveal. She was just a child, after all. But there was something about her… Something that made me feel at ease.

“My dress for the ball got ruined,” I admitted. “Remember that mean lady from the other day? She cut it all up.” I made a snipping motion with my fingers, which made Thea cringe.

She tapped her chin for a moment before suddenly grabbing my hand. “Come on,” she urged, and I had no choice but to follow. She was strong for a six-year-old.

After several minutes of tugging me through winding corridors and up narrow staircases, she led me to a room upstairs. She placed her finger over her lips and grinned as she retrieved a key from under a nearby vase, then turned it in the lock.

When she swung the door open, the smell of must and cobwebs hit me. I coughed, waving my hand in front of my face. But then my eyes widened.

Inside the room was a large glass case. And inside that case… was an exquisite ball gown.

But not just any ball gown.

“This is my mother’s work,” I breathed. I stepped closer to the gown’s glass case, marveling at it.

I’d recognize my mother’s handiwork anywhere, but this was a particularly breathtaking gown. It shimmered under the glass case’s built-in lights, the beads catching the glow like thousands of tiny dancing pearls. The enormous skirt flared out like a big, sparkling dome, the long sleeves puffing out at the shoulders and coming down to slender points at the back of each hand.

I remembered my mother making this dress, and it was safe to say that I had never expected to see it again.

Mom had received a commission to make this dress when I was only five years old, and it was one of the first pieces where she’d asked me to draw a design for her. I’d proudly shown her the drawing, and after some adjustments, my mother had turned my childish sketch of a princess dress into a perfect ball gown.

It had been one of our proudest moments together—our first shared creation.

“Don’t tell Daddy,” Thea whispered conspiratorially as she pulled a ring of keys from her pocket and jingled them in the air.

#Chapter 4: The Ball

The night of the ball had arrived. My heart thundered as I stood at the front of the line of Mate Trial girls outside the large ornate doors of the ballroom, waiting to be let in. I could hear Ava’s loud laughter from her place near the back of the line, obviously wanting to be the last girl in because she thought that would make the best impression.

I wore a mask that covered the upper half of my face, beaded in the same crystal material as the borrowed dress I wore. I was glad that all of us girls did wear masks, as it was a masquerade ball. I didn’t want Alpha Elijah to recognize me immediately, especially when his impression of me had been less than favorable.

After all, he was the judge of this beauty contest, and I had my sights set on winning that prize money. The prize money would allow me to pay off my debt, maybe even hire a private investigator to search for my missing child.

Even if I didn’t win first place, I needed to place in the top five to get something.

The doors opened and I took a deep breath as all eyes turned to the crowd of girls. I stepped into line and began descending the stairs, one step at a time.

As I made my way down, my eyes locked onto Alpha Elijah’s icy blue ones from where he stood at the foot of the stairs.

He looked incredibly handsome. He stood tall and commanding, his broad shoulders accentuated by a tailored black suit that perfectly fit his muscular frame. His dark hair was nearly styled, a few strands falling casually across his forehead, giving him an effortlessly powerful and intimidating presence.

And most importantly, he was looking at me. Not the others. Me.

That was a good sign, right?

“Who is she?” I heard someone say as I continued my walk down the long stairs, and another person shushed them. I made it down the stairs and smiled tentatively. Alpha Elijah continued to hold my stare for a long moment before turning as the next girl came up behind me.

The next girl descended the stairs, her glittering gown trailing behind her, but the Alpha barely cast her a brief glance.

As each girl came down it was about the same; he gave a curt smile, and then as if drawn by some invisible force, he kept stealing glances in my direction.

By the time Ava came down in her long, green, mermaid-style evening dress, he looked at her for all of half a second before he looked back at me. I saw my stepsister absolutely seethe and flick an accusing glare in my direction, even though I could tell that she didn’t know it was me.

She would’ve done worse if she had known.

Once all the girls had filed in, we began to mingle with the crowd. I stood awkwardly in the middle of the dance floor, smiling and nodding as an older woman prattled on about how amazing the opportunity of being in a Mate Trial was for us girls.

But then the crowd in front of me moved. No, parted.

I felt my breath catch as I saw a familiar, tall figure striding toward me. Elijah had his eyes laser focused on me like a target.

“May I have this dance?” He offered his hand. I suppressed a gulp before placing my hand in his and letting him lead me closer to the source of the music.

The string quartet began a song as we started to move around the dance floor. He turned me in a various set of spins, and I followed his lead with relative ease.

The tension between us grew palpable as he kept his gaze on me. But he didn’t say a word.

Then, as the music swelled, he leaned in close. His breath was warm against my ear as he hissed, “How dare you wear my mother’s dress?”

Before I could answer, in one swift motion, he pulled me away from him, my arm fully extended as he held me at a distance. Then, with a sudden flick of his wrist, he spun me in a tight twirl, bringing me back close until our faces were mere inches apart.

I steadied myself and calmly replied, “Keeping it locked away in a display case is where the dress goes to die. It deserves to be appreciated.”

His grip on my waist softened, the sharpness of his expression easing as his eyes traced the lines of the dress. “You’re bold,” He muttered, his anger fading into something more thoughtful. “My mother would’ve liked that.”

I blinked, taken aback by the sudden change in his tone. “I didn’t mean any disrespect,” I said, my voice softening. “The dress just inspired me.”

He twirled me again, slower this time. “I can see that. Mother did always think the pieces she had made should be lived in, not hidden away. Perhaps I’ve been too sentimental about it. She would’ve wanted someone else to wear it, to appreciate it.”

He dipped me, and his gaze searched mine. As he pulled me up a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips. “You know, it really suits you. A stunning dress for a stunning girl. Though I don’t think I quite remember you from my previous meeting with the girls from the mate trial.”

I raised an eyebrow, sensing the playful edge in his tone. “Stunning, you say. Well, I can’t be that stunning if you don’t even remember me. But maybe that shows that the first impression really isn’t always the greatest.”

“Perhaps,” he mused.

The dance ended, and with a swift motion, the Alpha reached up and removed my mask.

“It’s you,” he said, his eyes narrowing as recognition dawned on him. My stomach fell. There was no chance of me getting this prize now, not with him remembering me now, on top of him being upset about the dress.

He might have forgiven one of the other girls for wearing it, but we’d already been off to a bad start.

Suddenly, Ava’s voice cut through the air, filled with fury. “Agnes!” I guessed she’d finally spotted me. She’d probably figured I hadn’t come since she had destroyed my dress, and now she knew that the Alpha had slighted her during her grand entrance—for me.

But before she could reach me, a small hand grabbed mine and threw it up in the air. “I declare Agnes the winner!” Thea squealed with a bright smile. She looked adorable in a white dress with a matching bow in her hair.

Ava stormed over, her face twisted in disbelief. “Who gave you the authority to make decisions for Alpha Elijah, you little brat?! You’re just a worthless mutt!”

Her shouts made the crowd fall into stunned silence. Even the band had stopped playing.

Elijah narrowed his gaze on her, and in a murderous voice asked, “Who exactly are you calling a mutt’s daughter?”

Ava froze, the blood draining from her face as she looked between him and Thea, realizing precisely who she was to him. She stumbled back, her shock evident. I just stood there, watching it all unfold with a little bit of glee.

“I’m sorry!” she said quickly and fled from the ballroom, practically shoving others out of her way. I heard a few shouts and jeers, but I hardly heard them now. My mind was on one thing and one thing only by this point.

I stared down at Thea, who still held my hand, grinning up at me. Did this mean I had actually won the $100,000 prize? Was this real?

I smiled at Thea, gratitude swelling in my chest for this sweet little girl, but then I did a double take as something on her neck caught my eye. A faint mark, on the back of her neck—a crescent moon shaped birthmark—identical to the one my own baby had when she was born.

My breath hitched.

Could Thea be my lost daughter?

#Chapter 5: The Contract

Alpha Elijah led Thea and me out of the ballroom as Thea clung tightly to both of our hands. My mind swirled around the events of the night, continuing to land back on the birthmark on Thea’s neck.

It sent shivers down my spine, the prospect that it really could be her—my daughter, the child that I had lost so long ago.

The idea both thrilled and terrified me. The thought that she could be so close, have been this close all this time, and now right beside me, in arms’ reach was overwhelming.

But it also made no sense. Thea was the Alpha’s daughter. He wouldn’t… There was no way that our Alpha had stolen my daughter.

Right?

And yet… I had seen the birthmark.

But maybe it was just a coincidence.

Thea happily bounced alongside us as she explained to Elijah with excitement, “I gave Agnes the dress! It’s too pretty not to wear! Besides, I like her—I want her!”

Her innocent proclamation hit me hard. We had an instant connection, that was for sure.

But I didn’t feel ready for this—wasn’t ready for her attachment to me, the possibility that she might be mine. And yet, how could I deny the bond I already had formed with this sweet little girl?

There was something undeniable between us, something that pulled at my heart with every passing second.

I barely had time to process my thoughts when Elijah replied, reprimanding her.

“You’re too quick to trust a stranger.” His eyes flicked over her head to mine and he frowned, eyes cold and filled with suspicion. His frown deepened, a clear sign that he didn’t appreciate how much Thea liked me—or perhaps, just how much I was beginning to mean to her.

But Thea continued, undeterred by his response, “Well, I don’t care!” She grew insistent as she tugged at his hand. “The Mate Trial is to find me a new mommy, right? Well, I like Agnes the very best! She’s kind, beautiful, and she doesn’t care who you are, Daddy. She’s the mommy I’ve been looking for!”

Her words sent a pang through my heart, the kind of pain that comes when hope intertwines with fear. Thea squeezed my hand and my heart ached, torn between the possibility that Thea could be my daughter—and the reality of the situation I now found myself in.

I had so many questions swirling through my mind--like how an Alpha would have been able to kidnap my child, if she was my child—but I tried to block out all of my mind’s questions and focus on the right now.

I couldn’t dwell on those questions right now. Not here. Not yet.

Alpha Elijah was unfazed by Thea’s words, though the tension in his posture told me he wasn’t really as unaffected as he pretended to be. He was tense.

He signaled to a nearby maid, who hurried forward. He gestured to Thea.

“Please take Thea to her room,” he ordered. “She’s had enough excitement for one night.”

“But Dad!” Thea pleaded, but his gaze was firm and left no room for negotiation. She sighed and reluctantly let go of my hand.

“Goodnight, Agnes,” she whispered, giving me a soft, lingering hug. The warmth of her little arms around me made my heart ache even more.

“Goodnight, Thea,” I replied softly, squeezing her back before letting her go. “Maybe we can go play in the gardens tomorrow?” I asked brightly, hoping to lift her spirits.

She nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up with excitement. “Yes! I can show you the super-secret hiding spot I found under the big willow tree! It’s perfect for playing hide-and-seek. And we can catch butterflies! There are so many of them!” Her voice bubbled over with excitement as she bounced on her toes.

“That sounds like a lot of fun,” I said, smiling. “I’d love to see your secret spot. Maybe we can bring some snacks and have a little picnic too. What do you think?”

“Yes! Oh, and maybe I can get the maids to bring out my tea set! I’ve always wanted to have a tea party in the garden. You can be the queen and I’ll be the princess… And we can invite the butterflies to join us!”

I chuckled at her enthusiasm. “A tea party with butterflies sounds perfect.”

She giggled, and then looked up at Alpha Elijah. “Daddy, you’re too serious to be the court jester. You can be the big bad wolf that tries to get us instead!”

Alpha Elijah looked frustrated that she hadn’t gone to bed yet, looking over at me and the maid in irritation.

“Thea, you’ll have plenty of time to play tomorrow, but right now you really must go to bed.” His tone was firm but held a gentleness to it that showed he really did have a soft spot for Thea.

“Okay, okay,” Thea said. She looked at us both brightly. “Goodnight!” she said again before allowing the maid to pull her down the hallway.

She glanced back at me with a small wave and large smile one last time before the maid led her down the curve of the hallway.

Elijah’s lips were tight, and I wondered if he was upset that she had forgotten to hug him.

…

A little while later, after changing out of the dress, I found myself seated in the Alpha’s study. It was a room as imposing as its owner, to say the least.

Three of the walls were lined with floor to wall bookshelves, filled with books, their spines worn from use. There was a large fireplace on the other wall, with a plush loveseat situated in front of it. His large desk was surrounded by the bookshelves, and I was seated across from him in a hard wooden chair that he must make people sit in when he wanted to pull rank—it was incredibly uncomfortable.

It was definitely a contrast to the large, cushioned office chair he sat in.

Alpha Elijah’s demeanor was as cold as the chair beneath me, his gaze sharp as he slammed a document across the desk and pushed it toward me.

“I don’t trust you,” he said coldly. “I believe you approached Thea with ulterior motives. I may indulge my daughter’s whims, but that does not mean I will extend that same courtesy to you.”

Caught off guard, I leaped up, ready to defend myself. “I don’t have any bad intentions toward Thea. I just want to care for her. I would never—”

He cut me off, throwing another set of papers at me. I expected the papers to be a payoff, a bribe to leave his house, Thea, and this entire Mate Trial behind. I might have even taken a payoff a few days ago, but now…

But now everything had changed since I’d seen that familiar crescent shaped birthmark on Thea’s neck. She could be my long-lost daughter, and no matter what happened, I couldn’t walk away from that hope. I had to stick around long enough to find out for certain.

“Please, you have to let me explain,” I started, my voice cracking.

“Read,” Elijah commanded coldly before I could finish. I swallowed, reluctantly flipping open the document, then blinked at the emblazoned bold title that stared back at me.

“A…mate contract??”

#Chapter 6: The House

Elijah

The moment Agnes had walked down the stairs in the ballroom, I had been captivated. It was like she had been made to captivate all my attention. Even now, sitting in my study in her plainclothes, I couldn’t keep my eyes off of her.

From our very first encounter, my gaze had been drawn to hers. In that room full of women that had put an over-the-top amount of effort into being noticed by me—I was drawn to her, the least conspicuous one.

Agnes.

I had quickly realized she wasn’t on the list because if she had been, I would have noticed.

All I could think about were those steel gray eyes, dark hair, and pouty lips of hers.

My thoughts flashed back to tonight. I had to admit that an inexplicable pull kept my eyes fixated on her. I’d invited her for that first dance, and dancing with her had been intoxicating.

It was a feeling I hadn’t felt in a long time, and I’d felt exhilarated and free in that moment with her.

Until I snapped back to reality, and caution had seeped back in. I was dancing with a woman who had been bold enough to wear my mother’s dress. Someone that bold could only be trouble, and I didn’t want any kind of repeat of my ex-wife and her drama.

Yet, Agnes and that dress… the way that gown fit Agnes so perfectly, it did bring the garment back to life in the best way. My mother would have loved to see her in it.

I hadn’t wanted to make a scene over a dress—especially when Thea had chosen her, had wanted her to wear it. So I chose not to dwell on that anymore. For Thea.

This mate contract was clear about Agnes’s responsibilities, involving myself and Thea—mainly Thea—and in return, I would pay off whatever debts she had and provide a monthly salary.

“You can think of this as a job,” I told her flatly, “and I’m your employer.”

Agnes

Elijah sat tense as he watched me carefully flip through each page of the contract.

“Why does this contract say that you’re going to train me to be Luna?” I asked hesitantly. “Is this serious? I don’t even have a wolf. I lost it years ago.” My voice cracked.

Who would ever choose a wolfless woman to be Luna? It was unheard of.

But Elijah’s expression remained unchanged. “I need you to give Thea the perfect childhood. That means our contract, if all is well, may last until she is an adult. From a long-term perspective, I’ll train you to become Luna, and assess your ability as time goes on. The things you learn you may pass on to her.”

I frowned, still trying to process it all. “You’re choosing me because Thea likes me? You must be the most indulgent father ever, especially when this is about finding your mate. I almost feel like you’re trying to make up for something you did to her.”

His face suddenly turned grim, and a heavy silence filled the room.

I realized I had hit a nerve and pressed further, “What did you do?”

His response was cold and detached. “Sign the contract and remember your duties. You have two days to officially move in, should you accept.”

He offered no more answers.

But I accepted. Because not only did the contract specify that my debts would be paid and I’d receive a wage, but it also meant that I could be close to Thea.

And if she was my daughter…

Well, first, I would make sure I wasn’t imagining things. One step at a time before I got attached to a dream that might not come true.

When I returned to the dorm rooms, I noticed the other girls, as well as their belongings, had already been cleared out. A maid was waiting for me by my room with my things already packed for me.

“The Alpha wants you back here permanently in two days’ time,” she instructed. I took my luggage and was escorted to a car, where the driver drove me back to my apartment.

After my whirlwind of the past few days, it was crazy how my apartment still looked the same, when everything else around me had now changed.

The same peeling linoleum, the same shitty countertops, the same weathered, framed picture of me holding my baby in her swaddle in the hospital bed. I didn’t have much that I cared to keep, but I made sure to pack that first.

The next day, I tried to gather as much information as I could about Elijah’s divorce. His former Luna had been named Olivia, and their divorce was kept quiet as can be. I combed through the internet, but everything was bare. There wasn’t even any marriage announcement for the pair.

I called Elise to see what she knew about them. She had texted me a couple of days ago to let me know that she and her mate had made it safely out of town, but I had been so busy with the Mate Trial I had forgotten to reply. I was glad that they were now safe and doing well.

“Hi, Aggie!” She said cheerfully. “I sent the money to your account yesterday when I heard the news! I meant to send it earlier, but we’ve been in a rush getting unpacked here. I don’t know how you managed to lock down the Alpha in only a few days, but congratulations.”

“Thank you,” I said, not really wanting to get into it right now. “Hey, I wanted to ask what you knew about Elijah’s divorce. I can’t really find anything online.”

She paused.

“He didn’t tell you? You’re marrying the man, and he didn’t tell you that?”

“No,” I replied simply.

“Well, there have been a lot of rumors about it. To speak plainly and not sugarcoat it, I know a lot of people think that they are going to get back together because they’re fated mates, and they haven’t rejected each other. But no one really knows,” she said.

I sighed, thanking her. We chatted for a little while—I gave her that earful I’d been planning on, but really I couldn’t be mad at her—before we hung up.

As I laid in bed that night, I couldn’t stop thinking about what Elise had said: Olivia and Elijah were fated mates. I knew hope wasn’t entirely lost for me on that front. It was a well-known fact that if an Alpha rejects a mating bond with their fated mate, then the mate that they rejected weakens and dies.

So that could just mean that he wasn’t trying to kill his ex-wife, not that he was still in love with her.

Not that I was worried whether he was in love with her for romantic reasons. This was strictly professional—no, strictly about Thea. I needed to stay close to her to find out whether or not she was mine.

After all, why would I be interested in a man who had potentially stolen my baby?

But with all of that on my mind, I still found it strange that Elijah had hired a contract mate. Had hired me as his contract mate.

But I didn’t have time to dwell on it. From here on out, my top priority was Thea.

Two days later, I arrived at Alpha Elijah’s house again, dragging my suitcase behind me. The place buzzed with activity, and no one noticed my arrival. I wasn’t sure where I should wait—if I should meet Elijah first or find my room.

I tried to ask a maid where my rooms were: “Excuse m—” But an older maid strode up, shooing the younger maid away. She cast me a disdainful glance.

“I am Gloria, the head housekeeper. You will be staying in the servants’ quarters,” she said coldly, leading me to a small room. “Remember your place. Luna Olivia will return to Alpha Elijah soon enough. You’re nothing but a glorified babysitter.”

Just then, a familiar voice called, “Mommy!”

Thea’s excited cry echoed through the hallway, but before I could respond, Elijah’s voice cut through the tension. “You’re demoting the Alpha’s wife to a mere babysitter?” He appeared out of practically nowhere, looming over the housekeeper.

Her eyes grew wide. “A-Alpha, I—”

 “Who gave you permission to insult her like that?” he growled.