The Alpha's Contract Luna

Chapter 5: Blood Oath

Chapter 5: Blood Oath

(Elara's POV)

The ancient forest loomed before me, its twisted branches reaching toward a clouded sky. The Midnight Sun Pack's territory was exactly as intimidating as the stories claimed - a maze of shadows and whispers designed to confuse outsiders.

I took a hesitant step forward, then stopped. The path ahead split into three different directions, each looking equally treacherous.

"Perfect," I muttered under my breath. "Just perfect."

The trees themselves seemed to shift and change positions when I wasn't looking directly at them. Pack magic, no doubt. A defense mechanism meant to disorient intruders.

I closed my eyes, trying to remember the basic directions Eleanor had given me. But even those seemed to twist in my mind, becoming jumbled and unclear.

A twig snapped somewhere to my left. I spun around, my hand instinctively reaching for my bow - only to remember I'd left it behind. Weapons weren't allowed during first visits to pack territories.

"Lost already?" A cold voice cut through the silence.

I turned to find a tall, impeccably dressed man watching me with barely concealed disdain. His pristine suit seemed out of place in the wild forest.

"Adrian," he introduced himself with a slight bow that somehow managed to seem mocking. "The Alpha King's personal assistant."

Of course. Another person who probably thought I was beneath them.

"I'm Elara," I replied stiffly. "I was told to-"

"I know who you are," he interrupted smoothly. "The... mate who doesn't even bear a proper marking."

His eyes flickered to my unmarked neck, and I resisted the urge to cover it with my hand.

"Follow me," he commanded, turning sharply on his heel. "There are rules you need to learn. Many rules."

As we walked, Adrian's voice droned on, listing countless protocols and hierarchies I was expected to memorize instantly.

"Never speak before the Alpha King addresses you directly. Never turn your back on pack elders. Never..."

The list seemed endless. My head spun trying to keep track of it all.

A magnificent mansion finally came into view through the trees. But before we could reach it, a figure stepped into our path.

My breath caught in my throat. The woman's resemblance to Rhysand was unmistakable - the same aristocratic features, the same air of authority.

"So," she said, her voice dripping with contempt. "This is the orphan who's trying to worm her way into our pack."

"Lady Rosalind," Adrian murmured respectfully, stepping back.

Rhysand's mother. Perfect.

"I expected better from my son," she continued, circling me slowly. "Even for a political arrangement, surely he could have chosen someone with... proper breeding."

I kept my face carefully blank, though my nails dug crescents into my palms.

"Your lack of mate marking is an insult to our traditions," she spat. "Rhysand should dissolve this farce immediately."

Before I could respond, another familiar face appeared. My stomach dropped.

Vivienne, Rhysand's sister. I happened to be a classmate of hers at the Royal Werewolf Academy, we were both in the healing department.

Last month, I competed against her for Dr. Arthur’s medical research program.

Her eyes widened in recognition before narrowing dangerously. "You!"

"Hello, Vivienne," I said quietly.

"You dare show your face here?" she hissed. "After humiliating me in front of the entire medical community?"

"I won that position fairly," I replied, keeping my voice level.

"Fairly?" She laughed bitterly. "You, an orphan with no background, no proper education, beating me? The scandal nearly destroyed our family's reputation!"

I'd had enough. Reaching into my bag, I pulled out a document I'd prepared for exactly this kind of situation.

"Here," I said, holding it out. "A pack-binding contract. I've already signed it."

Rosalind snatched it from my hand, her eyes scanning the contents rapidly.

"This... this is a complete renouncement of any claim to the Midnight Sun Pack's resources or territory," she said, surprise coloring her tone.

"Yes," I confirmed. "I want no part of your wealth or power. I'm here because of Eleanor's prophecy, nothing more."

Movement caught my eye. Rhysand stood in the shadows of a nearby tree, his expression unreadable as he watched the scene unfold.

His presence made my heart skip a beat, but I forced myself to stay focused on his mother and sister.

"Will that be sufficient proof that I'm not here to 'worm my way' into anything?" I asked quietly.

The silence that followed was deafening.

Rosalind's perfectly manicured nails drummed against the contract I'd presented. Her lips curved into a condescending smile.

"Oh, you naive girl," she said, sliding the document back across the table. "Do you really think pack politics can be resolved with a simple piece of paper?"

I kept my expression neutral, though her dismissive tone made my jaw clench.

"Our alliances are built on blood and tradition," she continued, her voice smooth as silk but sharp as steel. "Several powerful packs are seeking alliance through marriage with the Midnight Sun Pack."

The implication was clear - I was an obstacle to these important political connections.

"Mother," Rhysand's deep voice finally broke his silence. He stood at the edge of the room, his presence commanding even in stillness.

But Rosalind wasn't finished. "The Northern Pack has offered their eldest daughter. The River Valley Pack's heiress would bring significant territorial advantages."

Her lips curled in distaste as she gestured toward me. Her eyes narrowed pointedly. "Your... unexpected presence has complicated these delicate negotiations."

Before I could respond, servants began bringing in dinner. The tension in the air was thick enough to cut with a knife.

Vivienne seized the opportunity as we settled around the massive dining table.

"Speaking of complications," she said sweetly, "I heard about your recent breakthrough in wolf healing techniques, Elara. You even got the research position is Dr. Arthur’s team. Quite... impressive for someone with your background."

The way she said 'background' made it sound like a curse.

Of course she would question this. Dr. Arthur is the most famous healer in our country. He is the leader of the Institute of Medicine.

Joining his research team is the dream of every potential healer, including Vivienne.

She happened to be competing with me for the position, but I beat her out.

"Though I wonder..." Vivienne tapped her finger against her wine glass. "How exactly did you manage to secure that position? It seems rather... convenient that you won over more qualified candidates."

"If you're implying something, Vivienne, say it directly," I replied, keeping my voice steady.

Her smile turned vicious. "Well, it's just interesting how an orphan with no connections suddenly rises to such prominence. First the research position, then saving our grandmother, and now this marriage..."

"That's enough." Rhysand's voice cracked through the air like a whip.

To everyone's surprise, he continued, "I've reviewed Elara's medical research myself. Her methods were innovative and her results impressive. There's no question about her qualifications."

A moment of stunned silence followed his words. I turned to look at him, but his expression remained unreadable.

Vivienne's face flushed with anger and humiliation. Her hand gripped her wine glass so tightly I feared it might shatter.

But before she could respond, another voice joined the conversation.

"Is this how we treat someone who saved my life?"

Eleanor, Rhysand's grandmother, stood in the doorway. Her frail form radiated an unmistakable authority.

"Grandmother," Vivienne started, but Eleanor raised a hand.

"I won't stand for this disrespect," she said firmly. "Elara risked her life to save mine. More importantly, she is the one spoken of in my prophecy."

The room fell silent. Eleanor's prophecies were never taken lightly.

"The signs are clear," she continued, making her way to the table. "Elara is destined to be the Luna of the Midnight Sun Pack. To question this is to question the ancient magic itself."

I watched as Rosalind and Vivienne exchanged worried glances. Even they wouldn't dare challenge Eleanor's words directly.

But Rosalind wasn't finished. As I settled into my seat, she cleared her throat delicately.

"Speaking of ancient magic," she said, her eyes fixed on Rhysand. "Perhaps now is the time to discuss the blood oath."

My heart skipped a beat. Blood oaths were the most sacred of pack bonds.

"What blood oath?" I asked, though something told me I wouldn't like the answer.

Rosalind's lips curved into a triumphant smile. "Rhysand is bound by an ancient blood oath to mate with the Crescent Moon Pack's missing daughter."

The words hit me like a physical blow. I turned to look at Rhysand, searching his face for any reaction.

The silence that followed was deafening. My eyes immediately went to Rhysand's face, watching carefully as his mother explained how this union was meant to unite two of the most powerful packs.

His jaw tightened almost imperceptibly, but otherwise, he showed no reaction to this revelation.