Chapter 7 Alpha Theodore

Violet I drew up short and looked at Theo. His eyes were watchful and kind. He seemed intrigued, but there was no mistaking the heat in his gaze either, the interest. The anger started to pull back. The red haze started to clear, and I turned my gaze on Lucas slowly. The red light in his eyes vanished. His eyes widened with fear and disbelief. "Th-That's---" “Impossible?” I hissed. “I'm sure my father thought the same.” He paled. Theo let out a low whistle, but he didn't stop me from advancing on Lucas. Lucas took a step back, but I didn't need to get any closer. “How dare you try to compel me?" I said, sneering at him with disgust. "Try it again, and I’ll consider it a formal challenge, then you’ll have a lot more to worry about that where I’ve been all night.” He jolted back and turned pale. I turned to Theo, glaring at him. “Enjoy it while you can, Lucas.” Theo slipped his arm around my waist and pulled me away. "What a statement." We walked out of the hall, and I pulled away from him, putting a bit of distance between us as I looked up at him, coldly. His eyes widened. “I suppose I don’t have to wait the hour for that discussion, do I, Alpha Theodore?” He smirked and gestured ahead of me. “Shall we?” As we left, Kincaid fell into step behind us as did a woman I assumed to Dalia, Theodore's Beta, known to be a cunning, vicious woman who was only a bit older than me. He led me to a different hotel room than the one I'd spent the night with Theodore in. Dalia produced a contract and set it in front of me as Theodore drank from his glass. "The deal is simple," he said. "In exchange for helping you with your little problem, I want 70% of Darkmoon's GDP for the upcoming year, the alpha's due as it were and for you to act as my luna for a year." Embarrassment and anger warred in me, thinking about what I must have looked like to him last night. Did I seem that desperate? 70% was outright robbery, but money could always be earned back. If I could get this done within a quarter and leverage my position as acting luna of Midnight for the good of Darkmoon, I'd make it back within the year easily, but my comfort and the ease of things wasn't worth my dignity or Darkmoon's pride. I didn’t even pick up the contract or glance at it. “You must make a habit of insulting people you need things from." I scoffed. "No wonder you haven't made much progress with Midnight's land stake." He bristled. Kincaid's eyes widened just a bit. His lips twitched like he was going to laugh, but Dahlia looked outright amused. Her eyes twinkled. "You showed me a good time last night, so I won't hold your youth and inexperience against you." He flushed. Dahlia coughed into her hand. "I'll ignore the insult since I may yet benefit from this alliance: 20% as goodwill and we’ll need to iron out what you’re asking of me.” “You think you’ve got room to negotiate?” He scoffed. "You must not have a very firm grip on what you're up against. My brother won't even bat an eyelash." “Your brother will have to change his mind as soon as the Donovan family’s allies start calling for his head. How long do you think that will take? A week?” He worked his jaw. “You’d be acting luna of the largest pack, and involved with the alpha king's brother. You think 20% is enough for the honor?" "You must think very highly of your cock.” His eyes widened a bit as I met his gaze. “To think I would agree to 70%, knowing that you need me for whatever it is you’re after, and to overlook the speculation I will have to deal with. You know the social climate as well as I do, and the show you put on with this ring is going to get people talking. A wedding will be expected, a ceremony-- I'll be your contracted wife, Theodore, not just your luna. How long do you think it’ll take for people to start praising you for bedding me and speculating if I’ve been cheating on Lucas all these years? Having any more to do with you may further set back my efforts, so it had better be worth it for me.” I took off the ring and tossed it on the table. “A shiny prop isn’t enough.” The ring was beautiful, to my taste, and clearly custom. He had to have been preparing to make this move for a while. Every instinct I had said I was right about this. Theodore sipped his wine, watching me with desire in his eyes, like he wanted to rip my dress off and fuck me right over the table, but it was just a look. Theodore Nightshade never slept with the same woman twice. It was his rule. It was practically an oath at this point, and I had no interest in sleeping with him again. I'd had seven years of a man using my feelings against me. I wasn't keen to pick up another one, even if they were just sexual feelings. "I'm not interested in helping you for cheap." I pulled the ring off my finger and dropped it on the table. “I’m sure you can get it resized. Send me an invitation, hm? I’m a great gift-giver.” I got to my feet. I turned to Kincaid, who looked so proud he was glowing. "Review clause 9 of our prenuptial and get the paperwork started to push the court. We have work to do.” Kincaid nodded. "As you wish, Alpha Violet." I paused and hummed before looking at Kincaid. "And see if you can get me an audience with His Majesty about this." Kincaid reached for the door. Moments later, Theodore's hand shot out, shoving it closed. I could feel the heat of his body along my back. He chuckled low in his throat. “You’re the first person to dare to negotiate with me,” Theodore remarked. “And there is something utterly sexy about a woman willing to push back." I turned my head. "Is there a reason you’re stopping me?” He made a tutting sound. “I'm not accustomed to negotiating, Alpha Violet." "What a way to admit you're a spoiled brat, Alpha Theodore. I’m not in the habit of wasting my time.” He laughed. "Very well, Alpha Violet. 20% as a sign of goodwill, and yes, you would be required to legally and formally marry me. Think you can handle that?" I cocked an eyebrow at him. "Think you can handle being married to me?" He leaned into my space like he just couldn't help it. His nostrils flared as he breathed in. He sucked his lower lip between his teeth, leaving it shiny and wet as his eyes filled with hunger. This close, the heat of his body, the scent of his cologne was almost overwhelming. I could almost feel his hands on me, the solid, hard thrust of him inside me. "Something I should know, Alpha Violet?" He asked, lowering his voice to a low murmur. "What? You prance around in your underwear?" I scoffed. "I don't accept bullshit, and I'll hold you to a high standard even if this is a contract." I narrowed my eyes. "Worst of all, because it is a contract, you won't get the benefit of a single drop of affection. Something tells me you haven't really been held accountable all your life if you haven't done it yourself." "You have such a low view of me." "You approached me, fucked me, and planned to leverage my pain against me." He flinched. "I'm only believing what I've been shown." He worked his jaw. "I… didn’t plan to take you back to my room." I narrowed my eyes at him. "No?" "I had actually planned to get you to divorce Lucas because he's an idiot and beneath you." He trailed his fingers along my cheek and then swept a lock of hair behind my ear. The gesture was tender almost. "And you were so sure that I'd give up my seven years of marriage for you?" He smiled. "After seeing Lucas with that woman at your party, I had a feeling that it was just a matter of time… You're a woman who knows her worth and an alpha who wouldn't take that disrespect." He stood up straight, smiling down at me. "And my apologies for making you think I was the same kind of man as your ex-husband." I swallowed. His eyes were twinkling, but his voice was sincere. "I accept your apology." "Are we in agreement then?" I hesitated, then nodded. "Great. Get yourself packed up to stay in Midnight starting tonight." "I can't do that."