A challenge

As the sunlight hit her face, Morgan’s eyes fluttered open, the remnants of last night’s events playing on a loop in her mind. The harshness of Alex’s departure still stung, but she had no time to dwell on it. A soft knock at the door jolted her fully awake.

“Luna Morgan, we’re here to assist you,” a gentle voice called from the other side.

Pushing the cover off her, Morgan sighed, running a hand through her messy hair. She had nearly forgotten her new title, one she didn’t feel like she even wanted. But she knew better than to refuse the call; the well-being of her pack depended on it. With a resigned groan, she got out of bed and opened the door.

Three maids stood there, each wearing polite, neutral expressions. The lead maid, an older woman with silver streaks in her hair, offered a small smile. “Alpha Alex has requested your presence at breakfast, Luna. We’re here to help you prepare.”

As their gaze lingered on her, Morgan swallowed her irritation, knowing it would do no good to lash out. “Fine,” she muttered, stepping aside to let them in.

As the maids began their work—brushing her hair, adjusting her clothes, and applying light makeup—Morgan’s thoughts drifted back to the man waiting for her downstairs. How could he be so cold, so indifferent after everything? But she knew she had to play along, at least for now.

When they were done, the lead maid handed Morgan a delicate silver necklace, the insignia of her new title etched into the pendant. “A gift from Master Alex, for you, my Luna,” the maid said softly.

Hesitantly, Morgan stared at it for a moment before slipping it on, the weight of it settling heavily on her chest. “Thank you,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

With a deep breath, she steeled herself and made her way downstairs, the maids trailing behind her. As she entered the dining room, she found Alex already seated at the head of the table, calmly eating his breakfast as if nothing had happened.

She didn’t greet him, didn’t even look at him as she took her seat across from him. But she could feel his eyes on her, assessing, waiting.

“Good morning,” Alex said smoothly, his voice carrying an unexpected warmth.

She forced a smile, though it felt like a slap in the face. “Morning.”

The maids hovered nearby, their eyes discreetly watching the interaction. Morgan noticed Alex’s gaze flicker to them, and suddenly, his demeanor shifted. He leaned forward, reaching across the table to place a piece of fruit on her plate.

“Here, you should eat,” he said softly, his tone almost tender. “I hope I wasn’t too rough last night.”

Eyes wide, Morgan nearly choked on air, her heart skipping a beat at his audacity. But she couldn’t let her true feelings show, not with the maids watching. “No, it was… fine,” she replied, keeping her voice steady. “Just… a little sore.”

His eyes darkened slightly, a small smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. “I’ll be more gentle next time.”

Glaring at him, Morgan bit back the urge to tell him there wouldn’t be a next time, but she knew better. Instead, she forced herself to maintain the facade. “That’s… considerate of you.”

He reached out, his hand brushing against hers as he added more food to her plate. “You should eat more. You’ll need your strength.”

She nodded, her stomach turning as she forced herself to take a bite. The food tasted like ash in her mouth, but she swallowed it down, all too aware of the eyes on them. The room was suffocating, the tension between them barely masked by their forced civility.

Silently, Morgan pushed the food around on her plate, her mind drifting as the weight of her new title pressed down on her. The room was quiet, the tension thick between them, but she could feel the maids’ eyes discreetly watching, waiting for something.

Staring up at her, Alex cleared his throat, drawing her attention back to him. His gaze was sharp, and calculated, as if he were sizing her up for something. “Luna Morgan,” he began, his tone neutral, “now that you’re officially a part of the Moonblood Pack, there are certain expectations you’ll need to fulfill.”

She looked up at him, her brows knitting together in confusion. “Expectations?”

He nodded, setting his fork down and leaning back in his chair. “Yes. As Luna, you have a duty to this pack. It’s not just about the title; it’s about the role you play. You are my Luna now, and that means you need to get involved with the business of the Moonblood Pack.”

Enraged at his words, Morgan’s heart skipped a beat. She had known this was coming, but hearing it laid out so plainly made it all too real. “I… I understand that,” she said slowly, trying to gather her thoughts. “The Silver Claw Pack is in a delicate position right now, and I have a lot on my plate, but—”

Just then her eyes met his, and Alex cut her off with a sharp look, his eyes narrowing. “Your duty is to please the pack, Morgan. And that means prioritizing Moonblood’s needs above all else.”

Her mouth went dry as she tried to process his words. She opened her mouth to argue, to tell him that she couldn’t just abandon her responsibilities to her birth pack, but before she could get a word out, Alex leaned over the table and claimed her lips in a sudden kiss, devouring her lips.

Speechless, Morgan’s eyes widened in shock, her heart hammering in her chest as she froze beneath his touch. The kiss was brief, but it was enough to make her pulse race, a reminder of the power he held over her now. When he pulled back, the room seemed to spin, her mind struggling to catch up.

The maids gasped softly, their eyes wide with surprise at the display. Morgan’s cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and embarrassment, but she couldn’t bring herself to react. Not with them watching.

Gazing away from her, Alex’s gaze flicked to the maids, and his expression hardened. “Leave us,” he commanded, his voice cold and authoritative.

Without a word, the maids bowed their heads and hurried out of the room, leaving Morgan and Alex alone once more. The silence that followed was deafening, the weight of their unspoken words hanging heavily in the air.

Staring after them, Morgan’s heart pounded in her chest as the door closed behind the maids, the silence thickening between them. Alex’s eyes bore into her, and she could feel the weight of his gaze as if it were a tangible force pressing down on her. She wanted to speak, to demand an explanation for his sudden display, but the words stuck in her throat.

The look of confusion in her gaze made Alex’s expression soften slightly as he leaned back in his chair, but the intensity in his eyes remained.

“Morgan,” he began, his voice calm but firm, “there’s something you need to understand about your new role. This isn’t just about our relationship or the title you’ve been given. This is about survival—yours, mine, and the pack’s.”

“What do you mean?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Gently, Alex leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table as he spoke. “The Moonblood Pack is strong, but it’s also ruthless. They respect power and fear those who wield it. You can’t afford to be seen as weak or indecisive, not if you want them to follow you. My decision to bring you here, to make you Luna, wasn’t just about politics—it was about survival. For this alliance to work, for there to be peace between our packs, you need to establish your own dominance here.”

Drawing her brows together, her mind racing as she tried to process his words, and she asked calmly, “Dominance? You want me to… what, challenge them?”

With a faint chuckle, Alex shook his head, a small smile playing at the corners of his lips. “Not challenge. Command. They need to see you as more than just my mate—they need to see you as a leader, someone who can hold her own, even when I’m not around. Because, Morgan, I won’t always be there to protect you.”
A baby contract with my enemy
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