Contractually Yours, Alpha by Giftemmy

THE WARRIOR LUNA (Book III) THE WARRIOR LUNA (Book III) PROLOGUE.

Kaida's POV I was not like the other girls; I knew that even as a little child. My father had found it strange that a girl of my age was more interested in watching the pack warriors train rather than playing with toys like the other kids her age did at the pack.

I had one dream, and though it may sound impossible, I held onto it. I believed that I could one day becan... Alpha. The first Female Alpha.

My father had no male child to inherit his title and take his place, and so each day, I trained to be the best at everything.

I was twenty and five years of age and yet to find my mate. To be honest, I hadn't even been searching for him- whoever he was; on the contrary, I dreaded finding my mate, because that would only bring an end to my dream of becoming an Alpha. I believed it was all fate pointingin the right direction; this was my destiny.

That had been what I thought until everything changed right before my eyes.

My father, Alpha Trent, of the Dawn pack, summonedinto his courtroom.

He sat on his favorite chair; the vibrant smile he always had on his face was gone. He was getting worse with each passing day; he barely steps out of this place. I could see it clearly-he was dying, and yet I was still in denial. There had to be a way to save him; he was all I had left.

"Kaida, my daughter. Ccloser." He says and I do just that. "You know I love you-so very much." "I know that dad." I responded; something about his tone madefeel uneasy.

"And you know I would always want what is best for you and the... pack." He said the word with a little difficulty. "Yes, father." "I wish... I wish I had more tto prepare you for this news, but there isn't much time." "You are scaring me, Father." "I had made an arrangement for you to get married..." "Married?" I questioned. "What do you mean by that?" "Maybe you aren't familiar with the human term. Mated is the right word." "I am familiar with the term," I sneered.

"Thave made the arrangements; you will be mated/married to King Ethan Alexander Blackwood of the Nightshade pack." I took a step away from my father; I couldn't believe my own ears, and yet I heard it right.

"How could you do this tofather?" I asked; this was unlike him, very unlike the caring man I grew up with. "Kaida, I am not trying to hurt you in any way, but this pack needs an Alpha. I have no male children; this is the only way our pack can be safe." +25 BONUS THE WARRIOR LUNA (Book III) "And what happened to what I want? What happens to me! "What do you want, daughter?" he asked, his gaze boring into me. This had been the first the had askedsuch a question.

"You know, I always thought you could see it; I always thought you would figure it out on your own. Has it ever occurred to you that I could be the next Alpha?" My father stared atlike I had gone crazy. "But you are a.." Woman.

That was the word left unspoken. My gender had strippedof many privileges; I had fought to be amongst the pack warriors; the men didn't have to fight as hard, and then I had to prove to them every damned day that I earned my position and it wasn't given tojust because my father was the Alpha.

"You think a woman cannot be an Alpha?" I asked.

"I think you, my daughter, can be anything you want to be.

"Then it's settled; I will take over from you if it comes to that, but it won't because you will live, father." "You are a warrior, Kaida, one of the best I had ever seen, but there is more to being an Alpha; you need influence, you need alliances, and..." "You fear." I say cutting him off, he didn't like that one bit. "You fear that the other packs would turn onif I am named Alpha; you fear that the Dawn pack would be seen as... weak." "Not just that; I fear you will get hurt." "You know more than anyone that I can handle myself." "I am not just your father, Kaida; I am your Alpha. You will marry the king." "Ethan Blackwood is three years younger than I am!" "He is no child, and you know that." "He also has a reputation. I'm sure you're aware he's a... Casanova, a playboy, spends his tpartying, drinking, and bedding women. Is that who you want for me?” I asked my father; I could see the guilt in his eyes, but he was quick to wipe off every emotion from his face.

"And yet he is one of the most excellent rulers to have ever lived, and he is doing all that at such a young age; there clearly must be something he is doing right. You should consider this a privilege; do you know how many women all around the world are seeking such an opportunity?" "I am not like other women. I don't belong in a man's bed; belong in the war grounds, and you know it." "You are the daughter of an Alpha; this is your destiny." "I should be the one to decide that." "You will do as I have commanded, daughter." "Father, you know I will go to the grave for you, but this I will not do." My father coughed into a white handkerchief pressed to his mouth, and though he tried to hide it, I couldn't miss the bloodstain on the fabric or the tremor in his hands.

"Are you alright?" I asked.

2/3 THE WARRIOR LUNA (Book III) +25 BONUS

"I am." He said, for a moment we both remained silent, and then he spoke up. “I never meant to force you into this, but there are bad people out there who will strike after I die. While e I don't doubt your skills, I fear what will happen to you when they lay their hands on you, my daughter; they will taint you in every meaning of the word. I want to make sure you are protected; King Ethan can protect you, at least from the scavengers out there. But that's not all there is to be gained; your son, my grandchild will becthe next Alpha King." I feared no one; if only my father could understand that I didn't want to hide under anyone's protective wings.

"And what is in it for him?" I asked because the Alpha king does nothing except it profits him.

"When he claims this pack... the Nightshade pack would increase in strength, force, and numbers." "And this is what you want? That your pack be given away?"

"No. Not given away, sometimes sacrifices have to be made and while I wish I could remain and rule then pack, I know my tis almost up. It will givegreat joy to know you are safe with him-at least as safe as you can be, and the pack members are out of harm's way too; only then will I lay in peace." "The Healers Liles-they can cure all illnesses. You've used it before on me, when I was little..."

"I tried that. It didn't work." He coughed again. If the healer lilies m didn't heal, they destroyed; that explains why he looked even worse than he had sdays before. "I can't force you; I've lived my life, and it's tfor you to live yours." I knew I was going to regret this decision even as I said the words; "I will honor your wish, Father. I will marry the Alpha King and be his Luna.”