Contract With The Alpha King by Brey Mitchylle

Chapter 25
Fiona sat in the quiet room, her tea cooling in front of her. The King had asked her to leave the study, and now she found herself
alone in what appeared to be a grand library. The maids had brought her tea and left without a word. She sipped the warm liquid,
trying to
calm her nerves, but the tension in her chest refused to subside.
She let out a deep sigh and glanced around the room. Towering shelves filled with books surrounded her, casting long shadows
across the space. The silence felt heavy, pressing in on her. With another sigh, she stood and began to wander the room,
scanning the titles on the shelves. Most of the books were written in a language she couldn't understand, their spines covered in
unfamiliar symbols and ornate designs
After a few minutes, she found a book that caught her attention. It was an old, worn volume titled "The Lineages of the Great
Clans: A History of Werewolf Families. The title was in a language she could read, though the cover had seen better days. Fiona
hesitated for a moment before pulling it off the shell she carried it back to the table and sat down, flipping open the first few
pages.
The book was filled with detailed histories of the different werewolf families, their alliances, and their rivalries. Fiona skimmed
through, looking for any mention of her own family, the Rosenthals. After several pages, she finally found it. The entry was brief
but revealing, talking about the Rosenthal family's old power within their pack and their rare abilities.
Her fingers traced over the text as she read about the rumored healing power that only surfaced once in every generation. The
mention of this ability made her stomach tighten. Her father had never spoken much about the family's history, and now, seeing it
laid out in front of her, she wondered how much more there was that she didn't know.
There were other families similar to the Rosenthals, each belonging to different Packs across the world. For example, a family in

China was rumored to control the wind, living in isolation to avoid the attention of other werewolves. There were also ancient
bloodlines known for their immense strength, far beyond that of ordinary werewolves.
Unlike the Rosenthal family, where only one member per generation inherited their rare ability, these families often had Two or
three individuals gifted with their powers. Fiona didn't know all the details, but she was certain they were vastly different from her
own family. What are you reading?" a voice came from behind her. Fiona whipped around, startled by the voice. Marius stood
behind, her, a smirk on his face. He moved to the couch in front of her and sat down casually, his sharp eyes fixed on her.
Without a word, he reached for her teacup and drank from it, not bothering with politeness.

"What do you have on Elijah?" Marius asked, his tone casual but his eyes full of suspicion.
Fiona blinked, confused. "Excuse me?"
Marius set the cup down, his gaze unwavering. "What does he owe you? Why would my brother, of all people, agree to marry
you? And in front of our mother and father, no less. What are you holding over him?" Fiona felt a wave of confusion wash over
her. "I don't understand what you're saying."
Marius leaned forward, his voice low but cutting. "You must be threatening him. It's the only explanation. Elijah doesn't do things
like this-acting out, bringing someone like you to the palace without any warning. "I'm not threatening him," Fiona said firmly, still
trying to grasp what he was insinuating
Marius snatched the book from her hands, flipping through it carelessly. "This," he said, holding up the worn volume, "is this how
you plan to dig up dirt on our family? Are you here to say on us?"
"Spy!" Fiona was taken aback. "I'm not spying on anyone!"
He snorted, tossing the book aside. "Right. Because it makes perfect sense, that Elijah would throw himself at the mercy of the
council and our parents just for you."
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Chapter 25

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Fiona clenched her fists, frustration rising, "I don't know what you're accusing me of, but I'm not here to hurt Elijah. I- care about
him."
"Bullshit." Marius said.
Fiona was at a loss for words. Earlier, Marius had seemed indifferent to Elijah, but now his demeanor was entirely different -
intense and unsettling. She stood up without a word, reaching for the discarded book. Before she could grasp it, Marius suddenly
grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him. She stumbled, landing in his lap.
Her body tensed, every instinct on high alert. She pushed against him, shocked by the raw strength he displayed. "What are you
doing!!" she hissed, her voice low and sharp, struggling to free herself.

Marius's grip tightened as he sneered down at Fiona. "You really think Elijah would marry someone like you? You don't have the
body, the face, or the grace to fit in here. All you have is your family name, and that's not enough. So, what are you holding over
him? Why is he so desperate to marry you?"
Fiona's heart pounded with anger. She glared up at him, her teeth clenched. "Let me go," she demanded, her voice low but
steady, refusing to let his insults shake her.
Marius's smirk widened. "You didn't answer my question. Why would someone like him choose you? What are you hiding?"
Fiona struggled against him, trying to pull free. "I said, let me go!"
When Marius didn't show any signs of letting go, Fiona took a deep breath. Her eyes landed on his gray ones. "Let. Me. Go."
Marius's mocking expression didn't falter. He leaned in closer, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You really think you can just tell
me what to do? You don't belong here, and you certainly don't belong with Elijah. You-"
Before he could finish, Fiona's eyes hardened. She swiftly moved her hand to a specific spot under his ribcage, pressing hard.
on a pressure point she knew would send a sharp jolt of pain through his body. Marius gasped, his grip on her wrist loosening as
his muscles spasmed involuntarily. Fiona twisted out of his lap, standing up quickly. "You should have listened to me when I was
still acting nice," Fiona narrowed her eyes.
Marius groaned, rubbing the area where she'd squeezed. His face was contorted in discomfort, but the mocking look had
disappeared. He glared up at her, still winded from the sudden pain.
"That was a warning," Fiona added, standing tall. "Next time you touch me... I won't be that merciful."