Chapter 26
Twenty-Six
LISA POV
Later that day I sat in Franklin’s car watching the city pass outside the window.
“Your people are weird,” I said.
Franklin laughed. “That’s one way to put it p>
“I still don’t understand why Nadia reacted so strongly to you taking me out. It almost sounded like she was jealous p>
Franklin glanced at me, amused. I lifted an eyebrow.
“Is there history there p>
He laughed harder. “God, no. Nadia’s…” He shook his head and gestured between us. “She’s way up here and I’m way down here. Besides, she treats me like furniture most of the time p>
“She does seem kind of mean to you. My best friend has a theory that when someone is unnecessarily mean to a specific person, it means they like them p>
Franklin chuckled. For a moment he stared ahead at the road, the smile fading into something quieter.
“She’s mean to everyone,” he said finally. “That’s just how she is p>
He took me to the market first, a wide open space crowded with vendors selling produce, spices, and handmade jewelry. From there we stopped at a bakery where I had the best cinnamon roll I’d ever tasted, then a park overlooking the river where people sat along the railing watching boats drift past.
For the first time since arriving at Silver Creek, I felt like a person instead of a transaction.
I took a few pictures and sent them to Sasha with a short message: I survived my first field trip.
She responded almost immediately with three heart emojis and a demand for details.
By the time Franklin drove me back to the estate, the sun was already dropping behind the hills.
I went straight to my room and called James.
He answered on the third ring but said nothing.
“James, why are you making Mom’s life so difficult? She’s going through hell right now. The divorce, me being gone, and you’re just what, punishing her p>
“I’m not punishing anyone,” he said, his voice flat.
“You’ve been staying at Parker’s for days. You won’t come home. She’s worried sick about
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you p>
“Maybe if she’d thought about that before she let you sell yourself p>
“Don’t you dare.” The words came out sharp enough to surprise even me. “Don’t you dare this on her. I made this choice. Me. Not her. Because Dad left us with nothing. Because he drained the accounts, hid his assets, and walked away p>
I paced the room as I spoke.
“So yeah, I’m doing this. And if you have a problem with it, you can take it up with me. But you will go home and stop making her suffer p>
James stayed quiet.
Then he said, “I don’t need your money p>
I stopped walking.
“Your ill-gotten blood money,” he added.
“James p>
“Mom shouldn’t take it either. It’s disgusting p>
“Well it’s too late now.” My voice shook despite my effort to control it. “So you can either accept it and help Mom through this, or you can keep acting like a selfish brat and make everything worse p>
The door behind me opened.
I turned.
Cameron stood in the doorway with a lit cigar between his fingers.
Damn it.
“I’ll call you back,” I said quickly and ended the call before James could answer.
Cameron stepped into the room and shut the door. He took a slow drag from the cigar and
exhaled toward the ceiling.
“Who were you talking to p>
“My brother p>
He watched me without reacting,
“Teenage angst,” I added, trying to lighten the moment. “We used to be close but now he doesn’t listen to anything I say. It’s weird for p>
“I didn’t ask for specifics p>
put
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I pressed my lips together. “Sorry p>
He walked farther into the room. I glanced at the clock on the nightstand.
Six-thirty.
“It’s not nine o’clock,” I said before I could stop myself.
Cameron’s gaze shifted to me.
“I have the right to do whatever I want p>
“I know,” I said quickly. “I just meant p>
“Lie down p>
I hesitated before moving to the bed.
My body reacted before my mind caught up, heat gathering between my legs even though he hadn’t touched me yet. I hated the way my body anticipated him.
“On all fours,” Cameron said.
I blinked. “What p>
“You heard me p>
Evangeline had told me to lie flat on my back, but I didn’t argue. I turned over and positioned myself on my hands and knees, arching my back the way those late-night research articles had described.
Behind me I heard the soft sound of fabric shifting and the metal slide of his zipper.
Then he was there.
He pushed inside in one hard thrust.
Air left my lungs and I buried my face in the pillow.
Cameron gripped my hips and began to move. The angle drove deeper than before, striking something inside me that made my whole body tighten. The sound of skin against skin filled the room as he drove forward again and again.
I bit into the pillow to stay quiet.
He lasted longer this time.
Much longer.
Each thrust sent another wave through my body. The pressure kept building until I felt myself climbing toward something I didn’t want and couldn’t stop.
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Then he knotted again.
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The swell locked us together and his release followed immediately. Tears ran down my face as he stayed inside me, breathing hard above my back.
When the knot finally loosened he pulled out.
“Why the hell are you crying?” His voice carried irritation.
I shook my head without turning around. “It’s not p>
“I’m not assaulting you p>
“I know.” My voice broke anyway. “It’s not about you p>
Silence settled between us.
For a brief moment our eyes met.
Then he looked away, cleaned himself up, and left the room.
The door closed behind him.
I stayed where I was until the quiet settled over the room again. Then I rolled onto the bed and pulled the blanket over my head while the sobs finally broke free.
Because I didn’t understand anymore.
I didn’t understand what this was or what it was doing to me.
I only knew I couldn’t stop.
Twenty – Seven
CAMERON POV
I slept eight hours last night.
Eight uninterrupted hours, the longest stretch I’d managed in months. I woke clear–headed in a way I hadn’t felt in years. It should have been a relief, yet the feeling unsettled me because I knew exactly why I’d slept so well.
The knotting. The satisfaction my body found in Lisa’s bed.
I pushed the thought aside and focused on work.
The morning was consumed by resource distribution meetings, one of the few Alpha duties I actually tolerated. Unlike the Council of Elders, who spent every session questioning my authority, allocation was simple. Numbers. Decisions. Results.
We reviewed crop yields from the southern farms, timber production from the northern forests, and water rights along the eastern tributaries. Silver Creek controlled over eight hundred square miles of land that required constant management.
“The harvest projections are up fifteen percent from last year,” my agriculture minister said, sliding a chart across the table. “But we’ll need more grain storage if we want to stockpile for winter. ”
“Approved,” I said. “Coordinate with the treasury and start construction p>
“The logging operations are stable,” the forestry director added. “We’ve replanted twice as many trees as we harvested p>
“Good. Continue the current schedule p>
This was what being Alpha should feel like. Making decisions that protected the pack instead of listening to Elder Richmond question whether a bastard son had the right to lead.
My phone buzzed.
Luna Catherine: Marcus and I will visit this weekend to check on Evangeline. Saturday morning.
I typed back
She’s doing much better. The crisis passed.
A reply came immediately.
Luna Catherine: We still want to see her. And discuss the treatment plan.
I stared at the message.
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Evangeline had received all her care here at Silver Creek instead of Creek Keepers. Lycan medicine was superior. Better facilities. Better physicians. Treatments most werewolf packs couldn’t afford.
Dr. Beauty was one of the best.
Evangeline was receiving the best care available.
But Catherine and Marcus were not coming only for medical updates. They wanted to see whether the contract arrangement was working.
I typed a short response.
See you Saturday.
I set the phone down and tried to return to the reports.
My attention drifted anyway.
My thoughts kept circling back to last night. Lisa on all fours. The way she had taken me. The moment I nearly lost control and knotted inside her again.
And how good it had felt.
I forced myself to refocus.
The door opened and Franklin stepped inside carrying a tablet and a stack of security reports.
“No rogue activity this week. Perimeter is quiet,” he said. “I deserve a raise p>
I nodded without looking up.
Franklin watched me.
“You alright p>
“Fine p>
“You look distracted p>
“I’m not p>
He walked to the coffee station and poured two mugs, black the way I took it. He set one in front of me and leaned against the desk.
“Where did you take the girl yesterday?” I asked,
Franklin raised an eyebrow. “The girl has a name
I stared at him.
“Market. Bakery. Park,” he said after a moment. She liked it. First time she’s looked relaxed
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since she arrived p>
I said nothing.
Franklin crossed his arms.
“So,” he said, studying me, “how was the sex p>
I looked up sharply. “Excuse me p>
“You heard me. Pain level for her. Or maybe I should ask about the pleasure level.” His grin widened. “You look very well rested this morning, Alpha p>
Anger hit fast and cold.
“Get out p>
Franklin didn’t move.
“You know I’m right,” he said.
“I said get out p>
He raised both hands and stood. “Alright. I didn’t mean to p>
“Now p>
He grabbed his tablet and walked to the door but paused before leaving.
“For what it’s worth,” he said, his voice serious now, “I hope she gets pregnant quickly so you can stop torturing yourself p>
I didn’t answer.
“And maybe that’ll happen faster if you treat her like a person instead of equipment p>
The door closed behind him.
I sat there staring at the desk.
He wasn’t entirely wrong, and that irritated me even more.
My thoughts spiraled through the afternoon. Why did each night with Lisa feel different?
Her scent when she was aroused drove my wolf restless. My instincts pushed forward every
time I touched her.
Her body reacted to me in ways Evangeline’s never had.
Tight. Responsive. So receptive that I had to fight myself not to lose control.
I had never knotted Evangeline.
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Not once.
Yet with Lisa I nearly did every time.
A woman I barely knew. A woman hired for conception.
I needed distance. If I kept things mechanical enough, the reactions would stop.
They had to.
My phone rang.
Personal line.
Unknown number.
I normally ignored unknown numbers, but something made me answer.
“Alpha Cameron?” a strained male voice asked.
“Who is this p>
“My name is Richard Hartwell.” A pause. “Lisa’s father p>
I straightened in my chair.
“What do you want? And how did you get this number p>
“Luna Catherine gave it to me,” he said quickly. Please. I need to speak with you about my daughter p>
“Go on p>
“I’m devastated by what’s happening,” Richard said, voice breaking. “Lisa made this decision without telling me. I took care of her entire life. She never had to work, never worried about money. Now she and her mother have sold themselves p>
I remained silent.
“My wife had an affair,” he continued. “She destroyed our family. Now I’m the one forced out of my home while she uses Lisa to finance her new life p>
“That isn’t the information I was given,” I said. “Lisa was vetted. Luna Catherine approved her p>
“Of course she did,” he snapped. “But Luna didn’t know the full story. Susan is manipulative. She always has been. Lisa takes after her p>
The accusation sat wrong with me.
Still, hearing it from the girl’s father carried weight.
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“I tried to protect Lisa from her mother,” Richard continued. “But Susan convinced her to sell her body. I’m begging you as a father. Don’t do this to my daughter p>
“I have a contract p>
“A contract signed under manipulation!” His voice rose. “You can’t make decisions like this without consulting her father p>
“Are you threatening me?” I asked quietly.
“No. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it that way. I’m desperate. Please just look into it p>
“I will,” I said. “Don’t call this number again p>
I ended the call.
After a moment I called Franklin back in.
“I received a call from Lisa’s father. Richard Hartwell p>
Franklin frowned. “How did he get your number?
“Catherine gave it to him. He claims Lisa’s mother manipulated her into the contract. I want verification. Contact Creek Keepers records and review the family history p>
Franklin nodded.
“I met her mother when I picked Lisa up,” he said. “She looked terrified Lisa was leaving. She also had some kind of vision problem p>
He paused.
“Her father sounds like a manipulator p>
“Maybe,” I said. “But I want confirmation p>
Franklin left and returned twenty minutes later with a printout.
“Lisa transferred the entire first payment to her mother,” he said, sliding the page across the desk. “Fifty thousand tokens. She kept none of it p>
I studied the numbers.
Suspicious.
Or proof she was supporting her family.
I couldn’t decide.
“There’s an easy way to find out,” Franklin said carefully. “Ask her.
“No p>
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He waited.
“I’m not getting involved in family drama,” I continued. “Catherine approved the contract. If there’s a problem, it’s her responsibility. Block Richard Hartwell from contacting me. Any communication goes through you p>
“Understood p>
He left.
I sat alone staring at the bank statement.
Why would someone like Lisa sell her womb?
Money, obviously.
But for what reason?
Manipulation? Desperation? Loyalty?
At nine o’clock I stood outside her door.
I considered asking about her family, but the thought faded. It didn’t matter. She was under
contract.
I opened the door.
Lisa was already on the bed, naked and waiting.
Anger flared before I could stop it. At her. At myself. At the entire situation.
I crossed the room and pushed her down onto the mattress and paused long enough to see if
she would refuse.
She didn’t.
So I continued.
I took her hard. Not violent, but without restraint I needed the friction, the rhythm, something strong enough to burn through the frustration that had been building all day p>
The bed frame knocked against the wall as I thrust.
Lisa didn’t cry or pull away. She took it, breathing hard, her body yielding.
I turned her onto all fours and drove into her from behind, chasing the moment when thought disappears and instinct takes over.
The knot tried to form again.
I forced it down p>
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Not again.
I pulled out before it locked and finished with one hand gripping her hip while the other steadied me against the headboard.
When it was over I stepped back.
Lisa stayed on all fours for a moment, breathing hard.
Sweat covered her skin.
She looked small in the center of the bed.
I started cleaning up, ready to leave like always.
Then I felt her watching me.
“Are you alright, Alpha p>
The question caught me completely off guard.
1 looked at her.
This girl I had just used. This stranger carrying my potential heir.
And I didn’t have an answer.
Cedella
Cedella is a passionate storyteller known for her bold romantic and spicy novels that keep readers hooked from the very first chapter. With a flair for crafting emotionally intense plots and unforgettable characters, she blends love, desire, and drama into every story she writes. Cedella’s storytelling style is immersive and addictive—perfect for fans of heated romances and heart-pounding twists.