Aria’s POV

That sentence bmade /bmy heart race like crazy.

“Anything you want to add to the contract?” he asked.

I thought for a second.

The financial terms he was offering were already more than generous–enough to pay off my debts and even move my grandma into better nursing home.

If I really bhad /banything to ask for…

“Can we

not have sex during the contract period?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow, and I immediately felt my face heat up.

“I know this makes me sound like a hypocrite, given..what happened before,” I stuttered. “But I was desperate back then and did something really stupid without thinking it through.”

“Of course. If that’s what you want. He leaned back, lookingpletely unbothered.

I still felt the need to exin. “I know the whole ‘no sex before marriage‘ thing sounds ridiculous. But where I’m from, that’s bpart /bof our belief. It’s what my mom btaught /bme too.” Until she abandoned us, anyway.

“You’re from Frostpine Pack, right?”

“Yes.”

“I respect your beliefs. It doesn’t affect our agreement at all,” he said calmly.

I felt a little embarrassed. Honestly, what was I thinking? Even if I hadn’t brought it up, he wouldn’t want to sleep with me anyway. He had way too many better options.

“If there’s nothing else, can I take this as your agreement bto /bsign?” he asked.

“Yb–/bYeah. Of course.”

b“/bThen sign here.”

He leaned forward to point out where I needed to sign. I instinctively leaned in too.

That’s when I bcaught /bit again.

The strong scent of pine.

As I said,

our scent only got bs /bstronger when we were either fighting, mating, or… baroused/b.

I snapped my head up, looking at him. And yet his bexpression /bstayed perfectly calm,pletely at odds with what his scent bwas /bgiving

awayb. /b

“Think carefully. Once you sign, there’s no backing out,” he warned.

He was watching me with those bdark /bgray eyes. A spark ran through my whole body.

I let out a nervour Laughb. /b“bWhat’s /bthere to regret? The chance is golden.”

I quickly grabbed the pen and scribbled my name down. And ba /bstrange feeling bubbled up inside me. Well, who would have guessed? I was now officially tied to Grayson Hart.

“So… Do you want to sniff me now or something!” bI /basked after the signing.

He chuckled lightly. “Not now. Like I bsaid/b, most of the time I’m fine,

9:46 AM

“Well.. great.

He

nced at his watch. “Maids will show you to your room. Sleep well. I want you fully rested and prepared for this job.”

He made it sound like I was about to start some grueling physicalbor. I was getting more and more curious about what I needed to do exactly.

The maids bhad /bfiled into the room, ready to take me baway/b.

But I didn’t want to leave byet/b, I wasn’t ready for this perfect day to end yet.

And yet I bhad /bno reason to stay.

He stared at me and then suddenly bmoved/b. Before I could react, he had walked up to me and cupped my face with one hand.

My heart almost burst out of my chest.

A quick kissnded on my cheek, and ba /bsecondter, he bhad /bpulled baway/b.

“Sleep well, Aria,” he bsaid/b, his voice a low, sexy bmurmur/b.

I had the best night’s sleep of my life that night.

The soft mattress, the silk sheets, the scented candle bon /bmy nightstand…everything bwas /bperfect.

When I woke up in my new room feeling brand new, the maids were already waiting at the door with breakfast, politely offering to set the table bfor /bme.

And after an amazing breakfast, I bfound /bmyselfpletely free.

bMy /bbsupermarket /bjob bwas /bbobviously /bgone. I didn’t have bany /bnew assignments from bGrayson /bbyet/b, I bwas /bbbasically /bfree bto /bdo whatever bI /bbwanted/b.

So after a litle hesitation, I pulled out my phone.

He bhad /bgiven me his personal numberst night–for work emergencies, I assumed I wasn’t sure if I could text him anytime I wanted.

Are youing home for dinner tonight?] I sent.

He replied almost instantly. (Why?]

II’m cooking. Wondering if you’d want to join? No pressure though! I know you’re busy.]

[OK. I’ll be there.]

My heart fluttered. His response made my bday/bb. /b

I quickly asked if he had any allergies, but he didn’t reply. Probably busy bagain/b.

I left the mansion in a hurry band /brushed to bthe /bnearest grocery store. After a quick thinking, I decided to keep the dinner menu bsimple /byet bssic /bbruschetta for bthe /bstarter, roast chicken with mashed potatoes and green beans for the main.

Mrs Jones was surprised to see me carry bbags /bof groceries into the bmansion/b, “You went shopping for food, Ms. Collins? Maids could have done it for byou/bb./b”

“No I want to do it myself,” I replied with a sheepish smile. “I’m cooking dinner for Alpha bGrayson/b.”

She raised her eyebrow even higher. “Have byou /basked Alpha Grayson first?

Yeah. Why?”

“Well..” She was trying to find a delicate way to put it. “Because Alpha Grayson bhas /bba /bvery high standard for bfood/b. I can’t remember how many chefs we have fired.”

9:46 AM

OK now I’m sweating

bBut /bI bhad /balready asked Grayson, and the frozen chicken was melting in the bag as we speak. There’s no turning back.

“I’ll try my best,” I told Mrs. Jonesb, /btrying to hide my panic.

“Of course, Ms. Collins. Kitchen is this way,”

Cooking wasn’t hard for me. I was independent at a very young age, and I liked to bstudy /bvarious recipes during my free time.

But I had bonly /bcooked for myself and grandma. Having a very picky Alpha taste my bfood/b–that’s a first.

So I spent the entire afternoon hustling around in the huge kitchen, trying to make every detail perfect. The time flew by, at 7:30 sharp, I heard engine noise bfrom /bthe front door. A car had just pulled up. The timing was great because the roasted chicken was just done to perfection.

I rushed to the front door to greet him without even taking off my apron. My heart bwas /bracing.

“Hey. Wee back!” I blurted out as the door swung open.

Yet the next second, I froze.

Because it wasn’t him who just walked in.

It was a tall woman in a Chanel suit, blonde curls, absolutely stunning–like she’d just stepped off the bcover /bof Vogue.

Fucking hell…

It’s Delh Harl

b3/3 /b