Chapter 7 – Signed, Sealed, Delivered

• Olivia's POV
• The drive to Storm Haven Pack with Ethan was silent. Neither of us felt the need to fill the space with superficial conversation. It seemed pointless given the weight of the entire situation.
• After the confrontation with Grace and my acceptance of the ‘business arrangement,’ I wasn’t in the mood to chat anyway.
• Ethan’s Pack lands were nothing like mine. Where my Pack was loud and chaotic, filled with passionate voices, there was fierce order here.
• I could feel a quiet reverence from all the people we walked past, their eyes flicking between Ethan and me with a mix of curiosity and wariness.
• He was their Alpha, and they respected him. Every nod or glance was filled with admiration and trust.
• It was…nice. But I couldn’t shake the worry for my own Pack. If aligning with Ethan and Storm Haven was going to keep my Pack together, to save them from a terrible fate, then so be it.
• Ethan introduced me to a few of his Pack members in passing, almost casually. He spoke with them like old friends. I didn’t expect him to be so open, not after experiencing his coldness firsthand.
• I could see the way the Pack members responded to him with warm smiles and welcoming nods. Part of me wondered if this was the real Ethan, or if it was merely a performance for my benefit.
• I tried to squash the growing desire to know this man. This wasn’t personal. But I was still curious.
• I raised my eyebrow at him with a questioning look as we approached the Pack House.
• “You’re the future Luna here. You need to know your pack and they need to know you,” he said simply, like it should have been obvious.
• His words caught me off guard, and the way he said it sounded so... natural. As if we weren’t enemies turned fake lovers navigating this mess for survival.
• When we finally reached his office, the reality of the situation sank in.
• Ethan shut the door behind us, leaving the hum of the Pack House behind. The room was both intimidating and oddly comforting. It smelled like leather and old wood, but underneath was the distinct scent of Ethan.
• "Drink?" he asked, stopping in front of the small bar in the corner. His tone was casual, but there was an edge to it that made my wolf bristle. I was still on guard from everything – his Pack, the Council, this entire charade.
• "I’m fine," I said, my voice tighter than I intended.
• He poured himself two fingers of whiskey, swirling the amber liquid as he turned back toward me.
• His mouth twisted into a smirk. "You sure? The last time we ran into each other, you seemed to enjoy a drink or twelve."
• My jaw clenched. Of course he was going to bring that up. The memory of that night – the wedding, the betrayal, the way I tried to drown it all in too many glasses – came flooding back with a startling clarity.
• I crossed my arms, refusing to take the bait. "That night had nothing to do with you, Ethan."
• He raised an eyebrow, taking a slow sip. His heated gaze swept over me, like he was undressing me and remembering. "Funny, I distinctly remember being there. And it was my bed."
• The air between us crackled with tension, the weight of everything unspoken hanging heavy. I hated how he so easily reminded me of how far I’d fallen.
• Ethan set his drink down, the smirk fading from his face. He moved toward the desk, pulling open a drawer and grabbing a stack of papers.
• The shift in his demeanor was subtle but direct; no more teasing, it was time to set the terms for the business of this sham marriage.
• “I think you’ll find everything in here agreeable. Or at least beneficial to your Pack,” he said, laying the contract in front of me.
• I glanced at the document, already anticipating what it would say.
• Every clause was laid out in detail, a physical reminder of the arrangement: act like fated mates, play the part of that photographed couple madly in love in public. There’d be physical closeness, we’d need to mark each other with body scent and bite.
• In return, he’d support my Pack financially and help stave off the Alpha Council’s threats.
• “We need a convincing love story,” I said, unable to shake the disappointment gnawing at me that I would never have this in truth.
• Ethan’s answer was prepared and laced with impatience. “After the last wedding, you got drunk over Aiden’s betrayal, and we ‘discovered’ we’re fated mates when we ran into each other at the hotel. We fell in love... just like that.”
• The idea was bitter in my mouth. “I need a loyalty clause,” I added. “You’re Aiden’s brother. I can’t just trust –”
• “Don’t you dare compare me to him!” Ethan roared.
• I flinched at the Alpha power in his voice. But we needed to set boundaries from the beginning. I wasn’t going to spend this mating acting less than is equal.
• I met Ethan’s gaze rather than show submission. And his eyes flickered briefly with amusement.
• “You might be the Alpha here,” I said quietly, pushing the contract back across the desk, “but that doesn’t mean I’m going to play the obedient Luna.”
• He raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk tugging at his lips. “Oh? And what exactly do you want, Olivia?”
• “Simple,” I replied, crossing my arms. “Respect. Boundaries. And this arrangement stays strictly business, no matter what.”
• Ethan held my gaze for a long moment, then nodded.
• “There’s one more thing I want before I sign,” I said, my voice firm but steady.
• Ethan raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting more pushback. “And what would that be?”
• “My pack,” I started, leaning forward to press my palms on the desk. “We stay independent. Thorne Ridge is not merging with Storm Haven. We may be working together, we might look like one from the outside, but my Pack stands on its own.”
• Surprise flickered in Ethan’s eyes. Then he smirked, his expression twisting into something condescending. “Relax, Olivia. I’m not interested in absorbing your pack or taking control.”
• He leaned in slightly to mirror my body’s position, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “But don’t forget, the duration of this contract? That’s on me. I decide when this deal is over. Unless, of course, something… unforeseen happens.”
• The threat hung in the air between us. I really was stuck between a rock and a hard place; I needed this arrangement more than I wanted to admit.
• With a deep breath, I picked up the pen and signed the contract without any further hesitation. The sound of the pen scratching across the paper felt final, like sealing a deal with the devil.
• Ethan watched me intently, and when I finished, he extended his hand across the table.
• “Next week, we’ll attend a gala together,” he said smoothly, his tone casual, almost dismissive. “It’ll be our first public appearance as Mates. Don’t mess it up, my Luna.”
• I hesitated before reaching out to take his hand. His grip was firm, and the reality of everything that had just happened settled over me.
• There was no turning back now.