Contractually Yours Alpha (Riley)

Chapter One Hundred and Six

"So... Do you have the amulet?" Daemon asked me as I got dressed.

"Not exactly."

He was right in front of me in the next second, forcing me to take a step back. "You know you have to stop doing that."

"Riley, you don't play games with Vox. He will have you killed, and for leading him on, he might exact a punishment worse than death on you.

"I know that." I admitted, running my hands through my hair-something I had seen Thane do when he is agitated. "He says he has it."

"Who?"

"Bruce."

"And you believe him?"

"I don't have an option.

"Stop saying that; you do-or at least you 'did.'. You didn't have to play hero; if you remained at the pack, Vox wouldn't have any wish to kill you, you would have been safe." "You are right; I did have an option." I agreed. "Just not one I was willing to take."

He took a step back. "Have it your way then. You've always been stubborn."

I took a deep inhale. "I need your help."

"You need my help?" he asked, surprised by my statement.

"Yes. Vox only gave me three days, which is already counting. I need to get to Bruce the quickest way I can, and... your 'shifting' is the fastest method I know of."

Daemon cocked a brow at me. "So you want me to help you get to Bruce so you can take the amulet, free Thane, and kick me out of your life?"

Now that he said it out loud, it indeed sounded strange of me to ask him for any help in this. You know what? Forget it; I'm sorry I asked."

I guess I would just have to find another way....

He had done one of those really quick movements again, easily sweeping me off my feet; his hold on me was sure, and in what seemed like seconds, we were right in front of Bruce's house.

He let me down to my feet, his gaze locked into mine. He didn't need to say the words; I could see them written in his eyes. 'I'm doing this... just for you.'.

And then he disappeared.

The door swung open even before I knocked, and I walked in.

"Bruce?" I called, but there was no response. "Bruce!" I called louder, feeling slightly panicked.

"A moment!" he called back, and finally I spotted him. He walked towards me, but I noticed the slight limp to his

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Chapter One Hundred and Six

walk.

"Are you alright?" I asked, my gaze trailing down to his seemingly injured leg.

"I am totally fine. How did it go?"

"Vox is willing to make a trade, but he has his... conditions too. "He had agreed to release you from the spell-but he refused to let Thane go until he had the jewel." I said to him, "I added a third condition; I hope that won't offset things?" "It's fine." Bruce responded, but I noticed the slight frown on his features.

"Everything went perfectly well... didn't it?"

"Yes-it did-it went well."

Bruce... What aren't you telling me?

"It's nothing."

"Bruce." I called again an edge to my voice.

"It's just that I hoped he would fulfill all the conditions before I fulfill mine."

"Don't worry, everything will be fine as long as you have the jewel. And you do have it, right?"

"About that..."

"You said you had the jewel!"

"I did... but..."

"Vox is going to kill me and you and then he will destroy my pack if he believes I lied to him."

"I have it. Okay. And I will deliver it to him when the time comes."

"If you have it, then let me see it."