Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow novel Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Cornered

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Chapter 86

~Koda’s POV~

I swallowed hard, clearing my throat as I adjusted my stance. "Well, not quite, Alpha Slade. I had... something I needed to take care of here. Urgently."

Slade let out a low chuckle, the sound carrying a hint of disbelief. "Uh-huh. So, where exactly is here, if I may ask?"

I hesitated, fighting the urge to grip the back of my neck, but there was no point in lying. "Ivory Crescent Pack."

Silence.

Then, "Ivory Crescent? Koda, of all the territories... what the hell are you doing over there?" His voice had shifted, no longer amused.

I scrambled for an answer that would sound remotely acceptable. "It’s... personal business. I swear, I’ll be back soon."

Slade hummed. I knew he was considering what I said and I hoped he wasn’t going to get finicky about it either and let me stay.

"Well, whatever this ’personal business’ is, make sure it’s settled fast. We’ve got a pack to run, and I expect my beta to, you know, be there."

"Yes, Alpha." I kept my voice steady, though my chest ached. It wasn’t lost on me that Slade rarely called me anything but my name. The use of "beta" wasn’t accidental.

"Good. Especially since Daisy would be returning to the pack by the weekend. We need to host her birthday party," he replied and this time his tone softened only slightly. "Don’t be a stranger, Koda." And with that, he hung up, leaving me standing in silence.

I shoved the phone back in my pocket and leaned against the tree, pressing my head against the rough bark, letting the familiar scent of wood and pine ground me for a moment.

The last few days had left me spinning. One moment, I thought I knew what I wanted, who I was meant to be with, but then fate threw Tempest in my face, like some twisted cosmic joke.

I tried to picture myself walking back into the Silver Claw Packhouse, forgetting this whole thing, leaving both Aira and Tempest behind. But the thought felt empty.

Could I even do it?

I looked back toward the pool, catching a flicker of movement, Aira’s figure wading in the water, laughing with a blonde as the sun glinted off her skin. My chest tightened, and for a split second, I felt the urge to go to her, to just say something real.

And then Tempest’s voice reached me too, light but unmistakably hers, mingling with Aira’s, and the feeling twisted, turning bitter.

I shook my head, shoving off the tree with a muttered curse. Damn it, Koda. Get a grip.

With a deep sigh, I turned away, heading back into the woods, reminding myself why I had to leave this place as soon as I could but probably after talking to Aira.

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~Zara’s POV~

I stepped out onto the back lawn, inhaling the fresh evening air as I made my way to the little park tucked behind the pack house.

We swam for a few hours and after that, we each left the pool to dry off inside and shower. Once I was done, I headed out to enjoy the scenery before my departure tomorrow.

I could feel myself relaxing, my worries momentarily pushed aside. But as we laughed, my phone buzzed in my pocket, breaking through the moment.

"Hold on one second, Storm," I muttered, fishing out my phone.

A single notification lit up the screen—a message from Ivan. I thought it was from Andrew but to my horror, it was that bastard.

My stomach dropped, a dark feeling creeping in as I opened the message, already bracing myself for whatever he’d sent.

’Check your email, Zara,’ his message read. ’It’s only a matter of time before your father’s company falls. All I need is a single signature, and it’s over. You know where to find me.

I clenched my jaw, my hands trembling slightly as I opened the attachment. The document loaded slowly, and when it did, my heart stopped. My father’s name was signed on a contract transferring an enormous sum of money—almost everything the company had—to an offshore account.

Panic welled up in my chest as I realized what this meant. My father was being forced into a corner, left vulnerable to whatever trap Ivan was setting. And if he succeeded, everything my father had worked for—everything our family had left—would crumble.

"Zara?" Storm’s voice broke through my thoughts, his face scrunched up with concern as he stared at me from the swing. "Are you okay?"

I forced a smile, pocketing my phone. "Yeah, Storm. Everything’s fine."

But as I looked into his innocent eyes, all I could think about was the promise I’d made to myself—to protect my family, no matter the cost.

I just hadn’t realized the cost would include facing Ivan all over again.

Another message entered my phone, its buzz pulling my attention from Storm to my phone.

Ivan: You see, either you do all I want or he signs it. He already lost to me and agreed to do anything I wanted. See you soon, my fiance.