••• Maximillian’s POV •••

For some reason, I felt a bit of stabbing pain in my heart when I heard Arra say ‘I’ll never fall in love with you’ and locked the bedroom door behind me.

Was the pain just an illusion?

Because I couldn’t be heartbroken over a woman!

I attributed it to the fact that my ego as a male Alpha was being challenged, and of course, I would feel unhappy when someone, especially a woman, challenged me.

“This is just a contract marriage. What we have is fake. We are only in a contract marriage,” I muttered and reminded myself repeatedly as I went to the living room.

She wasn't my fated mate and, at best, was only a bedmate for me, so there was nothing to be angry about.

I sat on the living room couch and poured myself a drink.

Just my luck, Jaxon came into the living room to see me brooding.

“She locks you out?” he asked in surprise as he saw the drink, the pillow, and the blanket.

I ignored him and kept drinking.

“You seem serious about Arabella,” he teased me.

“You know the truth of our relationship,” I quickly denied being affected by the angry girl in my bedroom now.

Jaxon sat beside me and asked, “When do I need to take her for a tour around the pack? It’s compulsory for every Luna, and she needs to know everything about the pack.”

I thought about it for a moment before deciding, “Tomorrow, I’ll take her myself.”

He looked a bit surprised as he asked, “There are lots of business matters for you to attend to tomorrow. Are you sure you want to take the time to show her around personally?”

I didn't want to answer him, so I stood up to leave.

“Where are you going?” he asked from behind me.

I rolled my eyes before answering, “To the office to get everything done before tomorrow.”

What else would I do at this time of night when I had to spare my time to show Arra around tomorrow?

He seemed to snicker before I heard him say, “Arabella is really a special person. She is a bit spoiled, though understandable since she’s the Alpha Princess, but she’s actually very kind and also… very beautiful. I believe you guys are the perfect match for each…”

I turned around and glared at him, shutting him up before he could finish his sentence.

Then I left for my office while hearing him snickering again behind me.

He seemed to have forgotten that I was just in a contract marriage with Arra and only fulfilling the agreement between us.

Yes, I thought to myself, I was only fulfilling the obligations of the contract, trying to perform the role of an Alpha husband in order not to worry my family, and nothing more.

***

The next day…

I had to ensure everything was perfect before I showed Arra around.

Yeah, I wondered what was wrong with me to want to show her how great my pack was and see the light of amazement in her eyes.

The Silentmane Canines Pack was, after all, my pride, and she was going to be their Luna.

“Only for a year,” my wolf, Cyrus, suddenly reminded, shuttering my thoughts.

“Yeah, yeah,” I grumbled, and he snickered, just like my damn Beta last night.

I pushed him to the back of my mind, wondering why Jaxon and my own wolf liked to tease me about Arra.

I returned to the pack’s main house and stopped to appreciate her beauty before letting her know of my presence.

She looked at me and stood up, meeting me halfway, and I felt like I was welcomed home by a wife, which somehow made my heart feel warm and fuzzy.

I took her hand and purposely teased her, “Are you ready to see your new pack, Luna Arra?”

As expected, she blushed, and it made me want to bite her cheeks.

She nodded, and I quickly pulled her toward the car before I really bit those red cheeks of hers.

“Max, why do you call me ‘Arra’?” she suddenly asked me in the car.

“Don't you like it?” I asked.

“No. I mean, I’m fine with it, but you are the first one to call me that,” she told me, making my heart leaped with joy.

“What do others usually call you?” I asked casually and pretended to read through some documents to maintain my cool image.

“My parents and those close to them call me ‘Ari’, while my friends usually call me ‘Bella’,” she said.

“And that piece of shit mate of yours?” I asked. “What does he call you?”

If he called her by any other pet name like ‘baby’ or something else, I might need to change the way I addressed her.

Maybe ‘Luv’?

I wouldn't let myself be someone insignificant to her because I was going to be her husband, for Goddess’ sake.

And I wouldn't let her arsehole ex-mate up me by calling her something more unique.

“Yeah, right. Only because you are going to be a contracted husband, so you have to be the most special guy in her world,” Cyrus snickered out of nowhere.

I heard Arra giggle, making me forget to scold my damn wolf for teasing me before saying, “Bella. He calls me ‘Bella’.”

Just like her best friends, then.

Suddenly, I had the urge to hold her in my arms, and that was what I did.

I put the documents down in the space between us and pulled her onto my lap abruptly, causing her to yelp because of her surprise, and I wrapped my arms around her waist.

Oh, she felt damn good in my lap, like she belonged there…

“Then I’m glad I’m the special one, my mate,” I whispered in her ear.

I felt her body tremble slightly, and her heartbeat picked up in pace.

“L-Let me go,” she stammered with a flushed face.

So cute…

I chuckled and put her back in her seat but didn't let go of her hand.

I had this sense of always wanting to have a connection with her.

If only we were in the bedroom now…

One could only wish.

Finally, we arrived at the pack’s center, and I led her around, explaining to her about every place she needed to know, including my office, before I took her to the school area.

“They are Omegas, right?” she asked me in a whisper.

I hummed in response.

“You let the Omegas teach the kids?” she asked, obviously astonished by the idea.

“Why? Are you looking down on Omegas?” I asked her sharply.

I didn't like it when people looked down on Omegas because of their status.

She rolled her pretty eyes and muttered, “If I look down on Omegas, I wouldn't have been best friends with an Omega.”

Her voice was so low and soft, but I still heard every word and instantly felt a pang of guilt. I had forgotten that her bitch of a best friend of an Omega had betrayed her.

“I let the Omegas in my pack choose their educations and careers,” I said, not wanting her to think about that bitch.

“That’s good. I like the way you think,” she said and nodded, agreeing with my idea.

“I don't believe social status should determine everything, at least on my pack. Your abilities and intelligence should count,” I explained.

Just as I was about to say more, my phone suddenly rang, and it was from an important business partner.

“Sorry, but I have to take this,” I told her before reluctantly leaving her side.

The moment I stepped away from her, a few of my pack members surrounded her and began talking to her.

A strange sense of pride, joy, and something else filled my heart as I saw the happy expressions of my pack members, who seemed to have accepted Arra as their Luna.

Watching her talking to my pack members, I had to admit she indeed had a very amazing beauty and grace, even if she was only wearing a T-shirt and a pair of jeans.

And that noble temperament of hers because she was the Alpha Princess…

At first glance, no one could have mistaken her for someone other than a member of the Royal family.

Though she was the spoiled kind, just like Jaxon said.

Now that I thought about it, when she lost her temper and tried to act tough, like last night, she seemed like a harmless… kitten?

A kitten who would scratch me whenever she was angry… yet her scratch would please me rather than hurt me.

I couldn't help smiling at the thought.

Just as I finished my call, I saw Jaxon approaching them, and the crowd dispersed, leaving only the two of them.

They began chatting and looked happy together, making me somehow feel displeased.

I strode toward them and snaked an arm around Arra’s waist, pulling her close to me, away from my so-called Beta and best friend, and glared at him.

Instead of being afraid, Jaxon actually dared to snicker instead.

I so wanted to punch him at that moment, but suddenly, I heard Arra’s voice saying, “Alpha Max, there is something we need to talk about.”