Chapter 70

~Grace~

The whole clan was dying. Alex would die.

How much would I pay to prevent that?

God, anything. Anything.

I placed my head in my hands.

That’s really all there was to it, huh? I sell my soul to Christopher to save the Black Lycan clan, or I let Alex kill Liam’s entire family and likely be exiled for it. Or worse.

I sighed.

“I can tell this decision is weighing heavy on your shoulders,” Christopher spoke up. “I can give you time to think-”

“No,” I cut him off. “I know my answer.”

Christopher raised an eyebrow.

I sat up again, and took a deep breath. “Whatever price you set, I’ll pay it.”

The corners of his lips twitched, and I saw him holding back a smile. That devil, what was he planning?

“Since that’s the price you’re willing to pay…” Christopher said, leaning back into the sofa.

I clenched my jaw, annoyed. He was messing with me, now. Just tell me already!

“I will break the curse on the Black Lycan clan, if I have the power, in return for Alex stepping down from his throne.”

I stared at him.

Out of all of the things I expected him to say, that was not it.

That’s what he wanted most? For Alex to resign? Did he really hate him that much?

But… no. I couldn’t make that deal. Was he being serious?

I shot Christopher a look, and he tilted his head at me.

“Too high of a price after all?” He questioned, and his smile sickened me.

He just wanted to see what I’d do in this vulnerable state.

“That’s… I can’t.”

Christopher’s smile fell.

“Those Lycans aren’t worth it to you, huh?” He whispered, and I almost slapped him.

What an evil, stuck-up fiend!

I clenched my fist, rage building up inside of me.

It wasn’t fair of him to ask this of me. He knew I couldn’t refuse, and he was just trying to see if I’d give in, just for him.

I narrowed my eyes at him.

“It has nothing to do with that. I can’t make a deal like that. It involves another person, and I cannot speak for him. It is simply out of my hands.”

The glint in Christopher’s eye faded. He sat up taller, too, looking more serious.

“I see. Then I suppose I’ll have to come up with another price, then,” he said.

I pressed my lips together in confirmation. If this was the kind of thing he wanted from me, I wasn’t looking forward to hearing the next price. It would likely be something just as difficult to accept.

“Hm… let me see…” Christopher mused, pretending to think hard about it. I knew he already had something in mind.

“Oh, I know. Since you won’t accept Alex stepping down from being King, how about something to do with you, instead?”

I swallowed, my throat dry. This is right where I was expecting him to go.

“Let me mark you.”

My breath hitched in my throat, and I stopped breathing.

Oh, god… Why that?

I closed my eyes, feeling my heart crumble. What could I do?

I couldn’t let the Lycans die, and I really had no excuse not to accept this offer, other than the fact that I really didn’t want to…

But I already set my standards. I said I would be willing to pay anything.

And I would be saving Alex’s life as well as all of the Lycans, and even Liam’s family’s lives.

That was worth anything.

I took a deep breath. I just had to get over myself and accept the deal. I knew it was worth it.

My stomach turned, and my throat was still dry, but I opened my eyes to look at Christopher directly.

“Okay. I accept your condition.”

A wicked grin consumed Christopher’s face, and he stood up.

“Excellent! I’m glad we could come to an agreement. Payment up front!”

He quickly closed the distance between us, and I felt his breath against my neck.

Instinctively, I moved back in a panic. Payment first?! I thought he had to see if he could break the curse before I paid!

I pressed my hands against him, but I bit my tongue.

No… I better let him do what he wants. He may not help me at all if I don’t accept, and after all…

Alex can just mark me and override Christopher’s mark. I knew for a fact Alex was stronger than him.

It just disgusted me to have Christopher’s lips on my skin, let his teeth pierce my skin, have his mark on my body.

Closing my eyes and trying to think of Alex, I let out a small whimper as I felt Christopher break the skin.

It didn’t hurt as bad as I thought it would, and it was over before I knew it.

I opened my eyes, and Christopher stood above me, licking the blood from his lips. His eyes were bright and excited.

My neck felt hot and itchy where he marked it, and I touched it gently. It felt swollen and irritated. I grimaced.

I shuddered to even think of what it looked like. I remembered how much I hated Liam’s mark, how ugly it looked on my skin. The mark of chosen mates are nothing compared to fated mates, and Christopher was neither.

Wearing something to cover it up wouldn’t break our deal, would it?

I knew Alex would be livid if he found out, but he was my only chance of removing it. Would he still love me after what I’d done?

I was doing this for him, after all.

I loved him more than anything.

“Our wedding will take place next week,” Christopher spoke up. “I’ll let everyone know.”

Wait what…? Wedding?!

That wasn’t part of the deal!

I stood up, enraged. He would not trick me into this!

Christopher gave me an evil look. “A mark means nothing unless the couple is married, isn’t that right?”

I hissed, but I couldn’t argue. It was true. A mark didn’t mean much without the contract between a couple. It was highly frowned upon to mark someone before marriage, but of course that didn’t stop Christopher.

Whatever. Christopher would break the curse and Alex would remove his mark, and this would all be over before the wedding even took place.

I folded my arms, glaring at him, but said nothing.

“Good, I’m so glad we’re in sync. It’s just as all couples should be,” he joked, but I didn’t find his behavior amusing.

“Shouldn’t you be focused on breaking the curse, rather than planning our wedding?” I emphasized, giving him a dirty look.

He shrugged. “If that’s what’s most important to you, love, I will do just that.”

I rolled my eyes. Disgusting. I didn’t want to be sweet-talked by Christopher.

It’s not as if this weren’t part of the deal. I wasn’t asking him to do anything, it’s just him holding up his end of the contract.

“Well, off to the Black Lycan clan, then,” he said, sounding chipper. He pulled on a jacket.

I stared at him. “What do you mean?”

I couldn't take him there. Alex would shred him to pieces, and there would be nothing I could do to stop him.

“Well, I can’t break the curse without looking at it.”

I sighed.

“Okay. But we’ll have to sneak in.”