Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 400

Chapter 400: A Dark Deal
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CHAPTER 400

~Snow’s POV~

Later That Night – Gazebo

The crisp night air did little to soothe my frustration.

I sat in the gazebo, a glass of whiskey in hand, staring blankly at the moonlit garden.

I had signed the papers.

I had done what Zara wanted.

So why did it feel like I had just made the biggest mistake of my life?

“Drinking alone?”

I exhaled harshly. “Go away, Vera.”

Ignoring me, she glided into the gazebo, carrying a tray with a small cake and another glass of whiskey.

“Don’t be like that,” she cooed, setting it down in front of me. “I thought we could celebrate. After all, you’re finally free.”

I scoffed, swirling the amber liquid in my glass. “I’m not free.”

Vera’s eyes flickered dangerously, but she kept her tone light. “Not yet. But soon.”

I set my glass down with more force than necessary, leaning back in my seat. “What do you really want, Vera?”

She sat beside me, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. “I want you to be happy.”

I gave a bitter laugh. “Bullshit.”

She smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Alright,” she admitted, “I want us to be happy. And we can be, Snow.”

I shot her a sharp look. “You and I will never be a ‘we.'”

Her fingers clenched subtly against the table before she forced herself to relax.

“Then bring her back.”

I stiffened.

Vera leaned in slightly, her expression unreadable. “Bring Zara home.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Why the sudden change? I thought you wanted her gone. You wanted us to be happy?”

“I do,” she said smoothly, “but I also know you. And if bringing her back makes you see me as less of a threat, then I’ll help.”

My jaw tightened.

I didn’t trust her.

Not for a damn second. And the more she spoke, the more she confirmed my friends’ words. I didn’t know her well enough, so how could I just fall for her sob story?

But if Vera thought supporting me would get her closer to whatever twisted plan she had, she was dead wrong.

I would play her game.

And then, I would burn her whole fucking world down.

For Zara.

‘Keep your friends close and your enemies closer.’

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~Vera’s POV~

Rage simmered inside me like a slow-burning fire. Snow was slipping further away. And it was all because of her.

Zara.

That pathetic excuse of a woman who had stolen everything that should have been mine.

I paced my room, my nails digging into my palms. The more Snow distanced himself, the more I realized something—I was losing.

And I didn’t like losing.

I stopped abruptly, my mind made up. If I couldn’t have Snow, then no one could.

Especially not her.

Without wasting another second, I grabbed my cloak and slipped out of the mansion, my steps quick and silent as I made my way to the gardens, then beyond, into the darkness of the forest.

The night was thick with mist, the towering trees looming like ancient sentinels. The further I walked, the deeper the shadows stretched, wrapping around me like a cloak of secrecy.

I knew exactly where I was going.

A hidden clearing nestled in the heart of the forest—a place where only those who truly understood the dark arts dared to step foot.

The moment I reached it, I exhaled sharply and dropped to my knees, pulling out the small pouch tied to my waist.

Inside was everything I needed—white salt, blackthorn ash, crushed bones, and the blood of a wolf.

I drew a perfect circle around myself with the white salt, carving ancient symbols into the dirt—symbols of summoning and power.

Of death.

As I worked, the air grew heavy and thick with dark energy. The trees surrounding me seemed to tremble, whispering warnings, but I didn’t care.

This had to be done.

I placed a small black candle in the center of the circle, my lips parting as I began to chant.

The ancient words left my tongue in a hushed, rhythmic whisper, curling into the air like tendrils of smoke. My pulse quickened as power surged through my veins.

The flame of the candle flickered—then exploded into a dark crimson hue.

The earth beneath me trembled.

A sudden gust of wind howled through the clearing, and from within the depths of the shadows, something answered.

The air rippled.

And then—he appeared.

A towering figure materialized within the summoning circle, his presence dripping with raw, unbridled power.

He wasn’t a mere werewolf.

He was something worse.

Half-wolf, half-demon. A nightmare incarnate.

His skin was dark as the void itself, with glowing veins of crimson tracing intricate patterns up his arms. His wolf-like eyes burned with a malevolent hunger, and his lips curled in a cruel smirk.

“You called, little witch?” His voice was deep, rough—dangerous.

I lifted my chin, masking the slight tremor in my fingers. “I have a task for you.”

His smirk widened, revealing sharp, gleaming teeth. “Oh? And what does a desperate woman like you need from me?”

I stepped forward, the wind whipping my hair around my face. “There’s a girl. A problem.”

His burning gaze flickered with amusement. “And you want her gone.”

“Yes.” I clenched my fists. “She’s in my way. Zara Zephyr. The moment she steps foot near Snow Zephyr’s mansion, I want you to capture her. Kill her if necessary.”

The creature hummed, tilting his head. “A simple request.”

I nodded, my breath shallow. “Do this for me, and I will give you whatever you desire.”

A dark chuckle rumbled from his chest. “Oh, I already know what I want.”

Before I could react, he lifted a single clawed finger and dragged it through the air.

A searing pain bloomed in my chest, spreading like wildfire. I gasped, doubling over as heat surged through me, binding us.

A contract.

Magic pulsed through the clearing, locking us together in an unbreakable deal.

The demon-wolf grinned, his voice a sinister whisper.

“It’s done.”

And just like that, Zara’s fate was sealed.