Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 431

Chapter 431: Easing the Death Tension
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CHAPTER 428

~Zara’s POV~

The morning sun had risen a little higher by the time I woke up. I groggily blinked, feeling the stiffness in my limbs as I sat up. My entire body ached, but the rest had been worth it.

Three hours.

I checked my knee. The wound had healed almost completely, leaving only a faint pink mark behind. Lycan healing had its perks.

Astrid? I called out internally, trying to reach my wolf.

A soft, tired sigh echoed in my mind. “I’m here… but I feel like I got trampled by an army of trolls.”

I frowned. “Still weak?”

“You think?” She huffed. “That fog drained me. I need more time to recover.”

Just then, a groggy voice mumbled beside me.

Kaid.

I turned my head as he stirred, his face half-buried in his arms. His dark lashes fluttered slightly before he finally opened his eyes.

“We’ve got to go, Kaid.” My voice was firm as I stood up, stretching my stiff muscles. “We’re way behind schedule.”

Kaid groaned, rubbing his face before sitting up. He glanced at the time and his eyes widened. “Oh, shit!”

“Yeah. Shit,” I muttered, shaking my head. “We still have a long trek ahead of us.”

Kaid let out a slow exhale, running a hand through his messy hair. Then, out of nowhere, he asked, “Are you hungry?”

I paused. Food? That had been the last thing on my mind since this entire mess started. But now that he mentioned it…

My stomach growled. Loudly.

Kaid smirked.

I looked away, pretending not to notice. “Who has time for food? I need to find the dragon and get back on time.”

“And you could collapse before that happens,” he shot back. “What were you planning to eat, huh? A dead snake? Or maybe a kraken?” He gestured to the barren, lifeless land ahead. “Because I don’t see anything else here.”

I sighed. “Fine. I get it, okay?”

Kaid gave me a knowing look before holding out his hand. “Give it to me.”

I narrowed my eyes. “Give you what?”

“Your bag.”

“Huh? Why?”

“I want to check what you packed.”

I hugged my bag close to my chest. “Excuse me?”

Kaid raised an eyebrow. “Zara, just hand it over.”

“Why? Who searches a girl’s bag?” I huffed. “I could have tampons in there.”

Kaid chuckled. “One, you’re not just any girl. Two, even if you do… you’re still Zara. I wouldn’t look at you differently.”

I arched a brow. “Even if they were used?”

Kaid made a face. “When and how would you have changed them? While I was asleep?” He scoffed. “Wouldn’t you have discarded them already?”

I tilted my head. “What if I was waiting for the right place?”

“Fair point.” He folded his arms dramatically. “Still, it’s not like I haven’t seen that stuff before.”

I blinked. Then I grinned. “Wait. What?”

Kaid’s lips pressed into a thin line.

I crossed my arms, amusement dancing in my eyes. “You, Lycan King Kaid, have seen used tampons before?”

His jaw tightened. “Yes.”

“How?”

He rubbed the back of his neck, looking away. “I once had a girl I liked. I used to help her out with her pads and tampons. And, well… I got curious.”

A stunned silence stretched between us before I burst out laughing.

Kaid groaned. “Shut up.”

I doubled over, holding my stomach. “No, no, I just—” I gasped between laughter. “I did not expect that from the big, bad Lycan King!”

“Zara.” His voice darkened.

I wiped at my eyes, still grinning. “Wow. Who would have thought?”

Kaid rolled his eyes. “Just because I’m the Lycan King doesn’t mean I’m not a living being.”

“Oh, I thought you’d say human.”

“Please.” He scoffed. “We don’t relate to that realm.”

I smirked. “Don’t tell me Snow never got curious. Or Ivan.”

At the mention of Ivan, my smile faded.

Kaid immediately noticed the shift in my mood. His gaze darkened. “Ivan would never. He never loved you.”

I looked away. “And Snow?”

“Not the question, Zara.”

I hesitated before exhaling softly. “Snow… well, he was my husband.”

“That’s not an answer.”

I bit my lip, my voice quieter. “Snow was wonderful.” A small smile crept onto my lips. “He did. Even though it felt weird at first, he always took care of me. We bathed together, and he never minded. He’d help me with my pads or tampons, soothe my stomach, and buy me everything I needed. Sometimes, he even offered to wash me up, but I—”

“Okay, okay, enough.” Kaid cut in, waving his hands. “Too much detail.”

I shrugged. “You asked.”

Kaid muttered something under his breath before shaking his head and finally ransacking my bag.

He dumped the contents onto the ground.

Three packs of beef jerky.

One small loaf of bread.

Three water bottles.

A soft towel.

Two bandages.

Kaid stared at the pitiful pile before slowly raising an eyebrow at me. “Just this?”

I crossed my arms. “Not like I had much time to pack. Besides, what did you bring?”

Kaid smirked.

He reached for his bag and emptied it.

A few bullet rounds.

Three extra daggers.

Two water bottles.

Two neatly folded shirts.

A rope.

Two small canned sardines.

A slightly bigger handkerchief, holding a spare pair of boxers.

And a flask.

I narrowed my eyes. “Wait. You brought food?”

“Not exactly.” He tapped the flask. “Open it.”

I did.

Inside were several small fruits—grapes, blueberries, strawberries, apples, pears. My mouth watered just looking at them.

“You see? Not food.” Kaid grinned.

“And the bottom?”

“More grapes, I guess.”

I eyed him suspiciously before opening the flask’s bottom compartment.

And there it was.

Several pieces of roasted chicken and cut fish.

I shot him a flat look. “You were saying?”

Kaid smirked. “Well, I do have a nice butler.”

I rolled my eyes. “All this… for a short journey?”

“You never know what might happen.” He shrugged. “Always be prepared.”

I scoffed. “You should’ve been born a girl.”

Kaid placed a hand on his hip dramatically. “At least I have my undergarments. What about you? I can’t afford you smelling on our way.”

I scowled and kicked him in the knee.

“Ouch!” He clutched his leg. “Bully.”

I smirked. “Says who? I did pack underwear. Two pairs. In my side pocket.”

Kaid’s grin widened. “Oh? Let’s check.”

Before he could move, I reacted fast—darting behind him and slamming my fist onto his head before snatching my bag back.

“Dimwit.”