Contract Marriage With Alpha Snow - Chapter 460

Chapter 460: Time To Reach Out
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CHAPTER 460

~Zara’s POV~

Two days later…

The car ride to my mother’s pack house was quiet, peaceful, even. The scenery of winding trees and distant mountains did nothing to still the anxious pulse in my chest.

There was something about coming home—back to the place where I was raised, where I once dreamed of peace—that made everything feel more real.

War wasn’t a looming thought anymore. It was breathing down our necks.

The gates opened before me, two guards nodding in respect as I pulled in. My mother, Luna Zaria, stood at the entrance already waiting, arms folded, as her long coat brushed her ankles in the soft wind.

Her sharp blue eyes landed on me before softening.

“Zara,” she breathed with a small smile, pulling me into a firm, comforting hug. “You’ve lost weight.”

I let out a soft chuckle. “Blame the upcoming war and resurrection.”

She pulled back, studying me. “And you gained something too. Strength. You look more like your father each day.”

That made my throat tighten, but I nodded. “Sadly, he isn’t here with us for me to see all these wonderful traits myself. If he were, maybe then I would get a free pass from all this stress.”

My mother reached for my left cheek and caressed it. “He lives in you. Always remember that.”

I nodded, then my expression turned serious as I took her hand in mine and headed into the pack house. I need your help, Mum.”

“I figured.” She turned and led me inside. “Come.”

We entered the dining room, which smelled of sweet tea. As we sat down, I looked her in the eye.

“I want to build something real, Mum. An alliance. A strong, unified alliance, capable of striking down. I want the packs to stop hiding behind borders and truly fight this darkness together.”

Her expression didn’t shift. “You want what your father tried to create.”

I nodded. “Exactly that. But I can’t do it alone.”

Zaria’s fingers traced the rim of her teacup. “You want my influence.”

“I want your voice. You were Luna to a united kingdom. They still respect you. If you send word… they’ll listen.”

Her eyes studied me for a long time, and then slowly, she nodded just when I thought she was going to say no.

Phew!

“I’ll do it. I’ll send letters to every strong pack that is still uncorrupted. Alpha Storm’s name carries weight, but yours… yours brings the future. If they won’t do it for the crown, they will for the Gold name.”

“Thank you, Mum.” I exhaled, truly grateful.

She reached over, cupping my hand. “You’re fighting a battle your father didn’t live to see end. But I believe you will.”

Mum and I spent time talking to each other, about Snow, about the dragon realm and everything I had seen and also about Kaid.

She agreed to send a thank-you gift as well as personally call him to deliver her thanks before paying him a visit.

I was glad she still loved him, regardless.

“Thanks, mum.”

Later that night, I drove back to Ivory Crescent, arriving late.

My shoulders ached, and Snow barely said anything when he met me by the door—he just helped me out of the car and into the room. We showered and didn’t bother with dinner. Just warm arms and silence.

By the next morning, I was up and a bit tired.

A knock on our door stirred us both. I sat up slowly, hair tousled, lips dry. Snow yawned and reached for the small letter that had been slipped under the door.

“It’s from your mum,” he said, holding it out.

I took it, eyes scanning quickly.

“Letters are ready. Sending you the draft for approval before dispatch.”

“She’s fast,” I murmured.

“She’s you,” Snow replied with a grin.

“I do not do this, sending it in hard copy for corrections.”

“Let her be. It was printed here at the pack house. Anyways, have you read it?” Snow questioned.

I rolled my eyes and took a look at it again. “She did well. It’s all good,” I said after reading her letter. “Mum, did a good job but just needs a few editing.”

“You see.” Snow was all smiles as he helped me up.

Minutes later, we made our way to the gazebo outside of the packhouse. The quiet breeze played with the vines curling overhead. Breakfast was already laid out, and the letter sat in the centre.

We read it line by line, editing a few words, adding stronger phrasing, and ensuring the tone sounded firm, diplomatic, yet urgent.

“This will reach all the Alpha houses in a day,” I noted. “I’ll let mum have the edits and…”

“Just hand it over to one of the warriors. They will retype it,” Snow suggested.

“No need. I can use my phone to send it to her email. I’ll be fine, Snow. I did this and more for you.”

“I do not doubt that. I jyust wanted you to rest.”

I smiled at how genuinely sweet he was when suddenly Aira and Tempest joined us halfway through with plates in hand.

“Letters of doom?” Aira asked, sliding into a seat.

“Letters of alliance,” I corrected.

Tempest grinned. “Same thing if you think about it.”

We updated them on the contents, the names of the packs we were hoping to reach, and who was most likely to pledge their aid.

“This could actually work,” Aira said softly.

Snow nodded. “It will. But we need more than promises. We need power and we need to prepare Zara for everything.”

My brows lifted. “What do you mean?”

Snow looked serious. “Training. Not just physical. Magical. Mental. You’re the heart of this alliance, but the enemy sees you as the target. I want you equipped to destroy a witch with your eyes closed.”

“Whoa!” I blinked. My mate was being serious here.

“I like that,” Tempest chimed in, already imagining the battle.

“I want her trained, too,” Snow continued. “Which is why I’ve already called Xavier.”

He pulled out his phone, and just as he hit dial, the screen lit up with a text:

“Reading on Thorned Crescent alliance is growing. We need to talk. Urgent.” —Xavier

Snow showed me the screen, and I felt the pit in my stomach return.

“Looks like it’s already begun,” I whispered.

Snow’s jaw clenched as he hit the call button. “Yeah. I also need to inform Siona to begin your training the day after tomorrow. We leave the pack tomorrow.”

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~Vera’s POV~

The penthouse Kent arranged for me was exactly what I expected—sleek, cold, and dripping in expensive minimalism. Everything from the matte-black walls to the floor-to-ceiling windows screamed control, dominance, and danger.

I pushed the door open without knocking. After all, I wasn’t a guest.

Kent stood by the window with a glass of something amber in hand, his coat still on, and his gaze locked on the city below like it owed him a favour.

“Someone’s brooding like a Bond villain,” I drawled, kicking the door shut behind me and tossing my cloak over a chair.

He didn’t turn. “I was starting to think you’d bled out in some forgotten ditch.”

I smirked. “Disappointed I didn’t?”

“No,” he replied, finally turning toward me. “Mildly impressed. But not surprised. You’re too stubborn to die.”

I took a slow step forward, trailing a finger along the edge of his pristine marble counter. “You know, Kent, you really should’ve upgraded the security in here. I could’ve been someone dangerous.”

“You are someone dangerous,” he said, sipping his drink. “That’s why I gave you the top floor. No neighbours. No witnesses.”

My brows lifted. “How thoughtful. I feel special.”

“You are.” His gaze dropped to the hem of my dress. “In that chaotic, I-might-poison-your-wine sort of way.”

I laughed, stepping into his space. “Aw. And here I thought you liked me.”

“I never said I didn’t.”

The tension between us simmered for a moment, feeling familiar and electric, while always dangerously hovering between threat and promise.

He stepped closer, gaze sharp. “Your mother’s coven—still loyal to her?”

“For now,” I said with a shrug, brushing past him toward the bar. “But even witches have limits. And loyalty only lasts as long as fear outweighs ambition.”

“You planning to tip the scale?” he asked, watching me pour myself a drink.

“Let’s just say…” I turned, lifting the glass to my lips, “…I have no intention of dying for anyone else’s throne.”

Kent stepped forward again, closing the gap between us. He hooked a finger under my chin, lifting my gaze to meet his. His smile was sharp—dangerous.

“You really came all the way here just to talk politics?” he asked in a low rough voice.

I arched a brow. “Why? Hoping for a warmer welcome?”

He leaned in, his breath brushing my lips. “Just wondering when the part where you try to seduce me begins.”

“Oh, honey,” I whispered, smirking. “Who says it hasn’t?”

Kent chuckled darkly, brushing a thumb across my bottom lip. “You haven’t changed.”

“And you still want me just as much.”

Kent neither denied nor affirmed my words, leaving it only to the silence.

Fear a man like him but better still, fear a woman who knows and still plays a game around him.

Kent’s hand slipped down, fingers grazing my waist as he leaned in close. “I don’t want you, Vera,” he murmured.

I tilted my head, a smile growing on my lips. “Liar.”

He didn’t correct me. He didn’t need to.

The air between us was already charged. We were fire meeting gasoline—and both of us liked the burn.