Ritual

"Bring me the papers," I said, trying to sound confident. There was no harm in at least seeing what this was about. Maybe it could be something mutually beneficial. 

Kalix nodded and retrieved a different set of documents from his desk. This time, he placed them in front of me but didn't immediately let go when I reached for them. I glared at him, tugging the papers out of his hand with as much dignity as I could muster. 

I quickly scanned the contents. To my surprise, it was fairly straightforward. The contract stated that as a temporary resident, I would be bound by the laws of the Silvermoon Pack. It prohibited the sharing of sensitive pack information and outlined that any breach would legally and physically mark me as an enemy of the pack. 

It seemed reasonable—but also heavily in their favor. Classic alpha move. 

"It was a pretty straightforward contract, something I could probably sign without much fuss," I thought to myself. Flipping to the last page, I noticed a small but critical addition. My eyes narrowed as I read: "The person must take part in the Silver Pact ritual, ensuring their loyalty to the pack." 

My suspicion flared instantly. "The Silver Pact?" I asked, my voice sharp. "What is that? Sounds ominous." 

Kalix leaned back in his chair; his expression frustratingly casual—too casual. "It's just a security measure to make sure you never betray the pack or me. Because you are going to stay here until you are better which can take weeks and we don't know who you are, it's a precautionary measure." 

The way he said it was too smooth, as if he was deliberately downplaying something significant. 

"It says ritual here," I pointed out, raising an eyebrow. "What exactly does that involve? Blood magic? A full moon transformation? Dancing under the stars in matching robes?" 

Kalix's lips twitched as though he was trying not to laugh. "You have quite the imagination. If you want i can certainly arrange that for you." 

He even smiles prettily, I crossed my arms telling myself not to get distracted. "Does everyone in the pack have to perform this ritual?" 

"Yes," he confirmed, though his gaze was now sharp and calculating. "And if you're that suspicious, it makes me think you have more to hide from me than I do from you." 

He was attacking my weak point, and he knew it. 

"You never mentioned how you have a witch friend close enough that you were ready to live with her. I didn't think witches and werewolves were all buddy-buddy these days." 

I felt the blood drain from my face but maintained my composure. 

"I have memory loss," I said coolly. "So I wouldn't know why or how I have a witch friend. I can't be intentionally hiding anything." I narrowed my eyes. "Unlike some people." 

His gaze darkened, but there was a flicker of amusement there too. "Touché." 

"First, sign the contract," he said firmly, all the amusement gone. "Then, on the day of the full moon—two weeks from now—you'll participate in the ritual "the silver pact". After that, you're free to go wherever you want. No one will hold you back." 

It sounded simple enough, but I knew better than to trust an alpha's promises without caution. 

"I'll think about it," I replied nonchalantly, rising from my chair. My mind was already formulating an escape plan. I had no intention of signing that contract or participating in some suspicious ritual. 

The sharp ache in my bones as I moved was a painful reminder that my body might have other plans. My wolf was weak, and even shifting could kill me at this point. Still, I clung to the hope that I could recover enough to make a break for it. 

"You have until the full moon," Kalix called after me, his voice calm but authoritative. 

I nodded without looking back, determination burning inside me. I'd find a way out of here, ritual or no ritual. I just had to survive two weeks without getting caught—or worse, revealing who I really was.