Hunted by the Alpha’s Bargain

No one believed my relationship with Daniel Reed was genuine. He was the kind of werewolf who turned heads wherever he went—handsome, with a commanding presence befitting his status as a rising Delta in our pack. Meanwhile, I was just another face in the crowd, my words often tangled up by a slight stutter that had plagued me since childhood. Yet, Daniel treated me with a respect and affection that I cherished deeply, even if it felt too good to be true.

Until one day, in a quiet corner of the pack’s café, my perception of love shattered. I saw my father, Alpha Burns, slide a card across the table to Daniel. "Thanks for looking after Esme these past two years," he said, his alpha tone low but unmistakable. "She’s become more confident. This is the payment we agreed on."

Daniel took the card, his lips curling into a smirk that made my stomach churn. "You know I’ll need to up my rates this year, Alpha Burns. She’s asking for more emotionally."

That was the moment I realized love could be nothing but a performance. Surprisingly, I didn’t confront him or burst into anger. Instead, I kept up the charade of our romance, even acting as if my affection had grown—all because I wanted to test something before leaving for my studies in a neighboring werewolf territory. I wanted to see if I could turn the tables and become the one hunting love.

At the café, I was taken aback by the sight of my father and Daniel sharing a table, their conversation hushed but intense. Instinctively, I found a quiet spot nearby to sit, grappling with confusion over their connection.

I watched as my father gave the card to Daniel. "Thanks for taking care of her these past two years," he repeated. "Esme’s gained much more confidence. This card is your promised payment."

For a split second, disbelief rooted me to the spot, my thoughts scattered like leaves in a gust of wind. My father’s voice broke through the chaos, "She’s always been insecure. I didn’t know how else to help, so I came to you."

Daniel chuckled softly as he took the card, his fingers tracing its edge. After a pause, he asked, "I’ve always wondered—why pick me?"

My father hesitated, then sighed, "I saw you leading the pack’s warriors during training. You were impressive, and she admired you greatly. I didn’t want Esme to stay in her shell, so I thought this unusual approach might make her feel truly loved."

Daniel glanced down, lost in thought, while my father cautiously inquired, "Well, Daniel, after all this time with Esme, what do you think of her?"

Daniel’s smile appeared, but it didn’t touch his eyes, sending a shiver through me. "Alpha Burns, my relationship with Esme is just a business deal. Like any transaction, we shouldn’t expect it to be more than that."

My father’s face clouded slightly. "I’m sorry if I overstepped."

Daniel added, placing the card back on the table with a definitive thud, "And by the way, I’m going to need a raise this year, Alpha Burns. She’s become quite clingy, demanding more of my personal time and emotional effort."

I sat frozen, listening to Daniel’s words slither through my mind like a snake. The hands that had warmed mine just last night were now slapping a price tag on what I thought was love.

They were negotiating the value of a relationship with me amidst the hum of conversation and clinking cutlery, which faded into background noise. All I felt was a deep humiliation that cut right through me. I wanted to flee but felt rooted to the spot, unable to move.

Exhausted, I felt hollow, like an empty shell. My relationship with Daniel had never had anyone’s seal of approval. He was everything I wasn’t—handsome, popular, and bright, the most sought-after Delta in the pack. I was just average, despite my respectable lineage as the daughter of an Alpha. Ordinary in every sense, and my mild speech impediment kept me from speaking in public, fearing judgment.

When Daniel approached me, I was terrified, but our conversations became a source of encouragement and comfort. When he confessed his feelings, it seemed unreal.

I often wondered why someone like him, a golden wolf, would be interested in me. Why, apart from holding hands and hugs, did he rarely show deeper affection?

Now, in the stark light of this revelation, I knew the truth. Love, in Daniel’s eyes, was just another transaction. And I had been the fool who believed in it.

Sitting across from my father, Alpha Burns, Daniel seems completely different from how I remembered him. His expression is distant, as if he’s wearing a mask of indifference. It's almost like he's living a double life. I can't help but think back to yesterday with a pang of irony.

Just yesterday, I had celebrated Daniel's birthday. I'd spent numerous evenings perfecting the art of baking a spiced honey cake, making mistakes and starting over countless times. Finally, braving the biting cold, I rushed to Daniel's dorm with the cake I was most proud of.

I waited for two hours until he finally arrived, just finishing up his pack duties. Under the streetlamp, he hurried toward me and stopped right before me, taking a moment to catch his breath before speaking.

"What are you doing waiting out here in the cold, Gamma Burns?" he asked, his voice respectful but laced with concern. He warmed my hands with his as he glanced at what I was holding. "What's this?"

I felt a bit embarrassed. "It's... a cake I made."

Daniel was visibly surprised. "You made it yourself?"

The cake was a little lopsided, and the frosting was starting to melt from the long wait, but the strawberries arranged in a heart shape were still vibrant. "Yes." I was so nervous my palms were sweaty.

Then Daniel's warm hands gently cupped my cold face. He held my face as if it were something precious, making me look up at him. "Thank you, Gamma Burns."

My face flushed hot, and my nervousness made me stutter. "Dan... Daniel, hap... happy bi... birthday."

Daniel chuckled, without a hint of sarcasm or mockery in his laugh. His voice was incredibly gentle. "It's okay, take your time, Gamma Burns. Want to say it again?"

I hesitated, but he encouraged me, "I'd love to hear it. Could you say it for me once more?"

His gaze was intense, and beneath the streetlamp, he seemed to almost glow. I took a deep breath and, under his attentive gaze, finally managed to express my birthday wishes.

"Daniel, happy birthday. I hope you'll always be happy and joyous in the future."

Daniel looked down at me, the streetlamp casting a fan-shaped shadow on his eyelashes, making it impossible to read his eyes. In the next moment, I was pulled into a warm embrace, his heartbeat uncharacteristically rapid.

"Thank you, Gamma Burns." His voice was strangely hoarse, gently wiping my tears away. "Why are you crying?"

Only then did I realize I was crying. He softly kissed away my tears, but just before our lips could touch, he subtly turned his head.

He'd done this many times, and I'd always thought it was out of respect for me. Now I understand.

A hunter never kisses the prey.

He never loved me; he was just a convincing actor. "Love"—sometimes, it’s nothing more than a performance.