Alpha's Dark Desires

Chapter 35: Issues With The Contract

Kane’s POV:noveldrama

Alright, so maybe things with Ashley weren’t exactly going in my favor. And yeah, I had no one to blame but myself. I was known for my ruthless, one-sided contracts—the kind that left no wiggle room for anyone but me. I drew them up to keep things in line, to keep people at a distance, and honestly, they worked every time. Those contracts were designed for control, to make sure I always came out on top.

But now, it seemed like I’d walked right into my own trap.

Karma’s a bitch, right?

Here I was, tangled up in my own twisted web of rules and conditions, with a contract that suddenly felt more binding than I ever anticipated. When I wrote it, I’d made sure it was airtight. No attachments, no expectations, no complications. Just a clear-cut arrangement with Ashley, a way to keep things simple. I never intended for it to get messy, because back then, the idea of "messy" seemed like something I’d always have control over.

But then, she came along. Elena. My mate. And the whole damn foundation I’d built to keep myself safe, to keep myself above it all... crumbled the second I laid eyes on her.

Now I was stuck in a contract I wanted nothing to do with, and Ashley was a loose end that wouldn’t just disappear. The irony wasn’t lost on me. I’d crafted a setup that left everyone else powerless, and here I was, caught in my own trap like some clueless fool. It was almost laughable—almost.

When I first crafted my Dom-Sub contract, it was meant to be ironclad—my own twisted insurance policy, built on control and dominance. I was meticulous, outlining every clause with the absolute certainty that I’d never be the one wanting to get out. Each term was designed to protect my interests, ensuring that if a contract needed to end, it would be on my terms.

The submissive’s role is to obey, to yield to my command, and to follow every instruction I give within the boundaries we’ve mutually agreed upon. In return, I ensure her safety, never causing harm beyond what’s been consented to, and respecting her limits as specified in the contract.

The contract was valid for a term of three months, with the option to renew upon mutual agreement. Should either party wish to terminate early, conditions must be met before the contract can be dissolved.

Termination isn’t easy. I wanted control over every outcome, so I inserted a unique clause that would prevent either party from simply walking away on a whim. If either party wishes to terminate the contract prior to its natural expiration, they must fulfill a condition set by the other party, as long as it doesn’t result in physical harm to the person requesting termination. Only upon completing this "favor" can the contract be legally nullified.

Back then, I had imagined myself as the only one who’d ever be in the position to ask a favor. I never considered that I might want out, that I’d be the one bound by the clause that was supposed to reinforce my control. I was confident that I’d always be the one asking a price for freedom—not the other way around. Hell, I’d always thought that my submissive would either violate the contract eventually, rendering it null and void, or we’d part on mutually agreed terms when the contract naturally expired. It was foolproof.

Until now.

Every contract I’d had before ended the way I wanted. Either the sub would violate the terms at some point, giving me an easy out, or they’d complete it, and we’d part ways without much hassle. Most of the time, it worked like a charm. The few subs who broke the rules... well, that was their problem. It let me move on without a second thought, without a messy ending.

But then there was Ashley. Perfectly obedient, flawless at playing her role. She didn’t push boundaries or bend the rules, and I knew she wouldn’t violate a single term. Which meant there was no easy out with her, no loophole to rely on.

And now, she wanted her favor.

The favor she asked for... well, it was damn near impossible. She wanted one last session with me, but with a twist—she wanted my mate as an audience. The demand hit me like a punch to the gut. I could barely wrap my mind around it, but Ashley wasn’t bluffing. This was her price, her non-negotiable term, and the only way to break free.

It was non-negotiable, part of the very contract I’d designed to keep control. And it was an impossible ask. A single session. Just one. That’s all she was asking for. But the idea of Elena being there, seeing me in that setting, witnessing a part of my life I never wanted her to know about... it was unthinkable. The idea of it left a bitter taste in my mouth. If Elena saw that side of me—the cold, calculating side, the part that controlled and used others without a second thought—she’d never look at me the same way. I could lose her, maybe forever.

I’d backed myself into a corner with my own damn rules. What I thought was an unbreakable shield had turned into a trap- my trap.

I paced, trying to think of a way out. How the hell could I do this without ruining everything? Every instinct screamed to find another way, to renegotiate, anything to keep Elena out of this. I’d built these contracts to make sure I always kept control, to protect myself from ever needing anyone. But this time, I was trapped in my own damn game, all because of a single clause I’d added without a second thought.

And now, because of my own arrogance, I was left with a choice that could destroy the one thing I wanted most.

There was no way in hell Elena would ever agree to something like that. I could already imagine the fury in her eyes if she even heard the suggestion. And frankly... I couldn’t do it either. Not to her. Not to us.

Just the thought made my gut twist. I had no desire to bring Elena into the world of contracts, favors, and sterile, transactional exchanges that I used to keep my life organized, my desires compartmentalized. She wasn’t a damn contract. She was my mate, and I wanted her to see me differently—without the layers of power dynamics I’d surrounded myself with for so long.

And Ashley... she knew exactly what she was doing when she demanded it. She’d been a good submissive, never pushing back, never stepping out of line, which made it all the harder to fault her. She was only asking what the contract allowed her to ask. Hell, she was using my own rules against me, and the bitter irony wasn’t lost on me.

But Elena... if she knew about any of this, it would break the fragile connection we’d just begun to forge. And I knew, deep down, that she’d never see me the same if I forced her into this twisted, contractual game.

I could feel my chest tighten with frustration. The way out was simple on paper: fulfill the favor, and the contract dissolves. But the cost... it was unthinkable. I’d lose Elena. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized that losing her wasn’t an option I could live with.

I ran my hand through my hair, cursing under my breath. I needed to find another way out.

And to make matters worse, the contract wasn’t set to end anytime soon. Ashley was my latest sub, and we still had two more months before it officially concluded. Two months where she held that damn favor over my head like a loaded weapon. Two months where I’d have to keep myself in check, maintaining distance, not slipping up—because if Elena ever found out about this, I’d lose her before I even had the chance to make her mine.

The thought twisted in my chest, a slow burn of frustration and regret. I had crafted that contract with such arrogance, thinking I’d always be the one in control, never imagining that I’d one day want out of an arrangement I’d personally designed to keep things clean and detached. But now that very contract felt like a prison of my own making. Every line, every clause, was a reminder of my own arrogance, of my belief that I could keep myself separate from feelings, from attachments.

Ashley wasn’t violating the contract, and she wasn’t going to—she was too perfect a submissive for that, playing by the rules even as she used them to her advantage. She had the right to demand her favor, and by the terms I’d written, I was obligated to grant it. But what she was asking... the sheer audacity of it was staggering.

She wanted another session with me, with my mate as an audience.

It was almost laughable. How the hell was I supposed to pull that off? Elena would lose her mind—and not in a way that ended with her in my arms. Just the idea of even proposing it to her made my skin crawl. I knew her, and I knew exactly how she’d react. She’d see it as a betrayal, proof that I was the kind of man she could never trust. And honestly... I couldn’t blame her for it. The request was beyond absurd; it was twisted.

And yet, technically, Ashley’s request was within the