The Alpha forbidden mate

(Because My Life is So Unfortunate)

Present Day

Alpha Cyrus leaned back, arms crossed, looking at me as if I were a moldy piece of bread someone had left out in the sun too long.

Then, with a grin that made me want to knock his teeth down his throat, he said, "You? As my mate? Please. I've had women nearly throwing themselves at me for the opportunity."

He snorted, eyeing me up and down like a man chiding a particularly sad garage sale find. "You're weak. My wolf would never turn out this way."

Oh wow. Charming. Where'd this guy get his customer service training?

I slow-clapped him sarcastically. "Congratulations. Congratulations, you just won Biggest Ego in the Room. And believe me, that's a stiff contest."

His smirk faded just a little. "This isn't a joke."

I grinned, tilting my head. "But how do you sound like one?"

His jaw twitched. Oh, did I touch a nerve? Excellent.

"I don't have time for you and your childish antics," he growled, his voice thick with condescension.

"And I don't have time for whatever it is you've got going on here with this overcompensating macho act, but here we are," I shot back.

His eyes darkened. "You have no idea what you're signing up for."

"Oh, I think I do," I replied, crossing my arms. "I've been dragged into this against my will, insulted before breakfast, and now I have to stand here while you set about impressing yourself with the how superior you are." Did I miss anything?"

His lip curled. "You wouldn't survive one day in my pack.

I gave him my cheesiest, phoniest grin. "Oh no! Whatever will I do? How am I going to live without the legendary Alpha Cyrus breathing down my fucking neck 24/7?"

His patience was wearing thin, and quite frankly? Good. Because mine had long since evaporated.

Three Days Earlier

"You want her? Take her. She's yours."

The words had barely escaped my stepfather's mouth when my stomach plummeted like a terrible rollercoaster ride.

I blinked. Wait. He was serious?

I looked at my mother, silently pleading for her to tell me that this was some terrible misunderstanding. That she'd laugh and say, "Oh sweetheart, of course we're not selling you like a goat at the market!"

But no.

Instead, she huffed, massaging her temples as if I were giving her the headache. "Agnes, don't complicate this."

Difficult? Oh, I was sorry - was my reluctant involvement in human trafficking upsetting to her?

I made a sharp, humorless laugh. "Oh, my bad. "I figured next time I'm being placed in the care of a stranger I'll say 'thank you' before anything else."

My mother's jaw tightened. "Enough with the attitude."

"Enough with the-" I swallowed my own disbelief. "Mother, you're literally allowing this to happen!"

She shut her eyes as if she were calling forth patience from a magical plane. "It's for the pack's best interest."

Ah yes, the old 'good of the pack' excuse. Isn't it funny how that always meant something bad for me.

"And 'the pack' of course means you and stepdaddy dearest?" I asked, arms folding. "Because let's be honest, no one else here is getting auctioned off like a prize cow."

"Watch your tone," my stepfather barked, contorting his face into a scowl. "You should be grateful. Alpha Cyrus is powerful. He could do worse."

"Oh, I'm sorry. You want a medal for your generosity? I snapped. "Or perhaps a plaque that reads, 'World's Okayest Human Trafficker'?"

My mother sucked in her breath, as if trying not to slap me. "You think you're being clever... here is your reality, Agnes. You shall accompany Alpha Cyrus, and you shall do as it is expected of you.

My heart racing, I stared at her. "Are you really okay with this? You're all right with trading me like some medieval bargaining chip?"

She hesitated. Hesitated.

That was as much of an answer as I needed.

I shook my head, laughter coming up out of me, only it wasn't the funny kind. It was the 'I'm a nervous breakdown away from torching this whole place' type.

"Wow. You know, I always thought that, if I got kidnapped or something, my mom would at least fake some concern. It turns out, you'd likely say that you'd pack my bags."

My stepfather growled. "Enough! You'll do as you're told."

I rolled my eyes so hard they nearly stuck. "Or what? You'll ground me? SPEND THE REST OF THE DAY IN YOUR ROOM WITH NO DINNER? Oh wait, I won't have a room, because I'll be too busy being handed out like a party favor at the Alpha's annual self-aggrandizing contest!

A knock at the door sliced through the tension like a knife.

And there he was.

Alpha Cyrus stood in the doorway, a picture of the arrogant wolf prince he seemed so convinced he was. Black hair, sharp jaw, and a smirk that could curdle milk.

"Hey," he drawled, eyeing me up and down. "Aren't you just adorable?"

I folded my arms. "And what are you if not the walking embodiment of misplaced confidence?"

His smirk widened. "Feisty. This should be fun."

Oh yeah. A blast.

My mother's jaw tightened. "Enough with the attitude."

"Let's just pretend that -" I sputtered with my own disbelief. "Mother, you are literally allowing this to happen!"

She flinched but said nothing.