The Alphas Captured Mate

My face is red with embarrassment and ignorance. Apparently,

everyone has known about my fate except for me. But that ends

now.

After rushing past the door of the Alpha's house without a

single trace of hesitation, I head for the stairs where I know his

office is. I'm marching my way down the hallway when angry

voices stop me dead in my tracks.

"That idiot is on the loose! How am I suppose to takeover when

he's out there just waiting for someone to pounce on?" I recognize

the whiny yet still smug voice of the celebrated prick, Nathan

Swelter.

Since I need to talk to him anyway, sticking around by the partially

open door wouldn't be that wrong, would it? I've never exactly

been against eavesdropping before, so what's the difference now?

That's my reasoning as I creep closer to the door and press my ear

against the wall, letting the gift of heightened hearing do it's job.

"He's less likely to bother us if there are two leaders. You have a

Luna picked out, correct?" I recognize the voice of Alpha Andre,

speaking in a composed tone.

"I want Adrienne," he responds almost immediately, causing me to

physically restrain the gag squirming to escape my throat. At the

mention of my name, I feel the color drain from my face. "She's the

one and I'm tired of waiting for both her and my title."

A deep hum reaches my ears, what the Alpha always does when

he's considering something. "Then wait no longer. I'll have the

wedding moved up to Thursday. Since there's no mate bond to

bind you, vows will work just as well. Plus, you'll have more time to

get acquainted with her. Maybe even-"

"There's not going to be a wedding," I announce, seething after

barging through the door on impulse. There's no way I can stand

out there and silently listen to my future being decided for me. Not

anymore. I'm sick of being a ghost in my own life.

Two pairs of eyes turn on me. One is Nathan's-- a light blue that

pairs nicely with neatly combed black hair. The other pair are a

darker blue and belong to his father, whose once inky black hair is

now peppered with grey. Evidence of the stress that comes

attached to the title.

"Excuse me?" Alpha Andre stands up from his leather office chair.

He has squared shoulders and a tall stature that would be hard to

beat. One thing is for certain, and it's that he's used to looking

down on people, not vice versa. He shoots me that disappointing

gaze that he's mastered over the years, making even the most

arrogant of wolves ashamed of themselves.

I swallow, fighting to keep my attitude under control. Too many

times I've mouthed off to him and seen the consequences. But

keeping this new leaf turned over is proving to be quite

challenging.

"I'm not marrying him or anyone else," I seethe again, planting my

feet firmly in place. He can't possibly think that he can force me

into this. Can he? He's held control over me my entire life, but

surely there's a line he won't cross. There has to be.

To my right, Nathan lets out a frustrated moan.

"Why can't you just cooperate for once?" He whines at me. "I

thought we were past this. I can give you everything you want! Who

turns down the title of Luna?" He looks to his father for help with

pleading yet demanding eyes.

He's never grown up. He still reminds me of that same child who

threatened to throw a tantrum if he didn't get his dessert. Or the

one who threatened to have my fingers cut off if I tried to play with

a toy he'd forgotten he even had.

“You can't give me shit or you wouldn't have treated me like it my

whole life," I shoot back, feeling a growl starting to rumble deep in

my chest. He's always thought of himself as royalty and everyone

else peasants. But in my eyes, a king without a crown isn't a king

at all.

Alpha Andre snarls at me for my backlash. "Watch your damn

tongue." He then turns to his son, confidence thick in the air

around him. "She'll do whatever I say." He sits back down in his

chair, leaning back and watching me with a calculating look. One

that reminds me of a beady eyed snake in the grass.

"Won't you Adrienne?" He asks in that sickly sweet, ominous voice.