Mated To The Wrong Alpha
Chapter 2

In three hours she would be bonded for life to a man she’d never met before today. She could hardly process the thought. Suddenly, she realized that someone was speaking to her.

Looking up, she saw Arthur had moved forward and was standing beside her father.

“I’m pleased to meet you, Ava.” His voice was deep and low, his eyes steady on hers.

Somehow, she managed to croak out a hello. Arthur appeared even larger up close and she wished she had more inches to her height. At five foot six inches, she was an average size, but next to the new Alpha, she felt positively petite. Her father nudged her with his elbow and she noticed that Arthur had extended his hand towards her. Tentatively, she reached out and took it. The warmth of his skin immediately enveloped her and shot up her arm. Startled, she craned her neck to look up at his face and noted a smile pass over his mouth.

“I think we will suit each other.” He nodded to her father and then gave her hand a squeeze. “I’ll see you later at the ceremony.” Arthur looked her up and down again before taking his leave and heading over to where the councils were meeting.

“Ava, I must go. There’s other business to attend to today before the ceremony.” Her father kissed her on the forehead and gave her a gentle push towards the door, effectively dismissing her. “Go and replace Sarah. She’s been instructed to help you get ready.” Sarah was Jake’s wife and in some ways like a surrogate mother to her. Hunters had killed Ava’s own mother years ago and her father had never taken another mate.

She considered running away and going into hiding but knew that wasn’t possible. There was nowhere to hide that she couldn’t be found, short of taking a car and driving off, yet even if she did then what? She had no money to speak of, nowhere to go…

The rest of the day passed in a blur. She tried to tell Sarah of her reservations but was shushed. It was for the good of the pack. Being mated to an Alpha would give her status. He would take good care of her. The well-meant words swirled around her.

She wanted to replace Seth, to cry on his shoulder and feel his arms around her offering comfort one last time, but that too had been denied her. It wouldn’t be proper. There was no time. Were these actual reasons or just excuses? Either way, the result was the same. Three hours later, she was seated at a table beside a man she didn’t know.

As she looked around, her heart thudding heavily in her chest, she noted that the hall had been decorated with fall flowers and the best china set out. Linen cloths adorned the tables and various dishes of meat and vegetables, rolls and salads appeared. It always amazed her how Sarah could pull a meal together for a small army on a moment’s notice.

No doubt, the food was delicious, but she merely moved it about on her plate, unable to manage even a bite. Well wishes from her pack members were given followed by speeches from the Elders, and then the bonding ceremony began. Arthur escorted her to the front of the room and words were spoken which she didn’t even hear, let alone comprehend. Worst of all were the agonized looks exchanged with Seth who stood across the room as the final vows were spoken and her wrist was bound with Arthur’s by a ceremonial leather rope.

Tied together, Arthur led her from the hall to one of the guest cabins that were located not far from the main house where the Alpha resided. He hadn’t spoken directly to her since their initial meeting and she cast sidelong glances up at him as they walked across the moonlit lawn. Should she say something to break the silence? Her thoughts raced for an appropriate comment, but none came to mind. Banal talk about the weather seemed ridiculous under the current circumstances and she was too nervous to come up with anything else.

It was not in the nature of an Alpha to be unkind to a member of the pack unless they flaunted his authority, and she hoped Arthur would be considerate of her. If it was Seth, it would be different. She had feelings for him. The thought of being with Seth excited her, while the idea of being with Arthur only made her stomach muscles clench.

The cabin loomed in front of them. Situated at the edge of the forest with trees all around, it gave the impression of seclusion. It was made of logs and had a weathered look from years of exposure to the elements but was still well maintained with a solid stone chimney, shuttered windows, and a small porch. Arthur pushed the door open and gestured for her to enter, following

close behind since their wrists were still tied. He shut the door and flicked on the lights, illuminating the room that featured a small kitchenette, eating area and a sofa in front of a fireplace. There was a door to the left that led to a bedroom and a small bathroom.

“Well.” Arthur spoke, causing her to jump. “First order of business would be to remove this, wouldn’t you say?” He held up their joined wrists and she nodded in agreement. Pulling a jackknife from his pocket, he cut the rope letting it fall to the ground. Immediately, she pulled her arm away and rubbed her wrist. It wasn’t really sore—the tie hadn’t been tight—but the leather had still chafed and the enforced proximity had been uncomfortable.

Arthur was also rubbing his wrist. “We have a similar reaction to being imprisoned, I see.” He nodded towards the action of her hands.

“Yes.” She wasn’t sure what else to say.

Silence stretched between them.

Arthur rubbed his neck and stared around the room. Did he replace the situation as unnerving as she did? Had he really wanted to be her mate, or was he turning his back on someone he loved for the good of his pack, as well? Did she dare ask? Before she had time to decide the wisdom of such a question, he addressed her again. “It’s getting late. Would you like to use the bathroom first?”

“All right.” She could feel his gaze boring into her back as she walked away, and she forced herself to keep her pace at a normal speed despite wanting to run from the room. As she passed through the bedroom, she noted that someone had made up the bed and her nightgown was lying near the foot. Snagging it in her hand, she entered the bathroom and closed the door.

Relief washed over her and she slumped against the panel. For a few minutes, at least, she would have some privacy and be free of Arthur’s presence. It wasn’t that he was displeasing to look at; in other circumstances, she would have admired his physique. And his manner towards her had been polite, if a bit distant, so there was nothing she could complain about in that regard. The problem was that Arthur wasn’t Seth.

Her stomach clenched again and once more she thought of escaping, but where? She couldn’t survive without a pack. Wolves were social animals. To be an outcast was an unthinkable fate. Besides, she’d have nowhere to live, no means of support, and then there was always the fear of detection. It hadn’t happened in years, but that wasn’t to say that if a Lycan became careless someone couldn’t put the clues together. Caution was drilled into a Lycan’s head from the moment of birth, and all had a fear of being hunted down. No, she couldn’t leave.

Staring at her reflection in the mirror, she undid the simple French braid Sarah had fashioned for the ceremony. Her green eyes seemed wider and a deeper shade than normal, contrasting with her unusually pale complexion. Faint lines of tension showed on either side of her mouth and her jaw ached from being tightly clenched. As a matter of fact, her whole person was tense. Hoping a hot shower would help, she turned on the taps, stripped and stepped into the stall.

The pounding water beat down on her body, the white noise and rising steam creating a temporary cocoon. She closed her eyes and forced herself to relax, letting her mind drift back to the afternoon when she and Seth had been running together.

A smile drifted across her face at the memory. It had been so much fun running like the wind; feeling her muscles stretched to the limit as she sought to out-distance her companion. Seth had tackled her to the ground and they’d rolled about, nipping at each other before bounding away, only to jump and tumble again. She’d nuzzled him and he’d licked her face, then they’d run back to the pack house transforming into human form just inside the edge of the woods. Her hair had still had grass stuck in it. Seth had picked it out before resting his hands on her shoulders and hinting at speaking to her father.

It hadn’t happened of course and never would. Her youthful hopes and dreams had been dashed, pushed aside by the political planning of Elders. Did they even remember what it was like to be young? To feel the day brighten at the sight of the one you love? To feel your heart race at the sound of that special person’s voice and your skin tingle at the softest touch of their hand?

Not likely.

She shivered and realized the water was growing cold. Reaching out, she shut off the faucet with a shaking hand. She’d delayed as long as she could. Arthur would be waiting for her.

Donning her nightgown, she went to meet her fate.

~~~

Her thoughts had brought her full circle and now she was pressed against Arthur’s chest, his arm around her waist. She felt trapped both by his limb and the fact that her life was now bound to his. The future loomed ahead. What would it be like to spend the rest of her life with this man? To share his bed? Bear his young? Grow old beside him? Did he like to run in the forest or would he be too busy with his duties as Alpha to spend time with her? And who were the members of his pack? She’d have to leave her friends and family behind. Her new position as his mate would guarantee her respect, but would anyone be her friend or was she destined for a lonely existence? Fear and doubt tumbled through her mind as she fell into a restless sleep.