Payment To the Alpha
Chapter 9

Avery's POV

We had all eaten and I could tell that my plan of getting under James' skin had worked, although my whole interaction with Alex was merely about getting to James, I really enjoyed talking to him. Alex was funny, sarcastic, and charming, as far as I could tell he didn't have a serious bone in his body, he was almost like another brother.

I had an older brother back home, but I never saw him much, he was the golden boy so perhaps there was some resentment or something keeping us from ever forming a bond. Alex on the other hand was someone I felt I could open up to about pretty much anything, he had that aura to him.

We were all gathered outside in front of the hotel, James and George were going to get the cars. Alex was telling me about all the trouble he and James used to get in when they were kids, Amber and Alice were talking to the hotel staff and I must say this family seems amazing, too good to be true in fact. So loving and caring and I felt truly blessed to have met them.

After about fifteen minutes, James and George rolled up with the cars, two range rovers, one black, and one white.

I was so caught up in my conversation with Alex that I didn't notice how we were both walking to the back seat of the white one driven by James. James jumped out of the car and made his way to us, grabbing my arm and dragging me to the front with a simple, "Nope." Making me roll my eyes.

I got in on the passenger's seat, Alex sat behind James and James was our trusty driver.

As we drove I realized how everyone was completely silent, however, when I looked back at Alex he was looking at the back of the driver's seat, like he was in some sort of trance, not noticing me. When I looked over at James I realized it was the same thing there. The car radio started making a beeping noise as someone was calling, the noise broke James and Alex out of their trance and James answered

"Hello?"

"Al- boss, there was an issue, did you get that?"

"Yes, Emanuel, I got it, good to know everything is taken care of, we're leaving the hotel now and should be home in about 6 hours."

"Got it."

The call between James and Emanuel was short and brief, they only said a few words but it was like they had shared a whole story.

Me being me, I soon got bored and didn't feel like sitting in a car for six hours in complete silence.

"So should we play a game or something?" I asked jumping a little in my seat, I was getting very bored and couldn't sleep so I needed to keep myself entertained.

"What game?" James asked looking in the mirror sending a smirk to Alex.

"Well, I see something blue," I said, and I was met with dead silence.

"Yeah... this is the part where you guys guess what it is I see," I said glaring at the two men in the car.

"The sky?" James asked giving me a glare and cute little smile without turning his head

"Nope," I answered simply.

"The little lake?" Alex asked and squinted looking out the window. I understand him, he was probably looking for the lake he assumed I saw.

"Ehm... no," I said giving him a petty smile.

"Well I give up," James said throwing his hands in the air.

"You guys suck and are two very boring people, the car in front of us? Duh!" I said, there was a blue car in front of us, it had been driving in front of us since we left the hotel.

I decided to try and take a nap since nobody wanted to play with me, so I turned up the radio and laid back my head, ready to be consumed by darkness. It didn't take long though considering I didn't sleep all too well last night.

I woke up feeling groggy and my brain was completely mush. I squinted while looking around in the car while my eyes were adjusting to the bright sun. The car was parked at a gas station and both guys were gone. They had probably gone in to buy some snacks and didn't want to wake me, which I appreciated.

However, I really had to pee so I stretched in my seat and shook my head to wake myself up before opening the door and getting out.

I did another stretch outside the car, ready to walk into the shop when I heard a guy calling.

"Hey excuse me beautiful? Do you know which way West-ford Lane is?" The guy asked as he came uncomfortably close to where I was standing. He licked his lips, giving me a full-body scan, when his eyes stopped at my breast on his way up I snapped my fingers and rose a brow, "up here buddy, and no sorry I don't, I'm not from around here." I said as nicely as I could to the creep in front of me, whose breath reeked of alcohol.

"No worries, so what are you up to?" He asked stepping closer, I took a step back only to walk into another person standing behind me, I quickly turned and saw a tall muscular man standing with his arms crossed and a disgusting, evil smirk on his face, his eyes filled with lust. I felt my heartbeat increase, there was no one I could yell to for help seeing as the gas station was completely empty.

I saw James and Alex in the shop talking to another guy with their backs turned towards us. The guy they were talking to was faced towards us and looked over their shoulders as he threw me a wink and I felt my breath caught in my throat, he was stalling them. I was about to make a run for it into the store but merely took two steps before one of the guys grabbed my waist and slammed me against the car, I was about to scream when his hand came over my mouth to stop my screaming and his other hand let go of my waist and groped my breast roughly.

"Let's have some fun, baby," he whispered loud enough for me and his friend to hear.

My eyes widened in horror and I knew I had to do something quickly, I took my hand and with all my force I slammed it at the car window, breaking it and making a loud noise, I saw both James and Alex turn around and quickly both their eyes went completely black. Alex jumped at the guy in the store, probably realizing what he had done whilst James ran out to me, the guys were unaware that they knew. The guy holding me looked at me like I was a meal and the next thing I knew his hand came flying to my face, making sharp contact with my cheek. Before I had time to react he was being lifted up by his neck and thrown into the store through the window, I had never seen something like that before.

The other guy stood frozen in fear, his eyes bulging out of his eye sockets as James took him by the throat and lifted him up to where his feet were no longer touching the ground. James looked about ready to kill him. He held on long enough for his face to go completely red and for his eyes to roll back into his head before throwing him after his friend, crashing through another window. He then turned his stare towards me, I felt tears forming in my eyes, and he walked up to me, cupping my face in his hands, and gave me a hug. The hug was so tight I could barely breathe but it was perfect, I dug my face into the crock of his neck and began sobbing.

Alex came out of the store, covered in blood, looking just as pissed off as James. James tossed the keys to Alex who caught them and he then opened the back seat door for me to get in. I went in and went to sit by the window on the other side, James slid in after me closing the door. He then reached around my waist and pulled me to the seat next to him, "I want you close to me," he said in a cold and serious manner. I buckled my seat belt and looked out the window wondering what the fuck just happened, the events replaying in my head but simultaneously feeling like a blur-like my mind was blurring out the images of the scene to protect me.

As if James could sense my mind going crazy he wrapped his arm around my shoulders, allowing for my head to rest on his chest. In his presence, I felt like I was safe, protected, and warm. A strange sensation once again beamed through my body as I shivered, I felt his grip around me tighten, and when I looked up at him to see why, when I saw he was already looking at me with those beautiful eyes. I could look into his eyes for eternity, he leaned down and placed a kiss on my forehead and I felt my cheeks going red so I quickly looked away. He reached for my chin and forced me to look at him, "don't hide from me, Ever." he said in a soft tone making me melt into his hold. I closed my eyes and again drifted off to sleep.

I woke up in the comfiest bed I had ever laid in. The sun beaming in through the floor-to-ceiling windows and people laughing outside.

I stood from the bed and walked over to the windows, outside I saw this huge, magnificent well-catered garden that was shaped like a short-cut labyrinth, and as I looked further away there were miles and miles of forest. Surrounding the huge compound was an architecturally beautiful rock wall with figures on the top, demons, angels, and dragons. And a long way down the path was a massive two-part gate that was open.

This was only one side of the estate, I couldn't wait to explore.

James' POV

I had gathered all my pack members in the packhouse. Avery was asleep in my room but it was only a matter of time before she would be up so I had to move quickly.

When we got here, she was sound asleep with her head rested on my chest. I couldn't bring myself to wake her up, especially after what had happened. I was an inch away from killing them all after what they put her through, but I knew that wouldn't sit well with what I'm trying to accomplish here with Avery. However much I wanted to rip their throats out, not sure that I didn't kill them, but I wanted to personally watch as their souls parted from their bodies, as the life drained from their eyes... I know, I sound like a psychopath, but you don't hurt my girl.

"Avery has arrived." Those were the only words I had to utter to get everyone's attention. They all straightened their backs and raised their heads, looking at me.

I continued, "She knows nothing of werewolves nor her past or her true identity. Therefore, everyone has to be cautious of how they speak around her and only address each other by name and me as your boss. Do not by any means shift around her. Is that clear?"

"Yes alpha," they all said in unison.

"How long with the restrictions?" Damon asked.

"For one week. In one week, I will marry her and the deal will be sealed. She won't be able to leave and the restrictions will cease to exist."

In one week, I would marry Avery. I just have to play all cards right till then and hope nothing messes this up. I do really like her, but this must happen regardless of my feelings for her.

"And if she won't marry you?" One of my men, Dimitri, asked.

That was a valid question, she probably won't.

No sane woman would marry a man she just met and has no relationship with, I knew that. That's why I had leverage.

Sure her parents didn't want her, but she still loved them. That girl will marry me. Or I will end the life of everyone she has ever loved.