Alpha Farris’s scent grew stronger as Alessa and I approached the office door. I’d never even been inside the pack house before, and now I was going to the alpha’s personal office to present myself as his mate.
Not that I expected anything good to come out of this. The only reason I was doing it now was because Deene had sent Alessa that damned mind-link.
When she told me the alpha wanted to speak with me, I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer.
My stomach was tied in knots and my heart was beating so fast that I thought it might explode out of my chest. My nerves were fried, and I could feel tears beginning to sting at my eyes.
I truly did not want to do this, but I knew there was no way out. All I could do now was pray that he didn’t banish me. I knew I would never survive on my own.
When we were standing right outside of the office door, I could hear footsteps and the sound of muffled voices inside. There was more than one person in there.
We were going to have a larger audience than I’d hoped for. I clutched at my chest, trying to steady my labored breathing.
“It’s going to be all right,” Alessa promised, sensing my rising anxiety. “It’s just him and Beta Deene in there. No one else.”
That made me feel a little bit better.
“I’ll go in first, all right?” Alessa suggested.
“Sure.” I nodded. There was no turning back now.
Alessa opened the door and slid inside the office, pushing it shut behind her.
I waited a few moments, fidgeting with my fingers and chewing on my lip. I started to wonder if I could run fast enough to get out of there before the door opened again.
I weighed my options, but before I could take my chances, the door swung open to reveal Alessa’s face smiling back at me.
I took a deep breath and let it out slowly before entering the room to face my fate.
Beta Deene was standing to the side, and Alessa went to join him. His arm wrapped protectively around her waist.
Well, I supposed he at least felt bad about it.
I continued forward. I could sense Alpha Farris right in front of me, but I didn’t look at him. Not wanting to get too close or be too disrespectful, I kept my head down.
I dropped to my knees after a few more steps. The air in the room grew thick with tension as he stared down at me. I could imagine the look of disapproval on his face.
“Alpha,” I offered with a bow.
I heard him take several heavy footsteps in my direction. I closed my eyes and held them tight. I didn’t know what he would do, but I tried to brace myself for anything.
Alpha Farris reached down and grabbed my face roughly, his calloused hands sending pleasurable sparks throughout my body. I had to bite my lip to fight back the moan that threatened to escape.
I was certain it would only disgust him further if I responded to his touch. He forced my face upward and ran his thumb across my bottom lip, causing me to gasp.
“Open your eyes.” His gruff tone sounded like music to my ears.
I opened them at his command. His gorgeous golden orbs beckoned to me like two welcoming pools of light.
I tried not to get caught up in the intensity of his stare as I fought against the pull of our bond. My heart couldn’t afford for me to give in.
“You’re a mutt?” he grumbled, as if he didn’t already know the answer.
“Hey! Don’t call her that,” Alessa snapped from the side before being immediately shushed by Beta Deene.
“Yes, sir,” I responded, my gaze dropping back to the floor.
“You understand why this could be a problem,” he said, his hand dropping from my face, leaving a bitter cold where his warmth had been.
“Yes, sir.”
“My father would be rolling over in his grave if he knew that I was even considering this.” He scowled, running his hands through his hair. “I’ve never heard of any alpha mating with a mutt.”
“R—reject m—me,” I stuttered. My voice sounded small and weak as I said it, making me cringe.
It was bad enough that I had to say it. The least that the universe could have offered me was the strength to get through the next few moments without any additional embarrassment.
Alpha Farris stopped in his tracks. He looked thoughtfully toward the wall for a moment.
“You can’t do that,” Alessa spoke up again, causing us both to look in her direction.
“Alessa, please stop,” Beta Deene warned.
“Please, Alpha. Don’t reject her. You don’t know what she’s been through! Please…” Alessa begged before Beta Deene successfully covered her mouth with his hand.
“Alessa, please don’t make this any worse,” I said quietly.
She nodded at my plea, a single tear rolling down her cheek. I knew she didn’t want to see me hurt, but this was the way of the world.
This would never work. Not in a million years. An alpha with a mutt for a luna—the pack would become a laughingstock to our allies.
Alpha Farris stared down at me in silence. I could feel his eyes boring into the top of my head, but I didn’t dare look in his direction. I didn’t want to see the anger that was surely held within his gaze.
“It’s not as simple as it may seem.” He sighed.
“Why not?” I whimpered. I just wanted this to be over.
“Because you’re my mate,” he growled. “Every instinct I possess is begging me to make you mine…” He paused before continuing in a calmer voice, “And because you are the only she-wolf who can carry my pups.”
I gulped, swallowing my nerves. “You want me because I can give you heirs?”
“Yes. But it’s not just that.”
“Your pups would be weak if you mate with me,” I pointed out.
“That doesn’t change the fact that without you, I won’t have pups at all.”
We sat in silence. There was nothing more I could say. He knew the facts as well as I did.
Suddenly, he stepped closer. His hand reached out and cupped my cheek. His warmth seeped into me, and tingles danced across my skin as I unconsciously leaned into his touch.
He sighed as he moved away, and I fought the urge to pout at the loss of his touch.
“You may leave,” he finally stated after what felt like an eternity.
“You aren’t going to reject me?” I asked, surprised at the dismissal.
“Not right now.”
My heart instantly broke. I wanted him to reject me now instead of dragging this out. But I had no right to demand that of him.
“Yes, Alpha.” I rose to my feet and turned to exit the room.
The Moon Goddess must truly hate me.
