The Alpha’s Arrangement

Mia

The week had been a grueling one. I felt out of place, even in my own room, which was unsettling. A knock on the door yanked me back to the present.

“Come in,” I called out. Lea’s cheerful face appeared in the doorway.

“Are you okay?” She stepped inside and perched on my bed. I attempted to put on a brave face, but she knew me too well. Her smile quickly turned into a frown.

“I’m fine. What’s up?”

“I was thinking we could make some waffles?”

I was about to decline, but she cut me off before I had the chance.

“With whipped cream, chocolate, and strawberries. I just need a helping hand.” She chuckled and playfully punched my arm.

“By helping hand, you mean someone who’s going to clean up the mess afterward?” I rolled my eyes but rose from the bed. Despite having had dinner, my love for waffles was irresistible.

“I knew I could count on you.” She stood up, clapping her hands in excitement.

We quickly prepared everything. Lea cooked while I cleaned, so once everything was ready, we could simply retreat to the living room and indulge.

“Maybe we can watch something?” Lea handed me the remote.

I fired up Netflix, searching for something mindless to distract me from the growing tension. The closer it got to dinner, the more nervous I became. I didn’t want to meet him.

“I am not watching that. Kai told me about it and it’s way too fucked up.”

I hadn’t realized I’d automatically selected some murder documentary. I’d heard of it, but there was no way I was going to watch it.

I quickly chose a sitcom and put the remote down.

“How are things going with you?” I glanced at her. I was genuinely happy for her. At least one of us was in a healthy relationship.

“It’s great! I mean, we argue sometimes, like any couple, but I really like him.”

I just smiled. It wasn’t jealousy. As I said, I was happy for her, but the fact that she had a choice made me feel a bit down.

“When is this dinner?” she asked, taking another bite of her waffle.

“On Friday. A long drive just to meet this jerk.”

“I overheard Mom asking Dad if he’d booked flight tickets.”

“Even better. The quicker we get there, the sooner it’ll all be over.” I sighed.

“Listen, tomorrow I’m meeting Ashlee at Sandpipers. You should come. It’s been ages since we had a girls’ night.” The thought of eating, drinking, and gossiping like we used to was appealing.

“I had plans with Kai, but I’ll call him and reschedule. I miss those times when we had sleepovers, college parties, and sneaking around Dad’s Betas.” She winked and laughed.

“Great! We’re set for seven o’clock, as I work till five.”

“Oh, that’s even better. I’ll still meet with Kai and then pick you up from work. What do you say?”

“Perfect. Where are Mom and Dad?” I suddenly realized they weren’t around.

“They had some stuff to discuss with Brooks. I heard Mom mention something about a human turned into a wolf. Apparently, there’s this rogue pack that operates independently.”

Turning humans into wolves? That was forbidden. The punishment could be death. There were exceptions, of course, but still…

Rogue packs weren’t forbidden. They were outcasts, either banished or choosing to leave the pack, but no one really cared about them.

“I sense trouble. Okay, I’m exhausted. I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodnight, sis.” I kissed Lea’s cheek and retreated to my room.

As soon as I hit the bed, I fell asleep. The same dream haunted me again.

A pack was chasing me, and despite knowing what would happen and trying to change course, I ended up at the cliff, jumping off the edge.

“Why does this keep repeating like a broken record? It keeps coming back.” I took a sip of water and tried to sleep again.

Morning came too soon. I dressed, grabbed an apple, and rushed out of the house. Hopefully, I wouldn’t be late. The nightmare had made me miss my alarm, and I was feeling drained.

Nothing that makeup couldn’t fix, but I still felt rough.

My day at work wasn’t too bad. I ran a summer camp activity program for kids, which went really well. I love kids, especially when they show interest in animals.

For lunch, I grabbed a sandwich. I was really looking forward to dinner with the girls.

I spent most of the day at the Canadian lynxes’ enclosure. They were truly amazing animals.

We’d recently added another female, and we had to observe whether she would acclimate within the group.

The day flew by. I was tired, having had to take the bus to work. As I clocked out, I received a text from Lea.

“Thanks for picking me up.” I hugged my sister and put my bag in the back seat.

“You look tired,” she observed.

“I am. Can we stop at home? I need to change and brush my teeth.”

“Sure, but be quick. I’m starving.”

Once home, I quickly changed into fresh clothes, brushed my teeth, and touched up my makeup.

Sandpipers wasn’t far. Ashlee was already waiting.

“Got us a bottle of dry white.” She smirked, and I loved her for it.

“First, I need to eat. Otherwise, one glass and I’ll be out.” I scanned the menu and ordered a medium-rare steak, side salad, and baked potato.

“Ashlee, how’s the whole mate situation going?” Ashlee’s gaze shifts to my sister, and I can feel the familiar pang of jealousy. I roll my eyes, trying to hide my discomfort.

“Good thing I ate something earlier, or I wouldn’t be able to stomach this conversation again.”

“It’s okay, I guess. We’re not exactly planning a wedding or kids right now. I’m just happy I found him.” Lea avoids my gaze, and I can tell she knows this topic is a sore spot for me.

I pour myself another glass of wine and take a sip, hoping it will help me relax.

“So, Liam Boyle should be worried, shouldn’t he?” Both Ashlee and Lea turn to look at me, and I let out a sigh.

“I don’t even know the guy, but the fact that he was stubborn enough to continue with this arrangement gives me a glimpse of what kind of person he might be.”

“I spoke to one of my cousins from Montana, and when she heard that my friend was getting married to their Alpha, she sounded disappointed and called you lucky. Apparently, he’s quite the catch.” Ashlee bites her lower lip and furrows her eyebrows.

“Yay, lucky me. At least I won’t have to put a paper bag over his head.” Our table erupts in laughter.

Ashlee wants to know when I’ll meet him. She’s surprised when I tell her that the wedding date has already been set and it’s only a month away. That’s the problem.

We’re not two regular wolves who go on dates, fall in love, and then decide to get married. This is an arrangement, and everything about it is rushed to ensure the deal is sealed.

“Listen, he might be a nice, decent guy. My cousin doesn’t know him personally, but everyone seems happy that he took over the pack.”

“He might be, but I don’t know him, and that’s the problem. He’s not my destined mate. But who cares? I’ll be fine.”

After finishing nearly two bottles of wine, Lea has to leave her car in the restaurant parking lot, and we take a taxi home.

Tomorrow, I’ll meet Mr. Important, and if my parents see me drunk, I’ll get the “you’re irresponsible” talk.

I flop onto my bed as soon as I get to my room, still in my clothes. Whether it’s the wine or sheer exhaustion, I finally have a night free of nightmares.

“You two are so irresponsible!” My mom’s voice echoes from the kitchen.

“Shush. Stop shouting, my head’s about to explode,” I groan, joining Lea at the kitchen island.

“You knew we were leaving today. How could you get drunk? Look at yourself.”

“What?! Am I not suitable for an Alpha?” My dad and sister burst into laughter, while my mom just rolls her eyes and tosses a kitchen towel onto the table.

“Okay, eat something, take a shower, and dress nicely. We have a flight in two hours, and the hotel is booked for today and tomorrow. Let’s make sure everything goes smoothly.” Mom claps her hands and ushers me upstairs.

After a four-hour journey, we’re in a cab heading to Liam Boyle’s house. I’m incredibly nervous, and I can’t stop smoothing down my little black dress.

“Honey, you look beautiful. Don’t worry.” Dad places a comforting hand on mine. I just nod and stare out the window.

“We’re here.” The cab comes to a stop, and the driver turns to us.

“Thank you, keep the change.” Dad hands him the money and opens the door for me, holding my hand to help me out.

I’m taken aback by the sight of the house. It’s a massive log cabin, perfectly nestled among trees and large garden stones.

“Okay, let’s go, hun.” Mom gently nudges me towards the entrance, while Dad rings the doorbell.

An elderly woman with a warm smile greets us at the door.

“Good evening, please come in. Mr. Boyle is expecting you in the living room.”

The inside of the house is just as impressive as the outside. The high ceilings are breathtaking, and the scent of fresh wood fills the air. We make our way to the living room.

I’m admiring the furniture when I hear his voice.

“Mr. and Mrs. Daniels, it’s a pleasure to have you here.”

His voice is warm and deep, with a hint of an English accent. A shiver runs down my spine, and I feel more nervous than ever.

He’s standing in front of me, his black shirt accentuating every muscle on his body.

Damn, Ashlee’s cousin was right. He is handsome. The thought slips through my mind. But handsome is an understatement. He’s tall, with perfect dark hair and equally dark eyes. His eyelashes are so long, I can’t believe they’re real.

“And you must be Lea.” He steps closer to shake my hand.

“Actually, I’m Amelia… Mia,” I correct him quickly. “Lea is my older sister.” I squeeze his hand in return.

“Apologies, I thought the arrangement was with the eldest sister,” he says, looking confused.

Apologies, I’ve disappointed you, you asshole, I think to myself. He might be good-looking, but he’s clearly a jerk.

“Circumstances have changed. Lea was lucky enough to find her mate recently, and Mia volunteered to take her place.” Dad sounds annoyed.

“Yep, as a tribute.” I can’t help but laugh.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to offend anyone. I was just curious.” Liam smiles at me, amusement in his eyes.

“None taken,” I reply quickly, doing my best to avoid his gaze.

“Mr. Boyle, dinner is ready.” The same woman who greeted us at the door comes in to guide us to the dining room.

The dining room is stunning, and we all take our seats at the large table.

“Please, enjoy.” Our host smiles, and we all start to eat. The food is delicious, but my mind is elsewhere. I’ll be living here with him. This can’t be happening.

I need to think of something, anything.

“How old are you, Amelia?”

Maybe talking to him will make him change his mind.

“Mia.” My mother’s voice pulls me back to reality.

“Yes?” I lift my gaze to meet hers.

“How old are you?” he asks again.

“Twenty-four.”

“And have you graduated?” His barrage of questions is starting to grate on my nerves.

“Yes, with degrees in zoology and microbiology.”

“That sounds interesting. What do you do for a living?”

Oh, please, enough with the small talk. As if you really care… But then again, maybe he does. After all, he’s supposed to spend the rest of his life with me. The rest of his life… I need to have a serious talk with him.

“I work at the Idaho Zoo. What about you?” I take a sip of my wine, the only thing that seems to be keeping me sane at the moment.

“I run a family business and have pack business on my mind as well.” His expression is so serious. Does he ever smile?

“That doesn't sound very interesting.” The words slip out before I can stop them. I meant to keep that thought to myself.

“Mia!” My mother scolds me, while my father seems to be thoroughly enjoying the situation.

“No, that's fine. It’s definitely not as interesting as working with other species. Would you like me to show you the house and garden?” He turns to my parents.

“Oh yes, please. The house looks amazing.” My mother sounds genuinely delighted. She was the one who was initially furious at my father, and now she’s all smiles. I can’t help but roll my eyes at her.

“Amelia, would you like to join us?” Liam’s gaze is intense, as if he’s trying to read my thoughts. My heart starts to pound, and all I want to do is shift and run.

“Do you?” he repeats, raising an eyebrow and smirking slightly. Oh God, he knows I was staring. I’m such an idiot!

“Yes, let's go.” I quickly rise from my seat and follow the others.

He guides us around the house and the garden, which features a beautiful gazebo with a fireplace. Despite the grandeur of it all, I still don’t want to live here, with him. I don’t belong here. This isn’t right.

Somewhere out there, our true mates are waiting for us.

We return to the living room. Liam and my father are sipping scotch, while my mother and I stick to wine. I feel so out of place.

“The wedding ceremony will take place here, in the garden. My pack and I will handle all the arrangements. We’ll accommodate your friends and family. I’ll send someone to collect your belongings.”

I can’t bear to listen anymore. This is all too much. I abruptly stand and rush out to the garden.

“Mia!” My mother calls after me, but I ignore her. I’m trying to catch my breath. A wedding, moving, changing my life… I wish this wasn’t happening.

“I know how you feel. Overwhelmed, isn’t it?” He approaches me.

“If you know how I feel, why are we doing this? Just stop.” I can’t bring myself to look at him. His eyes are too hypnotic.

“It wasn’t my idea. An arranged marriage wasn’t something I wished for. I’m not happy either.”

I can’t believe what I’m hearing. If he doesn’t want this, then why are we here? I want to scream. I want to shift into my wolf form and run into the woods, but I know I can’t. Not here, not in front of him.

“So let’s end this. I’ll go my way, and you can stay here. We don’t need this.”

“You’re wrong. We do. Our packs need an alliance in these times. Besides, I gave my word to my father that I would do this, and I can’t break it. This is what my pack expects of me.”

I crouch down and bury my face in my hands. I don’t understand any of his words. I don’t care what he promised; I didn’t make any promises. I take a few deep breaths.

“Listen, you know that by doing this we’re essentially rejecting our fate. How are we supposed to meet our true mates when we’re stuck with each other? Our packs can still be allies. We don’t have to get marri—”

“But we will, and you need to get over it!” He cuts me off, his voice filled with anger, before storming back into the living room.

“Just don’t cry. Whatever happens, don’t cry,” I repeat to myself.