Page 23 of Cruel Alpha: Season Two

Instinctively, I adjust my posture, making my back a smidge straighter, my chin higher. Shallow breaths rush in and out of my lungs, and I’m worried I may actually pass out right here in front of everyone.

More than ever, even if it’s a total lie, I need to be a rock right now. Cold, unfeeling, dead inside. I refuse to let others know how much this hurts, how much I absolutely hate every second of it.

The elderly woman smiles, greeting Cas with a curtsy. She acknowledges no one else in the room, and I don’t question why that is. It’s because, in her eyes, and in the eyes of the women she’s just paraded into the room, Cas is the only one who matters.

“I’m Lady Patricia Dawson. Pleased to make your acquaintance, Sir,” she says, and Cas offers a polite smile and a nod. He has yet to let his eyes shift toward the other women, but it’s just a matter of time before he sees what I see.

That they’re all breathtaking—tall, fit, polished, and poised.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Cas says to Lady Dawson, and my jaw clenches.

“As you may have already deduced, I was appointed by the council to serve as matron to your consort prospects.” She flashes a proud grin, and I want to vomit. “I can assure you that they’ve all been properly trained—taught how to serve as ladies of the house, as representatives of the High Chamber, and how to… adequately serve an alpha.”

At first, I’m able to convince myself Lady Dawson wasn’t being suggestive with that last remark. But when she smiles again, arching a brow this time, I’mcertainthat was her goal.

“We have only chosen the crème de la crème for you, Sir. Each woman is noble-bred, well behaved, and according to examinations performed by the top physicians here within the High Chamber, they’re also fit for childbearing.”

My stomach churns again.

“I’m sure you’ve done an outstanding job, Lady Dawson. Thank you very much for your dedication and hard work.”

She does another shallow curtsy, then steps out of Cas’s line of sight, forcing his gaze to finally settle on the seven women before him. I don’t have the courage to observe as he evaluates them, but I can imagine he’s pleased.

What manwouldn’tbe?

“We’ve already discussed the particulars,” Lady Dawson says, “but just to refresh your memory, Sir, you’re to choose three of these lovely ladies to be your mates. Then, at tomorrow’s Spring Ball, you’ll make your selection public. So, without further ado, I present to you, Ms. Beatrice Gaylord, Ms. Clementine Darby, Ms. Arabella Westchester, Ms. Eugenia Spencer, Ms. Margaret Shelby, Ms. Kimberly Ellison, and Ms. Wilhelmena Emory.”

One by one, the women begin to step forward. Again, only acknowledging Cas, as if there’s no one else in the room.They speak a few empty words as they bat their eyes at him, expressing how honored they are to be here, and how they hope to be chosen. I mostly tune it out, but that’s harder to do when they approachmenext, greeting me with a shallow curtsy, before returning to their place in line.

A subtle sigh leaves me as the last woman steps forward, Wilhelmena. She’s the tallest of the bunch, and arguably the most beautiful. The front half of her bright, blonde hair is styled up into an elaborate sculpture of careful swoops and curls. The rest hangs in soft waves that nearly touch the small of her back, not a single strand out of place. Her posture is so perfect, and it’s difficult to not feel inadequate as I observe her. From her swanlike neck to her perky breasts that are nearly pushed up to her chin. She licks her pink glossed lips as she approaches Cas, offering him her gloved hand. He’s polite toward her, just like he’d been toward the others, bowing his head slightly in acknowledgment.

“It’s a pleasure meeting you, Alpha Caspian. I’ve been anticipating this moment for quite some time,” she says, and there’s this light, breathy quality to her tone that probably has men falling at her feet whenever she speaks.

“Lovely meeting you, Ms…”

“Ms. Emory,” she jumps to say. “But please, call me Wilhemena. It’ll be strange to be so formal once I’m… I mean…ifI’m chosen.”

She does this thing with her eyes, as if to imply she’ssoembarrassed by the slip of her tongue. I roll my eyes at the pathetic display, and judging by the snide looks of the other girls, I’m not the only one she rubs the wrong way.

“I look forward to being at your service,” she adds, and the way she discreetly bites her lip, and then quickly glances toward Cas’s crotch, it’s abundantly clear how she intends to be ofserviceto the alpha.

Her time is up, and after having shamelessly thrown herself at Cas, she moves on to greet me. The others weren’t particularly excited to acknowledge me, but they were polite enough. However, as Wilhemena slithers in my direction, the cold, hard glare that settles on me is extremely transparent.

It’s likely that all the women have witnessed the progression of my relationship with Cas via public broadcast. The media has thoroughly captured the details while documenting the many events we’ve hosted here within the estate. So, I’m guessing Wilhemena sees my early arrival as a threat, an unfair advantage. Yes, she bows to me like the others, but she emits a powerful bitterness that isn’t lost on me.

Without her even having uttered a single word in my direction, I believe I’ve got her pegged. She’s a woman on a mission. A mission that’s actually quite simple.

Should she be chosen as a mate, she intends to do everything in her power to be Cas’s favorite.

Flashing a dark smirk my way, Wilhemena sweeps her dress in dramatic fashion as she turns to rejoin the others in line. It takes everything within me not to spit flames after the disgusting display I just witnessed, but Lady Radcliffe’s words ring inside my head. In short, I’m to be seen and not heard. I’m sure there would be hell to pay if I disobeyed, but as far as shitty, humiliating experiences go…

Tonight definitely ranks among the top five.

13

Laughably Simple

Caspian

---