Page 10 of Alpha Wolf's Arranged Bride
“Are you ready, son?” Dorian asks seriously.
They are such good people, I’m sure they’d support me even if I said no.
“Yes, Dorian,” I reply. “I don’t think I could be more ready. I promised you I was home to stay, that I’d be your alpha and do anything to keep Rose Hollow safe. After the wedding, my bride and I will be fully devoted to the alliance between the packs, and we’ll finally have peace in this valley.”
Even though the others look content with my speech, I know that there is still an undercurrent of worry. I can’t help but share it. The others have a few loose rumors to mull over, and I have detailed military documents and personal reports of unexplained events tracing back to our founders haunting my mind.
We adjourn, and I head back to my parents’ manor. Part of me feels like I’ll never really call it my own, even though I legally own it now.
Maybe once I have children with my new wife, it won’t seem so big.
The idea shocks me, even though heirs were mentioned at the meeting. I’ve never seriously thought about having babies, but this is an inevitable result of the marriage, and an absolute necessity for the alliance.
I enter the big, quiet house, almost feeling it echo around me as I head for the master bedroom. The determination and commitment I feel for my new mission wavers, and Scarlett invades my thoughts, taking over my mind so intensely that I have to sit down and put my head in my hands.
Scarlett… what have I done? You’re the only one I want. And now I have to marry another woman and give her the children that should have been yours.
Even though I struggle with my emotions for some time, when I finally do go to bed, I fall asleep quickly. When I wake just before dawn, I’m full of determination and keep my thoughts under strict control.
I will undertake this duty with all the seriousness of a military operation. My pack needs me, and I will provide for them—and maybe finish my mission in Eccles and finally figure out what they’re hiding.
While I’m making coffee, my phone buzzes, making me jump.
I’m more nervous than I’d like to admit. This is worse than a dawn drop into enemy territory.
The text is from Cody, my beta and best friend from high school. I was selected by Wolf’s Shadow to try out for the position. Cody wasn’t. We kept in loose contact over the years, and he’s been directly involved in pack business while I was away.
It was an easy choice to make him my beta, and he’s helped me find my feet since I returned.
The text says,Are you ready, old buddy?
On my way out the door,I reply.
I’m coming, too, and I’ve got Dorian with me. They wanted to send a full contingent, but decided it might look like a threat.
I agree. I’ll be on the road out of town in ten minutes.
I hurry to finish my coffee, then jump straight in the car and take the road out of town. Usually, an alpha would take a group of high-ranking wolves to an event like this, but we don’t want to spook the Eccles pack.
Unless it’s a trap. Then I’m kind of fucked.
I don’t dwell on that thought as I pull out onto the connecting road. I see Cody in his truck with Dorian and give them a wave as I pass by. They pull in behind me, and I settle in for the long drive.
I expect my thoughts to dwell ceaselessly on all the details, but my mind goes blank as I navigate the old roads. The repetitive actions of driving soothe me as curves and dips force me to pay close attention. Before I know it, I’m entering the Eccles town limits.
There is no one to greet us, which I find a little odd, but don’t worry over. Yet, as I head towards the center of town, the familiarity shocks me, and it feels like I never left.
It’s been so long, but it almost feels like yesterday. All the memories I made with Scarlett are flooding back to me.
An intense wave of excitement flows through me, and I have to admit I’m desperate to see her again, even though I know that would be the worst possible thing that could happen.
Even so, I have to be prepared. She’s from one of the first families and might be involved in the ceremony.
The idea of Scarlett watching me wed another woman twists my guts and makes my heart ache like a bruise, so I shove it out of my mind.
Hopefully, it won’t come to that.
When I reach the square, there are lots of people crowded around as if the whole town has come out for the event. A couple of people hurry forward, and to my shock, I recognize them.
