Page 11 of Curvy Alpha Bride
Of course! There will be a binding contract for the initial weeks so our bachelor can have a partner for desired events, but after that, the contract can be resolved with no penalty.
I stare at the screen, chewing on my lip a little. I’m still on the fence.
I promise you, Mabel, this will be the perfect getaway. A nice, quiet town, a little cabin to rest up in, and a handsome man to attend to your every need.
Really?I reply, leaving a laughing emoji.
Really! Our bachelors are known for their charm. He’ll treat you with respect at all times, and spoil you with gifts and lots of attention.
An image rises in my mind of being curled up in front of a roaring fire, snuggled up against a good-looking guy, while the winter wind screams outside the window.
It would be so good to have some company, I think.And I know this guy couldn’t reject me, or be mean to me—I’m protected by the contract.
I’m still wavering, but definitely leaning towards doing it. I take another scroll back, checking out the rewards involved with being a bride-for-hire. Even if I cancel at the end of the first term, I’ll get paid, and receive continued access to the other features—free clothes, makeup, and shoes for a start!
Are you still there, Mabel?
Yes, I’m here.
Have you thought things through? I don’t want to push, but this particular appointment is quite urgent. I need a bride for this position immediately.
I take a deep breath, trying to settle my stomach. My heart flutters in my chest, and I know I don’t want to do this.
I want to stay safe!I think.
But the moment that thought flashes through my mind, my bedroom begins to feel like a prison. The walls are closing in, suffocating me, forcing me to be alone with my misery. Not just for the rest of my life—but beyond that, into forever.
Mabel, do you have an answer for me?
I look back at the screen, almost trembling with emotions I can’t even name.
My answer is yes, Iris. I’ll do it!
Chapter 4 - Xavier
I thought coming back to Cyan Lock would be comforting, but since the moment I left Lycan Pass and headed down towards the lake, all I’ve felt is panic.
I don’t want to be here.
Driving through the outskirts of town, I feel like a criminal. Keeping my head down, I navigate towards Town Hall and the surrounding gardens.
Of course Iris wants to meet in the busiest part of town!
I don’t really want to run into anyone I know, but I especially don’t want Mabel to see me. The break I gave her was nice and clean, and running into each other after that could really make things messy.
Even worse, I don’t want Mabel to see me here with another woman.
Surely by now, Mabel would know I’ve become alpha of Valentine Creek. She’s a member of the Cyan Pack council, and this would have all gone down in official pack business. I was hoping that whenever we ran into each other again, a long time would have gone by, and it would be at an official event where personal things weren’t likely to be dredged up.
She’d also know that as alpha, I have a duty to find a luna. Hopefully, that happens completely under her radar, and we can both get on with our lives.
The thought strikes me that maybe she found someone else since I last saw her, and now she’s embarking on a new life with her partner and wouldn’t even think of looking back at me.
Why doesn’t that make me feel better?
I park near Town Hall, close to the gardens. It makes me feel a bit like a tourist. When I was on the council here, I would have parked around back, near the cozy room where we used to meet.
No chance I’m going around there. I don’t want to run into anyone I know.
