JAMES.
'James, buddy, let's go check out our future bride,' my wolf whined via mind link.I scoffed inwardly as I hated his sudden liking for a girl we barely knew just because of an alliance.I blocked him and tried to occupy my mind with something else, anything else, than the thought of her beautiful sleeping innocent face imprinted in my mind.I changed into my suit after taking a quick shower and headed to the pack house to my office, hoping to get some work done. But it was useless. My wolf whined for Chloe, the girl who had invaded our territory and our lives. He wanted to be near her, to touch her, to claim her for himself. He gave me a headache with his constant nagging.'Buddy please, keep it together… Besides all women are the same, she will probably end up cheating too, ' I told my wolf to try to calm him but he whined even louder. My headache turned to migraines.I couldn't take it anymore. I left the office and drove back home, hoping she would be awake by now. Maybe if I talked to her, I could make my wolf, Zeke see reason. Maybe we could find a way out of his sudden obsession with a woman we barely knew.But as soon as I entered the house, I bumped into my nosy father, who had a smug grin on his face."James, my boy, back so soon from the office?" he asked, clapping me on the shoulder."Yes, Dad. I forgot an important document I had to pick up… What are you doing here?" I lied, trying to sound casual."Is that the case? You should have just called like you do, I could have sent a messenger to bring it to the office," He replied.I felt my stomach flutter with butterflies… Why did I have a nosy dad???I sighed softly, hiding my emotions," It's fine, I'm here now… Anyway, why are you here? Ain't you meeting your buddies at golf today?" I asked inquisitively.My father smiled and leaned closer to me, " I'm keeping an eye on your lovely fiancee." He whispered cheerfully.I rolled my eyes. He knew damn well that I didn't want this marriage, that I didn't want her. He was practically the one who had wanted this more than anyone… I didn't care."Dad, please. Don't start with that. You know how I feel about this."He sighed and shook his head. "James, James, James. You're being stubborn and foolish. This is a great opportunity for our family. Chloe is beautiful and looks smart, from a powerful and wealthy pack. She's perfect for you."Perfect for me?!I clenched my jaw. He was wrong. She was not the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She was not the one who made my heart race and my soul sing. She was not the one whom I could see myself loving, ever."Dad. She's a stranger. A stranger who might not want me like I don't want her. She's only here because of the alliance..."My father frowned and shook his head again. "That's not true, son. You just need time to adjust, and to get to know her. She needs your love, patience, and kindness, not your anger and resentment, James."I snorted. Love. What did he know about love when my mother left him when I was 10?He had never loved anyone else since she left. He only cared about power, status, and money. He only cared about grooming me to take over after he retired.He didn't know what love was."Dad, stop. Just stop. You don't know what you're talking about. You don't know what love is. You don't know what I need. You don't know what she needs. You don't know anything."I pushed past him and headed to the stairs, hoping to escape his lecture. But he followed me and grabbed my arm, stopping me as soon as I wanted to take the first step on the staircase."James, wait. There's something I need to tell you. Something important."I sighed and turned to face him, annoyed. "What is it, dad?"He looked at me with a serious expression and lowered his voice. "It's about Princess Chloe. She didn't bring any clothes with her. She only has the clothes on her. She has nothing else to wear."I raised my eyebrows confused at what he meant. "And? What do you want me to do about it?"He smiled and winked at me. "I think it would be a nice gesture to show her around the pack and buy her some clothes. You know, make her feel welcome and comfortable. Maybe even take her out for dinner. You know, make her feel special and appreciated. Maybe even make her fall in love with you."I groaned and rolled my eyes. He was unbelievable. He wanted me to play the role of the perfect fiance and pretend that I liked her, that I wanted her, that I loved her. He wanted me to lie to her and myself."Dad, no. Just no. I'm not doing that. I'm not taking her anywhere. I'm not buying her anything. I'm not making her feel anything. I'm not playing your games. I'm not playing her games. I'm not playing anyone's games. I'm done with this. I'm done with you." I replied coldly as I pulled my arm away from him and continued to the stairs, ignoring his protests. I didn't care what he said, or what he wanted, or what he thought. I didn't care about anything, except getting away from him, and from her.But as I reached the second floor, I felt a tug in my chest, a pull in my soul, a whisper in my mind. My wolf. He wanted me to go to her, to see her, to be with her. He was happy, excited, eager to scent her.I cursed and rubbed my temples, trying to block him out. But he was persistent, insistent, relentless. He wouldn't let me go, he wouldn't let me rest, he wouldn't let me forget. He wanted her, he needed her like the air we breathed.I gave up and followed his lead, hoping to calm him down, hoping to shut him up. I walked to the door of the bedroom, where she was sleeping.I opened the door and entered the room, closing it behind me. I looked around and saw her lying on the bed, under the covers, still asleep. She looked peaceful, innocent, and beautiful.I felt a surge of emotion, a mix of lust. My cock slightly twitched in my pants with need.My wolf growled in my head. He wanted her badly, but I ignored him and sat on a chair near the window. I poured myself a drink from the minibar and waited for her to wake up. I had to take her shopping, as my father requested. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had no choice. I had to play along with this charade until the wedding. Then I would ignore her for the rest of our lives.Yes, I would do that!An hour later, she stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked and looked around, confused. Then she saw me and frowned."Who are you and where is my father ?" She asked, her voice raspy.I rolled my eyes. " I'm Alpha James, your fiance and you are in my pack…Your father left you so that we can get to know each other before our wedding next week." I revealed the truth.She scoffed and sat up. "With you? No thanks. I'd rather gag myself and die."She pulled the covers off her and began walking towards the door with a weird step. I immediately thought she was handicapped and that's why her father was in a rush to dump her in my custody.I clenched my jaw and stood up.What a con man, Alpha Tennyson!!!Chloe wobbled towards the door as if she wanted to leave. I stayed glued to my spot because I wasn't going to stop her.Suddenly she stumbled dangerously while clutching onto her head. My instincts to protect her suddenly kicked in and I rushed to her side and held her before she could fall to the floor.She glared at me with her beautiful blue eyes, "Let me go now!" She demanded and I heed to her.She dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes."Awe," she winced painfully and I enjoyed seeing her hurting."You think that was funny? Let's see who agrees to marry a brute like you. My heart belongs to another and I'm leaving." She declared openly.My heart clenched with rage, I couldn't believe what I just heard. Chloe had the audacity to tell me that she loved someone else.How dare she? How dare she reject me when I too didn't want this from the beginning?I felt a surge of anger and pain in my chest as if someone had stabbed me with a silver knife. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, trying to control the beast inside me.The beast that wanted to claim her, mark her, and make her mine. The beast wanted to punish her and make her pay.But I couldn't do that. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I had to be rational, calm, and composed. I had to follow the rules, the rules of the contract I hastily signed in the morning. I had to marry her, whether I liked it or not."Don't think I'm happy about this, Chloe. You're not my choice. You're just a burden I have to bear. Don't expect anything from me, because you'll get nothing." I replied to her rude statement. She glared at me and I knew I hit a nerve.If she was going to be rude to me, I would do the same... It's like an eye for an eye."Meet me downstairs in five minutes," I ordered.I opened the door, stepped out of the room, and slammed the door behind me.Did I really need this alliance with her father?I walked down the hallway and headed towards the stairs. I needed to get out of this nightmare. I needed to get some fresh air, space, and peace.I needed to get away from her rude attitude.CHLOE. "Oh, my head!"I woke up with a splitting headache, feeling like someone had smashed a hammer on my skull. I didn't expect to be in someone else mansion."Oh my goodness," I groaned at the most intense pain I had ever felt in my body and opened my eyes, only to see a strange ceiling above me. I didn't know how long I had been out but I immediately didn't recognize the place I woke up in. Where was I? This wasn't my room or my father's mansion."Daddy?" I called out, hoping he would hear me and explain where I was since he was the last person I remembered seeing before I blacked out. My mind briefly reeled back to something he had said about an arranged marriage, but I didn't believe him. He wouldn't do that to me. He loved me too much to do that over Jess's stupid death."Dad!" I shouted louder, hoping someone would come to my aid. A servant, a guard, anyone. But no one answered. No one came. I was alone in this unfamiliar beautiful room.Or so I thought.I turned my head to
JAMES. I stormed out of Chloe's room, feeling rage boiling inside me. I couldn't stand another minute of pretending to be nice to that spoiled brat who was supposed to be my bride in six days. Princess Chloe was nothing but a snobby, selfish, and annoying girl who thought she could hurt my feelings by telling me that her heart belonged to another. She was wrong. I hated her like all the other women with every fiber of my being. And I hated my father for forcing me to accept this arranged marriage.I walked with a purpose to get out of the mansion and a familiar voice called to me."James, where are you going to in such a hurry?" I heard my father's voice from behind me.I stopped with a sigh and turned to face him. He was standing at the end of the hallway, looking at me with concern and confusion."Yes Dad," I looked at him with respect and obedience. "I'm going for a drive. I need some time to think." I said in a polite tone.He tilted his handsome oval face, which had a perfect
CHLOE. I couldn't believe what had just happened. One moment, I was arguing with James, the arrogant Alpha who was a pain in the ass, and the next, I was falling out of his window on the second floor. What the fuck was I thinking not wanting to use the door like a normal person?Luckily, he had the sense to jump after me and catch me in mid-air. But that didn't make me feel any better. I hated him with every fiber of my being. He was rude, arrogant, and bossy. He treated me like a spoiled princess who couldn't do anything for herself. He never listened to me or respected my wishes. He was the worst knight in shining armor ever.I glared at him as he held me in his arms. He looked smug and satisfied as if he had done me a favor. His blue eyes sparkled in the sunlight, and his sandy brown hair was tousled by the wind. He had a handsome face, but it was marred by a smirk that made me want to slap him."Put me down, you brute of an Alpha!" I demanded, struggling to free myself from his g
JAMES. "Son, what are you doing standing there? Follow your bride and bring her back home," my father yelled from the balcony where he had witnessed our childish drama.I groaned with frustration. "Father, she left on her own accord, I didn't chase her away," I replied, hoping he would just say let her be. But he glared at me."James Black, go out there and bring back your bride," he said firmly.I groaned louder. I couldn't stand this at all.My father was so insistent on my union with the spoiled brat. My wolf joined in howling in my mind, begging me to chase after the woman who was meant to be our mate.I clenched my jaw as I got out of my car and began tracking her intoxicating scent through the woods.She spat out the words with venom, saying she would rather brave the dangers of the forest than be shackled to me. Well, the feeling was mutual.I stayed far behind her, not wanting to startle her or let her know I was there. I just wanted to make sure she didn't get into trouble or
CHLOE.I thought karma had finally gotten to me for killing Jess, the boyfriend snatcher when a rogue bit me, and I passed out from the searing pain. However, I was wrong. I woke up slowly, feeling a dull ache in the side of my leg where the bite mark was. I blinked and saw James standing near the bed, his arms crossed over his bare chest. His eyes were dark and intense, staring at me like I was his prey. I couldn't help but steal secret glances at his chiseled chest.Damn, James was definitely sexier than Jake when it came to who had the best bodies...I wondered how it would make me feel touching his abs of steel... I licked my lips slowly while gawking at the delicious sight before me. I went into a mini-daze.Chloe, get your shit together! My eyes flickered back to reality as I snapped out of my mini daze and faked a wince at the pain in my leg. I glared at him. How dare he bring me back to the one place I wanted to escape?"Get away from me!" I shouted, trying to sit up.He smir
JAMES. Chloe didn't have a wolf. I wondered why my wolf whined for her.Why did he want her so badly, even though I despised her?Zeke's new obsession was doing more harm than good for me.I gritted my teeth, lost in thought as I made my way to my room after yet another heated moment with Chloe. I needed to clean up after the rogue attack in the woods.I was so deep in thought, that I didn't hear my father call me."James… son…" A voice called me from behind. I turned and saw him at the end of the hallway. He looked at me with concern and curiosity as he made his way towards me.I sighed heavily."Father, I was just..." I trailed off, not sure if I should tell him about the rogues.He closed the gap between us and looked at my bloody hands. His brow furrowed. "What happened? Is Chloe alright?"Fuck!I cursed inwardly. I wanted to clean up and change before he noticed me. But I was too late. I had to lie to him. I couldn't tell him the truth.He would be furious and worried about the
CHLOE.I had no idea why James invited me for shopping. He had made his hatred for me crystal clear and couldn't wait to get rid of me when my father returned in six days.So what made him change his mind and offer to take me?Was it a trap? A prank? Or a pity date since he knew I was wolf-less?I didn't have a clue, but I went along with it. Maybe he wanted to say sorry for being so rude to me.Whatever his reason was, it didn't matter to me as I was going to enjoy myself to the fullest because shopping was therapy for me.He barely spoke a word as we ate the delicious meal he claimed he cooked. I quickly stuffed myself and felt my energy levels rise. I was ready to conquer the world.Without warning, he stood up and grabbed his coat, motioning for me to follow him. I did, still wearing my bathroom robe as I had no clothes to change into. We left the mansion and headed to the pack mall in his all-black GMC truck, where dozens of shops and boutiques awaited us.As we walked, I felt do
CHLOEWilliam hesitated, clearing his throat, and wondered if he should reveal his son's past. I blinked owlishly, ensuring he couldn't refuse me like my dad. He placed his cup of tea on the table and met my gaze squarely."Well, I don't think I should be telling you this, but since you're going to be his wife, I will share it. It will be our little secret," he began.I nodded vigorously as excitement grew while I anticipated the juicy information James's father was about to disclose. Perhaps I could use it to get back at him for dropping me twice before I returned home. My inner bad girl cheered on. I continued to maintain eye contact with him."Not so long ago, James was in love with his childhood sweetheart. Her name was Jasmine. She was beautiful and sweet, much like you. She made him happy, and he was preparing to make her his Luna," William said, his tone fond.Guilt pricked at me when he compared me to someone sweet. I wasn't as innocent as I appeared—I just wanted to uncover Ja