Alpha Addison

CH 2

They shopped, strolling in and out of many dress stores. Addison looked at the clothes. She was not interested. She was only getting a dress to be mated off. She had a good athletic build; trained hard with Asher, the former pack's Beta, two generations back.

She gave it her all in those training sessions, training twice daily since turning 18. Knew deep down that someday she was going to need it, so she didn’t complain. Now she could see it was a good thing.

She was being Mated off, sold off more likely and to some boy she’d not even met. Had no idea what he looked like, what his name was, where his pack was, only that he was supposed to be and heir to a pack.

Though that in itself could mean anything, he could be the youngest son of an Alpha to the pack, not inline to take over at all. Likely that was it. She didn’t think that Alpha Martin would arrange a mating alliance for her that would make her a Luna. No, because that would mean if he returned to the pack, he’d have to show her respect when she was actually the Luna. Not something he would ever do.

Her mother had her try on many different dresses and asked her what she thought. “What does it matter, it’s only a slave dress.” Had been her only comment.

“Addison please, I’ve looked into the boy, he is nice and respectful. Will treat you well, better than how you’re treated here.”

She doubted it, was a half-breed and no-one to her knowledge liked half-breeds. Wolves could act all sweet and charming on the surface and be horrible behind closed doors. Knew that, had seen her siblings act nice when it suited them, but they were horrible on the inside and showed it to her often.

The dress she was bought was royal blue, sleeveless and had a high neck, it had a sheer blue over-lay on the top with embroidered leaves on it across the heart-shaped bust line. It was fitted to her waist and fell in softly flowing material to her knees.

Her mother also bought her a pair of matching one-inch dark blue heels, and then took her to get her long hair cut. A real hair cut for the first time in her life, her waist-length hair was cut to just below her shoulder blades, and it was straightened, and the ends were all curled.

She’d seen her mother look at her phone twice now and dismiss it, had never seen her do that to Alpha Martin before. The third call she picked up and actually answered him quite curtly. “I’m shopping with Addison; I will come home when we are done.” And she’d clicked the line closed. She actually looked a little mad.

It was only the second time she’d seen her mother angry with Alpha Martin in her entire life. Wondered what it was about but didn’t ask, “Sorry Addison.” she’d apologized, “Today is your day, and I’ll not have it interrupted.” She’d smiled right at her.

They’d gone off and gotten lunch after that, and she’d sat and actually had a meal with her mother; Addison couldn’t even recall doing that before, not even as a small child.

She’d not even been there for her 18th birthday, which had only been a week ago. No, Alpha Martin had taken Ingrid out for a family dinner in the city, her and his four children.

Addison had been left in her room to sit and be alone for her own birthday. She’d not known he’d done it until she’d felt them all leave the pack's territory at 4pm. She had been sitting in her room with two cupcakes she’d made herself, one for her and one for her mother, knew no-one else would come and see her on her birthday.

She had felt them leave and held in the tears at feeling her own mother leave the pack without so much as telling her; but really what else could she expect, she’d told herself. The only reason she’d seen her mother on her 16th had been because there had been a rogue attack, and she’d been locked down inside the packhouse with her.

She watched her mother order for them, and she’d even bought her a piece of cake, Addison had just stared at it, as her mother stated, “Happy birthday Addison.”

She’d not touched that cake, didn’t want it, not even when she’d heard her mother sigh and push the plate at her a little, encouraged her to eat it. Apologized to her for not being there on her actual birthday.

“What else is new?” Was all she said. Alpha Martin made sure her life was miserable and lonely.

That’s why she knew that, regardless of what her mother told her about the mating alliance, he was not going to be nice to her. Alpha Martin would make sure that she got no respect anywhere she went. Likely, that boy was actually horrible and only put on a show for her mother.

She had no illusions that Alpha Martin would find or even try to find her a nice Mate. No. He’d be looking for someone that kept her feeling like she was useless and worthless.

That man hated her and would not care how she was treated outside his pack, hell, he didn’t care how she was treated inside his own pack. He was just out to get rid of her at the earliest opportunity. She was barely 18 and was already being Mated off.

Not even a full moon had come since her 18th, he wasn’t even willing to give her one full moon to find her Mate. Didn’t want her to be happy, was out to continue to punish her for something she could not control. Simply because she was not his child and looking at her reminded him of that fact.

He wanted her gone from not only his sight, but his pack and away from her own mother as well. Now she was of mating age, had done so without hesitation.

She’d not eaten that cake before her, hadn’t even looked at her mother, only kind of understood the woman. Or at least thought she might have once, but not anymore. Not with her in agreement to Mate her off, it wasn’t right.

She’d not have the chance to find a Mate, not that she wanted one from this pack, didn’t believe if she did scent one out here inside the Earth and Moon Pack, that they would accept her.

No, she was, as was Fallon for that matter, preparing themselves for a full rejection to be stated the moment they scented her out. They were also expecting it to be done as harshly and uncaring as one could say it.

As much as they did want to be loved and cherished by even just one person. They knew deep down no-one ever would. This mating alliance was all she could expect, to have a Mate that was not hers and likely wouldn’t want her any more than she would him.

Wondered right at that moment if she should just get up and leave, reject the pack and go rogue, just vanish from all. Alpha Martin wouldn’t care at all, and a part of her didn’t think that her mother would either.

She thought at times she saw love from her mother, but only on rare occasions. Deep down inside that woman she also had to hate her on some level, had to, to allow her to be treated the way she was. To never really be around at all.

Yes, she had come to her defense on occasion and was out with her now, with what looked like she was trying to show she wanted to be here, that she cared about Addison. But it was only to get her something to make her look presentable, to be Mated off was all. That was not love.

Her mother was out with her all day; had Addison’s make-up done for the first time as well, and bought her several nice outfits, not that Addison had wanted her to. It was all just guilt, and she knew it. Her mother had told her she was going to need a new wardrobe, so her new pack could see how beautiful she was. Clothes fit for her status as the future heir’s mate.

Noted she did not once state future Luna. “Is he the actual Heir?” she’d finally asked.

“Yes, the future Alpha to his pack, you’ll be the Luna.” She’d looked at her mother suspiciously, didn’t believe it, and it must have shown on her face. “I would not accept anything less for you. You are pure-blooded Addison.”

‘Like that matters’ she’d thought bitterly to herself, “His pack is where?”

“Some distance away, in West Virginia, but we’ll still see you for mating balls, and I’ll be coming for your ascension to Luna when it happens.”

“Right.” Had been her only comment.

“It’s not going to be that bad. Please meet the boy, smile at him, you’re very beautiful, and he’ll be smitten within minutes, I’m certain of it.”

Addison was not. “What’s he look like?” she might as well get some information.

“Tall and muscled up.” her mother had chuckled softly, “Like all alpha males, good and strong, you’ll find him attractive, I’m certain. And once marked and mated, your bond will grow and flourish and you two will be all good.”

Addison doubted that very much, doubted this so-called heir would be smitten at all. Likely take one look at her eyes and know she was a half-breed. Know just from smelling her, she was not the Alpha’s daughter, was the Luna’s, but not the Alpha’s.

He would understand in that very moment of meeting her he was being offered the bastard daughter of the Luna and not an actual member of the Alpha’s own bloodline.

She was willing to bet that whoever he was did not know that about her, it was going to annoy him. He’d likely been told nothing at all about her only that she was the middle child, pure-blooded maybe. If Martin had had trouble getting that alliance organized.

She doubted there was any other information given to him, there was likely no mention of her half-blooded status or that she was not his actual kin, this boy, whoever he was, was in for one hell of a shock. Was likely to take one look at her and reject the alliance mating. Get so filthy mad that he’d simply stalk off and away. That thought stopped her; she stopped walking as it dawned on her that it was likely exactly what was going to happen.

“Mother?” she’d stated, realizing she was unlikely to be mated off, and could take advantage of this moment though, to tick Alpha Martin off.

“Yes, Addison.”

“I’m sorry I’m such a pain today.”

“I can understand why,” she’d smiled at her, “a bit of a shock.”

“Yes,” she admitted, but had also realized her mother was actually here with her, it was just the two of them. She had ignored her own Mate’s calls today, and she’d seen her dismiss two calls from Jovannah herself as well. Hadn’t even picked them up.

Was it seemed, actually here with her for the first time, as her mother. “Can we get ice cream?” she asked.

“Yes.”

She made the decision to just spend the rest of the day with her own mother, and stop sulking. This was likely the only time she would ever get to have this mother-daughter moment.

So, she would take this one afternoon, and actually let her mother buy her everything she wanted; shoes, clothes, a handbag. She’d never had one of them before. Make-up; never had that before either. Swimwear and pajamas as well.

If her mother was going to buy them for her, then technically they would be hers even after that boy rejected her, so she took the opportunity to get new everything, for the first time in her life.

She couldn’t wait for Alpha Martin to see all the things she’d been bought, couldn’t wait to see the utter fury on his face when his plan backfired, and he was still stuck with her inside his pack.

Though now she would be wearing nice clothing, and getting all dressed up like her other sisters, she even had her mother buy her a long flowing soft pink formal gown. It was an off the shoulder A-line dress with a white lace bodice and fell in thick, soft pink tule to the ground and white pumps to match it.

Her mother had smiled at her when she’d tried it on. “You look beautiful.” She’d stated.

Addison had thought so herself, her dark hair was curled about her shoulders, and she was fully made up with make-up. She could almost imagine she was dressed for her Luna Ceremony, not that she ever believed she would get one.

But this dress she would wear on that next full moon and show everyone she was beautiful. If she scented out a Mate in the pack, while wearing this dress and all done up, he was going to have second thoughts about rejecting her.

She, however, was not. Would reject him on the spot and stroll the hell out of that pack wearing this dress.

Made the decision that come the next full moon she was leaving this pack, but was going to leave it in style.