The Alpha's Fox Mate

Disrespect

Two hours of sleep was all I managed to get before I was up again. I took a nice shower to help awaken me, but that alone wasn’t enough to rid my porcelain white skin of the dark circles under my eyes. After getting dressed in a black and white floral dress, I grabbed my makeup bag and added a bit of concealer to cover the evidence of my lack of sleep. It seemed like being a female Alpha did have its perks, after all; I always looked more professional than any male.

With that out of the way, I finished packing my single bag and went outside where Aaron and our private driver were already waiting for me. As soon as I said my goodbyes to Lennard and Lucca, we were off. My Beta was a little more talkative on our way back, but that was probably due to his excitement to be reunited with his mate. Thirty minutes later we were back in Mariners Moon territory, and while Aaron raced off to find Daeva, I went searching for my Delta. Since breakfast had just been served, I figured she’d be in the kitchen organizing the lunch menu.

When I arrived at the back room of the dining hall, the cooks were running all over the place, collecting and washing dishes. Everyone stopped as soon as they saw me, bowing in respect. Part of me loved the power I had around here. However, I still didn’t want to interrupt their work so I gestured for them to keep going. I found Zoe holding a clipboard next to the refrigerator, and our Chief Cook Amelia was right beside her.

“Oh, Alpha Marcy!” Amelia’s dark eyes widened when she noticed me, and she immediately lowered her head. “I didn’t know you’d be coming, Alpha. Sorry about the mess.”

“It’s okay, Amelia. Please don’t mind me.” I smiled fondly at her. “Just wanted to talk to my Delta. Can I steal her for a second?”

“Of course, Alpha!” The cook nodded vehemently. 

“So, how was it?” Zoe asked me excitedly as we made our way out of the kitchen. “Did you find your mate?”

“Yes. But he’s not here because I rejected him.” Her happy expression instantly turned into a shocked one, and I couldn’t help but laugh. “You know I would tell you if I found him. You don’t have to ask me every time I visit another pack.”

“What is it that you wanted to talk to me about then?” She frowned, trying to look angry. But I knew my best friend too well to notice she was just faking it.

“As you probably know, the Alpha of Brave Paw Pack from Georgia will be visiting us this afternoon,” I informed her with a concerned semblance. “Just wanted to remind you to prepare everything for his visit. He won’t be staying long, but make sure everything is nice and tidy.”

“I won’t let you down!” Zoe jokingly saluted me, a habit she had gotten from her mother. “Anyway, do you know what he wants to discuss?”

“Didn’t tell me.” I shrugged. “Since it’s a pack with no previous relationship with Mariners Moon, I have a few guesses, though…” We exchanged glances, and that was all it took for my Delta to understand what I meant.

“Well, good luck with that.” She flashed an understanding look at me.

“Thanks,” I sighed. “By the way, can you have lunch sent to my office? I’ll be eating inside to finish signing some documents.”

“Sure thing. But you’ll have to buy me dinner to make up for it.” I arched an eyebrow at her. “You’re leaving me by myself to eat with the boys and the witch - and I’m not talking about Gwendolyn.” That would be the name of our pack witch, but I couldn’t hold my laughter when I realized she was referring to Daeva.

“Alright, sounds fair. I’ll pick you up at eight,” I gave in. Zoe snickered when I winked playfully at her before we went our separate ways.

As much as I enjoyed having company, I was fine with spending some time by myself as well. The idea of having a quiet, peaceful lunch inside my office wasn’t so bad after the loud party last night. I pulled out a box containing the week’s bills, training, and security reports so I could look them over. Even if it was my second official day as Alpha, my tutoring was longer than any other successor’s. My father agreed to let me finish university before stepping in, but that didn’t stop him from teaching me the ropes ever since I turned eighteen.

My concentration broke when I heard a knock on the door. Assuming it was the food, I muttered a ‘come in’ without taking my eyes off the papers. But when the familiar masculine smell hit my nostrils, I instantly looked up.

“I have room service for Miss...Marny? Marvy? I’m sorry, the writing is a bit blurred,” Milo joked as he closed the door behind him.

My Gamma was carrying two meals packed into transparent containers. From what I could see, it seemed like seared steak and garlic mashed potatoes. But honestly, I was more interested in the delivery guy than the food itself. I smiled fondly, putting the paperwork away and gesturing for him to take his seat in front of me.

“Didn’t know you worked part-time delivering food,” I said, joining the game. “Does the Gamma position not pay you well enough? If that’s the case, you can request a raise from the manager...” I made a brief pause. “Oh, wait! I’m the manager. Request denied.” I smiled playfully at him.

“Well, thank you for your consideration,” he replied half-laughing. “But yeah, when Zoe told me you’d be eating alone, I thought I’d keep you company.”

“Aw, aren’t you the sweetest?” I said sarcastically.

“I try to be.” Milo took the compliment anyway. “What’s keeping you busy?” he asked, taking the first bite off his food.

“Just the usual…” I sighed. “Figured that if I get this over with quickly, I can start the actual plans for my business.”

“Can I help you with something?” He touched my hand gently, slowly brushing my skin with his thumb. I had talked to him about my dreams a thousand times, so he knew how invested I was in it and he was always ready to assist me.

“I’m currently checking these…” I pointed at the financial reports. “Can I trust you to calculate the week’s spendings?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he replied promptly, grabbing the folder.

Sharing the work made it a lot easier. Even with our small breaks to chat and distract ourselves, we still managed to get everything done half an hour before the meeting. As time flew by, I couldn’t help but notice the outstanding synergy the two of us had. For a brief second, I caught myself wishing that we were actual mates; that was the only thing stopping me from engaging in a relationship with Milo. Everything was so simple with him - we shared similar tastes, got along well, and never fought. But that wasn’t enough. He wasn’t truly mine, and I’d never be truly his. Destiny indeed is a funny thing.

“Okay, we still have some time left,” Milo observed. “Let me take care of these dishes…” He pointed at the tupperware where our lunch once was, “...while you go get dressed. I’ll link Aaron and we’ll meet back here.” His organizational skills were a Gamma’s natural instinct.

I nodded at him and rushed towards my room, wasting no time before diving under the shower. I enjoyed every single minute of my alone time, letting the water wash away my tension. Mariners Moon wolves specialized in water combat, so we always felt at ease when we were in contact with it. After twenty minutes, I felt utterly refreshed. It was almost as if I hadn’t gotten only two hours of sleep last night. I got dressed in some business casual clothes and headed back to my office, where my Beta and Gamma were already waiting for me - just as planned.

“Delta Zoe informed me that Alpha Jonathan has already crossed the border. He should be here in less than ten minutes,” Aaron told me as I opened the door for us.

“Great. Please tell her to escort him upstairs.” While it was common for leaders to greet others at the entrance of the packhouse, it wasn’t disrespectful not to do so. Since I had no idea what his intentions were, it was smarter to let him come to me as I prepared myself.

Following my Beta’s announcement, it didn’t take long for Alpha Jonathan to arrive. He was tall, had light brown hair and intimidating black eyes. I sized him up quickly, realizing he had come alone. Most leaders would always be accompanied by their second in command, so I instantly knew there was only one reason for him to be here.

“Welcome, Alpha Jonathan.” I stood up to shake his hand and smiled lightly.

“Thank you for having me, Alpha Marcelline.” He grinned at me. “You have a lovely territory.”

“Thank you.” As I sat back down, I realized I didn’t want this conversation to drag on for too long. “What brings you here all the way from Georgia?”

“Well, I’ll be honest with you, Alpha Marcelline…” Here we go. “Brave Paw Pack has been growing in my last eight years as a ruler. However, as you can tell…” He pointed at his markless neck. “I’m still single.” Yep, there it is. Cue the internal eye roll. “Rumor has it that you are as well.” I heard Milo growl lowly and I immediately kicked his ankle. “My pack needs a Luna, and I figured an arranged marriage between us would create a solid alliance that would benefit both of our packs.”

I drew in a long breath before answering. “I’m flattered, Alpha Jonathan…” No, I wasn’t. “But I think you forget yourself.” His face instantly fell. “I’m no Luna; I’m an Alpha. And I have no interest in changing that.”

“You’re being irrational, Marcelline,” he said, purposefully leaving out my title. That alone made Havelock roar inside my head. “You know female Alphas are looked down upon in our society. How long do you think you can make it without a man?” He snorted, making the hairs on the back of my neck bristle. “By marrying me, our packs will be united and we’ll become one of the biggest in the United States. You’ll be respected as a Luna, more than you are as an Alpha.”

“Would you do it then? Be my Luna?” I replied promptly, not allowing him time to think. He stared at me with a quizzical look, as if I had just said the most absurd thing. “My answer’s still no, Jonathan. Thanks for the proposal, though. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?” The fake smile never left my face.

“You’re a fool, Marcelline! You’ll lead your people to their demise!” The man growled at me, just like they always did. While I was mostly distressed by the situation, I couldn’t deny that part of me liked to see ‘powerful Alphas’ throwing tantrums.

“The audacity!” Havelock snarled. “You can’t let this piece of s**t disrespect you like this! Kill this fucker, Marcy! Now!”

“It’s Alpha Marcelline,” I corrected the man, annoyed. It was hard to remain calm when a ravenous male Alpha wolf was fuming with anger inside my head, but control was a keyword for any great leader. “I think it’s best for you to leave now, Alpha Jonathan,” I said with a stern look.

“You’re no Alpha! You’re just a snobby little girl with two bodyguards!” He waved his hand at my buff Beta and Gamma, who were standing at my right and left, respectively.

Both of my friends took a step forward, irritated by the fact that an outsider was insulting their leader. However, I stood up abruptly and gently put my arms in front of their chests, stopping them. They turned to me with confused expressions, but didn’t dare to go against my wishes. I flashed each of them a quick gaze that said “I can take care of this myself.”

“I will not tolerate your disrespect when you’re a guest on my territory.” My voice was calm, but firm. “I declare Brave Paw Pack as an enemy to Mariners Moon,” I said loudly, making him freeze in his spot. Whatever he thought of me, my pack was still very powerful and he knew having a hostile relationship with us was a terrible idea. “From now on, if you or any of your pack members cross our territory, you will be executed on sight.” His face was turning red with rage and I could see his canines popping out. But before he could try anything, I continued. “Bodyguards,” I said jokingly. “Please see Alpha Jonathan out.”

My men didn’t hesitate before grabbing each of the guy’s arms and forcefully making him leave. There were three warriors outside already, and they took care of escorting the outraged Alpha downstairs. After making sure the situation was under control, my Beta and Gamma closed the door. They turned to me with sympathy in their eyes, but that only made me more furious. As delicate as I might seem, I was still an Alpha, and I wouldn’t let anyone pity me. Taking a few steps forward, I touched both of their shoulders, showing them a fond smile.

“It’s nothing I haven’t seen before, guys. Don’t worry,” I reassured them.

Although it was the first time I had to take care of such an issue by myself, I had already been present during five other arranged marriage proposals. Back then, it was my father who furiously refused the offers, but the guest’s reaction was always the same. Alpha or not, they would all lose their temper and start acting like spoiled little brats after hearing that ‘no,’ but as stressful as it was, it was also kind of funny.

“Just keep standing your ground, Marcy. You’ve handled the situation pretty well,” my wolf complimented, making me roll my eyes.

“Thanks, Havey. Just try not to make me murder the next one,” I scolded him, making him lower his ears in regret.

“I’m an Alpha like you are; I don’t take disrespect lightly. I admire how calm you manage to be,” he said sincerely. “I guess that’s why we’ve been paired together. We balance each other,” he added before retreating to the back of my mind.

“Well, guess that leaves us with one more enemy.” Milo’s playful voice pulled me back from my thoughts. “At this rate, we’ll become the most hated pack in the United States. That’s one hell of a title,” he joked, patting me on the back.

“It’s the least she could have done,” my Beta defended me. “In situations like this, execution would be the most suitable punishment.”

“Yeah, but I’m trying not to start a war on my second day as Alpha,” I explained, sighing. “Anyway, we’re done here. You’re dismissed,” I said, opening the door for them.

“Link me if you need anything, Alpha,” Aaron bowed at me before taking his leave.

I turned around and was surprised to find Milo staring at me with a sassy grin. I knew very well what that meant, so I joined him in the game.

“I take it you’re staying, Gamma?” I crossed my arms, arching an eyebrow at him.

“You seem very distressed, Alpha Marcy…” he said in a husky tone, approaching me slowly. I didn’t move, holding my head high as his hands gripped firmly on both sides of my waist. “As your Gamma, it is my job to ensure you feel at ease,” he continued, using his fingers to delicately move a strand of my hair behind my ear. He then leaned down, nibbling on my earlobe.

I knew very well where this was going, and I didn’t mind it at all.