The Alpha Father's Game

Chapter 5: Never P*** Off the Alpha

Lucky covered her mouth just as a noisy gasp was about to slip from her. She thought Alpha Edge was okay when he apologized to her, but he must have hidden his rage. His voice gave no hint to it, and now, she was looking at a dead body. Her heart was pounding heavily in her chest while standing with her knees clenched together. It was to keep her body from shaking so badly. This was her first dead body she had ever seen and she was sure that there would be more if she stayed in this place. It made her want to run instead of standing there looking at Finn lying by the alpha’s desk with his eyes looking at her accusingly.

“Please, young lady, sit,” Alpha Edge said gently, keeping his tone light. “I’ll give you a moment to settle yourself.”

Her head jerked back up to him feeling frightened enough to obey. She was confused, too. One minute he was enraged by what she was told, and now, he sounded like he was talking to a child frightened by a dream. She wanted to ask him if he was alright, but there were no words that could push past the knot in her chest. It was like the pounding in her veins was drumming it there to make her have an attack. She could not tell whether it was going to be her heart or a panic attack with the way she was breathing harshly. She wanted what had just happened to be her imagination instead of reality.

Shakily, she reached out for the armrest while keeping her eyes on him. She was afraid that if she looked away, then he would attack her, too. He watched her, which made her more unnerved. It was the coldness on his face that said he had no problem killing anyone. That frightened her more that he would disregard a life so easily. He was not even reacting to the fear that she was sure he could smell.

Lucky just kept looking at him even when a door closed which had her jumping in place. She wanted to look at who had entered, but she still could not bring herself to do it. It was not until she smelled the aroma of the tea that she turned her head to a red haired omega holding a brown tray. She looked up at her, seeing her worried green eyes and slender figure tremble. She was wearing the same uniform as the others that she had seen outside.

Lucky took the tea, grateful to have something warm in her hands to drink. They were shaking so badly that she nearly burned herself, but she did not care. It was doing the trick to calm her down from what just happened and give her back the warmth she needed to feel better.

“My beta failed me,” Alpha Edge stated.

He sounded so matter of fact, like it was nothing. He did not even wait until the omega had left to speak. In fact, she stood there holding the tray waiting to be dismissed, which perplexed her.

“That is his last and final punishment," Edge declared sharply. "He was supposed to obtain a willing woman for me. She was supposed to willingly sign the contract knowing the full scope of the conditions. And no, it was not about making you a slave of any sort. You have no idea how happy I was to know that someone was willing to come here, but since you are not...”

“Please don’t send me back,” Lucky pleaded, looking at him with soft eyes.

She could not believe those words popped out of her mouth. She was horrified, at first, hearing her say something like that. Then, she paused a moment to think about it all. The life she would lead if she was turned away to the life before she had become a werewolf circled in her mind. She thought about what made her want to stay with a murderer when Alpha Cullen did not do things like that. It did not take long to realize that she wanted to get away from her family. This pack was better than no pack at all. She had hoped that she could stay in this beautiful place from the moment she exited the car.

“I… Your packhouse and lands look beautiful. I would like to stay.”

He looked stunned at her response and stayed silent for the longest moment. She thought she would explode with anticipation. She thought he was going to say no to her, so she started to drum up reasons to keep her there. She hoped that he would accept her into his pack. Her free hand gripped the armrest tightly, feeling her needs weigh on her shoulders. There was pain forming in her palms. She feared what her mother would do to her next, which made this a better option. At least, there was an end to the pain that she would feel in her heart, and no one would tell her how useless she was. He even showed a bit of care towards her, which gave her hope that he was not all that bad.

“I have no need of another omega to clean my house,” Alpha Edge barked sharply.

His eyes, though, looked at her face when it fell at his response. He seemed to be weighing her, which gave her a thin sliver of hope that he would figure out something to let her stay. She was sure that she was misinterpreting it. She wanted somewhere safe to live even if this alpha was not entirely good. Her hope to be away from her family felt like it was dwindling by the second, until he spoke, again.

“I want you to read over the contract today and sign it, if you accept the terms. Do not ask for more time!” He had his hand held up just as she opened her mouth to ask that very question. “I have waited years for a she-wolf to accept this deal, and I will wait no longer. If there is anything that needs to be negotiated, then we will do so at dinner tonight. It will be settled then and there, with no tomorrow about it. And I will introduce you to my sons then.

“For now, you will go for a physical in preparation for your acceptance. It is a routine one that all wolves get, so it should be no problem. It should only be an hour or two, then you can go rest in your room.

“I made sure that the Head Omega gave you something with a view. They should have everything you like in it, from toiletries to hair supplies. There are even a few dresses that I personally picked up to make you feel comfortable for your arrival. Your parents did give me a list of your favorites that I am sure is not correct now that I think about it. However, if it is not right, then there is a phone that will let you call the Head Omega. Just ask Easter, who is to take you to your room to show you how to operate it. I have only mind linked.

“And if you do not accept, then it is alright given the circumstances, but I see no need to waste more time.”

“Thank you… Alpha,” Lucky said awkwardly.

She wondered what this contract truly was and why this alpha was desperate to get a she-wolf to sign it. She could not fathom which part of the lie she was told was true and which part was not. Did the alpha really have four deceased mates? Did his sons’ mates really die? There were so many questions pounding in her head that she doubts that she could read the contract now. The answers to those questions, though, would help her know whether to accept it or not, especially if it costs her life. She could feel her head start to ache with it all.

“Here,” Alpha Edge called as he pulled out the contract from his center drawer.

He stretched out his arm holding the papers out to her. She looked at them like it was a snake ready to bite her before she got out of her seat and moved forward. She had to take deep breathes to steady herself to move near him. She needed to push out the fear that had her thinking he was going to kill her. Her eyes looked down, trying to give him credence for his status, but it was hard. Beta Finn’s body is still there, and no one has come to get him, which makes this difficult.

“May I have a notebook and pen with it, Alpha?” Lucky asked, keeping her tone gentle and soft. She did not want to upset him any further than he already was from the lie. “I will make notations of the contract, so it looks cleaner.”

“Yes,” Edge responded as he searched his drawers quickly. It was a minute before he gave her what she had asked for. She took it gingerly and placed it under the four-page contract. “You’ll find a piece of paper that has a list of things that you may want to consider after reading the contract. Now, go! Omega Easter Fike will escort you to the pack hospital. Now, I have a lot to do and send your beta in. I have some things to discuss with him.”

“Yes, Alpha,” Lucky replied shakily.

She turned around and walked out of his office as calmly as possible when she felt anything but that. Her heart was thundering in her chest. Her mind was buzzing with the fact that he had killed someone, and she had asked him to stay in his pack. And her nerves shook under her skin to the point where she was surprised that her hands were still not shaky. Star, though, helped to keep her steady with her reaffirmation to help kick his rear if he tries to kill them. Her wolf was the only thing that was keeping her from losing her mind.

When Lucky stepped out of the office and closed the door, she breathed out and grabbed Ross’ sleeve. She could feel her knees wanting to give out and drop her to the floor. She wanted to pass out and vomit at the same time. This was not like a haunted house where someone jumps out at her. It felt like an ax murderer entered my home and she thought she was going to die. She could have if she had not kept herself in line, especially her wolf, who threatened to take over. She probably would have said something sassy or given him a sexy retort. Neither was a good idea with the way Alpha Edge killed someone so effortlessly.

“Are you alright, Lucky?” Ross asked worriedly.

“Do not p*** off the alpha,” she hissed as she looked into his eyes. “He is super f***ing scary when you do.”

“Oh,” Ross said with a small nod of understanding. “I already know. I will be fine. I am just worried about you.”

“I’ll… I’ll be fine,” Lucky said as she straightened her legs. She did not sound like it, with her voice sounding shaky and her hands gripping the papers tightly. “He- uh- wants to see you next. I am to go for a physical by the doctor.”

“Alright,” Ross responded with his brows furrowed in confusion. “I guess he is done with you.”

“For now,” she said with a nod.

“This way,” Easter called as she stood just a few feet away from them.

Lucky snapped her head towards the omega that had followed her out of the office. She had forgotten about her. A blush crept up her face, embarrassed that she would forget someone kind enough to help her through the rest of the meeting. She turned back to Ross and pushed off him to begin following Easter, giving him a wave with her fingers.

Easter’s head was down the entire walk, making it hard to know what she was thinking. She hoped it was nothing, especially as she realized that Ross and her position could be construed as intimate. Would she report it to Alpha Edge? How would she explain it if she were to accept whatever is in the contract? She followed her down hallways with that thought bugging her. She wanted to talk to her about it, but she noticed that all the maids looked sad.

Usually, omegas are the cheeriest people she has ever met, but that was from Alpha Cullen’s pack. Are these people unhappy here? It made her wonder if she was going to be sad here, too. She wanted to live a happy life with love and children and a job. She did not want to look like them. Is it worth it to sign the contract?

There was no answer as either would make her feel like she was trapped in misery.

“Umm excuse me,” she called to her escort, who only gave her a little nod. “I was wondering if you could explain something to me.”

“I will if it is in my capacity,” she answered obliquely.

She hedged to ask her anything while they were walking in the walkway of the foyer. There were still some omegas wandering about and she did not want to be heard asking questions about their alpha. It may appear rude or disingenuous to them, which will cause problems for her later. She bit her lip as she debated how to ask her question politely. Humans are a lot easier to ask questions when it is a hard one.

“Why is everyone sad?” Lucky asked instead of her real question.

“We lost a pack member, as you know,” Easter bit off.

She winced, realizing that they would feel pain when one pack member dies. It was like someone rips out their heart and makes them not only grieve but become angry. She should have known this would happen. She had already made the pack ticked off at her and it had not even been a day. Her mother should have named her Unlucky given her life.

“I’m sorry,” she said softly. “I completely forgot about the pain you all experience when a pack member dies. Please, forgive me.”

Easter’s green eyes flicked to her, giving an offsetting look. It was like she thought she was weird. She knew that she was not normal. She always manages to find some way to throw people off with the way she apologizes. She could also talk to someone knowing what to say and when to say it to make them feel comfortable with her. Her mother did not like it when she did that so effortlessly. She did not understand why. It was like she did not want her to be able to be better than Lucy, who fumbled sometimes with her words.

“Apology accepted,” Easter said as she opened a door in the back behind the stairs.

“If I may ask another question,” Lucky said, feeling like she was pressing her luck.

“As I said, if I can answer it, I will,” she replied tersely.

“I heard a lot of things about your alpha,” she said, forging on with dread in her stomach. “One of which I found out firsthand. I would not like to find out if the other rumors I was told are true. Could you tell me a little bit about him?”

“I can only tell you that he is fair but stern,” Easter answered sharply. “Don’t p*** him off and you’ll live. Those that repeatedly fail him find death. He expects perfection even from the lowest ranks. He is especially hard on his sons. They are the only ones that do not receive death for their mistakes. The rest of us help each other to hide the problems before he sees them, then we fix it. We do not dare upset him. And he is meticulous about selecting things like that contract you hold in your hands. You will find it is short and to the point. He does not mess around with words…”

“Do you know about it?” Lucky asked curiously.

“All pack members know about it,” Easter replied with a smirk. “Our alpha has wanted a woman to fulfill…”

“Please,” she interrupted her again, “don’t tell me what he wanted fulfilled. I have yet to know myself.”

“Oh!” she said, looking at her shocked about that. “I thought you already knew. You would not have been brought here if you didn’t.”

“I was not told the truth,” Lucky told her. It was better to curve the truth than to say it. “Your pack will not be the only ones to lose a pack member if Alpha Edge’s temper is as bad as I saw it a moment ago.”

Her eyes widened at her, and she gave a slow nod of understanding. Her escort said nothing more the entire way through the many halls. It suited her after hearing that much about him. The silence let her look around at the designs on the walls. Her jaw tried to drop with each one, making her gain an appreciation for the designer more and more. Easter, at least, walked slowly enough for her to look at them instead of speed walking. Sometimes, they would run into people coming out of one of the many doors that they had passed. There were more people when they reached the arched doors near the back of the packhouse.

“Just walk through those doors and tell the nurse at the desk who you are,” Easter instructed. “I will be here waiting on you, but if not, give the nurse my name and she will mind-link me.”

“Alright, thank you, Easter,” Lucky said and extended her hand to shake hers.

Still, nothing. She swung it down, sadly, wishing that this new world had handshakes. It was the one thing she missed, while the other form of their handshake she did not like. It was where shoulders are bumped nicely and not hard like a wolf brushing against another wolf. They needed that as a way to connect with one another on a wolf level.

She breathed in deeply, then walked to the doors, hoping that this would go well. She does not even know what would make the alpha tear up the contract. If the doctor says that she was not the right height or has a scar on her, would he decide she was not worth it? She hopes not. It would force her to find a way to leave her family when she was not sure where she could go. Her first shift is in two weeks, and she couldn't afford to run until after then. It was too long for something to go wrong, if she was forced into that position. This seemed like the right way to go to get away from those that hate her.