The Runaway Mate And Her Alpha

The suspicion

The drive to Elijah's mansion wasn't long enough for Rhea to fully adjust herself to her new reality.

The guard that had bundled her into the car dragged her out and awaited further instructions from Elijah. The alpha climbed out of his car and looked Rhea over again. Rhea thought his gaze felt a bit different this time. The squint in his eyes betrayed a little bit of curiosity and desire. Or was it all in her head?

"Take her to Celia. She'll put her to good use." Elijah motioned for the guard to take her away. The brute yanked at her arm so hard that she winced. "Take it easy, will you?" Elijah scolded. "If you break her, you'll take her place."

"Sorry, my lord." The guard's reply was remorseful as he gently led Rhea through the foyer, the living area, and down the hall of the massive dwelling. Even under the circumstances, she couldn’t help but admire the majesty and luxury of Elijah's living arrangement. The mansion had high ceilings and luxury fittings everywhere. The fixtures had tasteful gold accents and subtle color choices. In comparison, it made her stepfather's house feel like an abandoned building, which was an apt description given that it had been Rhea's prison since her mother's death.

They soon arrived in the kitchen area. "Fresh meat for you, Celia. Get her up to speed and give her something to do. The alpha is interested in this one. Don't mess it up." The guard dropped his instructions then turned and disappeared back the way they had come. Rhea looked around at the faces of the maids. They were all in identical uniforms and stole glances at her as they handled their duties.

"Alright, child, over here!" The voice was that of a slightly chubby woman with broad shoulders and slabs for forearms. She may have looked in her fifties, but Rhea had the feeling she could beat up most of the pack, even in their full wolf form. Rhea made her way to Celia who was looking her over, a slight wrinkle on her forehead.

"You look a bit dry, girl. Are you eating alright?" Celia inquired. Rhea managed a weak smile and nodded. "Alright, then. Follow me." The chubby woman led Rhea through the backyard and made her way down the courtyard to the servant's quarters at the end of the magnificent compound.

"I hear Alpha Elijah brought you here himself. He's never done that before. He usually sends his minions to do that for him, and he has many girls on rotation already." She glanced at Rhea as they walked. "He never makes an exception for anyone—until you. You're more than just the current flavor of the month to him. D'you know why that is?"

Rhea shrugged honestly. She wasn't sure of anything anymore. She wasn't even sure why Alpha Elijah chose to take her as p*****t. He obviously had endless options of sexy she-wolves who would die to spread their legs for him. Easing his s****l tension couldn't possibly be a problem for a man like Elijah. Rhea knew she was beautiful but didn't think she had the body to go along with her beauty. If only she could go to bed and wake up from this horrible dream. But it wasn't a dream. It was very real. Her stepfather had sold her to Elijah like a second-hand item. The memory of Lorn handing her to Elijah made her frown as she cursed him under her breath.

"This is you." Celia's announcement brought Rhea back to the present. The chubby lady pointed to a door at the end of a corridor. She handed Rhea the key to her new abode. "Clean up and come find me, immediately. Your uniform is on the bed inside. You’ve got fifteen minutes." Celia spun around and hurried back to the main building, leaving Rhea to her thoughts.

The room barely had anything in it, still, it was hers. Rhea hated the idea of living a life of forced service to the alpha or to anyone, but it was a relief to be out from under Lorn's tyranny. The uniform on the bed caught Rhea's attention. It was the same design as the one the other maids wore, but it was pink, not gray like their uniform. Rhea pushed back the questions that were forming in her mind. She took a quick shower, put on the uniform, and went to find Celia.

The murmuring in the kitchen immediately stopped as Rhea walked in. Everyone spoke in hushed tones as they stared at her and her uniform. Rhea had never liked undue attention so the staring made her feel naked. She scanned the room to find Celia and hurried to her.

Celia tried to compose herself, but it was clear that even she was taken aback by Rhea's appearance. She cleared her throat and shouted loud enough for everyone to get back to work. Then she grabbed Rhea's arm and led her out of the kitchen. When they were out of earshot, she turned to face Rhea, a look of concern on her face.

"Did I do something wrong?" Rhea's voice was pierced with worry. She couldn't already be making mistakes on her first day. She was sure Elijah's wrath would get to her quickly enough at this rate.

The innocence in Rhea’s question made Celia shake her head, her eyes betraying a hint of sadness. "No, child. It seems the alpha didn't bring you here to serve in the kitchen." She paused for a bit, studying Rhea's reaction.

Rhea shook her head in confusion. "Then why am I here? Please tell me."

Celia broke her gaze and stepped backward. "No. I've said too much already. Alpha Elijah will have my head if I say any more." She nodded to the end of the hallway. "He's waiting for you." Celia's eyes bore a sadness that elevated Rhea's worry. Whatever the alpha’s reason for bringing her here, it couldn't be worse than her situation back home, could it?

Celia gently nudged her toward the living area. "Go on, child. You don't want to keep him waiting." Rhea struggled to steady her heartbeat as she closed her eyes and took a few deep breaths. Then she slowly walked into the living area and was led by a guard to Elijah's quarters.

The alpha's office was designed to intimidate, and it worked effectively on everyone. The massive epoxy oak table barely had anything on it, presenting a clear view of the powerful figure sitting behind it. This aura was amplified by the massive mirror that took up the ceiling section above the table. She was sure Elijah had sensed her enter so she stood at the door and waited. He was sitting with his back to the table, facing a collection of larger-than-life french windows.

Elijah swung around a few seconds later and motioned for her to sit at the table. Rhea obeyed without hesitation. Elijah didn’t need the grandeur of his office to appear intimidating to Rhea. She sat on the edge of the seat and avoided his gaze. She was afraid she would buckle at the knees if she looked at him for even one second. He had an effect on her that made her both uncomfortable and curious.

Rhea was glad when Elijah interrupted the deathly silence between them. “I have a proposal for you, and you’re going to say yes." Elijah's words were harsh with a tone of finality.

Now she wished he hadn’t spoken because his words only heightened her anxiety. She had no idea what his request would be, but whatever it was, she had an eerie feeling that it would define the rest of her life and there was nothing she could do to stop it.