The Runaway Mate And Her Alpha

The proposition

Elijah leaned back in his seat. “But first, I have some questions.” He paused, then continued. “What d’you know about the alpha’s curse?”

Rhea didn’t like where this conversation was headed. The rumor that the alpha was cursed by the moon goddess was a popular topic of idle chatter among pack members and beyond. But Rhea knew better than to say one word. The stories of Elijah’s wrath were even more frightening than the rumors of his curse. She didn’t plan to die today by saying anything that would anger him.

Rhea shook her head vigorously, still not meeting his gaze.

“Let me fill you in, then.” Elijah rubbed his palms together and gazed into the distance as if trying to recollect the story. “So apparently, my curse is hereditary, passed down to me by my father. Long story short, my father’s infidelity broke his mate’s heart. He had me through another woman, and his mate cursed him, or so the story goes.” He spread his hands in the air, a sarcastic smile emerging on his lips. “So here I am, suffering the consequences of my father’s sins. Or at least that’s how the fairy tale goes.”

There was much more to the story he had just told her, but she did the wise thing and kept her mouth shut. Elijah's father, Marcus, f****d everything in his path, and even the pull of his mate wasn't strong enough to keep him in check. Elijah's mother was the daughter of Ketah, Marcus's beta and trusted friend. When Ketah realized that Marcus had defiled his daughter, he went blind with rage. Ketah broke his oath of loyalty to Marcus and challenged him to a fight in their wolf form. It was a bloodbath. Ketah sustained injuries that killed him faster than he could heal. As a way to keep the peace, Marcus decided Elijah would be his heir. But Marcus's mate cursed Elijah. She swore that he would make all the mistakes Marcus made, but unlike Marcus, he would never have an heir even if he found a mate.

Rhea wondered what kind of woman would be unfortunate enough to have Elijah as her mate. Maybe the moon goddess was wise to let the alpha f**k his way through life and die without an heir so the pack's leadership would pass to another bloodline.

Elijah snapped his fingers at Rhea to get her attention. "What d’you think? I know you've heard the stories. D’you think I’m really cursed?" His tone demanded an answer.

"Uhmm…I…I don't believe yo…that you are, m…my lord." Rhea was stumbling over her words, her gaze still fixed on the hard granite flooring of Elijah's office.

The alpha stood up and walked over to the windows, clasping his hands behind him. "I have every woman in my pack at my beck and call. I can sleep with whoever I want, whenever I want. But they all seem to be f*****g barren." He breathed a deep, long sigh. "There has been no single report of a pregnancy. Not even a miscarriage." He returned his watchful eyes to Rhea. "Maybe I am cursed, afterall."

The room fell silent. Elijah stared at Rhea, and she just sat there trembling. Then suddenly, the alpha closed the gap between them as he came and sat on the table’s edge right in front of Rhea. "Look at me," Elijah commanded.

She swallowed her fear and slowly found his eyes with hers. Her stomach tightened as she locked on to the fierceness in his expression. She felt terrified of his aura but couldn't bring herself to look away. In fact, part of her didn’t want to look away. It was like she was paralyzed by staring into the eyes of her worst fear and her greatest yearning. "Have you ever been with a man?"

Rhea was stunned at his question. She gasped as she tightly gripped the arm of her chair, a wave of emotions clouding her thinking. She had experienced s*x, but it wasn't by consent. The only man she had ever been with was Lorn's i***t son, Cody. He destroyed her s****l innocence a week before her mother's death and continued to take her at will whenever her stepfather was out of the house. He claimed she was just a free p***y for whenever he was bored. But Rhea knew he didn't have the boldness to talk to any girls, which was why he settled for her. She had kept her s****l abuse from Lorn because she didn't see how accusing his son was going to help her already traumatic situation under his roof.

Rhea gathered the strength to reply. "I've only been with one person."

"Was it consensual?" Elijah probed further. Rhea couldn't reply, but Elijah could read the pain in her eyes. He had gotten his answer. "All that's over and done with. You're under my protection now. No one will dare lay a finger on you, unless they want to meet a swift end, which I'll be generous enough to oblige them." Rhea had no doubt that he meant every word he said. His words were oddly reassuring and gave her a sense of safety, although part of her wondered why he sounded concerned for her.

Elijah held Rhea’s elbows and pulled her to her feet. She was facing him, his hands on her waist, and her body inches from his. Rhea was certain she would have wilted and fallen to the floor if Elijah's large hands weren't gripping her, acting as an anchor to keep her on her feet.

"Rhea—" His voice carried a sultry note that both terrified her and stirred her up on the inside. Not in a million years did she think she'll ever be standing this close to Elijah's raw power. "I want you to be mine and mine alone. I want you to be my breeder. I need an heir, and you're going to make it happen."

Rhea's soul left her body and her wolf yelped within her. Elijah had taken her stepfather's suggestion to another level. Lorn had suggested using her as just another s****l stop gap, but now the alpha wanted something more. She didn't think that Elijah had taken him seriously, especially since it seemed she didn't meet his s****l standards. But looking in his eyes now, there was no hint of uncertainty. Elijah wanted to explore her body as his exclusive reserve.

"Say yes." Elijah wasn't going to have it any other way. Without warning, his voice had switched to a domineering tone. He was in alpha mode. Rhea wanted to protest, wanted to reason with him, but she couldn't breath and her mind was clouded. Just as the cool night breeze wafted in from the large office windows, he drew her in and their bodies came together, drawing a gasp from her and sending a heat wave up her spine.

Get it together, Rhea. Say something. Rhea forced herself to swallow and blurt out her words. "But…I can't please you like other women, my lord. I don't know how—"

Elijah interrupted her. "Leave that to me. I'll teach you how."

"But, why me?" Rhea's voice was pleading.

Elijah was quiet for a bit. "Because you're pure." He pressed her body to himself the more, gauging her response to his words as he spoke. "You were raped by some i***t, and you've been mistreated by your stepfather for what seems to be a long time. But you served him without complaint." Elijah held her chin in his hands and inched closer till their lips were barely apart. "I don't sense any bitterness in you, which is new to me. You won't give me any trouble. You'd make a good mother."

Rhea closed her eyes, half expecting Elijah's lips to find hers. His words were soothing, like a cold bath on a hot summer afternoon. No man had ever spoken to her like that. Elijah's confessions washed over her and she had to fight the urge to lean into him. One thing still bugged Rhea, though. Elijah seemed like a better man than the stories about him made him out to be, but Rhea didn't want to serve another man. But she was an omega. Did she have any other choice?

Elijah let go of her face. "I don't plan to enslave you like your stepfather did." He pulled back a bit so he could take in her face fully. "I'll make you a deal, Rhea. I know I own you as p*****t from Lorn. But if you give me an heir, I'll return your freedom, and you can do whatever you want with your life."

Rhea was certain of it. She knew instinctively that she would never get such a deal in her life again. She was going to birth the alpha’s heir, and she would never have to go back to Lorn? The thought of it brought a rush of relief to her heart.

"I accept your proposal, my lord. I'll do my best to give you an heir." Rhea conceded.

Her reply made Elijah smile ever so slightly. "Good." Elijah brushed his palms lightly against her face before pulling away from her. He sat back on the table’s edge and nodded toward the door. "You can call it a night. Tomorrow, your life begins."

Elijah pulling away helped Rhea regain her composure a bit. She cleared her throat. "Yes, my lord. Goodnight." Then she turned and scurried out of his office. All the way back to her room, Rhea tried to sort out her jumbled feelings and answer the question that gnawed at her heart. Was she falling for the alpha already?