An Alpha's Choice

Chapter 2: The Meeting

-Chris-

I considered it—getting drunk, making a fool of myself—but the image of Speedy lingered in my mind as I stared at the bottle in my hand. I was all set: dressed in a dark grey shirt, black pants, and shoes, topped off with a leather jacket. My hair was pushed back, but it was a struggle to keep it that way. It seemed to have a mind of its own. In my other hand, I held my car keys, and I shifted my eyes from the bottle to them.

“s**t, Speedy,” I whispered.

My sister. My baby sister, who wasn’t a baby anymore. She was all grown up, and she was angry with me. With good reason. But if she needed to hate me while I saved her from a cruel fate, so be it. I hoped she would forgive me when she one day she came home, proclaiming she had found the love of her life. I didn’t care who she chose, as long as that person treated her well and made her happy.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t look forward to the same future. I sighed and set the bottle down before walking to the door. The women had already left, returning to their own lives. I closed the door, locked it, and started down the hallway, feeling weaker with every step. Soon, my life wouldn’t be my own anymore. I would become my dad. Just the thought of it sent a wave of revulsion through me.

The elevator descended quickly, and soon I found myself in the underground parking lot. I sighed as I walked over to my car and unlocked it. I slid into my seat and lingered there for a few moments, savoring the fleeting freedom I had left. Then I turned on the ignition and sped out, heading towards the woman I would soon be tied to.

Her house was enormous—just as big as my parents’—and filled with light and decorations that announced to everyone within miles that its residents were affluent. The five expensive cars parked in front, the towering white walls, and the high-tech security system all made that abundantly clear.

Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of my car and approached the grand mansion. My heart raced a bit faster as I stood before the imposing front door. I turned to the small bell beside it and pressed it, the chime echoing through the vast house.

After a moment, I heard voices, and a young man in a dark grey suit opened the door, smiling as he recognized me and extending his hand.

“Christopher,” he said.

I shook his hand. “Yes, and you are?”

“Sorry, I’m Madeleine’s cousin, Lucian.”

I had no idea why her cousin was here, nor did I care. Lucian led me inside, and I could already hear my father’s authoritative voice coming from deeper within the house. He must have arrived earlier, probably feeling the need to ensure I behaved.

Lucian guided me down the hallway until we reached a grand staircase covered in a red carpet. We ascended the stairs and proceeded down another hallway, where large portraits of family members loomed over us. The last portrait was draped in a thin black veil. I paused to study it, and Lucian clearly noticed my halt. He joined me, his expression turning somber as he gazed at the veiled portrait.

“My other cousin, Kaytlyn,” he said quietly.

“The one who died?” I asked.

He nodded. “Come, they are waiting for us.”

Lucian continued down the hallway, but I stole one last glance at the portrait. I could just make out her features: blond hair, green eyes, and pale skin. She wore a long dress that draped elegantly over her as she posed in a chair, a subtle smile on her lips.

A beautiful green stone necklace adorned her neck, and her hair cascaded over her shoulder and down to her waist. Despite her smile in the picture, there was a distinct sadness in her eyes.

“Hey!” I turned to see Lucian waiting for me at the end of the hallway, bathed in the light from the room in front of him. I hurried over, and together we stepped into a vast living room. A magnificent chandelier hung from the ceiling, illuminating the space.

A large glass door opened onto a balcony overlooking the garden. The room was furnished with four plush couches arranged around a mahogany coffee table, and a fireplace held a flatscreen above it. A small bar occupied one wall, where the men had already poured themselves drinks. The older woman among them sipped a martini while sitting next to a much younger version of herself.

The two resembled each other closely, except for their hair—the younger woman had deep brown locks flowing down her back. Her blue eyes were fixed on an untouched glass of water in front of her, and even from here, I could see her trembling. She was putting on a brave face, but the way her hands clutched her peach-colored dress revealed her unease. She didn’t want to be here.

“Christopher!” my father exclaimed upon spotting me.

I suppressed an eyeroll at the sound of my full name. Would he ever stop? I wondered. As he approached, he placed a hand on my shoulder, looking happier than I’d seen him in years, and then guided me towards another imposing male.

This man was nearly as large as my father, and it was clear why my dad had taken so long to get him to comply. You didn’t mess with this guy. He had the kind of strength that could rip you apart. As I shook his hand, I felt the powerful alpha aura emanating from him, as if he were silently warning me to protect his daughter.

“Finally, I get to meet the famous Christopher—one of the king’s most trusted men,” he said, admiration lacing his voice.

I offered a polite smile, but I didn’t want to engage in this game.

“Come meet my daughter. Madeleine!”

The young woman hesitated at first, remaining in her spot until I noticed the older one gripping her arm and pressing down hard. Quickly, the younger female scrambled to her feet. I felt a pang of sympathy for her.

She walked towards me slowly, her heels clicking softly as if she were trying to go unnoticed. When she stood before me, her head bowed, she seemed too afraid to meet my eyes. Great, I thought. I truly was destined to become my father, with a timid woman by my side...

“It’s very nice to meet you,” she almost whispered, her voice delicate.

“You too,” I replied, my tone neutral.

We were quickly ushered to sit beside each other, the males across from us and the mother nearby on the couch. Throughout the conversation, Madeleine kept her head down and didn’t utter a word, even though our fathers had plenty to say.

Out of the corner of my eye, I caught her mother staring at me for a moment too long—not with the affectionate look you’d give your future son-in-law. At least she wasn’t afraid to show her discontent with her own relationship. My mother would never look at anyone else, too fearful to do so.

I turned back to the trembling girl beside me. She had just turned nineteen, six years younger than me. It wasn’t surprising she was scared, though I wondered if it was just me she feared. A few times, I caught her glancing at her father, her eyes pleading, but he seemed oblivious to her distress.

Poor girl, I thought. she was trapped between three imposing alphas, powerless to do anything but comply. I wanted to reach out and assure her I meant no harm, but I knew any attempt at contact would only make her flinch and retreat. The scent of her fear enveloped her like a thick fog.

“So, Christopher, I hear you’re going to take over for your father and have left the king’s side to do so,” the other alpha said.

I nodded, trying to suppress my bitterness. “That’s the plan.”

“Good. I want my daughter to be in a safe place, and Goddess knows there’s no more dangerous place than by the king’s side.”

“Madeleine is very important to us,” her mother added, running a slender hand down her daughter’s arm. Madeleine turned her clear sky-blue eyes to her mother, and I could almost see the silent plea for her not to do this, but the older woman—overly made up, with strawberry-red lips and a matching dress—ignored her.

Oh, how I understood that feeling: being ignored by your parents while you begged them not to force you into something, only to hear the same old cliché that they knew what was best for you.

“Of course. It can’t have been easy losing your eldest daughter,” I said.

My father’s smile vanished instantly. I knew such topics were off-limits, but I always liked to push the boundaries a little. The girl beside me grew visibly sad. Her scent shifted from a suffocating heaviness to a sweet, rain-like aroma, yet hers seemed to be the only one genuinely changing.

Her father narrowed his eyes slightly, a cruel smile playing on his lips, while her mother leaned back a little, sipping from her drink. I turned my eyes to Lucian, perched on one of the bar stools, observing the scene. He wore a smile too, but it was one of amusement. Something strange was unfolding.

“Yes, it was hard,” the older alpha finally admitted. “That’s why it’s so important that Madeleine is taken care of.”

“And she will be,” my father interjected before I could respond.

I couldn’t help myself. I rolled my eyes. It seemed that only Madeleine noticed. Her blue eyes met mine, shock evident as I dared to glance upwards in the presence of our fathers. I winked at her and offered a small smile. It seemed to calm her slightly, but she quickly looked away again, still fearful and saddened by the mention of her sister.

Our fathers resumed their conversation, clearly enjoying it more than anyone else in the room. I had no idea how to talk to Madeleine. She was so quiet and frightened that I feared even the slightest movement from me would send her running.

Her fear didn’t surprise me. She must have heard of me and the expectations that came with our union—pups, many of them. It was likely the last thing she wanted, not that I could say it was high on my list either.

I glanced at the clock above the bar where Lucian sat. Time dragged on unbearably, and I struggled against the thick fog of fear clouding my senses. I needed air. I needed to breathe, and I could tell the young woman beside me needed space too. It would be best for both of us if we found some distance from one another. Since she lacked the courage to get up, I decided I would.

“I’m just going to get some air for a second,” I said.

I turned to leave when Lucian suddenly called out, “The balcony is right there.” He pointed to the glass door, and everyone looked at me with confusion. Even Madeleine glanced at me from the corner of her eye. I offered a calm smile to her cousin and replied, “I know.”

Then I turned and walked away. I didn’t care that the balcony was right there. I needed to escape their watchful eyes. That exit wouldn’t give me a chance to breathe. It would only make things harder, as I felt a strong urge to throw myself over the edge. So, I did us all a favor and walked away.

I continued down the dimly lit hallway with its wooden floors and cream-colored walls, which made me want to puke. I passed a staircase that curved upwards to the next floor, but just as I rounded it, my phone dinged. I pulled it out to check a text from a former hookup, and as I diverted my attention to the screen, I didn’t see the person approaching and walked directly into her.