An Alpha's Choice

Chapter 4: Fainting

-Kaytlyn-

He is going to do what to me? I stared at him in shock as he suggested f*cking me right here in the hallway, where anyone could see us—and then having my parents hear me too. He wasn’t right in the head.

But then again, this wasn’t the first time I’d encountered an arrogant male who thought he owned the world and could work magic with what was between his legs. I would surely be disappointed. Goddess knew I already had been.

“How about not?” I replied. “Now, how about you let me go instead?”

He smiled almost cruelly at me, but then his phone dinged, and a text appeared on the screen. I reached out and grabbed it. He tried to snatch it back, but I was quick and dodged him as I read the message.

If he was going to invade my space, why shouldn’t I do the same? But as I scanned the text, I wished I hadn’t. It was very… detailed about what this female wanted him to do.

“Seems like you already have someone else who wants you to make her scream,” I said mockingly, waving the phone at him.

He groaned in annoyance and took the phone back just as a male voice called out from further inside the house—a voice I didn’t recognize.

“Christopher!”

I turned to look at the male in front of me, smiling as his expression shifted to one of frustration.

“So that’s your name? Christopher,” I said.

He groaned and rolled his eyes. “Just Chris.”

I pressed myself up, using my hands and weight to push into his stomach, forcing the air from his lungs. He coughed a little.

“My guess is that you’re here for my sister, aren’t you?”

He didn’t answer, and he didn’t need to. If this male was here for Madeleine, then it was best for us to stay far away from each other, no matter what our wolves said. Madeleine was the most precious person to me.

“Well, then I won’t interrupt you,” I taunted, tossing my hair over my shoulder. “See you later, Chris-TOpher.”

Chris got up from the floor, smiling as he rubbed the spot where I had pressed my weight. I had gained a few pounds since leaving the house—okay, not just a few, but a lot. I wasn’t ashamed of it. At least

I didn’t look like a skeleton anymore, like my mother. I actually had curves now, and I used them to my advantage.

“You’re a little sadistic, aren’t you, using my name against me like that?” he said with a dark look, his eyes roaming over my body.

I crossed my arms protectively over myself and regarded him as if he were nothing to me. “See you never, Christopher!” I called out as I turned and walked up the stairs.

I felt his gaze on me as I ascended the white marble steps with the red-brown railing, edged in gold. I had never experienced anything like it—looking into those dreamy blue eyes and feeling his strong body beneath mine. But I knew better than to turn around.

-Chris-

I watched her ascend the stairs until she disappeared around a corner. How badly I wanted to follow her, hoping she was heading somewhere cozy, preferably to a bed. While I wouldn’t mind having her anywhere I could get her, I wanted her to be comfortable. But I couldn’t.

I could hear my father’s heavy footsteps approaching, and as he appeared, I shifted my attention away from the stairs. He looked me over, crossing his arms as he studied me. Maybe he thought I had found a bottle to empty—or a few. I could even see him scenting the air, but he didn’t pick up anything unusual.

While Kaytlyn had been on top of me, pressed closely against me, her sweet scent was masked by my own strong alpha aroma.

“What is taking you so long?” he inquired.

I quickly glanced at the stairs, knowing there was no way I could sneak up there to the female I wanted more than anything to make mine. Instead, I held up my phone and said, “Got a call.”

He narrowed his eyes at the device, likely remembering the last time I’d used it to answer his call while I was with some mated female on my couch. He probably had an inkling it wasn’t a friendly call I had received.

“Put that damn thing away and turn your eyes to the prize, my son,” he ordered. “You know how important this union is.”

“I know how important it is to you,” I shot back.

“Don’t do this now, Christopher. We’re this close,” he reminded me, holding up his hand with two fingers nearly touching. “Let’s go.”

I took one last look at the stairs before I followed the older alpha back to the living room, where the family with their dark secrets sat. They were quiet, except for the low murmur between the father and Lucian.

Madeleine sat in the same spot, but she seemed more relaxed than when I’d been near her. Her mother had drained the last of her martini and was now eating the olive, staring bored at her daughter. I could see which daughter had inherited her mother’s blond hair. The green eyes belonged to her father, while Madeleine had his deep brown hair.

I walked over to where Madeleine was seated. I had no idea why her family claimed Kaytlyn was dead, and I wasn’t sure if my father knew the truth. If he did, he wouldn’t tell me.

I was curious, though, and I suspected only one person would reveal the truth: the one most affected by her sister’s supposed death. Something told me this sister, this scared little female, cared deeply.

As I sat beside her, she didn’t even glance at me, her whole body tensing. Her shoulders drew up, and her hands gripped her dress tightly. How different these two are, I thought.

Kaytlyn was curvy, small, and wild. She had looked me dead in the eye and told me to f*ck off. Madeleine, on the other hand, was tall, thin, and cautious, frightened by the slightest movement. I had no idea how I would make her talk. She probably feared her father more than me, but I had to give it a try.

“Want to go for a walk?” I inquired as kindly as I could.

Madeleine turned her head, her blue eyes widening, and she shook even more. I could see the small strands of hair in front of her face moving with her trembling. What did she think I would do to her?

It struck me that this little female wasn’t just scared—she was completely terrified. I noticed her eyes dart to her father beside her cousin, silently begging him for help, but he just smiled and said, “Sounds like a good idea, right, Madeleine?”

Madeleine turned her gaze back to me, and I could see how difficult it was for her to even swallow. Yet, she nodded, closing her eyes briefly. Why was she so scared of me? I knew I had a reputation, but it shouldn’t make them shake as if they were about to walk into a lion’s den.

Slowly, she stood up, holding her hands in front of her, her eyes locked on the ground. I felt bad for making her so frightened, but I wanted answers. Maybe getting outside with me, away from her parents, would show her I wasn’t so bad after all.

“Lucian, go with them,” her father instructed.

I finally understood why her cousin was there—a chaperone. How old-fashioned could this get? Lucian didn’t seem happy about following us, but he did so without complaint, keeping a close distance behind.

We left the living room and walked down a grand staircase that led to a small entrance with a glass door opening into a well-lit garden. I held the door for the little female, but she was too scared to even thank me or look my way.

We continued in silence along the gravel path. With Lucian behind us, I couldn’t ask her what I wanted to, so instead, we walked in silence, allowing her to adjust to my presence. It was the best I could do for her, considering how frightened she was.

-Madeleine-

I wanted to be anywhere else. Please, Goddess, I silently begged, turn me into a beautiful bird like the canaries my mother keeps. But no matter how much I begged and pleaded, nothing happened. My parents hadn’t told me much about the male beside me, but they didn’t need to. I knew who he was.

Even among my “friends”, he was talked about—though I didn’t really have many… or any. Kaytlyn was my only real friend, and she wasn’t here. Why wasn’t she here when I needed her the most? She had promised to always protect me, but now she was absent.

I recalled my mother’s visit when our fathers had finally reached an agreement. The painful memory of her words came rushing back…

“Remember, Madeleine, Christopher Adler is not just any alpha. He is powerful, strong, and very virile. It’s crucial that you keep his interest in any way you can. This union is more important than you can imagine, and if you mess this up…” My mother grips my arm tightly to emphasize her point, and I whimper at her harsh hold. She is a strong female, even though she is as thin as an A-list model. “Do you understand?”

“H-How?”

“Do what I did when I meet your father. Once you get him alone, surrender to him—make sure he has nowhere to run but to you. Blow his mind, and you’ll have him wrapped around your finger.”

“B-But I don’t know anything… I can’t… Wasn’t I supposed to save myself until after the union? Wasn’t that what you told me?” I ask.

My mother rolls her eyes. “Change of plans. And don’t worry. I’ve brought someone to teach you a few things that will have him panting for you.”

Suddenly, a stern woman comes inside, wearing an even stronger and darker shade of red lipstick than my mother’s.

She has a strong dark line of eyeliner around her eyes, and she wears all leather and high heels. She has long dark hair running down her back.

“Meet mistress Mira,” my mother says with a cruel smile.

It had been the worst three hours of my life, as the older female had explained, in all sorts of ways to pleasure and control a male. I had wanted to throw up, and when she started to show positions and pull out toys... I was left traumatized, and it didn’t make it better that when I finally met him, he turned out to be so big and scary. Now I was alone with him, and I knew what my parents wanted me to do.

I saw it in their eyes, but how could I? I didn’t want this union, nor did I want him. How could I ever let him touch me or even touch him? It left me terrified, knowing he wanted me to. That was why he wanted me alone, right? A good chance to have me as he pleased.

I knew Lucian would soon take a turn at the next corner and disappear into the dark. He was going to be watching over us in the dark, seeing it be done, and once we had been seen, Christopher could never back out of this union.

My heart began beating faster, and I felt like I was going to faint. Just as Lucian had disappeared, Christopher stopped and turned to me. Oh, f*ck, this is it, isn’t it? I thought. It was now he would grab me and have me as he pleased, and I could not say no. I had to do what my parents asked. Oh sh*t, here it comes. The world turned dark, and before I knew it, my legs gave in.