A bite from an Alpha King

Book 2 Chapter 6: Emma

-Garrett-

It takes a lot to get a werewolf drunk, and an even bigger blackout to make sure they wake up with a hangover. Mission accomplished. I woke up early in the morning with a pounding headache, and not in my own room.

I raised my head from the unfamiliar bed and looked around. The room was spacious, with golden-white walls and large curtains hanging from big windows. There were flowers by the bed and an antique-looking phone on a nightstand. It reminded me of a hotel room, so I laid my heavy head back on the white pillow and closed my tired eyes.

“Morning!” My eyes flew open, and I lifted my head too quickly, causing the room to spin. After a few seconds, I could finally make out the person in front of me. Sh*t, it was Emma.

“I’m telling you, she’s different,” I insist as I walk down the long hallway with Valerio.

“You always say that, and they always end up disappointing you,” he says, dismissing me once again.

“No, this one really is my mate.”

“Garrett!” Valerio stops, placing a hand on my shoulder.

“What?” I ask, not understanding.

“I don’t want to see you hurt again. You know what they’re really after,” he reminds me. Though I know he’s only trying to be a good friend, his words still irk me.

“Because no one could fall for the beta of the king, right?” I mock.

Valerio groans. “You know that’s not what I mean. But how do you know this Emma is any different? Has your wolf claimed her?”

Fear suddenly grips me. He hasn’t, and I know my friend can read me all too well.

“I rest my case,” he says, shaking his head as he walks away.

If I hadn’t felt pathetic before, I did now. This was rock bottom.

“Emma?” I croaked, my voice hoarse.

She stood before me, her wet hair wrapped in a white towel. She smiled slightly as she looked down at me and nodded. “So glad I ran into you last night at the bar,” she purred, placing her hands on the edge of the bed and leaning in.

I had no memory of a bar, and certainly no recollection of running into her.

“It was really sweet, all those things you said to me last night,” she admitted, her voice taking on a flirtatious tone as she leaned closer.

I couldn’t help but shrink away as her face neared mine. Now that I was fully conscious, nothing could compare to my beautiful Lily.

“Though I would have preferred it if you hadn’t screamed out another female’s name when you… well, you know,” she said, straightening up and crossing her arms.

I looked at her in shock. Sh*t, had I actually shouted Lily’s name?

“So who is Lily? Another conquest?” Emma inquired. Her tone, as she spoke my mate’s name, was disdainful and immediately ignited my anger.

“Don’t speak of her like that,” I warned.

Emma moved back slightly, and I forced myself out of bed before I began to search for my clothes, feeling disoriented.

“Well, this just got a lot more interesting. So you finally found her?” Emma inquired, her voice tinged with attitude.

I didn’t bother looking at her as I scanned the room again for my clothes. Ah, there they were, I thought, lying on the floor behind a white couch.

“Are you not even going to tell me about her?” Emma pressed.

“And why would I?” I could hear her huff in irritation behind me, clearly stung by my indifference.

“So what family is she from? Is she a beta’s daughter? Is she richer than me?”

I sighed as I dressed, pulling on my shirt and pants.

“Hello! Garrett!” Emma exclaimed, moving closer and trying to turn me around.

“Emma!” I snapped just before she placed her hand on my shoulder.

I hated that I had slept with another woman last night, and even more that it had been Emma. I felt filthy, carrying another female’s scent instead of my mate’s, and I felt like a cheating scumbag, even though Lily and I had no official relationship.

“What’s gotten into you? You liked me so much last night,” she whined.

“I was blackout drunk last night,” I said bluntly, watching her eyes widen as if it wasn’t obvious.

“So you’ll just leave me like it was nothing?”

I sighed deeply before finally turning to face her. “Don’t act like you haven’t used me too. You wanted the king, not me. Let’s just forget this night ever happened,” I snapped, grabbing my shoes and jacket.

“You can’t be serious! Do I really mean so little?” she inquired, as I moved towards the door.

I turned my head and met her eyes. “Yes,” I said, before opening the door and leaving her stunned in the hotel room.

***

“You look like sh*t!” Chris said with a grin as I stumbled into the king’s office.

Damian had texted me the previous day about a morning meeting, but I hadn’t seen it until I left the hotel. I’d spent twenty minutes just finding my car, and another thirty getting here. The meeting had already started before I arrived.

“Thank you. I know,” I said, positioning myself in a dark corner, as far from the windows as possible. I tried to focus on the discussion, but everyone was staring at me in silence. “What?”

“Where the hell have you been?” Valerio demanded. “You’re never late to a meeting.”

I shrugged, reluctant to discuss the Emma incident.

“I didn’t check my phone,” I said, feeling a wave of exhaustion.

This only shocked them further. I was always on top of things as the pack’s beta, never late to anything. But I felt like hell. The light was blinding, my head was pounding, and my heart ached.

All I wanted was to retreat to my room, block out all the light with the curtains, and take a long, hot shower to scrub away any trace of Emma. Then I’d collapse onto my bed, close my eyes, and try to picture my beautiful mate.

“Who did you spend all night drunk and f*cking?” Chris asked with that stupid grin of his. At that moment, all I wanted to do was walk over and punch him.

“Can we just focus on the meeting?” I inquired, my irritation clear as I gestured towards the king, almost urging him to continue.

“The meeting is over, Garrett,” the king informed me, his tone slightly annoyed.

I drew back, feeling surprised. I knew I was late, but… that late? “Oh,” I said simply.

“Sleep it off, friend,” Chris advised, as people started to leave, except for the king.

“Garrett, stay,” Valerio ordered, as I was about to leave the office.

I sighed and took my place in front of his desk. His piercing yellow eyes fixed on me, and I found myself unable to meet his gaze.

“Explain,” he commanded.

Although every part of me wanted to answer my alpha and king, I couldn’t bring myself to talk about Lily.

“I might have had a drink or two,” I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Or maybe fifty,” Valerio shot back. “I know you like to drink, but you never let it get out of hand. What the hell happened?”

“I—” Before I could say anything, the universe sent me a much-needed intervention—though calling her an angel might be a stretch. Octavia appeared at the perfect moment, just as I needed her.

“Sorry, am I interrupting something?” she asked, glancing between Valerio and me. “I saw everyone leaving and thought the meeting was over.”

I saw Valerio’s eyes soften as he looked at his mate in the doorway, and I silently thanked the Goddess for Octavia’s timely arrival.

“It is. You’re not interrupting,” I said, walking over to her.

Octavia took a surprised step back, her face contorting in mild disgust.

“You reek,” she said, stepping past me and into the room.

“Which is why I’m heading to my room to shower. Always appreciate your honesty, my queen,” I replied, a hint of sarcasm in my voice as I made my way out.

“My pleasure,” I heard her say as I left the room.