The Arranged Alpha Marriage

ROGUE MATE

BETHANY'S POV

My feet feel heavier with every step I take. I know what I must do, but the mate bond is making it extremely difficult. Why did I have to meet you? Ugh. He looks so f*****g sexy. Can I reject him? What about Aaron? Oh my Goddess. Should I give him a chance? The smell was getting stronger the closer I came to the riverside.

"Hello?", I called out.

I heard twigs breaking to my left. He slowly came to stand in front of me, but he never looked into my eyes. It was as if he had already known that when we met it would come to this. My heart felt as if someone was trying to rip it from my body. This can't work. What about being queen? He pulled me into his arms, taking my breath away. I was beyond confused by these feelings. He looked down at me with those large, silver eyes. My knees buckled. Luckily, he supported my weight to prevent me from hitting the ground. I peeled myself away and took off in the opposite direction. I couldn't bring myself to even speak to him. I crossed the river a few miles away before climbing a tree. I cannot believe I am hiding from this man. I still do not even know his name. I can feel my wolf longing to be with him and howling in pain. After a while of not hearing any movement or sensing his smell, I climbed down from the tree.

"I was wondering if you were gonna come down?", a deep voice spoke from behind the tree.

I trembled at the sound of his voice. How could I not smell or sense him before now?

"Before you reject me, spend a week with me.", he compromised.

I thought about it for a moment. What could a week hurt?

"Okay.", I caved.

He slightly smiled, and I couldn't bring myself to look away. The next thing I knew, his lips were crashing against mine. I wrapped my arms around his neck deepening our kiss. My heart is racing and I am starting to run out of breath. I gasped for air as he pulled away. What the hell? I have never felt this way before.

"I am Axel."

"Bethany."

"Beautiful."

I couldn't help, but blush at the sound of his voice. So sexy and alluring.

"Climb on and I will take you back to my cabin."

I nodded before climbing onto his back. I lost my breath by just being in contact with him again. The tingling feeling I felt was like nothing I have ever experienced. Can I bring myself to leave after a week? I had plans. I had goals. I was supposed to be queen. I was supposed to be finding a way to be with Aaron, but Axel.. I was so lost in my own thoughts, I didn't even realize we were already at a large cabin in the middle of, well, I don't even know where we are exactly.

SHANE'S POV

I need to find a way to pull myself out of this. Maybe she does need to reject me to break this bond. I don't know if I can continue to avoid them regardless of how massive this castle is. I have been spending most of my time in my room or in the front garden. I have made friends with one of the young guards named Gage. He is pretty outgoing and a serious flirt. He has helped me out a lot with everything going on with Emma. There still is no news of my so called father since I have arrived. I wonder if he even knows of my return or if he is just taking time to plan something. My brother is set to arrive this evening and I am more than excited. With everything hitting me all at once, he is the distraction I need. I have also been leaning towards asking my aunt if there was any way for me to move into a cottage in the town, but I haven't quite gotten the heart to do it. She seems so happy talking to me about my mother, and showing me around. My grandparents are supposed to come for a visit to meet me. Well, I mean they haven't seen me since I was a baby and I was sent to live with my dad.

Knock. Knock.



"Who is it?"

"C-can I come in?"

Emma?..

"Sure..."

She entered and my heart lurched. I have a feeling I know why she is here and I definitely deserve it. After all, I am the one that rejected her because I felt that I wasn't enough and it took all of this s**t for me to see how badly I f****d up.

"Um, hi."

"Hi, Emma.."

"Can we talk?"

"Sure."

"So, I cannot bring myself to reject you, but the same is true about Aaron."

Huh?

"Okay?"

"I am with Aaron. I will not turn my back on him or leave him, but I do not want you to go through the pain I felt that day either."

"Thank you. Even though I deserve worse. I am so sorry Emma."

"Don't be. It is in the past. Please, do not avoid Aaron. We have talked and you are his blood after all. I will not be the reason you are alienated from them."

"Thanks.."

"Um, okay that's all I had to say. Have a good day."

With that she went out the door and just left me in a daze. Could not reject me so that I would not feel the pain that she felt? The pain. Oh Emma, you are so naïve. I deserve so much more than the pain you felt. I deserve to feel it everyday from that very moment on for hurting you. I really hope that Aaron can make you happy the way that you deserve and that he can give you the large family that you so long for. I love you Emma Jane. Live well despite me.