The C.E.O. Alpha's Fated Invitation

Chapter 1: Fate We all crave something, need something. Our hearts strive for that one connection that it beats for. It’s what keeps us going. Be it a wife, husband, a child, a pet, family, or even a friend, the heart craves love. Every day that love keeps the heart beating. We find it every day. Most of the time, we find it, but sometimes fate intervenes. Fate is a magical thing, so when it comes, don’t fight it, let it happen. It can come in the smallest and simplest of things in life. So just remember that when fate comes knocking on your door, it is a gift. It was a Friday afternoon on January 17th when fate intervened for a certain Alpha. It didn’t seem like fate at the time, but it never does. In retrospect, it’s the one thing he can honestly thank Alyssa for. In the center of the town, Wicker Woods stands the town’s tallest building, Schade Tower. A total of 20 floors, Schade Tower casts its shadow over the town. On the eighteenth floor is the C.E.O.’s office. It’s in this office, on this day, when everything changes for Aiden. Aiden Alec Schade is the C.E.O. and Alpha of the Shadow Mist Pack. He sits in his office keeping a watchful eye on his secretary. Through the glass was he watches as she frolics around her office in a good mood. She would be in a very good mood on this day because it is her birthday. Aiden watches as she takes phone calls and helps other employees. She even brings him documents from those employees. You’d think this is normal, right? Alyssa isn’t the best employee. In fact, she only took the job to get close to Aiden. Alyssa Kincaid has made sure to be on her best behavior today so as not to piss off Aiden. From the moment Alyssa met Aiden, she claimed him as hers, despite knowing he was not her fated mate. Though she hoped and prayed to the moon goddess that he would be but fate had other plans. Alyssa constantly steals glances of Aiden. Every year her family throws her a small birthday party with a few friends present. Alyssa has other plans this year. Her patience for waiting for Aiden to finally fall in love with her is hanging by a thread. Alyssa’s crush has evolved into an obsession over the years. At the age of 13, Alyssa’s mother remated to Elijah Lennox, who was the beta of the Shadow Mist pack at the time. It didn’t take Alyssa long before she realized the benefits of having a beta as a stepfather. She begged her stepbrother, Enzo, to get her the secretary job. Aiden would love to get rid of her, but he doesn’t for the sake of his friend. Aiden’s constant watchful eye sends Alyssa the wrong message. She believes he might finally be coming around. The alpha is well aware of Alyssa’s birthday plans. Aiden normally makes an appearance at her birthday out of respect for the beta family. He never stays long, just enough time to wish Alyssa a respectful happy birthday. Two weeks ago, Alyssa told her family she was going to spend her birthday with friends this year and for them not to do anything. Enzo overheard a conversation between Alyssa and her friend about her true birthday plans. Enzo, Aiden’s forever faithful and loyal friend and beta, warns him of Alyssa’s plans to only invite Aiden to lure him into a date. And a date is putting it lightly, seduction is more like what she wants. Alyssa prances around the office in her highly inappropriate short skirt and very revealing top, gathering up papers to bring to Aiden. She grabs a stack of mail from her desk to bring to Aiden as well. She taps her long stiletto hot pink nail on the glass door, requesting permission to enter, another sign she is behaving herself. Alyssa would normally never knock. Aiden looks up and motions with his hand for her to enter his office. Meanwhile, at a bar called Slider’s are two best friends, Isla Taylor and Sienna Lennox. Slider’s is Wicker Woods’ popular local bar. The bar is a total mess, filled with party decorations. Sienna booked the bar for a private party for her best friend’s 21st birthday tonight. Isla Blair Taylor is just a normal girl, unaware of the otherworldly around her. Sienna wishes she could tell her friend the truth, but that would be out of the question. There are dangers for humans and werewolves alike if a human ever found out werewolves were real. Very rarely is the secret revealed to a human. Mostly, this circumstance only happens when a wolf is mated to a human. “Si, please don’t do this. I hate parties, you know this.” Isla once again begs her friend not to throw a huge party for her. People, loud music, bright lights, and drinks aren’t exactly Isla’s cup of tea. She would much rather have a simple party with her most personal friends and family, a few drinks, pizza, and cake. “Isla, we talked about this. You’re turning twenty freaking one years old. You’re fully legal b***h. This isn’t a time for something intimate; this is a birthday to live it up. Make mistakes. Get a tattoo you regret in the morning, have a one-night stand, hell, get so wasted you don’t remember what happened the next day.” Sienna says, encouraging her friend to have a little fun. However, this does not count as fun to Isla. “Ugh! Sienna, I’m serious. Call this off right now.” Isla stomps her foot on the ground and crosses her arms over her chest, annoyed at her friend. Sienna, seeing her friend’s tone, sighs and says, “Look, if you really feel this way, I will call the dogs off, but when you look back at your life in twenty years, will you be able to say you have no regrets?” Isla begins to say something, but shuts her mouth with a confused look. “Are you challenging me?” Isla soon asks. Sienna smiles evilly, “Maybe?” “Ok, Lennox, what’s your challenge?” The second Isla asks Sienna, she knows she’s won. Isla never could turn down a challenge or dare. It’s her weakness, and one Sienna isn’t afraid to use to her advantage. “Pick a number between 1 and 100,” Sienna tells her. Isla taps her chin with her index finger, thinking of a number at random. “Hmm..” She hums. Meanwhile, Aiden is sitting in his office, looking at Alyssa, waiting for her to make her move. Alyssa walks over to Aiden’s desk and drops a stack of papers and files on his desk. Then she drops a stack of mail carelessly onto his desk. A few pieces of mail fall to the ground, but Alyssa is too distracted with her own goal to notice. Aiden leans down to grab the few envelopes that fell to the ground while Alyssa positions herself to lean on the desk just so. She leans forward so her cleavage is on full display. When Aiden sits up to see the view of Alyssa’s cleavage, he is disgusted. He looks away, choosing to focus on the mail. “Aiden, I was talking with my mom this morning about my party when we both realized we never sent you an invitation, so to make up for it…” While Alyssa is talking, Aiden picks up the top piece of mail. The envelope somehow calls out to him. ‘That's silly.’ He thinks to himself. However, he can’t deny how much this feeling intrigues him. The envelope is grey with a simple gold border and a beautiful scroll design. In the center, written in calligraphy, is his name, ’Aiden.’ Inside is a rectangular piece of cardstock with the same designs as the envelope. It says, ‘You are invited to celebrate Isla Taylor’s birthday with her. Please join her at Slider’s for lots of drinks, music, and cake. The party starts at 8:00 p.m. and won’t stop until the sun is up. You may bring one guest with you and lots of presents.’ River, Aiden’s wolf purs reading the name written on the invitation. Aiden’s first thought is, ‘Who is Isla Taylor?’ He’s never met her a day in his life. Though something inside him is drawn to hereven if he hasn’t laid his eyes on her. “Aiden, Aiden, AIDEN!” Two hot pink nails snap in Aiden’s face while a shrilly voice yells at him. His turn to fury. Aidn’s hand slammed flat on the desk, staring into the eyes of the girl, getting on his last nerve. “Do not yell at me!” He growls. Alyssa instantly backs up, cowering. “I’m sorr,y but you looked to be… Well, spaced out.” She says. “I heard you.” Aiden snaps. He didn’t actually hear her, but he knew what she said. “Oh, so you’ll come?!” Alyssa turned back to her cheery mood. “No.” Aiden answers simply. He looks down a the invitation sitting on his desk like it’s his saving grace. “What?!” Alyssa’s tone is surprised and shocked but in her mind, she is angry. ‘Why can’t he just accept me as his mate? Can’t he see that we are meant to be?’ she says in her mind. Her gaze follows Aiden’s to be set on an invitation for tonight. Alyssa internally growls angrily. The name on the invitation is familiar to her, and yet she is unable to place it. ‘Isla Taylor, you pay for ruining my plans. Aiden is mine.’ Alyssa declares to herself. A tidal wave of jealousy hit Alyssa. “Are you serious?” Alyssa’s shrilly voice grinds inside Aiden’s ears. Alyssa snatches the invitation from under Aiden’s hand, earning an instant glare. Aiden growls in warning. “You don’t even know her! Who is she?” Alyssa says angrily not being able to hold her jealousy in. Aiden turns from his cool and collected, yet annoyed self to furious. Aiden is unaware of why he is angry about her insulting this unknown girl, but he is. In a split second, Alyssa is pinned to the wall with one hand around her throat. “Have you forgotten yourself? I am your Alpha, and you will act as such. Isla is a very important client, and I will not have you bullying my clients. You are nothing but my secretary. Enzo is a beta, Elijah is a beta elder, Sienna is a beta, your mother is a beta female elder by mate bond, and you are just a werewolf. You might be associated with the beta family, but you are not a beta; you are not entitled. I would suggest thinking hard about your next response before I demote you to an Omega.” Aiden’s eyes glow red in anger, with River sitting right on the edge. His eyes shoot daggers directly into Alyssa’s soul. She visibly swallows in fear. Aiden’s alpha aura floods the space around her, choking her into submission. Her wolf, Elsie, bows in submission, fighting her human half to do the same. “He is not our mate, Alyssa. He is our alpha. Why must you anger him?” Elsie begs her human half to stop her schemes to make Aiden her mate. Alyssa is annoyed by her wolf for giving her the same speech for the thousandth time. Alyssa fights the submission, believing she’s being tested. ‘An Alpha’s mate would never submit to them. They are just as strong as they are. I am stronger. I am the rightful Luna, his only Luna.’ Alyssa once again declares to herself. Alyssa fights against the submission, causing her nose to bleed and her head to ring. Elsie, seeing Alyssa, is not willing to give up and would likely let herself die before giving in and taking control of the body. It was not hard for Elsie to take control of Alyssa as she was far too focused on Aiden to notice. “Alpha, I apologize for Alyssa’s behavior. I submit to you. I will talk to her about this again. Please spare us.” Elsie says to Aiden, causing him to partially ease his aura around her. Aiden respects Elsie and feels sorry for her that she ended up with Alyssa as her human. “We’ve discussed this before, Elsie. I told you last time…” Aiden says, but Elsie quickly interrupts. “No, please, she is still unaware of your plans. I will accept his proposal, just please let us go this one last time.” Elsie begs Aiden. Aiden groans but considers what Elsie says out of respect for her. “She hasn’t a clue? You’ve not told her?” He asks. The wolf and human counterparts in werewolves are 99 percent always loyal and in complete sync with one another. Elsie and Alyssa do not make for a good match; they are always out of sync and have different needs. This weakens their connection. Alyssa is completely blocked out and locked inside her mind, while Elsie has total control. There are times when she wishes to always have control, but it is dangerous for a wolf to have long-term control. “No, Alpha, I promise, Alyssa knows nothing of it. I beg of your mercy, please allow us one more chance. Just a little bit longer is all I ask. Once you secure the deal, it’s done.” Elsie promises Aiden. She wants nothing more than to get Alyssa away from Aiden in hopes that some distance will clear the clouds from her head. Then maybe Alyssa would see she doesn’t actually love Aiden, she’s just obsessed with the idea. “Fine, last chance. There will be no next time, Elsie. You’re a good wolf and wish you had a better human. I hold no ill will towards you. I’m just sorry you have to suffer the consequences of her actions.” Aiden tells Elsie before she bows her head and makes her way to the door. “Go home, it is your birthday after all,” Aiden says before Elsie can walk out the door. She does just as Aiden says, thinking it would be the best thing to do before Alyssa is back in control of her body. Later on, Aiden stands at his office window looking over the town as he holds the invitation in his hand. The decision weighs heavily on him. Something about it calls out to him. River has been hounding him to go. If you know River, he never wants to go to a party unless blood and cracking bones are involved. He watches as couples walk around talking and laughing. Here he is at the age of 27 and still has not found his fated mate. Stress floods his mind. The elders council has been breathing down his neck about choosing a mate. He knows if he does not find his fated soon, the council will choose for him. He’s working on a deal to get rid of Alyssa. There are a few details that need to be negotiated before anything is set in stone. Silver Diamond is now approaching onto his pack. The Shadow Mist pack has become Erin Diamond’s latest target. What is Silver Diamond? Silver Diamond is a company that deals in the import and export business. They mine metals, especially silver. Silver Diamond manufactures its own weapons, including bows and arrows, knives, guns, and bullets. This, of course, is all a front for something much bigger- something dangerous to werewolves. Silver Diamond is a front for werewolf hunters. Anyone who works for them is a hunter. They are the reason werewolves are so untrusting toward humans. Aiden thinks about everything that’s on his plate right now. He wonders how he’s going to make it through all of it. He internally prays to the moon goddess, begging to find his one and only fated mate soon. He’s interrupted by a tapping on the glass door. Aiden turns around to find Enzo standing at the door. Enzo doesn’t wait for permission; he enters the office and sits on the black leather couch, making himself right at home. “Hey, I see you got rid of Lissa. She didn’t try to sink her claws in to deep this time, did she?” Enzo is aware of his stepsister’s behavior towards Aiden. He’s talked to her on many occasions. “Oh, you know, Elise and I had another talk. This is the last time I let her go. Once the deal is signed, she will be gone and out of our hair.” Aiden updates his friend on what happened between him and Alyssa earlier this afternoon. “Who the f**k is Isla Taylor?” This is the first question Enzo asks after hearing the story. Enzo oddly has a sense of protectiveness for the girl just from hearing her name. The name Isla Taylor is oddly familiar to him, too. He, too, is unable to place the name. “I have no idea, and it is driving me crazy,” Aiden admits to his friend in hopes he will have some much-needed advice. “Are you planning on going?” Enzo asks. “I don’t know. Everything in me is telling me to go, but I have no idea who this girl is. I thank her for giving me an excuse to avoid Alyssa.” Aiden is at a crossroads with himself. On one hand, if he goes to the party, it could be an opportunity to find his mate and blow off some steam. On the other hand, it’s dangerous. He doesn’t know who this girl is. This party could be a trap for all he knows. “Then maybe you should follow your instincts and go. However, not alone. I or Cyrus will go with you, and a back-up squad of zetas will stand guard outside just in case.” Enzo suggests. No matter what, Enzo’s first priority as beta is always to protect the alpha. Aiden is his alpha first and his best friend second; their priorities are to the pack. “Eh, it’d have to be you. Cyrus is away on an assignment.” Aiden tells his beta. “What, since when?” Enzo is surprised to hear this because he hasn’t gotten any updates about any operations going on as of late. “This morning. Before you ask, need I say less, Silver Diamond?” Silver Diamond is all the explanation Enzo needs to understand why Cyrus is away now. Despite Enzo’s understanding, he is still concerned. “Is it wise to send the pack’s gamma away when we have a target on our backs?” Enzo admits to his friend about his concerns. “We should be fine. Cyrus won’t be gone long- three days max.” Aiden shrugs. Though he may seem to think this isn’t a big deal on the outside, on the inside, he is full of concern. Anything could happen in three days. Hopefully everything will be fine.