The Alpha’s Human Stripper Mate

6

AVALON

I had overheard the whispers, I had listened to the gossip, and I prayed fervently to the moon goddess that they were not true. They couldn’t be true.

I couldn’t be Alpha Thorne’s chosen mate. The mere thought of it gave me intense anxiety and heartache.

Now don’t get me wrong. Alpha Thorne was a great alpha who cared about his people deeply and would go to great lengths to protect his pack, but it was quite obvious that he would not make a great husband.

He had the looks. He was tall, powerfully built, domineering, and extremely handsome, but personality wise, our great alpha was lacking.

He was brash, abrasive, and could even be considered mean, and I honestly didn’t want that kind of man for a mate. But that was not the only reason.

The main reason why I dreaded being Alpha Thorne’s mate was because I was in love with another, and unfortunately, the man who had stolen my heart was not any better.

In a way, he was even worse than Thorne as his face was always emotionless, and one could barely know what he was thinking. At least, if Thorne was mad, everyone in the castle would know.

A sharp knock on the door jolted me out of my reverie, and I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“Hold on! I’m coming!” I exclaimed in a shaky voice before rushing toward the door. The moment I opened it, my father stepped into the room, wearing his usual scowl on his face.

“Hello father.” I greeted him with a small bow. My father served as one of the elder council members of Alpha Thorne, and in all honesty, I was truly terrified of him.

My father was a difficult man, and he had never shown me a shred of affection since the day I was born. He only put me down and belittled me every chance he got.

I should be used to it by now, but I wasn’t. I only wanted him to treat me like his daughter. Was that too much to ask? I guess it was.

“You,” Father commanded in an ice-cold voice, and I felt my heart shatter into a million pieces. He barely called me by name and only addressed me like I was a complete stranger.

“You shall leave this castle by nightfall, and you will not come back until three weeks are up.”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion as my heart pounded loudly in my chest. Why was I suddenly asked to leave with no prior warning? Where was I supposed to go?

“Why, Father?” I asked, unable to look him in the eye.

“You have been chosen as Alpha Thorne’s mate. You will go to the great temple for cleansing and preparations for the mating ceremony. When those three weeks are up, you will come back here and fulfil your duties as the alpha’s mate and luna of the pack.”

My eyes went wide with horror as a broken gasp escaped my lips.

“No, Father!” I cried, finally mustering up courage to meet his eyes, which was a huge mistake as those eyes only looked at me with scorn and contempt.

“You dare go against me?” He growled, and my knees buckled as I sank to the ground, body trembling vigorously.

“Please, Father. Don’t make me do this!” I yelled as tears gathered in my eyes. “Please, I don’t want to be mated to Alpha Thorne!”

I flinched as Father’s eyes narrowed on me, an irritated sneer escaping his lips.

“You will do as you are told, you useless girl!” He thundered, and I flinched once again as my tears finally began to fall.

“I’m sorry, Father, but I can not do what you are asking of me. I am in love with someone else.” I cried. A moment ago, he was angry, but now, his expression turned murderous.

He suddenly grabbed me by the front of my clothes and lifted me off the ground with an insane glint dancing in the pool of his eyes.

“You little s**t!” He thundered, shaking me like a rag doll.

“The next time you say something so ridiculous, I will have you thrown in the dungeons! Are you stupid?! Have you lost your damn mind?! Why are you trying to ruin all I have worked for?”

His eyes blazed with intense insanity and my body shook with terror as he was almost at the point of choking me.

“I will not repeat myself. You will do as I say, or else, I will make sure you pay dearly.” His voice had become oddly calm now, and this was almost more terrifying than when he yelled.

Father flung me to the ground roughly before storming out of the room, slamming the door roughly behind me.

Tears slid down my cheeks as I sobbed on the ground. What did I do to deserve such an ordeal? Why was I treated this way?

My body shook with sobs as I lay on the ground for hours. When I had no more tears left to cry, I slowly got up from the ground.

I winced slightly as my body was now sore from lying on the cold hard ground for so long. A pained groan escaped my lips as I finally made it to my feet.

I couldn’t be mated to Alpha Thorne. That was my biggest nightmare. No matter what my father said, I couldn’t just sit here and do nothing.

I needed to do something about it, or else I would be doomed forever. I quickly washed my face and left my room.

Making sure that there was no one in sight, I quickly made my way across the castle toward his quarters. Father said I would leave by nightfall, and it was already evening.

Whatever I was going to do to stop the mating needed to be done now. I needed to see the man I loved. Maybe he would be able to figure out a way out of this whole mess.

He was an extremely busy man, but since it was late in the evening, he would be in his quarters. I looked around once again to make sure the coast was clear, and once I was satisfied, I knocked on the door.

After a few knocks, the door finally opened to reveal Kellan, standing at the doorway. That was right. I was in love with Thorne’s beta and not him.

“Ava?” Kellan said, and although I could hear the surprise in his voice, his expression remained the same.

My heart began thumping loudly in my chest the moment I laid eyes on him. I was so smitten by the man in front of me, and honestly, who wouldn’t be?

The man was so devastatingly handsome that it hurt my heart. It was obvious that he just got out of the shower as his damp black hair fell over his eyes.

His brown eyes stared at me intensely, and his cheekbones, which would be the death of me, were even more pronounced today.

I was getting distracted by his looks again, but this wasn’t the time. There were more urgent issues at hand.

“I need to speak to you, please.” I said in a desperate tone. Instantly sensing the urgency in my voice, Kellan waved me inside.

“My father is asking me to become Thorne’s mate,” I said once we were inside, and from his unsurprised expression, there was a chance he knew about this.

“Did you know about this, Kellan?” My voice broke as I stared at him with hurt and disbelief.

“Ava—” He began, but I cut him off instantly.

“Did you?”

He nodded slowly, and my heart sank deep in my chest. “I did, but I didn’t say anything because I have a plan.”

My eyebrows furrowed in confusion. “You have a plan? What plan?”

He took a step toward me and placed his hands on both sides of my face, and of course, my heart rate sped up even more.

“Go ahead with the mating ceremony. Become Thorne’s luna. After that, I’ll begin my plan.”

My confused expression turned angry, and I instantly took a step back. “What?”

How could he say something like that? How could he ask me to become Thorne’s Luna when I was against it from the start? I didn’t want to do it. That was why I came here in the first place.

“How could you ask that of me, Kellan?” I asked in an extremely disappointed tone, and I barely got the words out when he suddenly grabbed me by the waist and pulled me into a kiss.

A surprised gasp escaped my lips as Kellan barely initiated any physical contact between us. It had always been my job, and at that moment, the kiss came as a pleasant surprise.

I sank into the kiss, but unfortunately, it ended as quickly as it started. Kellan's hands lingered on my waist as he stared at me with an intense expression.

“Trust me, love. Just do as I say. When have I ever failed you?” He asked, his baritone voice sending shivers down my spine.

I let out a sigh. I was so hopelessly in love with Kellan. How could I ever say no to him?

“Fine. I’ll go ahead with the mating, but you better make sure that plan of yours comes through.” I replied reluctantly.