Choose Me Instead, Alpha

The Promise

"You want these people to stay here?" The Alpha asked again.

"Yes, Father. That would be your birthday gift to me."

"Okay, son. I'll take it that you know what you're doing."

"Come forward." The Alpha motioned for my parents.

They came forward and bowed.

"From now on, you and your family have residence in the estate," the Alpha said.

"Thank you, Alpha, but we do not deserve this," my father said, bowing again.

"Perhaps you do not, but your daughter has found favor in the sight of the future Alpha, so it will happen as he has said," the Alpha replied.

"Everyone, please enjoy the party. Come on, go and enjoy the celebration," the Alpha said with a smile.

I think that calmed my father down, and he left with my mother, both of them holding my hands.

Soon enough, the celebration ended, and people had already started leaving.

A guard walked toward us.

"I have been ordered by the Alpha to show you to your rooms. Follow me."

We followed him up the stairs until he stopped in front of a door.

"This will be your room," he said, pointing toward my parents' room. "And the one to your left is your daughter's room."

"Your belongings from your house will be brought here tomorrow."

"Thank you so much," my father said, bowing again.

"We would like to say thank you to the Alpha again. Do you know where he is?" my father asked.

"The Alpha has retired to his room for the night. You can meet him tomorrow."

The guard finished speaking and began walking away.

"Let's all sleep in the same room tonight," my mother said to my father.

My father nodded and took my hand.

"You'll stay with us today, okay, Aly?"

"Okay, Daddy." I nodded my head.

The room was so spacious, and the bed was big enough to fit five people.

We freshened up, and soon we were lying on the bed with Mom stroking my head.

"Are you angry with me, Mom?" I asked.

"Of course not, but you should not have walked away even when I told you not to."

She paused before continuing.

"And even if we are staying here now, do not forget who you are, Aly. Now, go to sleep."

I didn't understand what she meant by that, but I closed my eyes and went to sleep.

We woke up to knocking on the door.

My father got up and opened it.

A guard was standing there with fresh clothes.

"The Alpha has requested that you and your family freshen up and come meet him in the garden."

"Okay," my father replied, then bowed.

We freshened up, and soon we were walking down to meet the Alpha in the garden.

"Remember, Alyssa, do not speak unless we ask you to," Mom said nervously.

We got to the garden, and the Alpha was already there.

"Good morning, Alpha," Father said.

Both my mother and father bowed.

"Good morning, Alpha," I said, smiling.

"Good morning, my dear," the Alpha said, returning my smile.

"Come, hold my hand."

I ran to him and held his hand. He laughed.

"What is your name, dear?"

"Alyssa."

"Oh, Alyssa. You have such a wonderful name."

"If Sebastian is ever mean to you, come and tell me, okay?"

"Don't worry, Alpha. He won't do that."

"I'll hold and drag his ear if he does," I said with a serious face.

The Alpha laughed at that, while my mother gave me a look.

"Don't mind her, Alpha. She's just a child," my mom said, bowing her head.

"She didn't say anything wrong. Alyssa, if he misbehaves, make sure to drag his ear, okay?" the Alpha said, trying to control his laughter.

The Alpha straightened up and looked at my parents.

"I assume that since you are staying here now, you would want to work?"

"Yes, Alpha. We wanted to speak to you about that yesterday, but we didn't know you," my father said.

"Okay. What work would you like to do?" the Alpha asked.

"I can work in the stables, Alpha, and my wife can work in the kitchen," my father said.

"Is that okay with you both?" the Alpha asked again.

"Yes, of course, Alpha," Mom replied.

"Okay, then it's settled."

The Alpha looked toward the house.

"I think breakfast should be ready already. Let's go."

He took my hand, and we began walking.

Then I saw Sebastian.

I didn't even think twice before shouting his name.

"Sebastian!"

He turned around, and I ran toward him.

I could hear my mother calling my name, but I didn't stop.

"Hey! Slow down, Flash," he said to me.

"I haven't seen you since yesterday. Were you not going to come and meet me?" I asked, folding my arms.

He laughed.

"Of course I was going to meet you. I got something for you. Come, let's go and sit down."

Sebastian turned to my parents, who had already walked over to us.

"I'll bring her to the breakfast table myself."

"Okay, Young Master," my father said.

Sebastian turned back to me.

"Come on, don't be angry with me. I have a gift for you. That's why I haven't met you since yesterday."

"The Alpha has given me permission to drag your ear if you don't listen," I said, still folding my arms.

"Oh, really? With which hands do you want to drag my ear? Show me."

"With these hands." I held them up for him to see.

He laughed at that.

Seeing him laugh, I couldn't help but start laughing too.

"Close your eyes," he said.

"Why?"

"Just close your eyes."

I closed my eyes.

"Bring out your hands," he said.

I stretched out my hands.

He dropped something into them, and I opened my eyes.

It was an emerald stone.

"Here, Alyssa. This matches your eyes perfectly. Make sure to keep it safe, okay?"

"You gave me a gray stone, and now I'm giving you an emerald stone."

"Okay, Sebastian. I'll keep it safe because it came from you," I said happily.

"Thank you so much," I added, still staring at it.

He brought out his gray stone and held it out. I held out my emerald stone too.

"Now we both have something from each other."

"A gray stone that matches my eyes, and an emerald stone that matches your eyes," he said.

"As long as we have these stones, we will always be friends. Nothing will separate us," he continued.

"I will never leave you, Alyssa Ross. I promise."

He kept his word for the most part...

Until she came along.