Secrets of an Alpha

Chapter Three

Natalia’s POV 

“So what do you think of him?” Rosalie asks as she rifles through my jewellery box, pulling out a gold necklace. 

I stare at the ceiling and let out a sigh as I sink into the mattress. 

“He’s a nice guy… pretty forward but apart from that he seems fine.” 

She wanders over to the mirror in the corner and proceeds to put the chain around her neck. 

“Wow what a glowing report… nice… fine…” she giggles before walking over to me and taking a seat on the edge of the bed. 

“No, well I suppose he has it all really doesn’t he? The charms, the looks, the success… he is an impressive man.” 

“Hmmm yet you don’t seem that impressed.” she laughs, plopping down backwards to lie beside me. 

I turn my head to look at her and smile widely. 

“No I guess I’m not… hey mom sure loves him though huh?” 

“Oh Goddess I think we know that she’s going to push this match as far as she can.” Rosalie states as I nod in agreement. 

“Rosa do you think I’m being a picky b***h?” I ask genuinely. 

She lets out a loud burst of laughter and nods her head vigorously. 

“Yess!! But you always have been. There’s nothing wrong with that sis. I don’t blame you for wanting to be certain about a man before you take him as a mate.” 

Suddenly the door opens abruptly and Penelope steps inside. 

“Nat… dad wants you in his office. Now.” she states whilst I pull myself up to a sitting position. 

“What? Why?” I ask in confusion. “Isn’t he still in a meeting?” 

Before Penelope can respond my father’s voice fills my head through the mind link. 

“Natalia, can you please come to my office. Come now it’s important.” 

“Yes dad I’ll be there soon.” I reply quickly as I hop up onto my feet. 

“Did he just link you?” Penelope asks. 

“Yeah… what’s this all about?” 

She shrugs and shakes her head from side to side. 

“No idea, I dropped some paperwork off at his office that Beta Philip asked me to give to him and he told me that I was to fetch you.” 

“Oh” I say, furrowing my brows. 

I give my sisters a ‘wish me luck’ look before I make my way to my father’s office, knocking on the door confidently. Whatever it is he has to speak to me about, I am determined for him to see that I am strong and capable. 

“Come in Natalia!” 

I open the door and see my dad standing at the window, looking out towards the driveway of the pack house. 

“Hey… you wanted to see me?” 

He turns his head to look at me and nods carefully. 

“Yes have a seat Talie…” 

Oh s**t… when my father reverts back to using my childhood nickname, it’s never a good sign.

He takes a seat across from me and looks at me sympathetically. 

“Spit it out dad.” I chuckle, with an annoyingly nervous tinge to my voice. 

“Well I’ve just had an interesting meeting with Alpha Eric. He’s preparing to leave with his men right now so I’ll make this quick incase you wish to say goodbye.” 

I shuffle in my seat and nod for him to continue. 

“In terms of an alliance agreement, Alpha Eric is only willing to sign on the dotted line if he can have something in return. It appears he is incredibly taken with you and he wishes for you to be his mate.” 

I open my mouth in shock and shake my head in disbelief. Sure I knew that he might be interested in me but I didn’t think that it would be his condition for entering into an alliance with my father. 

“So let me get this straight… if I refuse, then he walks away from the deal?” I ask my father disgustedly. 

“Yes, he won’t move forward with the deal. He wasn’t aggressive or combative but he made himself very clear that it was a deal breaker for him.” my father answers cautiously. 

I let out a loud sigh and look into his eyes conflictingly. Yes my pack need this but the thought of being strong armed into accepting a mate makes me feel physically sick. Just as I am about to open my mouth to protest my father cuts in. 

“I told him no Natalia.” 

My eyes widen in shock and my father smiles softly in return. 

“Well don’t look so surprised… you are my daughter after all and your happiness is important to me.” 

“Yes but dad… I know that the pack needs this.” I answer in return. 

“We don’t know that yet… we could perhaps find another alliance, I’ll sort it out.” he replies, sounding somewhat unconvinced. 

“Goddess… what an ass.” I mutter lowly as I think about the so called strong Alpha Eric. 

He really couldn’t come to me first? He had to bargain with my father instead? 

“Yes well he has his answer… he has assured me there is no ill will and he will still be joining us at the annual harvest ball in a couple of weeks time.” 

I stand up from my chair and walk around to my dad’s side of the desk, throwing my arms around him where he sits. 

“Thanks for having my back dad. I love you.” I say adoringly as he pats my back gently. 

“Of course Talie… although that was the easy part… now I have to break the news to your mom.” he chuckles. 

I let him go and head towards the door quickly. 

“Yeah good luck with that!” I giggle as I open the door to exit the room ready to hunt down Alpha Eric. 

I stride down the corridor with purpose and fly through the pack house door into the driveway where he is packing the car with a handful of his warriors. 

“Hey Eric!” I shout out to him from a few yards away. 

He turns his head to look at me and his lips turn up in a smile. 

“Natalia… it’s nice of you to come and say goodbye.” 

I roll my eyes and shake my head at his audacity. 

“Actually I was coming to say that if you wish to discuss my love life in any sort of way then I would appreciate if you would come directly to me since I am in fact a fully grown woman who is capable of running my own life.” 

His eyes wander over my body hungrily as he leans against the car. I can’t explain why but the action makes me feel a little uneasy… as if I am being examined thoroughly. 

“Hmmm, for an Alpha’s daughter you sure have a lot to say. Nevertheless your concern is noted.” he smiles before taking a step towards me. 

“In future when I wish to discuss us… I’ll speak directly with you.” 

“Yes well that would be a good place to start.” I say with mild aggression. 

“I’ll see you in a couple of weeks at the ball Natalia… I already can’t wait.” he grins, before leaning in to land a kiss on my cheek. 

I step away from him quickly and watch as he climbs into his car, followed by his men. I fold my arms over my body and continue to watch the car round the corner and disappear amidst the trees. When I am satisfied that he has left, I turn around to see my mom standing in the doorway with that f*****g look on her face. 

I groan internally as I make my way towards her. 

“Mom don’t…” I say to her as I pass her by and enter back into the house. 

“Natalia you are making a mistake if you don’t accept that man! He adores you! Not to mention this pack depends upon it!” she calls out after me frantically. 

I spin around to face her, my anger beginning to grow. 

“So what just because he likes me I should give my whole life to him willingly?!! I barely know the man!” 

“Well I barely knew your father when I entered into an arrangement with his pack. Our parents arranged our union and it worked out for us! You are an Alpha’s daughter and you have responsibilities! When are you going to grow up and see that?” she protests as a few curious onlookers whisper around us. 

“Oh for Goddess sakes Mom, what century are you living in? If my dad if fine with me not accepting Alpha Eric then why can’t you be?” 

“Your father is soft on you girls… I know what you need. If you accept him you’ll be set for life. You will be loved and cared for and this pack will also be secure. Your selfishness will ruin us!” 

“That’s not true Mom, father says he will find another alliance and-“ 

“THERE ARE NO OTHER ALLIANCES!!” she interrupts angrily. 

“What?” I ask, drawing in a deep breath as I try to contain my fury. 

“Your father was turned away by every other pack! Black Dawn was our only hope.” she answers, her voice suddenly turning sad. 

I don’t know what to say in return. Instead I just stare back at her. Stunned. I know that my dad sometimes waters things down for us in an effort to stop us from worrying but I didn’t think that he would lie to me outright. 

“I can’t do this right now.” I sigh slowly as I turn and walk back out of door. 

I head towards the tree line deciding that I need to go for a run to clear my head. When I reach the comfort of the forest I pull my clothes off quickly and leave them in a neat pile before shifting into my wolf. I take off through the trees and focus on nothing but the wildness around me. The sights, the sounds and the scents all doing their bit to calm my frayed nerves. After running for a while I find myself by the waterfall in the heart of the forest. The rushing waters filter into a plunge pool with the most crystal clear water you could ever have the joy of finding. Secluded and picturesque, it is my favourite place on the whole territory. Barely anyone comes out here since it is popularly referred to in the pack as “Witches Well”, due to some ancient stories that have become pack folklore over the years. The stories don’t scare me off though. It is my favourite place to come and think, which is exactly what I need right now. 

I shift back into my human form and tiptoe over to the waters edge before lowering my body down into the cool water which is sparkling gently in the sunlight. I let the soothing, ripples of water wash over me gently before swimming to over to the other side slowly. I pull myself up onto a huge rock which is positioned in the perfect spot for watching the crashing water enter the pool from above, as though the water is coming from the sky itself. I close my eyes and decide to think over the situation again with a clear mind. Am I convinced that Alpha Eric is the man for me? Definitely not. However on the other hand it pains me to see my pack in danger when I could be the one to strengthen and protect it. I let a tear of frustration drop from my eye and quickly wipe it away in annoyance. I always thought that I would be protecting my pack in a heroic way… like fighting along side the warriors or helping to navigate pack issues with my father but instead it’s the fact that I am an unmated woman…. wanted by a powerful man. Whether his reasons are pure or not, it still leaves me feeling slightly cheap. 

Suddenly I hear the snapping of a twig in the forest behind me. Even over the sound of crashing waters beside me, I am still able to detect scents and sounds around me faster than any of the damn warriors under Gamma Richard’s tutelage. I turn my head abruptly and find myself scanning the trees for the source of the sound. It is then that I notice the large wolves eyes looking back at me for a short moment. I tilt my head as I examine him, taking in his large size and jet black fur. 

“Hello?” I say slowly. 

He turns his head away from me and runs off into the thick forest, leaving me alone once more. I shrug my shoulders and lie back on the rock again, closing my eyes. There has got to be some way that we can secure the safety of our pack without this arrangement. I set to work wracking my brain in an attempt to come up with the illusive solution.