Alpha Valtor's Substitute Bride

Chapter Three

Astrid

The Alpha's quarters is a massive, gothic beast that stands out definitely in the Valtors estate. The primary exterior of the building is a deep, rich gray, almost black, with stripes of blue undertones. The mansion looms ahead, impressive enough to make my pulse jump, but I force my face into neutrality. I’m alone in the back seat of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, and one of Thane’s men sits in the front. The last thing I want is for him to notice even a flicker of awe at the place we’re approaching. While the driver waits behind the other three vehicles for the automated gate to open fully - I take in the large, stained glass windows depicting scenes of wolves in battle, nature and ancient mythology. I don't know if to admire or snort at the extravagant display of sophistication and old-money luxury. I have no doubt the Valtors’ old-money is stained with the blood of humans like me.

Without warning, I'm flung back against the warm leather seat of the Rolls-Royce as the driver gathers up speed to maneuver the vehicle in one expert motion into the wide compound. I don't wait for the sour faced man in front to open the car for me, I'm already helping myself out of the midnight blue Rolls-Royce.

He sneers at me. “The Alpha's bride will wait in the car for one of -"

“I can open a door for myself, never mind that it's a Rolls-Royce." I tell him flatly. With a poker face expression, I survey the imposing structure of the Alpha's Lodge. I had seen other buildings when we drove into the estate, but the sophistication of this one rattles me.

Thane is already striding towards me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his straight cut pants. Everything about him is so lordly and majestic. For the life of me I can't fathom why he is in such a mood.

He stops a mere inch away from my face.

“Next time, you wait for one of my men to open the car for you." He says in a boring tone that tells me he is not impressed at all.

"But I'm not handicapped.” I point out stubbornly. I won't be the weak girl my father conned him into taking for a bride. He narrows his eyes on me. He steals the small space left between us until his musky scent is all I can breathe and his achingly handsome face is all that fills my line of vision.

“You know better than to pretend to be stubborn. I am not a man of many words, but I will go into detail to let you know I do not fancy you running your mouth." Oh boy, what has Bryn gotten me into? His eyes are drilling holes into my forehead, but I don't shy away from the eye contact.

"You will do what I say, when I say it, and how I want it.” His eyes linger on my lips which are parted as if to call his bluff. I really want to, but I don't.

He turns to one of his men, the one who rode with me in the Rolls-Royce.

"Take her to the right-wing. The pack’s matron is expecting her, she'll see to that injury on her arm and her other needs.” He doesn't wait to confirm if his words have registered with the sour faced man. I watch as he walks away, three of his escorts turning on their heels to follow their master.

My new life is going to be worse than my old one. This, I'm sure of.

The pack's matron is a stern looking woman with high cheekbones that look sharp enough to slice through my cloth. She eyes me up and down in a slow motion that tells me she is either disappointed or flat out unhappy with her task of seeing to my injury.

“Where are your things?" She asks after a long moment of silence.

“I came empty-handed. Thane didn't -"

“Hush! Do not call him by name! You will refer to him as The Alpha until the mating ceremony. Don't they teach you humans anything?" Her voice is shrill and has a motherly tone to it that makes me wonder what role she plays in the pack.

I lift one brow up. I have a feeling humans are not treated with much respect within the walls of the Alpha lodge. And that leaves me unsettled. How am I supposed to survive?

The woman's fingers slide over my face, turning my cheek this way and that. I let my eyes drift to the heavy ornate tables with carved legs and gleaming surfaces. I'm sure she can't tell which twin I am, but still my heart is pounding at the thought that she might possess magic abilities that will see right through me.

I hold my breath while she examines my face, and when she turns me around I stand my ground.

“Are you going to cooperate with me or do I have to fetch help to restrain you while I examine you?” She sounds serious enough to carry on with her threat and since I don't think it's such a good idea to start fanning the flames of Thane's anger so soon, I obey. Albeit reluctantly.

She palms my right breast and I slap her hand away. She pauses to glare hard at me.

“What is your name?" She asks a question in a detached voice.

“Bryn." I tell her. She looks like she's going to say something mean to me so I'm surprised when she steps back and puts her hands behind her.

“You need to clean up. Bathroom is that way. I will send your dress up soon and tend to the injury on your arm. Do not leave this room.” She stresses the last part warningly and gives me an equally warning look before exiting the room.

When the door clicks shut behind me, I go to sit on the bed. I hold my head in my palm as I try to let my brain catch up with my new reality. I'm to be mated to a wolf shifter whose arrogance and pomposity will give a T-Rex egg a run for its money. I raise my head to focus my gaze on the immaculate white ceiling.

The next half-crescent moon is in five days. I don't know much about the Binding Test but I have a bad feeling about it.

When the door opens a few minutes later, it is to reveal a grumpy looking maid with all-knowing eyes and a huge shopping bag in her arm. She heads straight to the other side of the bed where the pillows are to dump the ridiculous looking bag.

“You're supposed to clean up." She says in a bored tone, her hand reaching inside the bag to bring out a red dress that still has its price tag on it. She rips it off the dress before I can read. I can't tell if she is human like me or a wolf shifter but I still go ahead to ask her the question forming in my head.

“Can you tell me about the Binding Test?” She pauses midway flinging items on the bed. She lifts her head so she can look at me, our first eye contact since she marched into the room.

“It's a sacred ceremony where a couple are tested for compatibility and genuinely of the mate bond." She tosses the answer at me as though I'm stupid for not knowing it.

“What does that mean?"

She huffs out a breath. She thinks I'm a dunce or an ignorant human. Probably both.

“If the mate bond between A and B is not genuine, there will be no mating ceremony. In arranged circumstances like yours," she twists her nose, “If the diviner at the Binding Test ceremony does not feel the mating bond, the couple must part ways.”

And as she goes back to continue flinging things on the bed, my heart bottoms out. If Thane chose Bryn as his mate, then there will be trouble. I'm a substitute bride, and if the diviner figures this out, Thane will obliterate my family into oblivion.