The Alphas bond

what am I doing

I need to prepare for my meeting with Alpha Jordan's pack before the formal dinner we'll be having. We have many points to discuss, and I must be on top of my game to make sure that I don't get swindled.

After all, Alpha Jordan is one of my strongest allies, but he's also quite shrewd and nearly twice my age.

It would be quite easy for him to take advantage of me if I'm not paying close attention.

But I can't get my mind off the girl, and that's irritating.

I've sworn to never again take another Luna, so there's no need for me even to consider that possibility. It's not that. I just wonder... what is she doing here? And am I crazy for even letting Alpha Ernest's ridiculous suggestion enter my thoughts?

Breeder....

The thought has crossed my mind before, of course. It used to be common practice a long time ago, back when Lunas had trouble conceiving male heirs and Alphas wanted to make sure that they had a strong son to put on the throne to rule the pack after them.

Just because I haven't heard of anyone doing it in decades doesn't mean it wasn't a good idea.

Still... the girl....

I'd only glimpsed her as she went down the hallway, and she didn't see me at all. I haven't even seen her face.

Alpha Ernest said she was beautiful, but that means nothing. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Beyond that, I have a reputation for being a cold, cruel man on the battlefield.

Can I also be one in the bedroom?

People speak of me as if I have a harem of women that I use and abuse, but the truth of the matter is I haven't slept with many women at all since my wife died. When I do, they know that there are no feelings involved on my part.

"Rebecca...."

Her name rolls from my lips so easily, even though I wish it wouldn't. Even when I pray her memory will fade to the back of my mind and simply become a part of my subconscious, she lingers.

A knock on my door brings me out of my thoughts.

"Seth," I say. My Beta walks into the office. "Did you check on our... new guest?"

"I did. She's... a tiny thing. Sweet-a bit odd, perhaps."

"Odd?"

He shrugs. "It's hard to describe. You'll have to meet her. She's lovely, though. At any rate, it isn't her I came by to talk to you about."

With my elbows on my desk, I lean toward him. "What is it then?"

"It's Mrs. Worsthingshorethinshire." Seth lets out a lamentable sigh as he sits down across from me. "I'm afraid I've had to let her go."

"Let her go?" I repeat. "But she's the head of the house staff, the head of the maids, anyway. Whatever for?"

"Well, when I walked into the room, she had slapped the girl, Miss Isla, so hard, she knocked her across the room, and when I asked Mrs. Worsthingshorethinshire why, she said it was because the girl ran into a table in her own room. I naturally couldn't tolerate that. It's not the first time I've heard of Mrs. Worsthingshorethinshire doing something so cruel."

I can only stare at him for a moment, hardly believing my ears. "And I have the reputation for being brutal."

He nods. "I was so infuriated at the sight, I had my men give her a taste of her own medicine." He looks down at the floor, a bit embarrassed, I think. "Maybe I shouldn't have, but I thought she deserved it."

"No, don't beat yourself up about it," I say, cracking a joke for once, but Seth doesn't think I'm funny. "You did the right thing. How is the girl?"

"Well enough, I suppose. I sent for Poppy. She's the right maid to take care of her, I think. I'll also have some dinner sent to her and a wardrobe. I assume you will be in to see her... eventually?"

I shrug. "I don't know what my plans are, Seth. This breeder business... it's probably not for me. Especially if she is as you say she is... tiny and frail."

"She is tiny, but I don't think she's frail. Her beauty may well make up for her stature. There's something about her that's quite striking-and before you say it-no pun intended." He gives me a look that says he likes me better when I'm not making jokes.

"Is that what's odd about her then? The striking part?" I ask, putting my strange sense of humor aside.

"No," he says. "I think what's odd is that she just took it, like she's used to being knocked around. That's more than a little disconcerting-that someone so young should be used to getting knocked around for no reason."

I can only shrug at that. Empathy is not my strong suit. "Thanks for letting me know," I say. "Alpha Jordan will be here soon, and I need to prepare."

"All right," Seth gets up and heads out of the room, and I go back to my notes about my meeting with Alpha Jordan, but I cannot concentrate at all.

All I can think about is the girl.