Fated Marriage with the Alpha

Five

Chapter five

Hailey's POV

Jackson and I stood before what he described to me as the elders committee, they are a group of old men who seem to be in charge of everything going on in the pack.

"I have agreed to do this, but one on condition," I said.

They glanced at each other, then turned back to me.

"And what would that be?" One of them asked.

"You will let me go once I help you get rid of the curse," I said.

I could feel Jackson swiftly turn towards me but I ignored him and continued staring at the elders.

"Hailey, this is your home, it is where you belong," one of the elders replied.

"You seem to have forgotten that I'm still a student and as such I have classes to attend, are we doing this or not?" I snapped.

I can't believe they actually expected that I'll quit school and stay back here with them. How more cruel could they be, wanting me to put my life on hold for them?

"We will let you go, but you will have to come around from time to time, you and Jackson are our leader and we'll need you both around to take care of certain things," another one of them spoke up.

"Fine," I mumbled.

They dismissed us to go and prepare ourselves for the marriage which they scheduled to take place during nighttime.

"Thank you," Jackson muttered as we walked out of the elder's chamber.

"For?" I teased.

I already felt free around him, he seems really cool.

"For agreeing to do this, it's a lot I know, I can't even imagine waking up one morning in a new land and getting married to someone I do not know the night after, we are putting you through so much stress and I know you must be pissed at us right now," he said.

"Well, that pissed part might be true, but I'm more confused than pissed right now, I mean I've been a human for nineteen years and suddenly, I woke up one morning and I'm a wolf," I chuckled sadly.

I can't even pretend that I'm not overwhelmed by everything, Jackson's calmness and support have been my new source of energy.

I mean he's the only one who has sympathized with me about my situation, everyone else keeps going on and on about how I have been chosen to break the curse regardless of my feelings.

He suddenly reached out and held my hand.

"Hailey, I promise you, once it's nightfall and the curse is broken, I will take you back and make sure you settle perfectly back into your society, you don't ever have to worry about us anymore," he said squeezing my hand gently.

Somehow, I felt a sudden wave of sadness wash over me, does that mean I'm never going to see him again?

I was snapped out of my chain of thought as a hand roughly snatched Jackson's hand away from mine and pulled him into a hug.

It was a pretty girl of my age.

She broke the hug after a short while and turned towards me.

"So, you are the girl that is going to be used to break the curse huh?" She spat with a look of disdain.

"No, you are mistaken, I chose to be of help," I fired back at her.

"What's the difference? Either way, the curse will be broken tonight," she replied.

"That's enough Katrina, she's my Luna, you don't talk to her in that tone," Jackson scolded and she rolled her eyes.

"I'm sorry Jack, I guess I'm just too excited," she said placing a quick kiss on his cheeks and walked off.

"I'm sorry about that, she's usually not like that," Jackson said.

"Well she's lucky I didn't meet her first before I accepted to do this, else it would have been a different story," I snapped and he chuckled.

"I'm glad you didn't let her step on you, speaks so much of a true leader," he said.

"Who is she anyway?" I asked.

I didn't fail to notice the look of discomfort on his face immediately I asked.

"Uhm... I'm sorry if that was a sensitive question, I shouldn't have asked," I quickly apologized.

"Oh no, it's fine, her name is Katrina, we used to be in a relationship," he replied.

Now, that makes sense, that little behavior was an act of jealousy.

"Your breakup, was it because of the marriage?" I asked and he suddenly looked away, I know my questions were making him uncomfortable but well, I needed to know as much as I could.

"Yes, Katrina and I were told to stop seeing each other after it was confirmed that you are my mate and we will be getting married for the curse to be broken." He finally managed to reply.

I suddenly felt bad for him, he has been sympathizing with me all this time, while deep down he was going through his own s**t.

"That must have really been heartbreaking," I muttered.

"Yeah well, maybe just a little, we both knew we were not mated to each other, we were just having fun," he replied.

Well, I don't think she understood the situation the way he thinks she did, I mean the Katrina that I just met looked like she was going to chop my head off because Jackson held my hand, she's clearly in love with him.

She doesn't need to be mad anyway, they could continue with whatever they have going on once the curse is broken and I'm out of here.

"Hey, it's getting late, and it's almost time for the process, I'm sure the women will be waiting to dress you up right now," he said.

"Yeah sure, let's get this over and done with, shall we?" I teased turning around and made to walk away.

I suddenly felt him grab my hands.

"Let me walk you back to the room, I'm sure you don't know your way back," he said.

I couldn't hold back the small smile that broke out on my face.

How does he manage to be so cool at everything? I see why Katrina is all over him.

"I'd appreciate that, thank you," I muttered and he nodded with a smile.

He lead me back to the room and true to his words, some women were already sitting in wait for me, they had a dress laid out on the bed.

Immediately I arrived they were all over me, fixing me into the floral gown, styling my hair and all that.

Once they were satisfied with how I looked, they led me out, towards an open space where the rest of them as I assumed, were all gathered in a circle.

I sighted Jackson standing gloriously in their midst, looking as hot as ever.

It suddenly occurred to me that I haven't thought of Paxton since I met him which is strange because Paxton lives rent-free in my head.

I slowly walked up to him.

"You look absolutely stunning Hailey," he whispered to me.

"Thanks, you don't look bad yourself," I replied.

Almost immediately the elders stepped forward and I watched as they performed different rituals which at some point required a drop of blood each from Jackson and I.

After a short while, they were done and Jackson and I were pronounced married.

I watched the nervous looks on their faces as soon as the ritual was completed, Jackson wasn't left out.

I'm guessing they were scared that the ritual might have actually not worked out.

Suddenly, a loud howl escaped Jackson's mouth, I watched in awe as he gradually transformed into a huge wolf.

And almost immediately, the rest of them joined the process and the whole place was filled with loud howls, they jumped on each other, rubbing their skins together in obvious jubilation.

Oh my goodness! It actually worked.