Alpha Conrad’s Little Pet

Nine

I decided to return to the diner after speaking with Elara. I felt lighter and it was evident in my steps as I left her room, a stark contrast to how I entered. Keeping everything bottled up inside me had felt like a crushing weight was on top of me. If I had known that sharing it with Elara and getting her input would make me feel lighter, I would have done it long ago.

I came to a stop when I got to the end of the corridor of Elara’s office and looked to my left and then right with a frown. Elara had asked to walk me out but I told her to stay back, I would find my way. I should have accepted for her to walk me out because now, I was caught in between going left or right and I did not know which direction to go and no one was around that I could ask.

I contemplated going back but I was too embarrassed to do so. Elara would surely make fun of me.

Just as I was standing there still thinking of what to do, I heard footsteps behind me and whirled around, grateful that someone was coming so that I could ask for directions. It was Harold, how lucky was I?

“Hey, I just left Elara’s office but I can’t find my way. Can you give me directions to go out?”

He shook his head negatively, causing a crease to appear on my forehead. I was going to ask him why when I noticed that he had a worried look on his face.

“What’s going on?” Did something bad happen that I was unaware of?

“Alpha Conrad wants you in his office.”

“What?” I squeaked.

“He asked me to bring you. I went to Elara’s office and she said you just left already. Thank goddess I was able to catch up with you,”

“Can you tell him I’ve left already,” When he shook his head, I added, “Please,”

“I’m so sorry, Sam, I can’t,”

“Why? He won’t even know you saw me,”

His expression turned grim, “He would know. He’s watching us right now?”

My head snapped up and I saw a camera directly above us. I cursed as I looked left and right, quickly planning my escape but Harold shook his head, “Don't even think about it. Better to answer him now. Alpha Conrad is an impatient man. If you keep him waiting or run away, he will haunt you and it won’t be pretty when he finally catches you,”

My thought about escaping frizzled away and my shoulders slumped down.

“I’m so sorry Sam,”

I sighed, “No need to apologize, Harold. Show me to his office.”

“Thank you,” he said before turning to lead the way.

I wanted to tell him that there was no need to thank me because I’ve not done anything for him but on second thoughts, I kept quiet as I realized the reason he was thanking me. I could have placed him in a difficult position by begging him to let me go while using my relationship with Elara or even going ahead to escape like I wanted to but I didn’t. I spared him from having to return back without me and facing Conrad’s wrath.

He and Elara have done a whole lot for me by taking me in without thinking twice when I rushed to them for help so I don’t want to put them in a position where they would be in trouble with Conrad. And if this means that I’ll have to face Conrad, I’d do it.

Running away won’t help me much though. Living in his pack means I was under him and he could find me anytime he wanted. Has that not been proven already? Even after dying my hair, he still found me. Better to meet him now, get rejected and get this over with.

As I trailed behind Harold, every step felt like a march toward my own demise, a sense of impending slaughter settling over me. My legs felt leaden, as if rooted to the spot, and I had to focus all my energy on placing one foot in front of the other. The world around me melted away, leaving only the deafening drumbeat of my heart, thundering in my chest like death’s call.

My footsteps flattered once Harold came to a stop in front of a door. My palms became clammy with sweat and the urge to turn and escape weighed down on me.

Harold knocked on the door and I jumped. He opened the door but did not step in.

“Sam, go on,”

I inhaled deeply and exhaled, trying and failing to calm my fraying nerves. I saw the look of concern on Harold’s face and was glad when he did not say anything or force me to go inside quickly.

I pasted on a strained smile, more grimace than anything, before stepping into the room. Conrad stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, gazing out over the cityscape. His dark suit fit him like a second skin, accentuating his broad shoulders and lean physique. With his hands clasped behind his back, he exuded an air of calm authority. I caught a glimpse of his tattoo peeking out from beneath his suit jacket sleeve.

I stiffened when the door closed behind me, leaving me and Conrad alone. The air was oppressive. I found it difficult to breathe. I stood by the door, not moving forward as I waited for him to turn around and acknowledge me, say something but he remained silent.

When I could no longer bear it anymore after standing for close to five minutes, I opened my mouth and said, “Greetings, Alpha Conrad,”

He whirled around with a speed that made my heart skip.

“You have a mouth for greeting, look at that,” his words were dripping with heavy sarcasm and his eyes were mocking as they looked at me from up to down.

A sharp retort sprang to my lips but I held it back. I did not want to get in trouble.

I breathed in and out, “Beta Harold said you wanted to see me,”

“Sit,” he jerked his head to the seat in front of his huge office desk and I pushed myself to move from my position to sit down. A sigh of relief left me once I was no longer on my feet. Good thing he asked me to sit so I wouldn’t collapse on the floor once he rejected me.

I knew how painful it was when one’s mate rejected them, okay, I did not know, but I’ve heard about it. I wondered if it would be like how they described it.

“It would be as painful as someone ripping out your heart and other internal organs. You won’t be able to breathe and it would feel like you were being torn apart limb by limb as the mating bond is severed.”

My hands began to shake in my laps and I could feel cold sweat dripping down my back as I realized that I was not ready to feel such pain.

If it would be worse than what I felt when I found Clarence and Zach —who I wasn't even mated to yet — together in bed, then I might just die.

I could try to escape but it was already too late. He opened his mouth to speak and my whole body system shut down as the anticipated words spilled out.

“We are getting married,”