The Reluctant Alpha

Chapter 3 - A Deal with The Devil

Luca

    It has been four days of pure hell! Ever since I doomed myself by accepting the Alpha position, it has been non-stop preparation. I get up, train, have to study all the logs my dad has laid out, eat, train some more, and then back to sleep only to start all over again the next day. My body and mind are sore. I don't know how much more I can take. I feel like my head barely hits the pillow before I'm back at it again. Titus just keeps reminding me that it is my own fault. I can't argue with him. I let my pride and temper get the best of me.

    Today is finally an off day and I have one mission on my mind. I need to make a visit to an old acquaintance. I know better than to head to the witches' realm on my own so I mind link my best friend, and future Beta - Alex - to go with me. I have to try and cover my tracks so my father doesn't know where I'm headed. He would be pissed to know I had anything to do with the witches. This, however, is a matter of life and death in my eyes. I know the position I'm about to take over. There are people out there planning to over throw me the moment I take my oath. They will be looking for any weakness to attack. I'm not stupid enough to think they aren't waiting for me to announce a Luna or be seen with my mate. Even though I haven't even met her yet, I know I need to keep her safe. If that means that I live my life without the one true love the Moon Goddess made for me, so be it. 

    "Bro, I really don't see why you have to go see this woman again. It was risky coming here once. She did what you wanted her to do. Why do we have to see her again.?" Alex grumbles from beside me. 

    "I'm not going through this with you again. You know why. Leave it at that." I snap.

    Alex rolls his eyes. "Plenty of Alphas have their mates in their lives. You could too."

    I stop dead in my tracks and glare at him. "I WILL NOT BECOME MY FATHER!!" I scream, trying to keep Titus at bay. Titus doesn't agree with me at all on the matter, but he is just as tired as I am with hearing about it. I saw what my father became after my mother died. I won't turn into that. I need to be a strong leader for my people. I need to be able to rule without distraction. I promised myself I would never be him. 

    Alex holds his hands up in surrender and takes a step back. "I get it. I just don't want to see you make a mistake."

    I know he has my best interest at heart. We have grown up together. Playing alongside each other as pups and well into our teenage years. He is the one person I know I can always count on. I just wish after everything he has seen in my life; he would accept my decision. 

    We walk the rest of the way in silence. Within ten minutes we are standing outside the door that we visited almost a year ago.

    "You don't have to do this you know." Alex offers up one more time before I knock on the small hut door right inside the witches realm. 

    We wait patiently even though I can feel eyes on us from every direction. I know I can shift in a split second, but I don't know how we would fair against their magic. It is much more beneficial to have a witch on your side than against you. 

    I'm just about to knock again when the small cedar door cracks open just a bit. I can't see anyone on the other side and wonder if it just blew open when she speaks. "You darken my door step again? I thought our business was concluded at this time." I hear cackle from behind the door.

    I clear my throat. "There have been some developments recently and I wanted to verify that everything was still in place"

    That must grab her attention because the door flings open revealing a petite blonde lady. Her stringy hair is up in a mess bun. A long gray gown that looks like it hasn't been washed in a year covers her small frame all the way down to her ankle. Her emerald eyes bore into me and I have to swallow down the small bit of fear that runs through me. I'm about to be an Alpha for crying out loud. I shouldn't be frightened by this tiny woman. I don't even think she weighs a fourth of what I do.

    "Still in place?" she spits. "Do you doubt my word?" I hear venom laced in every syllable.

    I straighten my spine and look her dead in the eyes. "That was not my intention. May we please come in and I will explain myself?"

    She looks at us for a moment before stepping aside and motioning for us to come in. Once inside, a small chill runs up my spine. I know I'm not supposed to deal with witches. They are shifty and have a way to get what they want while leaving you empty handed. But I know what I'm doing. This is the best for everyone involved. Especially my mate, wherever she may be. 

    "It seems that I will be replacing my father sooner than expected," I start, "I wanted to ensure that the spell is still in place." I look at her expectantly as she c***s an eyebrow in my direction. 

    "Of course it is. I told you how this works. I have masked your scent from your mate. The only way that she will ever be able to verify that you are her mate is if you break the spell by revealing it to her. Otherwise, she will never pick up it. She may be able to sense her mate near, but she will never be able to pinpoint it." she said with a shrug.

    I let out a sigh of relief that I didn't know I had been holding. That was what I was hoping to hear. I alone am in charge of breaking it and there is no way I would ever do that. I would do anything to protect my goddess given mate, even if that means never having her. Sure, I could have rejected her, but that would have just meant pain to her. I would never do anything to hurt her. This was the only logical way. "Thank you for the verification. We will be on our way. Sorry to have bothered you once again, madam."

    "I've told you before, Alpha. Please, call me Agatha. We are business partners after all." The smile that spreads across her lips makes me uneasy and I am ready to go.

    "Well, thank you, Agatha." I nod towards the door and Alex follows me. 

    "Don't forget your payment of course!" she yells out with a laugh before the door closes behind us. 

    How could I forget the payment? I can't believe she even suggested the terms. If I get what I want, her payment won't even be an option. For once, I have outsmarted a witch.