Wanted by My Fiance's Uncle

Maria’s POV  I sat cross-legged on the wooden floor of my loft, surrounded by piles of human books. The sun filtered through the small circular window, casting a warm glow on the pages of the novel I was reading, and the smell of wisteria flowers that bloomed wildly on the window frame filled the air. Everything was perfect and serene in my little corner of the world. I was the daughter of the Alpha of Silver Valley. Our pack was isolated, fiercely protective of its traditions, and had little use for the human world. My father, Alpha Wolfson, believed that human influence was a blight on wolfkind, which was why we kept our pack secluded for so long. But there was something about the human world that I couldn’t ignore. Something in their books, the stories that painted such beautiful, magical worlds, captivated me. I remember when I was younger, my mother used to read to me before bed. She would open the pages of those human books, her voice soft as she read aloud. She didn’t care that my father disapproved of her actions, and I loved her for it. But once she passed, those books were all I had left of her. They were tucked away in the loft, hidden in an old wooden chest, their delicate pages worn from years of use. I would climb up there when no one was around, losing myself in the worlds they described. It was my one escape from the suffocating expectations of my life. I had dreams, too, of becoming a novelist. But I knew my father would never support that. The pack expected she-wolves to marry well, bear children, and play their part in upholding the traditions of our people. Writing stories, especially human ones, was not something any of them would approve of. Still, I couldn’t help but dream. In the quiet moments when I was alone in the loft, I would write my own stories, filling pages with words that no one would ever read. One afternoon, I found myself absorbed in one of my books when a knock on my door pulled me out of my reverie. I slammed the book shut, quickly climbed down from the loft, and rushed to the door. “Coming,” I called out. When I opened the door, one of the housemaids was standing there with a polite bow. "Your father has sent for you, Miss Maria. He has a guest in attendance he would like you to meet.” I closed the door behind me with a sigh. Another suitor, no doubt. My father was always trying to match me with someone he deemed suitable, someone who fit his perfect idea of what an Alpha should be. I wasn’t interested in any of them. I had far more important things to do than sit through some pointless conversation with yet another man who had no idea who I truly was. "Thank you," I said, brushing past her. "I’ll get changed." After quickly changing into something more presentable and tying my hair into a neat bun, I stared at myself in the mirror. I couldn’t believe this was what my life had become. Alas, disobeying my father wasn’t on my agenda for the day, so I'd have to see this through. With another sigh, I opened the door again. "Let’s go." The maid led the way down the hall. As we walked, I couldn't help but ask, "Did you get a look at who my father’s guest is?" She nodded. "Alan Moore, my lady. Prince of the Golden Moonlight Pack." My stomach twisted at the mention of his name. “Oh, God,” I muttered under my breath. “Not him. Anyone but him.” I had known Alan since we were kids, and honestly, I didn’t like him. He was arrogant, narcissistic, and an all-around asshole. We turned a corner, and I stopped in front of the massive oak double doors that lead into the main living room. I hesitated. Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly, bracing myself for what was to come. The maid offered me a small, encouraging smile, though she remained silent. I had no choice but to go through with this. The sooner I could get it over with, the sooner I could return to my books. I pushed the doors open and stepped inside. “... all the lands to the east are…” Alan’s voice stopped mid-sentence as I entered the room. He was standing by my father, dressed in a perfectly tailored suit, his movements smooth and deliberate. Everything about him screamed arrogance. He was polished, practiced, and far too aware of the status he held. The elders in our pack liked him. Hell, even my father thought he was the perfect picture of what an Alpha should be. I walked up to the two men. “Father,” I said, bowing my head in respect. I turned to Alan and gave him a slight bow as well. “Nice to meet you, Alan.” Alan smiled at me. He stepped forward and took my hand, lifting it to his lips with a slow, exaggerated motion. His gaze never left mine as he kissed the back of my hand. “It’s a pleasure, my Maria,” he said with a silky voice. I almost threw up right there, but I forced myself to remain composed. I offered a weak smile, and pulled my hand away from his. "The pleasure’s all mine," I replied. Alan turned to my father. “Alpha Wolfson, I regret to say, but I must steal your daughter away for a walk through your beautiful gardens, so we may talk and catch up. It has been a long time since we last spoke.” My father waved a hand dismissively, a wide smile stretching across his face. “Of course, of course. Take your time, the both of you.” The two of them talked like I didn’t have a say in the matter, “Um, actually, I wasn’t planning on…” My protest was caught shot by a stern look from my father. I knew what that look meant. Putting it plainly, it said, ‘You better behave or else.’ Before I could think of any other excuse, Alan grabbed my hand. “You should listen to your father, Maria. There is virtue when a young she-wolf obeys her father.” Not wanting to create more of a scene in front of my father, I let Alan lead me out of the living room and into the expansive gardens surrounding the manor. The scent of blooming roses and freshly cut grass mingled in the air, but nothing could calm the storm raging inside me. Every step I took beside him felt like a betrayal to the part of me that longed for freedom. “How have you been, Maria? It’s been ages, hasn't it?” Alan asked. I glanced at him, barely suppressing the roll of my eyes. “It has, and I’ve been doing alright, Alan. Hope I can say the same for you?” Alan nodded, his smile unchanging. “Yes, thanks for asking. What have you been up to lately?” I forced myself to keep my tone neutral, even though everything inside me screamed to change the subject. “Well, if you must know, I’ve been reading a lot lately and…” “Reading?” Alan cut me off, his voice laced with disbelief. “Don’t tell me you still read those ridiculous human books filled with utter nonsense.” I knew I shouldn’t have mentioned reading in front of Alan. “I, uh…It’s not…” I tried to change the subject, but he cut me off again. “Human books do nothing but fill your head with stupid ideas.” He suddenly stopped and turned to face me, his expression condescending. “You should focus on more productive ways to spend your time, like cooking or… embroidery. Or other things women your age like to do.” I clenched my fists at my sides, trying to control my rage, but it was impossible. “Try some yard work if you have to, anything but reading. Can you imagine what people will say if…” “Who do you think you are, Alan, that you get to tell me how to live my life?” I shot back, cutting his tirade short. “Reading is important to me, and just you wait, I’m going to achieve my dream and become a novelist. Then you’ll all see!” My chest heaved with each breath, and I realized I had been yelling. But Alan didn’t flinch. He didn’t even look taken aback. In fact, he seemed amused by my outburst. “A novelist?” he said, the disbelief clear in his tone. “Did you just say novelist?” He chuckled softly, shaking his head. “Come on, Maria, don’t be naive. You couldn’t write a book to save your own life.” “That’s enough, Alan,” I said, through clenched teeth. “I don’t need your approval or anyone else's.” Alan scoffed. “Of course, you think that. You’re so naive it’s unbearable,” he said mockingly. “You’ve never even crossed your pack’s borders, and you want to become a writer? Please. You have no idea what the real world is even like.” His words struck me like a physical blow, and I felt my heart stutter in my chest. It was like he had torn apart everything I had dreamed for myself. Before I knew it, I felt a wave of anger surge within me. I couldn’t hold it back anymore. Without saying another word, I turned on my heel and ran. I wanted nothing more than to retreat to my loft. My books were the only thing that could make me feel secure again and keep me far away from my father and Alan. I sprinted through the garden, my hair coming loose and flowing as I hurried toward the mansion. The wind whipped through my hair, and the tears I had been holding back threatened to spill. I ran into the mansion, startling some of the servants, but I didn't dare stop. As I was about to round a corner, I nearly collided with my father. His stern face immediately softened when he saw my state. His eyes flicked to my flushed cheeks and wild hair. He regarded me with a worried expression. "Is something the matter, Maria? Why are you running down the hallways?” Before I could answer, he looked behind me at the path I had run through. “Where’s Alan?” he demanded. I met his gaze, refusing to back down. "I don't like Alan, Father. I have no intention of getting along with him." “What do you mean you don’t like Alan?” he asked, stepping closer “The two of you have been friends since you were little. Why’s that so hard now?” "He's condescending, dismissive, rude, and a jerk," I retorted. "And he doesn't respect me or my aspirations." “How can you say that about Alan? He’s a fine young man. I’m sure this is all just a misunderstanding.” He reaches out his hand to take mine. “Come, let's go sort this out.” I hid my hand behind my back and stepped back from him. “I’m done with him, father. He insulted my reading, said I would never become a novelist, and called me naive,” I said harshly. “Well, maybe he’s right. I can see that those books have made you lose sight of what’s important,” His eyes narrowed, and I could see the anger bubbling in his gaze. "You best make an effort to get along with him. I’ve already made my decision, Alan, to be your future husband whether you like him or not!”