The Strength to Love

The Ride

Dean’s POV

               Ha! At the last second, I bid $20 million and won! I arranged for my men to pick her up the next day, and she had to look top notch. Satisfied I put down the phone. Then I realized I had just spent $20 million on the purchase of a person. It is not like she would be my real wife. I will consummate the marriage and that will be that. It is not like we didn’t have the money laying around. With our pack of almost 900, we were very profitable. Dad had been a very successful lawyer for about 30 years, mom had been a very successful stockbroker, and I was the best architect in the Midwest. Money was no issue.

               “HE DID WHAT?!”

               Alpha is mad at you. Thank you Jax, I had not noticed. You should go see him. I would rather not, but something tells me I won’t have a choice.

               My doors flew open almost off the hinges. “Hey what gives?” I nonchalantly asked not really playing father’s game.

               “YOU BOUGHT A GIRL?” His voice boomed in a way even Jax was thinking of submitting. “Dean, you have a cold heartless reputation, and I stood by and let it happen thinking that it would make you a powerful alpha one day. This is too far.”

               I glanced over and thought I saw hurt in his eyes. That could not be right. Father was the strongest man alive. Nothing phased him. “Dad, are you okay?”

               He must have regained control of his emotions because his hard enraged eyes went back to me. “You are to be the next Alpha of this pack. You are supposed to rule with a Luna at your side. A Luna that completes you and is your other half. Not some girl you PAID $20 MILLION FOR!” With that he turned and walked out of my room. “Woman, you deal with this!”

               Mother slaughtered in from around the corner, disappointment written all over her face. “I thought I raised you better than this. I kept quite while I saw you using girls left and right, but buying a wife? Dean, what do you expect to gain from this?”

               “A wife and my alpha hood. You guys made the deal last week and I followed your orders. You didn’t say how I had to get a wife, just that I got one.”

               She walked up to me and cupped my face in her hands. Her eyes searched my face, “Where is my sweet boy?”

               “Mother, I am to be the next Alpha of one of the most feared packs in this country,” I stood up, towering over her. “I am one of the strongest members in our pack. My duties will be to leading this pack. So, call off dad, or I will challenge him for the title.”

               She gasped. “I am never going to tell your father what you just said. Today you have disappointed me beyond anything I have ever seen in my lifetime.” And with that, she walked out of my room and quietly closed the door.

               At dinner that night, mother never came down for dinner. Father said she wasn’t feeling well, and that they were leaving for a long trip after the alpha ceremony. I shrugged it off and went on and finished the meal. Afterwards, I went to talk to the guards I would be sending to pick her up. Then I dawned on me. I don’t even know her name.

               Jarred and his brothers would enjoy the break from training. He’ll love this opportunity to laugh at me some more, I thought while dialing. “Hey Jarred.”

               “Yo,” he answered. “What can I do to please his majesty.”

               “Shut it,” I replied. “You can get your brothers ready for a trip.”

               “Sweet man, where are we going? Camping, boating, strip club?”

               “None of the above, Jarred. I need you to go fetch my purchase.”

               “Purchase? Can’t you just have it shipped?”

               “Yeah, the post office isn’t keen on shipping people.”

               “People?” He scoffed. “You bought a ‘people’?”

               “Will you just get her? She’s at the Quarter Moon pack in Wisconsin.”

               “Oh, that pack run by the psycho Luna?”

               “That’s the one. Leave now so you can get back by dinner tomorrow.”

               “Aye, aye,” Jarred chuckled hanging up.

               I sighed. This time tomorrow my bride would be here, we would be married this weekend, and I would become alpha Sunday. These next few days are going to be quite chaotic. I better let Jax out for a run before he goes stir crazy, then I will plan my wedding. Goddess, I wish mother weren’t mad at me. This is 100% her cup of tea. Your mother will come around, just wait and see. Jax reassured me. ‘Yeah, but how can you be sure?’ Because girl is special to us. I like girl. ‘Wow, let’s not think with our d***s shall we.’ You’ll see. I headed outside and shed my clothes. ‘Ok, Jax, have at it.’

               The next morning, I was woken at 6am by Jarred checking in. First, he had called saying that no one was home at the address. I was ready to have him break in, but he said the Luna showed up and let them in.

               Dude, this is messed up.

               Yeah, yeah, yeah. I bought a human get over it.

               She had no idea what was going on. Her mother sprung it on her.

               Oh damn. That is a pretty crappy move especially for a parent selling their own flesh and blood pup. How is she?

               Still processing, I think. There’s something you should know, man.

               What’s that? I can only imagine him telling me that she’s hot or not my type.

               Her wolf spoke.

               Come again?!?! Wolves can’t speak. I mean the project thought into our minds and that’s how they communicate with us. But they don’t talk person to person.

               Just what I said. Her wolf threatened the psycho Luna as we took her out.

               Tell no one. I mean it. I will see you in 7 hours.

               Understood, sir.

               What a sarcastic a**. I thought to myself as I pocketed my phone and when to the library to do some research. Her wolf spoke. Wolfes aren’t supposed to be able to speak. This just isn’t heard of. There must be a book with reference to this.

               “Hey baby,” someone purred wrapping their arms around me from behind.

               “Not now Justine,” her perfume was just too much for me. It reminded me of a cheap hooker.

               “Aww, come one baby,” she slid in front of me. “You haven’t had any time for me lately. I’ve been lonely.”

               “Well, you’re about to be lonely for a whole lot longer.”

               “What do you mean by that?” She tried to pout but with her thin lips and narrow eyes she just looked like she was trying to poop.

               “You’ll see,” I pushed past and closed the library door behind me. She knocked and even tried the handle, but I had already locked it.

               About another hour later, Jarred messaged again. She wants to stop to eat, and I don’t want to be the one to tell her no.

               Fine. I messaged back. But drive thru only and get back on the road. I wasn’t kidding when I said I wanted you back by dinner.

               After researching for a couple more hours I found it. She was a pure blood descendant of the goddess herself. The descendants would be among the most powerful wolves of all time. Their wolves know no bounds. However, in order to access and unlock their powers, their human needs to go through the ultimate heartbreak and betrayal. Well, I can help with that. Maybe this marriage would work out in my favor. I could tolerate a mate if she would help my rule. Now to unlock her powers I had the ultimately break her heart, shouldn’t be too hard.

Brooke’s POV

               We came up to an iron gate with the monogram “SB” on each gate. Apparently, all the pack members were behemoth brutes. The guards at the gate tried to catch a glimpse of who was in the car, but the driver growled, and we were sent through.

               Need out. I’m sorry but we can’t go for a run now. We are driving in the car. How much longer? Fine, I’ll ask. “How much longer? Daphne is getting restless.”

               The men tensed up at my mention of Daphne. What was their issue? Why were they acting like this never happens? It doesn’t. What do you mean ‘it doesn’t’? We are special. Very strong. I’m gonna need a little more explanation than that. No. Want out. Well then, we both aren’t going to get what we want. Hmmmfff.

               The one in the passenger seat said, “There’s only 45 minutes left.” He’d been on his phone most of the trip.

               “But wasn’t that the gate?”

               “Yeah, and it takes another 45 minutes to get to the Crimson Castle.” Said Mr. Passenger seat.

               I looked at the massive guys and actually looked at them. They had to be related or the wolves at Spilt Blood pack were all cloned from the same guy. I couldn’t tell how tall they were but from memory at the house they had to be over 6’2”. They had dark chocolate hair and olive skin covered their mammoth muscles. The only difference between them were their eyes. The driver had caramel eyes, the passenger seat guy had green that reminded me of the grass in spring, and guy next to me had silver grey eyes. “So, do you guys have names?” I was hoping a conversation would make time go by quicker.

               “Jarred.” Mr. passenger stated. “This is Jason (he pointed towards the driver) and Jace (next to me).”

               “Some not only are you duplicates of each other; you all have ‘j’ names? Goddess what goes on at this pack?”

               Jace snickered, “We’re brothers.”

               “That makes sense.” I nodded. “So did one you guys buy me?”

               Unfortunately, that sombered them up quickly. “No,” Jarred said flatly. “Mother would kill us if we were to do anything of the sort.”

               “Do you know who did?” I looked down at my feet. “Should I expect anything in particular?”

               “You were acquired by the next alpha of the pack. His father had decreed he needed a wife by Saturday if he wanted to gain the title.”

               “MARRIED?!” I cried. “I WAS PURCHASED TO BE A WIFE? Isn’t this alpha’s son capable of getting his own wife? Why did he have to buy me? Are we there yet? Because I am fuming, and Daphne needs a run.”

               They looked at each other for a second before Jason pulled the car over. “I have to go with you; you may get lost.” Jarred demanded.

Daphne already phased as I was stepping out of the SUV. “You’re welcome to keep up,” she said coyly. The three brothers looked at each other in shock. ‘Daphne, why are they in shock? Don’t all wolves do what we do?’ No, Brooke. I already told you we are special. ‘I swear to the goddess if you don’t start answering my questions you won’t be allowed out again’ I only half threatened. No, don’t tell mother. Wait, MOTHER???