Wanted by the Alpha King's Son

Chapter 4.

Emma's POV.

I wake up before sunrise. It's been two days since my birthday and engagement party.

I haven't seen Joseph again since then, but he has sent me flowers everyday. If I'm being honest, it's a little corny, really.

He seems to be a little clingy and a few things he did at the party still didn't sit well with me. Like the way he treated Amanda and the way he reacted when I confronted him about it.

Honestly, I've been having doubts ever since then.

I tried to talk to my parents about it, but they were so happy and excited that I did not want to disappoint them or ruin the moment.

Being chosen was a great honor. Atleast that's what everyone keeps telling me. My parents are so proud of me and I don't want to let them down. Besides, no one has ever rejected an Alpha King before. I don't even know if that's possible. Even if I did, what would happen to me and my parents? Would we be shunned from the pack? Where would we go then? This is our home, our family.

I stretch and yawn and get out of bed.

Today is my first date with Joseph. If I can call it a date, my mother is coming along.

He has invited us over to his mansion for brunch. He want's to discuss wedding plans.

The wedding will be in one month. Joseph set the date by himself, which I found a little weird, but maybe he's just so used to doing things by himself that he never even considered asking me.

I'm really trying my best to keep an open mind and to give him a fair chance. I don't want to stand in my own way.

Maybe Shaun will be at the mansion as well. I wanted to talk to him at the party, but never got the chance. The way he stormed out after his father's proposal to me has left an uneasy feeling in me. I want to talk to him, make sure that he is okay with all of this.

I shake my head at myself. How can he be okay with this? I am a year younger than him and about to become his stepmother. I would also feel weird about it if I was him.

I still want to talk to him though. I want to see him.

I should go for a run. Try to clear my head before I see Joseph later. I'll go see if Amanda is up yet and ask her to go for a coffee.

I also haven't seen or heard from her since the party. I've tried texting and calling, but no response.

That's really strange because I have always been able to reach Amanda, no matter what. Honestly, I'm starting to feel a little worried.

Maybe she's just really upset about what happened at the party and needed some time to get over it.

I get dressed and put my trainers on. The rest of the house is still quiet so my parents must still be asleep.

Amanda only lives a few blocks from where my parents live. It's just past seven o'clock and when I knock her mother answers the door.

"Hi Mrs. Stevens. Sorry to bother you so early."

Her mother smiles at me. I practically grew up in her house. Amanda and I have always been inseperable.

"Morning Emma. No bother at all. It's good to see you. How have you been?"

"Well thanks. And you Mrs. Stevens?"

She ushers me inside as she answers and closes the door behind us.

"Well thanks Emma. Mr. Stevens and I are very happy for you. We know you'll make Joseph a wonderful wife."

I smile at her and feel a little embarrassed. I don't really know why, but I do.

"Thanks. Is Amanda here?'

Mrs. Stevens looks a little confused at my question.

"I'm sorry dear. I thought you knew."

Now I feel a little confused.

"Knew what?"

"Amanda left the day after your party. Joseph sent her away on assignment. Something about building bridges with a neighboring pack."

Joseph did what?

Why didn't he tell me? Why didn't Amanda tell me?

I smile at Mrs. Stevens, I don't want her to know that I've been kept out of the loop by my fiance and my best friend. I'll ask Joseph about it when I see him later.

"Sure, it must have slipped my mind. Wedding brain, I guess."

I shrug and try to play it off. Luckily Mrs. Stevens laughs at me and pretends to know what I'm talking about.

I say goodbye and head back home. This doesn't make any sense at all. Amanda always tells me everything. Why didn't she tell me about this?

Joseph also could have said something in one of his many love notes.

I get home, take a shower and get dressed. We have to be at Joseph's in an hour.

When I walk into the kitchen, my mother offers me a cup of coffee.

"You look nice darling. Ready for today?"

"Yea I guess."

My mother frowns at me.

"Joseph sent Amanda away on assignment the day after my party and neither of them told me about it."

My mother rubs my shoulder, trying to reassure me.

"I'm sure that they both have a good reason, darling. You can ask Joseph when we get there."

She smiles at me, but I don't really feel any better. I don't have time to argue the matter any further because we have to leave.

Half an hour later, we arrive at Joseph's mansion.

The place is absolutely magnificent. I knew that Joseph was rich, I mean he owns a shipping yard and a few shipping boats, but this was something else. The place was as big as a palace with three stories that sat on about five acres of ground. It had two swimming pools, indoor and outdoor, stables, a tennis court, a pond and a Hellipad.

I smiled a little at myself knowing that I would be living here soon.

My mother and I are greeted by, who I can only assume is the Butler. I have never actually seen one before.

The inside of the mansion is just as impressive as the outside. My parents entire house could probably fit inside the entrance hall.

Everything inside looks expensive and antique.

My mother looks around with wide eyes and an open mouth. She is clearly very impressed and I have to admit, so am I.

The Butler leads us through the mansion to the backyard. Joseph is waiting for us by the pool. A table for three has been set there.

I feel a little disappointed as I realize that Shaun won't be joining us.

Why does that fact bother me so much? I wonder.

As we reach the table, Joseph gets up and greets my mother first. He gives her a quick kiss on the cheek and then turns to me. He pulls me hard against his body and kisses me even harder on the mouth.

"Hello my love. I have missed you."

I don't like the way he kisses me. It's a little to posesive for my liking. I don't want to make a scene so I leave it for now.

I smile at him and he invites us to take a seat and he dismisses the Butler quit rudely.

My mother is too impressed by her current surroundings to notice and Joseph completely ignores the frown on my face.

"We have a lot to discuss ladies."

"Before we get started Joseph."

Joseph looks agitated by my interruption but leaves me to continue.

"Why didn't you tell me that you sent Amanda away on assignment the day after our party?"

Joseph looks a little angry now.

"I'm sorry little wolf. I did not realize that I had to inform you when I sent one of my wolves away."

I don't like him calling me little wolf at all and I immediately feel annoyed with him.

"Not all of your wolves. Just my best friend."

My mother looks a little uncomfortable and Joseph must have seen it as well because he changes his tone immediately.

"My apologies my love. I did not mean to upset you. Now that I know how you feel, I won't do it again. Please forgive me?'

I really don't like the way he changes himself so easily and I want to say something but my mother pats me on my hand so I leave it. For now.

Brunch is served and after we've all eaten Joseph hands me a binder full off wedding stuff.

"I took the liberty of hiring a wedding planner. The best money can buy."

He has a very smug look on his face as he continues.

"You have a dress fitting on Friday and we have a cake tasting after that. Our rehearsal dinner will be two weeks from now and the wedding will be held here."

"Wow Joseph. You really have thought of everything."

My mother seems completely swept away by Joseph and if I didn't know any better I'd say that she wanted to marry him. I feel annoyed again.

"Don't I get a say in my wedding at all?"

My tone is sharp and annoyed and I see something dark flash across Joseph's face.

"Of course you do my love. I just want to take away most of the stress. I want you to enjoy the experience as much as possible. That is why I have gone through the trouble of giving you my favorite options and you get to choose which ones you like best."

"How thoughtful of you."

There is way too much sarcasm in my voice and my mother scolds me for it, making me feel like a child.

Joseph seemed to enjoy that a little too much.

"It really is very thoughtful of you Joseph and Emma appreciates all the trouble you went through for her."

"Don't you Emma?"

My mother's tone is stern and I don't like her putting me on the spot like that but I can tell that I am out-numbered so I let it go.

"Yes I do. I am sorry for the way I acted."

Again, Joseph smiles like a naughty child that just got his way, just like he did the night of our party. I get a very strange feeling in the pit of my stomach.

"Think nothing of it my love." He says with all the charm of a snake.