The Queen Alpha

The Meeting

(Kara) I wake to find Emma spooning me from behind, her face nuzzled into my back. Her soft snores sound like purrs and I pull her arm around me tighter, taking in the feeling of cuddling with her. Last night with Emma was the best night of my life, It’s like I’m still in a daze from how wonderful she is. I had been determined not to sleep with her until her marriage was officially called off but when she called me her queen I couldn’t control my wolf, Kiera, any longer. She wanted to mark Emma but I knew it wasn’t the right time. Carter had to willingly give her up in order for me to save her mother and avoid a war, not that taking on his pack would be much of a war, I’ve seen his men compared to mine. However, all my father’s partner’s eyes are on me. I take over in less than a week and they want to see the type of ruler I am, what I think is acceptable and what isn’t, and stealing another Alpha’s bride is probably something that would be frowned upon, especially me being a woman. Good partnerships are important and in order to keep them I need to make sure I do everything right, that means no unnecessary risks rights now.

I reach over and grab my phone off the nightstand, my eyes squinting at the bright screen. It’s only 6:00am.

17 Messages

2 Missed Calls

24 Email Notifications

I groan internally and Keira seems annoyed. Just shut the damn thing off, let’s lay here with our mate all day, I want to taste her again. She says, and my core clinches and grows wet. I rub my legs together, trying to get rid of the sensations down there. Now is not the time, we have work to do, I tell her and she growls at me. We always have work to do. She’s right, but this is important if we want to keep Emma here with us.

I gently untangle myself from Emma and slide a pillow into the empty space I’ve left. She whimpers slightly but takes the bait, squeezing the pillow and falling back into a deep sleep. Looking around, I realize I didn’t even bring any clothes to change into, I’m going to have to go outside in my evening gown and walk through the snow in open toed heels.

Being as stealthy as I would on a hunt, I put my dress back on, leaving my heels off until I’m out of the room and safely in the hallway. I didn’t want her to wake up yet, she had a long night and she needed her rest. Plus, the last thing I wanted was her to know what my plan is. She wouldn’t approve and I don’t want to upset her already.

I trot down the stairs, and brace myself for the cold air that awaits outside. To my surprise, it hadn’t snowed more last night, and the air smells of spring. It’s still much too cold for the thin dress I’m in but I’m grateful my toes are saved from having to wade through icy slush.

My home is the furthest building back and at a brisk walk it takes about 5 minutes to get there. I type in my pin on the keypad and the door unlocks. I scamper up the stairs and once again type in a pin to get into my actual home. It’s the house I grew up in, the downstairs is more for professional use, a private office, large dining area and entertainment space. The top two floors are the Alpha’s living quarter’s. My dad moved out of here when I turned sixteen, he said I’d need it to start my family. That was before I came out to him, and now I’m in this big empty condo with no wife or children to occupy it. It was fit for a large family, four massive bedrooms, three bathrooms, grand walk in closets and of course a huge kitchen to cook in. My dad said my mother designed this entire place for them, she wanted so many children and pets. But life out here can be very cruel, and unfortunately we were reminded of that the day we lost her.

I undress and get into the shower, trying to get ready as quickly as possible. I scrub my body and wash my hair, enjoying the smell of my pine tree and mint soaps.

As soon as the last of the soap goes down the drain, I step out of my glass shower door and wrap myself in a plush towel. My father was a very rugged man, he liked living amongst the forest and only having the necessities. I however, take after my mother in the fact I enjoy some luxury in my life. Soft towels and sheets, expensive clothes and furniture. Of course I don’t need it but there’s something about showing off my wealth that makes me feel powerful over the other packs.

I walk into the closet, picking out a simple pair of navy blue slacks with a matching jacket and a white silk shirt under it. I finish off the outfit with ankle high black boots.

As I let my straightener heat up, I pull out my phone and dial Anthony’s, my Beta, number and put it on speaker so I can do my makeup as we speak.

“Hello?” His gruff voice answers and I can tell I just woke him up.

“Anthony your sleeping this late? You know it’s Tuesday right?” I ask sarcastically. Anthony is one of the very few people I trust to see the playful side of me. Until I met Emma, I could count on one hand the people that have seen me laugh in the last 8 years.

He groans and I hear his bed creak in the background. “You also threw a party last night, a party I happened to get very, very drunk at since you gave me the night off.”

“Yes I gave you the night off, it’s morning. I need you to escort someone over to my office, I need him here as soon as you can.”

“Can I ask who I’m going to be escorting?” He asks, although his tone tells me he already knows.

“Carter Balt. We have a business meeting this morning, he doesn’t know about it yet so he may be a bit apprehensive about coming here.” I tell him.

Anthony laughs dryly. “I thought you wanted me to skin the little runt alive tonight? Now you want him to come to a meeting?”

I pick up the straightener and start running it through my hair. “Yes, well some things have come up and I need him alive for the time being. Can you just get him here?” I can feel Keira getting annoyed that he’s debating the subject with me. If we wanted him to know, we would tell him.

Anthony must’ve picked up on the slight irritation in my voice. “Right, sorry Princess, I’ll have him there in ten minutes.”

I hang up the phone and finish my hair. I despised being called princess. Although it is technically my title until Friday, I would much rather be called Alpha or Queen now, or even just your majesty. Princesses are soft and sweet, I’m anything but that.

Locking the door behind me, I go downstairs and into my private office. I have one here and in the main building, but conversations like this needed to be conducted without a potential audience.

I sit down behind my desk and begin checking emails as I wait.

Nearly twenty minutes later, there’s a rough knock at the door. “Come in.”

Carter steps into my office with an angered expression and Anthony stands behind him in the doorway seeming annoyed. “You wanted to see me?” Carter says and the cockiness in his voice shouldn’t p*ss me off, I deal with Alpha’s like him all the time, but today I find myself struggling for composure.

I click my computer off and turn towards him. “Yes, please, have a seat.” I gesture towards a chair. “I have some business opportunities I’d like to discuss.”

He looks back at Anthony. I give him a slight gesture with my hand and he walks out, shutting the door behind him.

Carter slouches back in the leather chair, his hands resting on his thighs. He dressed too casual for my liking, jeans and a tee shirt is not something you wear to a meeting with someone like me. “Alright Princess, your Beta said it was urgent, I’m not trying to be disrespectful but I need to find my fiancé. She took something from me and I need it back.”

Keira howls in laughter. The poor dog lost his bone! He’s lucky we don’t rip off what’s left of it. “Yes I understand it was short notice but I’m sure you will be happy that I called you in here once I offer my proposal to you.”

“And what is your proposal exactly, Kara? Do you mind if I call you Kara? You just don’t look much like a Princess.” He leans forward, elbows on his knees and flashes a smile. As much as I hate Princess he does not get to call me by my name.

“Actually I’d prefer the formalities if you please. Now, I called you here today because your father has centered your packs income off trading. However, I see you personally own several of these seafood restaurants in Portland and along the northwestern coast. But, it shows here you pay an outrageous amount to get fresh seafood to your restaurants.” I say, laying out papers of his expenses on the desk.

Carter sits back again, the change in his posture an obvious sign he doesn’t like that I know so much about his side business. “I like to have the best food for my customers. In order to have good ingredients I have to pay extra to get first pick off the boats.”

“What if I told you I could guarantee that you had not only fresh seafood, but enough extra to sell and add an additional profit to your books?” I say and grab the papers off my desk. I stand and walk over to my paper shredder and feed the small stack into it. His eyes follow me and occasionally drop to my a*s or chest.

He seems interested now, once again changing his position so he’s more upright. I sit back down, intertwining my fingers and resting my arms on the desk. Subtle movement and posture changes are important in not only reading what others are thinking, but also keeping them interested in what I’m saying as well. My father taught me that. A good hunter will always study their prey before striking. You must know their next move as soon as try decide it. Keira recites my father’s wisdom to me.

“I’m willing to offer you two of our crab boats to use solely for supplying your restaurant chain with the best king crab and whatever else your chef’s desire, as well as permitted use of our fishing grounds in order to keep those boats bringing in high quality food.” I grab an large envelope from under a drawer. “Not only will I allow you a year of using these boats and fishing grounds rent free, but I also have this envelope for you.” I drop it onto the desk, letting it thump on the wood. “There is 30,000 dollars in here. This is for you.” I tell him and set out the paperwork for him to sign.

He squints at me. “What do you want in exchange for all this?”

“I want you to leave your fiancé here and never look back. I also want her mother sent here unharmed.” My tone is calm and even, my eyes never leaving his. I notice a flash of his wolf and Keira growls, showing herself in my iris’ as well.

“What do you want with that stupid little witch?” He asks me, venom in his voice. That was his wolf showing through, and now I understand.

I don’t move. “I saw what you did to Emma, I think that was her name, last night. When I asked why she didn’t leave you she said she was worried about her mother. I have a habit of picking up broken children and women, it’s my way of making up for my soldier’s brutality to the gods.”

“I need Emma and her mom in order to keep my pack strong. We need their magic.” He growls. Carter seems to be fighting for control.

“No, you don’t. You just need money. 30,000 is more than enough to buy yourself another witch or two but it’s not my place to tell you how to spend your money to improve your pack, you’re an Alpha, I’m sure you have some ideas. Anyway, you don’t need them. I mean the mother is what, a healer? Those are a dime a dozen.” I lean back and cross my legs, folding my hands in my lap. “And the girl, well she says her mother never taught her how to use her magic, without a true witch teaching her she’ll never reach full potential.”

He seems to be processing what I’m saying. Convince him more. Keira whispers. “She’s not your mate Carter, you’re not bound to her. She’s just a witch, there’s plenty of those. She’s not even an attractive witch. Sure, she’s got a pretty face but you really want a Luna that doesn’t take care of herself?” The words leaving my mouth make me physically sick. “Come on, you’re very handsome, you could get any woman you want, why waste your time with a chubby, low level witch anyway?”

He snaps out of his daze and looks me in the eye. “If you don’t want her for yourself why are you trying to buy her from me?”

“Oh trust me, I’ll try her, but women like that are only useful for a good time, not for a long time. And like I told you earlier, it makes me feel as if I am keeping my karma with the gods even. With every pack I s*******r, I try to give a girl a good life.”

“She’ll have a good life with me.” Carter states, almost as if trying to convince himself.

“No,” I say, clicking my tongue, “she won’t. The very thought of having to marry her to make your father proud angers your wolf so much I’m surprised he hasn’t killed her yet. You want to give her a good life because I believe you care for her, but we’re werewolves Carter. Our wolves crave a soul mate. They’ll put up with our short term flings but to marry another will drive them mad. You don’t want that. I’ve seen Alphas driven to insanity and it always ends the same - death. Let go of the girl, save yourself the trouble and make tens of thousands of dollars.”

We sit quietly for a minute, I let him process what he wants to do. If he says no I’ll have to go to war to keep her, her mother will probably die and I’ll lose allies because of it.

“I want to call my father first.” Carter finally breaks the silence.

I shake my head. “No, you’re the alpha here. Your father didn’t show, you did. You make this call.”

He ponders it for a long time. “I want 50,000.”

“40,000 and you leave today.”

He runs a hand over his face. “Fine, let’s sign the paperwork.”