The Crimson Alpha

Chapter 1: Bird Cage

~Mabel's P. O. V.~

Caged. Sold. My life felt like it was never going to start. I sat in my chair, watching my parents argue over me again. My father, a rich CEO and head of the Lennon family, forced a deal with another CEO. The deal? Me. I am going to marry this person. I have not met this guy yet, but our maids have. I was not to be seen, heard or even leave this house. If I tried, I would be punished. If I spoke up against this deal? I would be locked away in my room. The maids and butlers are my only friends. I never had true friends. I was never allowed. The deal took place when I was but a little girl. I know the man is old enough to be my father. I know he is well above my age. I just turned 19 yesterday. That is how I learned the truth about not leaving this house. I silently cried as I watched my parents drive away. They are away often and don't return for several weeks. You would think a rich girl like me would have all of the privileges she could ever want. But that is far from the truth. I had no rights in my home, no freedom or being allowed to want anything. I look around my tea room to make sure no one is near me. I let myself fall to my knees as I cried. I don't want to be betrothed to this man. I don't know what he looks like, or his name. The maids only spoke to me about him. He's a cruel man, only wanting me as a trophy wife. All I would be to him is a tool. A tool to produce heir's and a woman on his arm. He would never love me, he would never treat me right. I want to run away from here. I just don't have anywhere else to go. I thought about suicide multiple times, yet I was always too cowardly to go through with it. Even before I was told about this deal, I felt caged, my heart kept telling me to run away from here, I was just too afraid to. What if I get caught? Father would surly lock me away until my wedding day. A day that I was supposed to be happy about, yet I dreaded that day.

I didn't know when, but I fell asleep on that floor, curled up like a small animal in confinement. It had been my butler, Zaine, who woke me up from my deep slumber. Yet, I don't feel rested, I feel like another wave of anxiety is about to hit me. Before he could talk to me, I wrapped my arms around him and cried some more. I felt him hugging me back.

"My lady. Please be strong." He is also against this deal. If I was allowed to love, it would have been love to Zaine. He was a handsome young man. Deep brown hair, hazel green eyes, tan and easily over 6 feet tall. He just turned 21 not too long ago. He knows how I feel about him, but a butler and an heiress can never happen.

"Zaine." My voice cracked. "I don't want to marry him." I buried my face into his muscular chest. He had a sportsman's build, like someone who played football. He gently rubbed my back, crying in his arms.

"We know, miss. If we could, we would not allow it." He picked up my princess style as I clung to his jacket. I didn't want to let go of him. He is so good to me, he took me to my room and lay with me while I continued to cry. My room was so bare. It only had a portrait, a bed, a desk and a bathroom off to the left of my bedroom door. The maids knew of our bond along with the other butlers, but they kept it a secret for me. I didn't ask them to, but I am glad they did.

I calmed down after another hour and let Zaine get back to work. I decided to lock my room and close my blinds. I turned on my bedside lamp and began to read Romeo and Juliet. I wasn't allowed to read anything that wasn't on an approved reading list that my father came up with. More tears fell as I got to the part of the party. A gala would at least have been something fun. Yet, I am left alone to think about my future. Future? I didn't have one as long as I am betrothed to that man. How can my father be so cruel? I heard knocks on my door several times during the day. I ignored most of them, but then there was an insistent knocking. I closed the book and got up from my bed. Opening the door to Zaine, bowing to me.

"Miss. I have unfortunate news." I let him into my room and closed the door. Again, locking it so no one could hear us. "I am sorry, miss. Your suitor is on his way." It was like my entire world started spinning, my breathing became erratic and my palms sweaty. I looked around for answers to get out of this, but my legs were not moving. I wanted to run and get away. I felt so dizzy. "Miss?!" Zaine caught me as I was about to fall to the floor. "Miss. Mabel!" I knew I was hyperventilating, I knew I felt sick to my stomach. I pointed to my bathroom and Zaine let me down. I shut the door and let the vomit out. No, no, why now? Why can't I just be myself? The vomit didn't stop for a while. I hoped that Zaine had contacted this man and told him I was feeling ill. A voice I didn't recognize told me otherwise.

~Unknown's P. O. V.~

I was about 10 minutes away from meeting my bride. I had called her family's mansion to let them know I was on my way. What angered me was that a butler, with a younger sounding voice, answered the phone. I thought I had made it clear that I didn't want my prize to be near other men. This was something I needed to talk to her father about. I wanted to make sure she had no ties when I wed her here. I banned her parents from forming any bond with her. That way I could snatch her up easily. And with no resistance. Did I love her? Of course, not. She is nothing to me but a woman who will merge my company with her father's. Mabel Lennon. Age 19. A rare beauty indeed. She looked nothing like her parents. I often wondered why. I took today as my chance to see her for myself and possibly get a DNA sample. If she turns out to be illegitimate to the estate, then our deal is off. She would not have Lennon blood in her.

I arrived right on schedule, the door-hop opened my door and I stepped out. Their mansion is the color of pearls and has onyx roofing. How very... Plain. Their maids and other butlers bowed to me as I went inside the home of my bride. I saw a few younger men here. Yes, her father and I will have to discuss this. I waved them off, one of them showing me to my beauty's room. What I found almost had me lose my composure. A butler in her room? I will not have it. I snapped my fingers and had the young man leave. Yes, he will be fired for this. The sounds of her emptying her stomach brought my attention back. I knocked on her door.

"Mabel? My darling girl, are you alright?" I asked through the closed door. She couldn't give me an answer. I opened the door to her losing consciousness. I quickly picked her up and checked her temperature. She was running a high fever. Her body went limp in my arms. I quickly washed her face of bile after I laid her down in her bed. I rummaged through her drawers in her bathroom to find a thermometer. Once I had, I placed it in her mouth and waited 2 minutes. At the end of those two minutes, I checked it. She did, indeed, have a 103 degree temperature. I snapped my figures again. The same boy who was there before came back. "Not you, get someone a little more... Experienced." He bowed and left. Another butler, one closer to his death, came in and bowed. "Get me a cool wash cloth. And some ice." He nodded and left. This was an opportune moment to take a few hair follicles. I plucked 3 from her head and placed them in my coat pocket in my handkerchief. The butler came back 5 moments later with a bucket of water and an ice packet. I placed the rag in the water and sat beside her. Ringing out the rag, I placed it over her forehead. Then I placed the ice packet behind her neck. She looked beautiful, yes. But she wasn't glowing. To me? That was perfect. I couldn't stand it if she shone more than I.

Looking at my watch, I had little time to spend there. Instead of staying next to her in her bed, I decided that a note for her was good enough. Snapping my fingers, the older butler from before entered the room. "I need a pen and paper, please." That wasn't a request and he knew it. He bowed to me to get what I needed. I looked for a desk nearby. Good. She had something I could use right now. He came back with a tray holding the quill, ink and paper. I took the items and wrote to her.

My dear,

I am sorry that my arrival was unannounced. Had I known that you were feeling ill, I would have come later. Because of that mistake, I do hope you'll forgive me. I also have a demand: I never want to see that young butler near you again. Have your father fire the lad before I do. After my demand has been made, you are to call me straight away. The only words I wish to hear from you when this happens are; you belong to me and that my demand was clear. That is all for now.

~Your groom

I folded the paper in half and set it on her desk. It was time I took my leave. As I walked out of her room, the servants bowed respectfully. I found the young man doing the same. My anger fueled when I did. I didn't give him any choice. I snapped my fingers for him to follow me to my car. When we got to the car, he opened my door. I slid in and glared at him.

"You and Mabel are to no longer have any contact. You will either resign here or have her father fire you." A nasty grin played on my face. "I do not know what your relationship with my bride is, but it ends here. Am I clear?" His eyes spoke anger and hate for me, but he never betrayed his posture. He nodded once. I closed my door and chuckled to myself. I am cutting her off from everyone. She will not have a friend in the world. Once she has bared me an heir, my men can have her. I have no intention of marking her or anything silly like that. I'm a werewolf. Why would I care about a pathetic human life? Whether she becomes dog meat or something worse is up to me. Her life is in my hands and I loved it. She will be disappearing.