Married To The Cursed Alpha

4

~Zuri~

That explained the resemblance. They both looked like something crawled up their asses and died.

"Yes, and? Because you're his grandmom, it doesn't permit you to body shame me," I said.

"Zuri," Auntie Cordelia whispered, grabbing my hand.

"What? It's true."

"Please be polite." She replied, and I frowned as I eyed Vesper.

Getting this woman's side could be the boost I needed to become Mrs Vane, but ass-kissing wasn't my thing. Especially when the person was snobbish and stuck up.

"Please, Zuri. The tension is giving me a headache." Cordelia said as she rubbed her temples, and I cringed.

"Are you ok?" I asked, sitting by her side and pressing the back of my hand to her forehead. "You feel warm. What are you doing out here? You should be in your room resting. Aman—"

"I'm fine. Staying in the room all day will make me sicker; I need to move my body." She assured me as she adjusted her small crocheting basket on her lap.

"But—"

"I don’t like being forgotten." Vesper cleared her throat as she glared at us.

"You—"

"We're sorry, Mrs Vane. My health isn't the best, and Zuri can't help but constantly worry about me. She's a really compassionate soul." Auntie Cordelia smiled as she squeezed my hand.

"I can see," she replied.

"Why are you here, Mrs Vane?" I asked.

"You want to marry my grandson, right?" Her question was more of a statement, and I pressed my lips into a thin line.

Was this going to be one of those 'you're not good enough for him, so take so-and-so million and stay away from my grandson' s**t like in those popular billionaire movies?

"Yes, I do," I nodded.

Here it came, in three, two, one...

"You're quite lucky because I like you," she replied.

Wait, what?

"You do?" I scrunched my brow.

"I would have preferred he married into a more prestigious family, but rules are rules. You're not an eyesore, and heavens know your sister has the personality and charisma of a wet tissue. Such a bore. How can that be my granddaughter-in-law?"

"Seraphina is not a bore. She's a sweet, wonderful woman, and men ought to be at her door begging for her hand in marriage," I retorted.

"Zuri," Auntie Cordelia whispered, tugging my arm again.

She could be a f*****g goddess, but I won’t allow any slander against my sister.

Vesper stared at me from head to toe; her blank expression giving me no clue of what she was thinking.

"I'll help you get Corvus," she said.

"You wi—"

"Here." She pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. "Be at that location at exactly six pm. Don't be late."

"How's this going to help me?" I asked, staring at the address and her phone number scribbled on it.

"Just be there." She replied as she stood up.

"Thank you, Mrs—"

"I can't take this," I replied, and Auntie Cordelia made a strangled gasp.

"What are you doing? We can't turn down the help of Mrs Vane; that'd be rude. And who else is better to help you win the man than his grandma?" She panicked.

"This is nice and all, but you don't seem like the type of woman that would do something nice because you felt like it," I said as I stood up and stared straight into Vesper's eyes. "What is the catch, Mrs Vane?"

"This child will kill me." Auntie Cordelia exclaimed as she rubbed her temples and gave Vesper a pleading smile. "I'm sorry, Mrs Vane. She's usually respectful and polite."

"She's smart. Too smart," she murmured, eyeing her. "You're right, I'm not generous. I simply know you'll be a good match for my Corvus. It takes guts and audacity to pull the stunt you did last night, and that is the type of attitude that can keep up with him. I'm certain you'll be a perfect helper to him, and I'm never wrong. Be at that address tomorrow, and don't be late."

"Is it wrong to say I don't like her?" I muttered, sitting beside Auntie once she was out the door.

There was something about how she said 'helper' that was so... ew.

"Mrs Vane seems, um... I don't know how to say it politely, but I don't think you should turn down her help." She said.

"Are you sure? She seems sus. I swear she's scheming."

"I don't think so. She's just a bit jagged, that's all, which is expected from a high-bred woman like that." She replied and grabbed my hand. "I know she's not a pleasant person, but let's do what she says. She knows Corvus more than us, so her plans will be more effective. Trust me, my intuition says we should do this, and has it ever steered you wrong?"

I nibbled on my bottom lip and let out a large sigh.

"No. Alright, I'll do it because you said so," I replied.

"Thank you." She smiled and hugged me.

~Corvus~

"What do you want?" I asked Vesper, who was sitting opposite me as I scrolled through my tab.

"What do you think about that girl?" She asked, and the corner of my lips tightened.

"What girl?"

"Zuri Shepherds."

"Loud, unruly, crass."

"That's true, but she has guts. I find that interesting." She shrugged, and I eyed her.

Vesper's compliments were always rare, yet she was freely giving one to a girl she barely knew.

"I’m not marrying her," I said firmly.

"Why not? She's the first daughter of th—"

"I don't care."

"You can't go against tradition," she argued, and I dropped my tab.

"Tradition says I marry the first daughter with witch traits, which she doesn't have."

"She might be a dormant wit—"

"If she were, her father would have presented her to me. Derek will face the punishment of lying to me, but he saved me the trouble of dealing with her. I would have preferred things stayed that way."

"Or he's trying to hide his prized daughter and give you the worthless one. I sense she's special." She huffed.

"She could be the cure to my curse, and I still won't marry her."

"This is ridiculous. I think you should a—"

"Did I ask for your opinion, Vesper?" I growled, letting Mallum rise, and she stiffened.

"No, Alpha." She gritted as she bowed.

"Leave."

"One more thing," she said as she stood up. "You should keep an eye on your bride, or you might not find her on your wedding day."

"What do you mean?" I raised a brow.

"Apparently, she loathes the idea of marrying so much that she has sought the help of Anton, the son of Alpha Magnus."

"For?"

"Escaping, of course. She hates you and has a little thing for him." She rolled her eyes.

"And you know that because?" I raised a brow.

"A little bird told me." She replied, and Mallum snorted.

‘Conniving witch, he hissed.

I needed to snip off her network of spies before they became a pain in my ass.

"She won't dare. She knows the consequences."

"Consequences that only her family will bear once she's out of the picture. It's quite surprising that a quiet thing can sacrifice her family for her freedom. Honestly, I'd say let her elope, hunt her down and kill her and her family. The Shepherds are practically useless anyway." She pulled out a piece of paper and dropped it on my desk. "But since Anton is part of the scheme, I'd suggest you catch them in the act, rather than wait for it to escalate. It would be a disgrace that your bride eloped with another wolf and you couldn't stop it. Our pack will be the laughing stock, and those lowlifes will think you're weak and no—"

"Enough," I commanded, and she straightened up.

"I'm sorry I overstepped my boundaries, Alpha. I'll take my leave." She bowed and turned to leave.

"Wait." I said, and she stopped at the door as I picked up the paper.

"This is?"

"Where and what time they are meeting. I thought you might be interested, but this is just my humble suggestion."

"Leave."

"Yes, Alpha. But before I do," she turned to me. "Have you considered my suggestion to send Aria to a boarding sc—"

"I will cut out your tongue if I hear one more thing from you."

Her heart picked up speed, and she bowed and scurried away.

I eyed the paper and pressed my lips to a thin line. Bold stupidity ran in the Shepherds' girls' blood, and this was the last time I was tolerating it.

"Kealen." My voice boomed through the office, and he walked in.

"You called, Alpha."

"What witch family is next in line for marriage?"