Alison’s POV
The air in my room was oozing with tension. I stared at the reflection in the mirror, trying to decide between a sleek navy dress and a simple black one. My hands trembled slightly, not from excitement but from sheer nerves. This wasn’t just a date.. it was a forced rendezvous with a man who had the gall to blackmail me with the same war that tore me apart from my family for years. Felix. Just his name left a bitter taste in my mouth.
As I reached for the navy dress, a sudden knock on the door jolted me. Before I could even call out, the door creaked open.
“Darling!,” my mother’s soft voice filled the room. She stepped inside, closing the door behind her. Her sharp eyes immediately took in my half-dressed state and the makeup scattered across the vanity. “Are you going somewhere?”
“Yes.” My tone was clipped, but I didn’t spare her a glance. I was still furious at both her and my father. They had made decisions about my life without me, a decision that left me entangled in this mess with Alpha Cedric and his arrogant son.
“Darling.” Her voice firmed as she approached me. She placed a gentle but insistent hand on my arm, pulling me to sit on the edge of my bed. “We need to talk.”
I sighed heavily and met her gaze, trying to keep my irritation in check. “What is there to talk about, Mom? You and Dad did what you thought was best for yourselves, right? Well, congratulations. Now I’m caught up in the middle of this mess, did you both ever consider how I would feel?.”
Her face crumpled slightly, a flicker of pain crossing her features. “Honey, your father regrets this agreement deeply. He’s been carrying the weight of it every day since Cedric resurfaces, he was just a father desperate to have his heir back after years of separation.”
I folded my arms. “Then why doesn’t he fix it? Yes! He did this, it’s only right that he finds a solution because I will not be Mated to that ignorant fool”
“This isn’t as simple as you think,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes glistened as she continued. “Your father… he is an Alpha and an Alpha’s word is binding, Cedric knows this and he is using it against your father and your father may not have the same strength he had years ago to fight this”
“What do you mean by he doesn’t have strength like he had years ago?” I asked finally meeting my mums gaze
“Honey, your father is sick. He’s been hiding it from the packs for years, that’s why he agreed to Cedric condition in order to form an alliance with him so he could secure Crimson Pack’s future, he’s been deteriorating ever since the raid years ago. The injury he sustained… it’s catching up to him.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My father looked so strong, imposing, always in control that I never figured out that he was frail and dying. My heart squeezed painfully as I remembered the desperation in his eyes when he first saw me after I regained consciousness. Suddenly, his actions and decisions made more sense to me.
“Why didn’t you tell me this sooner? I have been ignoring him for almost a week not, must be hurting him” I asked, my voice softer now, laced with guilt.
“He didn’t want to burden you,” she said. “But your father is determined to protect you, even if it’s the last thing he does. He knows he made a mistake, but he’s willing to face Cedric if it means getting you out of this.”
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. The anger I had harbored toward my father started to dissolve, replaced by a mix of pity and understanding. “I’m meeting Felix,” I admitted quietly.
My mother’s eyes widened. “What?” she screeched “Absolutely not. Honey, Cedric is a manipulative man. Do you really think his son could be any different?”
“I’ll be fine,” I assured her, standing up and brushing invisible lint off my dress. “I’m not going alone. Dad insisted on guards. Besides, it’s better I deal with this head-on than let it fester.”
She grabbed my wrist, her grip surprisingly strong. “Please, be careful. These people aren’t to be trusted.”
I nodded, touched by her concern. She walked me to the door, her hand lingering on my shoulder as she saw me off. As I climbed into the car, she stood in the doorway, her worry evident in the furrow of her brow.
The drive to the cafe felt longer than it should have. My thoughts raced as I considered my plan. Felix might have a smug, entitled attitude, but I wasn’t going to let him or his father dictate my life.
The small cafe was bustling with activity when I arrived. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the sound of clinking cups and soft chatter. As I stepped inside, heads turned. People smiled warmly, some even bowed slightly. It was a stark contrast to the hostile stares I’d feared after my return.
“Miss Maureen!” A tiny voice chirped.
I looked down to see a little girl, her pigtails bouncing as she ran up to hug me. My heart melted as I crouched to her level. “Hey there, sweetheart. What’s your name?”
“Ellie,” she said shyly, her big eyes sparkling.
“Well, Ellie, you just made my day,” I said, ruffling her hair before she scampered back to her parents.
I took a seat near the window, grateful for the brief distraction. But the moment of calm didn’t last. The bell above the door jingled, and Felix walked in.
He exuded confidence, his tailored blazer and sharp jawline making him look every bit the Alpha-to-be. His piercing eyes locked onto mine as he approached, a cocky smirk playing on his lips.
“Alison,” he greeted, sliding into the seat across from me.
“Felix,” I replied curtly. “Let’s cut to the chase. What do you want?”
His smirk widened. “Can’t a man enjoy the company of his beautiful woman without an ulterior motives?”
I rolled my eyes. “Spare me the charm. I’m not here for games.”
“Fine,” he said, leaning back in his chair. “I wanted to get to know you better. After all, our families seem determined to unite us.”
I bristled at his audacity. “Our family’s? ” I chuckled” More like your family, Let me make one thing clear: I’m already mated. To Alpha Xander Kane.”
For a moment, his confident facade slipped. Then he threw his head back and laughed. “You almost had me there. Good one.”
Without a word, I tilted my head, exposing the mark on my neck. His laughter died instantly.
“Believe me now?” I asked, my tone icy.
His jaw tightened as his eyes darkened. “Interesting. I didn’t think Xander would stoop so low to marking someone like you, I mean a former slave, I’d understand if he marked you after finding out you are Gaius’s daughter but marking you in your slave status that’s one thing.”
I ignored the jab and stood, leaning across the table so we were eye-to-eye. “I’m sure you know exactly what Xander did to Silver Moon, don’t you? It’s not a hidden fact, then you can Imagine what he’d do if he found out about this little scheme of yours.”
Felix’s confident demeanor faltered, but only for a second.
“Tell your father to call off this ridiculous marriage arrangement,” I continued, my voice low and firm. “Unless you want to see firsthand what an angry Alpha looks like.”
I let my words hang in the air for a moment before straightening up. With a sly smile, I added, “And do try to keep that smirk intact. It might be the only thing saving you.”
Felix stared at me, his expression unreadable. Without waiting for a response, I turned and walked out, my heart pounding.
The moment I slid into the car, I exhaled shakily. My hands trembled as I gripped the seatbelt. I barely recognized myself in that cafe… bold, assertive, unyielding.
“Back home, Miss?” the driver asked.
“Yes,” I said, my voice steadier now.
As the car pulled away, I glanced back at the cafe. Felix still hadn’t moved from his seat. Something about him felt… wrong. I couldn’t shake the unease crawling up my spine. Whatever he and his father were planning, I needed to figure it out before it spiraled out of control.