Reese’s POV
The Alpha family was herded inside and led to the living room. Reese felt like she was on display as Troy kept staring at her. She felt almost naked, remembering the things he’d done to her, the things she’d done with him. Oh, goddess, could it get any worse? Her cheeks felt on fire.
“Reese,” her father hissed and she snapped out of it once again. What the hell was wrong with her today? Was she still drunk? She could only wish.
“Good afternoon, Alpha Madden and Luna Madden, it’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Reese said and bowed her head respectfully.
Troy looked at her unashamedly and she gritted her teeth. “Alpha Troy, welcome.” Her eyes blazed into his and she quickly looked away as she saw the amusement etched there. Bastard.
“It’s so nice to meet you, Reese. I’ve heard wonderful things about you,” Luna Madden said with a smile.
“Oh, like what?” Reese asked.
Her mother laughed then and stepped in front of Reese. “How about we sort out drinks. Any preferences?”
Her father gave her a look and she sighed. There would be hell to pay later if she was rude, especially to Troy ‘Asshole’ Madden. She averted her gaze and took a step backwards as her mother fussed and small talk resumed.
“Reese, why don’t you come help me in the kitchen?” Her mother’s words prompted her into immediate action and she practically ran to the kitchen.
“What is wrong with you?” her mother asked.
“Nothing, it just all feels so clinical,” Reese answered her.
“They’re good people, Reese. They’re good leaders and that means their son will be a good man too. Just give him a chance. You might find you like him more than you think.”
Reese snorted internally. There was no chance she’d ever like him. What the hell was her mother even saying? Good people, her ass. They were known for their ruthlessness, how they bred the strongest warriors and how their members never ever left their pack. They were probably too scared to relocate to another pack.
Lunch consisted of grilled salmon served with a side of salad and hot potatoes with butter and parsley. Her father had given Alpha Madden the head seat at the table while he took the seat opposite him which left Reese right next to Troy on one side as their mothers sat next to each other on the other side.
The food was dished up and Reese speared her fish with her fork. She’d prefer to stab Troy with her fork instead but she knew that wouldn’t go over well with the current company being an Alpha family and his parents.
“Beta Lucy, this salmon is just fantastic. You’ll have to give me the recipe,” Luna Madden said.
Pride shone in Lucy’s eyes. “The secret is to add roasted walnuts to the honey so it soaks it in before grilling the salmon.”
“Your father tells me that you graduated early from college with honours no less.” It was the first time Alpha Madden spoke directly to Reese.
“It was an easy course.” Colour coated Reese’s cheeks again as she found the Alpha’s eyes.
“I doubt Botanical Sciences are that easy, especially since you finished the five year degree in two,” he replied.
She could feel Troy’s eyes on her once more but she refused to look at him. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She also refused to believe that she wasn’t good enough. Being rejected took nothing away from her and the idea that it should was so outdated it was almost funny.
“Troy, is there anything you’d like to ask Reese?” Her father just had to meddle, like seriously, give it a rest already.
“Are you sure we haven’t met before? You really look very familiar,” Troy said.
Reese could feel the blood drain from her face. No way. He wouldn’t do that, would he? “Nope, I’d remember a face like yours.”
Luna Madden laughed with her mother. “Isn’t she just a gem, Travis!”
Reese helped her mother to clear the dishes from the table once lunch was over and they all moved back to the living room where Lucy served them coffee and dessert. Reese declined dessert as did Troy and Luna Madden watched them both.
“You two should get to know one another a little better while we discuss the marriage contract,” Luna Madden said.
“Yes! Reese, why don’t you go show Alpha Troy around a little. The view from the upstairs patio is breathtaking,” her mother piped in.
Reese stood up reluctantly but plastered a fake smile on her face and looked at Troy. His lips turned up a little and he stood up as well to follow her. Their parents were idiots, beaming at the new couple like they were in love or some shit.
Troy trailed her up the stairs, his hand on the small of her back. She hated his heat, his touch and the way he thought he could just touch her! What a dick! She pulled open the patio doors and promptly sat down in one of the loungers.
Troy walked to the railing of the patio and leaned forward on his arms. “Your mother was right, the view is fantastic.”
Reese looked up and found him looking at her instead of the actual view she’d come to show him. She scoffed and turned her head away. Troy chuckled low in his throat and pulled the other lounger closer to her and sat down.
“I had no idea who you were last night,” Reese said.
“If you’d known who I was, would you still have let me fuck you?”
Reese’s irritation showed in her eyes and Troy grinned at her. “Well that doesn’t matter now, does it. You’ve already fucked me so you can move on now since you never fuck the same woman twice.”
“And you fucked a stranger before marriage, what’s the difference in who I fuck and how many times I fuck them?”
“Oh, please, it’s not 1780 where a woman’s virtue is her only possession,” Reese bristled.
“Do you often fuck strange men in motel rooms?” She wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face.
“Yes, almost every night. Does that bother you? You can still call off this sham of a wedding. Why do you want to get married anyway?”
Troy laughed and she hated that even his laugh was sexy. “Liar, liar. You’re pussy told a different story last night.”
“I’m still not marrying you,” Reese said and folded her arms across her chest.
“You don’t really have a choice, my little rejected fiancé. I was so sure you’d want your necklace back.”
Reese touched her neck and looked up at him with wide eyes. “So you steal panties and necklaces too, is that your little trump card? It’s just a necklace.” It so was not just a necklace. How the hell hadn’t she noticed that it was gone? When had he taken it and why had he taken it?
The realization struck her then. He’d known exactly who she was and he’d fucked her anyway. He’d played her game better than she had. It was just her rotten luck to have a one night stand with her future husband. How the fuck does that even happen to someone?
Troy stuck his hand in his pants pocket and pulled her torn underwear from it. Reese gasped as she watched him bring it up to his face and inhale deeply. His eyes darkened and Reese gripped the armrests of the lounger tightly.
“What the fuck,” she muttered.
“The necklace is engraved, a gift from your grandmother. It’s not just another necklace. I’ll return it to you the moment you say, ‘I do’. I’ll see you sooner than you think, Reese.” He then tucked her panties back into his pants pocket and stood up from the lounger.
She had no words. What in the actual fuck had just happened? Troy left her on the patio and she swallowed nervously. ‘Fuck my life,’ she thought.
Troy’s POVTroy watched the house disappear in his rearview mirror as he drove away from the Willowby house. Her father was a typical former Beta and her mother seemed genuine, caring and warm. He smiled as he thought about Reese’s reaction when she first saw him on the porch.“Call Drake,” Troy said as he drove towards the territory border. His parents would return after they’d made copies of the contract which he’d already signed. and met with the sitting Alpha.The phone rang over the car speakers and Drake’s voice filled the interior. “Is it a done deal? Was she swooning at the sight of the mighty Troy Madden? Did she slip down her seat in want?”Troy laughed loudly. “Don’t be an idiot. She doesn’t want to marry me.”“Hmm, she’s a smart girl.”Troy chuckled again. “Woman. She’s a smart woman.”“You didn’t tell her the real reason you asked for this arranged marriage, did you?”“Nope and I’m not going to. You’d like her actually. She’s feisty and witty and very nice to look at.”“S
Reese’s POV“So it’s a done deal?” Reese asked as she leaned against the doorway of her father’s study. The Alpha family had left twenty minutes earlier and she had only now come down from the patio.“The contract’s signed. You will marry Troy Madden in seven days,” he said.“Seven days! Why the hell so soon?”Her father quirked a brow and sighed. “That’s what he wanted. Troy insisted on it being as soon as possible. You and your mother will work with Luna Madden and on Tuesday we will travel to the Black Claw territory and you will complete the ceremony on Sunday.”‘Fuck my life,’ Reese thought to herself.“Why did Alpha Victor order this? I mean was it sanctioned by the Elder Council or just Alpha Victor?” Reese needed to know, sure, her father kept telling her the same thing but she still didn’t understand it.“Reese, you said yourself that your mate moved on, that means he won’t change his mind and retract his rejection, right?” Reese nodded her head, he’d already marked Michelle
Troy’s POVTroy stood in his office and looked out of the window at the glittering lake that sparkled as the sun rose over the horizon. His pack lands were the largest in the continental US and in a few days he would have the added strength of a Luna.He’d been the sitting Alpha for five years minus the two years he’d spent at the Royal Pack when his father had stepped in as acting Alpha with Drake by his side. He’d never regretted the time spent with the King and it wasn’t public knowledge what he’d done there but warriors talked among themselves and word got out about his exploits, the battles he’d fought and the warriors he’d trained there.The door opened and Troy turned around. Drake, his Beta, closed the door behind him and leaned against it, crossing his arms over his chest. Troy’s broken hand hung down his side, the dried blood still coating his knuckles.“I thought you wanted this whole arranged marriage.” Amusement tinted Drake’s words and Troy cracked a grin.“My fist ran i
Reese’s POV“Are you really wearing that?” Lucy, her mother asked her when she finally emerged from her room. All her worldly possessions had been packed, her clothes, photos, mementos, her whole life.“What’s wrong with what I’m wearing?” Reese looked down at her black Doc Martens, another ruffled skirt, this one grey and her black AC/DC tank top.“You’re their future Luna! Go put on a dress or something,” her mother said with horror in her eyes.“Sorry, everything’s packed. I could always go naked,” Reese said and twirled one of her curls around her finger.“You’ll be the death of me,” Lucy muttered as the two men from Troy’s pack carried her boxes down the stairs. Both of them had overheard their conversation and they chuckled as they walked past them.Reese smiled victoriously and she watched the two warriors come downstairs again with the last of her things. It was a four hour trip to their pack and they’d arrive just after lunch. Her parents would drive their car and Reese would
Reese’s POVReese was shocked, to say the least. Black Claw territory was beautiful. The town where they resided was much larger than White Moon land. The houses were beautiful, gardens were maintained, quaint little shops were scattered throughout. She could see fields of wheat, rolling green hills, a lake in the distance and playgrounds.The two men sitting in the front of the SUV seemed more relaxed now that they were in their own territory. The packhouse was twice the size of the one back home and it stood almost alone. She could see an infirmary that looked more like a small hospital on one side and the pack hall on the other side.The front door of the packhouse stood open as the SUV slowed to a stop and then a man appeared. Yep, he definitely had that werewolf gene thing going for him. His eyes were lighter than Troy’s but stunning nonetheless, he had the werewolf warrior build, tall and muscled.His smile seemed friendly as he opened the rear door and offered Reese his hand. “
Troy’s POV“You were right, she’s reluctant as all hell,” Drake said as he leaned back against the couch and placed his feet on the coffee table.Troy only grinned. “It’ll be fine.”“She did ask me how many women have spent the night in your quarters.” Drake’s mischievous smile made his eyes twinkle.“I should’ve beat the living shit out of Justin for starting that shit.”“Your fist could always meet his face again. You know, shit like that does happen in real life,” Drake said with a grin.“I’m still waiting for his father to call me about that.”Drake left again just as Troy’s phone rang and he brought the conference call up on the big screen across from his desk. He plugged the translator earpiece into his ear and accepted the call. The ten men bowed their heads and Troy bowed his head as was the respected custom in Japan.It took almost three hours for them to conclude their business talks and at the end of the meeting, Troy was satisfied that rogue attacks in Japan were decreasin
Reese’s POVOmegas made two lines and Reese instantly felt like a deer trapped in spotlights. Troy, next to her, squeezed her hand and stepped forward, nodding his head at his people. They smiled and bowed their heads as Reese and Troy made their way to the front door of the packhouse and outside to where the warriors also made two human walls.Troy led Reese to the pack hall situated a few yards away from the packhouse. Lights blinked against the dark sky and the music softened as Troy smiled and stopped right in the doorway. “I give you Alpha Troy Madden and future Luna Reese Willowby!”The applause was loud but more controlled than the Omegas’ had been. Reese saw her parents up ahead where they stood next to Troy’s parents. Troy was stopped every few seconds to shake someone’s hand and make small talk.The pack hall was decorated in black and silver with an occasional slash of green. The tables were scattered around a makeshift dance floor with the Alpha table set up on a dais. She
Reese’s POVReese woke up when the sun filtered through the curtains and she stretched her arms above her head, her elbows popping as she groaned. She felt well rested and she sighed as she pulled the duvet off her and sat up straight.The clock on her phone told her that it was still early, six am but her stomach told her that she needed to eat since she’d only picked at her food the previous night. She’d never been good with eating while others stared at her.It was quiet in the Alpha suite and Reese opened the bedroom door and yawned as she walked into the kitchen. She opened the fridge and leaned forward to pull the fruit tray open. She hummed a tune and grabbed a banana, yoghurt, milk and strawberries.She kicked the fridge closed with her foot and placed everything on the counter. She turned around and screamed as she took two steps backwards and clutched her heart. Troy came running out of the spare room with his hair tousled and his pajama pants hanging low on his hips.“What