Troy’s POV
Troy 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.”
“So, I take it your man-whore days are behind you?” Drake’s voice had become softer at the end because that part of his life wasn't something he liked to talk about and only a few of his pack members knew exactly where he'd been and what he'd been doing.
“Fucking Justin and his big mouth.”
“So, Reese Willowby will become Mrs Madden in a weeks’ time and never know you saved her from Justic Michaels and his perverted ways,” Drake said evenly.
“Yeah, listen, I’m heading back now but I’m thinking of making a detour. I need a fucking drink after last night.”
“Sure, man. Call me if you need me to haul your sorry ass back to the house,” Drake said with a laugh and Troy pressed the red button on his steering wheel to end the call. He was glad now that his father had agreed to have the meeting with Alpha Victor in his stead.
Troy answered the call from his father and he knew that he was on speaker phone. “Alpha Victor, my apologies for not appearing in person but unfortunately I have to get back to my territory. How are the rogue sightings in your territory?”
“We have a similar problem, Alpha Troy, but I understand Alpha duties. I’ll conduct the meeting with former Alpha Travis and hopefully we can come to some sort of agreement to vanquish these rogues from our lands permanently.”
Troy’s hand tightened around the steering wheel. “Of course, Alpha Victor. I’ll report back to King Maximilian once you’re meeting is concluded.”
“Of course. I would also like to discuss a possible marriage alliance between our two packs. You are aware that I have a daughter of age and I know your mate has disappeared,” Victor said.
“I’m sorry to inform you that I’m already engaged, Alpha Victor. I’m sure your daughter will find her mate soon and that the marriage from that will benefit both packs,” Troy said as diplomatically as he could and ended the call.
Troy sped down the single lane road and left the White Moon Pack territory behind him. Reese might not like him now, but she’d get to know the real him. Things weren't always as they seemed and there weren't many things he regretted.
Troy sat down at the bar and ordered a bourbon on the rocks. He smiled to himself when he thought back to the previous night. He could still remember the scent of her arousal. He’d wanted to start things right, get to know her and get her to actually like him for him, not for who people thought he was. He hadn’t been able to resist.
He really hadn’t intended to like her as much as he did and now he could actually see himself building a life with her, prophecy or not. She was a beautiful woman and he couldn’t believe that anyone would reject someone like her.
His loss was Troy’s gain and he intended to sweep her off her feet. He wasn't an angel or inexperienced but Reese’s innocence had drawn him in. The look on her face when she tried to convince him she slept around in order for him to walk away had been priceless.
She didn’t realize that he could see the lies in her eyes. Life with her would be interesting to say the least. He needed her by his side and not as his enemy. He could give her a good life and their bond would grow once he’d marked her.
She was stuck with him now, whether she liked it or not. It was either him or Justin Michaels and he couldn’t do that to her. He’d been livid when he found out her father was actively looking for a husband for her and had agreed to talks with the Michaels family. Everything he’d heard about Reese told him that she’d be a good fit. Being with her last night had just emphasized it.
There was something about her that drew him to her more than just her looks. He liked that she said exactly what was on her mind, that she didn’t play games and for the first time in his life, a woman wasn’t falling at his feet.
“Well, well, would you ladies look at this. Alpha Troy Madden gracing us with his presence.”
Troy gritted his teeth. Justin was the last person he wanted to run into especially after the previous night. He shuddered to think what would have happened if he hadn’t followed Reese to the club and intervened when Justin made his move.
“Still playing the same old game, huh, Justin?”
Justin’s smile was sloppy, showing his inebriated state. He smelled like whiskey, like he’d bathed in it. He had an arm around each woman’s shoulder and they both looked wasted. It left a sour taste in Troy’s mouth as he watched Justin whisper something to them and both women laughed.
“Troy, wait up my man!” Troy had stood up from the bar, suddenly not wanting to be there anymore.
“What do you want, Justin?”
Justin burped and straightened himself to his feet as he sauntered over to Troy. “Come on, man, we used to be friends. Are you seriously going to let one chick’s pussy come between us?”
“You think that’s what this is about? How about the fact that you drugged my mate and had sex with her half unconscious body. It’s about the fact that you bragged about it and then told people she seduced you. It’s about the fact that you thought I’d be okay with it and the fact that she ran away because she couldn’t stand to be in the same territory as you!”
Troy hadn’t realized that his eyes had darkened in his anger and his wolf was struggling to push to the forefront completely. Troy managed to keep him at bay for the time being but Justin was testing even his limits of control.
“Well, maybe I’ll just befriend Reese Willowby then, she might taste just as nice as Amber did,” Justin said with a glint of malice in his eyes.
Troy blinked and realized he was straddling Justin, he was unconscious and blood poured from his broken nose, his mouth and his split cheek. The two women were screaming as Troy stood up and flexed his hand, a hand he’d broken.
“Nobody will ever hurt Reese again, least of all you. She’s my fiancé now.”
Nobody made a move as Troy walked over Justin and out of the bar. He know that Justin’s parents would demand a meeting with him. They thought because they were rich that they also held power. Nobody held power over him.
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
Reese’s POVReese started running the moment her feet hit the ground. She ran down the paved streets, past houses and little shops. She circled the school, the town square and then headed into the forest. She could sense the border lines around her but she stuck to the footpaths in the forest and just ran.Reese came to a standstill at the glimmering lake. The water sparkled with the sun’s rays and she leaned forward with her hands on her knees, breathing deeply. It was quiet, serene and extraordinarily beautiful.It was late spring and already warm, warmer than in White Moon territory. Reese toed off her runners and socks and waded into the water. She dove underneath the water and turned on her back once she broke through the surface.The water was crisp, smelled clean and a light breeze ruffled the surface of the lake. Reese wondered what Cleo was doing. She smiled then, Cleo was most probably still sleeping. The pack would celebrate Bryan’s Alpha ceremony at the end of the month on