THE ALPHA’S ADDICTION

“What do you think is happening? Why would Alpha Arnold force his son to mate with a girl whom he hasn’t even seen before? What’s going on?” Derek heard Leo ask him through their common mind link.

He knew it was better that way, even if Maya couldn’t hear them; they couldn’t risk interrupting or making their presence known to the duo arguing few metres away from them. When they left here, they would discuss their thoughts better with Maya. For now, they would just keep calm and watch, their thoughts only flowing through their minds.

“I don’t know. But I’m sure it’s never something good.” Derek replied through the same mind link.

“Wow, the man sure is a wench. How could he subject his son to lifelong hardship and loneliness. What about if his destined mate comes along? What is he to do then?” Leo asked, a twinge of disappointment and disgust in his voice as he obviously hated what the older man was doing.

And as if in sync, Curtis asked the same question to his father, oblivious to the fact that they were been watched.

“So what if my mate comes along?” He asked, when he saw that his father was not ready to answer his previous question.

Although he has already made up his mind not to be a pawn in his father’s hand, like his elder sister, Maya, was; he was still curious on why his father was acting the way, why he would want him to sacrifice his joy and happiness hoarded in finding one’s mate. Doesn’t the old man want him to enjoy a fufilled relationship like one that he and mate, his mother, has? Why was his father this way?

First, he had separated them from Derek’s pack, and although he wasn’t really concerned with it, he had still thought it wrong. Then, he had used his sister as a spy. And now, he wants to use him. He wondered if his mother had also been a pawn in his game at one point. He hadn’t seen her at the party. He was sure that she hadn’t come because of this stupid notion his father was trying to convince him to do. She must have known about it, and wasn’t happy with it, wouldn’t agree with it. And that’s why she hadn’t come, to express her disapproval, but then his father didn’t care. He never does. He thought.

“If she comes along, you can reject her….” Alpha Arnold said with a shrug, causing Curtis to balk.

” Wait, let me get this straight, Father. You want me to reject my ordained mate, and accept some girl whom I haven’t seen, who…. wait…” He paused, peering at his father through thick lidded eyes.

” Have you met her before? The girl who you are pushing me towards.” He asked, folding his arms across his chest, his face a blanket of sadness, worry and anger, all at the same time.

” Uh.. no.. but it doesn’t mat…” Alpha Arnold was saying, when Curtis cut him short angrily.

“You haven’t even met who you’re forcing me to marry? Oh God!” He shrieked, sinking his fingers into the inner corners of his head. He was tired of this. He was already feeling an onset of headache and a bit of pain stirrings around his body. From descriptions, he was sure that his shift was near.

“It doesn’t matter. I’m sure she is beautiful and strong. I’m sure you will like her.” Alpha Arnold said.

“Who is she? What is her name? Why are you doing this?” Curtis asked, his eyes shining with an angry plea.

“You will know all that later. But you should also know that I’m doing all these for your good, for the good of our pack.” Alpha Arnold replied, placing his hand on his son’s shoulder, hoping that the younger would agree to his plan.

“I don’t think so, Father. You never do things for anyone’s good, other than yours.” Curtis stated, shrugging off his father’s hand off his shoulders.

“That’s enough.” Alpha Arnold said with a louder tone, employing his Alpha’s tone, which he knew wouldn’t be disobeyed.

“I won’t have you disrespect me. If you don’t understand that I’m doing this for your own good, that’s fine. But you will obey whatever I say.” He mentioned.

“No, I won’t. I can’t stay with someone that’s not my mate. You would have to find someone else that will do your bidding, because I won’t. I’m not Maya.” Curtis said, standing his ground, refusing to shake his resolve this time around. An action which made Maya proud.

She smiled a bit, a slight stretching of her earlier anger-squeezed lips as she saw her little brother stand up against her father. She was happy that he was doing something that she hadn’t been able to pull off; standing her ground. She had allowed her father to use her as a pawn in his game, had allowed him to use her to separate Derek’s pack, which had squashed the relationships she had with the boys, especially Clem.

The latter had meant his words when he had said that he didn’t want to have anything to do with her. They haven’t spoken since that day at Emma’s house when they had been looking for an intruder. She missed him, but then she wouldn’t force a relationship into place if he didn’t want to forgive her. If Anthony, who had lost his parents in the war because of her betrayal, could forgive her, then why couldn’t him? That’s was his business though. She thought, staring unmovingly at her father and her brother who were still arguing in the dark.

She knew that Derek and Leo would be discussing about the matter through their common mind link. It made her wish that she could also communicate with them through her mind. For a second, she felt left out. But then shook it off, knowing that Derek would fill her in on whatever he and Leo had discussed through their mind link.

He had always strived not to make her feel left out, since forgiving her. He had even told her about when his father has asked him if Emma had been his mate, that night of Clem’s birthday, after Claire and her mother had bullied the redhead. So, she was sure that he would tell her whatever they had discussed too. For now, she would observe too what was going on in front of her, and speak of it later as they convene at a more appropriate place.Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.