CHAPTER TEN

Accidentally Mated To Alpha Atlas

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Chapter TEN:

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When Anais woke up the next morning she was disoriented. She shot up in bed and looked around the brightly lit room in panic before she remembered where she was.

The reality of the night before hit her and she flopped back down into the bed.

She glanced at the clock and saw that it was after eleven in the morning. She had been extremely tired the night before and had slept hard. She usually needed to replenish her calories and fluids and sleep for an extended amount of time after a heat.

She rolled out of the bed and grabbed some clean clothes. She would be sad to change out of Atlas’ shirt, but she wanted another shower. She crept across the hallway into the bathroom that she had put her things in the night before and turned on the shower.

She stepped under the spray and sighed, able to appreciate it more than she had last night. The water pressure was strong and the temperature was hot. There were glass doors around the shower stall and next to it was a big tub. Anais couldn’t remember the last time she had been able to take a bath and she couldn’t wait to try it out.

Bathing in privacy was a luxury she never had living in the omega dorms.

She took her time and washed every inch of herself twice. She took stock of the bite marks and bruises that Atlas had left on her skin and smirked. Her alpha was possessive. Anais would be lying if she said she minded.

She swiped the loofa over her flat stomach and paused. There was a pup in there, growing quickly. She would keep his flat stomach for a while longer, but soon there would be a pronounced bulge there.

Anais found that she was excited about the idea of a pup and she held on to that feeling while she got dressed and went downstairs.

Atlas was working in his office again but he smiled and stood when he saw Anais.

The omega noticed that the alpha had also had a shower and wore a clean set of clothes. He had shaved and Atlas was even more breathtaking than he had been with several day’s growth of beard on his face.

“Good morning Ana,” he said.

“Good morning alpha,” She murmured.

“Did you sleep well?” he asked.

Anais nodded. “Thanks,” She said. “The bed is really comfortable and the shower was great, too.”

Atlas smiled, and satisfaction worked its way through his scent. “I had breakfast delivered,” Atlas told her.

Anais tried not to be disappointed that she wouldn’t be able to cook for him again just yet. Realistically Anais knew that there was no food in the apartment, but she wanted to feed and care for her alpha.

“Thank you,” Anais said again. Atlas gestured to the hallway and she took the hint. They walked into the kitchen and Anais stopped short at the scent of honeysuckle and cinnamon. There was someone else there.

“Oh, Anais, this is Eileen, my housekeeper.”

Anais felt a surge of irritation that there was another omega in her space quickly followed by the fact that there was another omega in her space doing her job.

She was currently wiping the counter and tidying up their breakfast trash. It was clear she had been the one to plate the food and have it ready for them.

Anais saw Atlas turn to her and speak clearly. She noticed the hearing aids that looped out of her ear canal and over the shell of both ears.

“Nice to meet you,” Eileen said to her.

Anais could hear the slight off tone she had when she spoke and she made sure to face her when she spoke as well.

“You too,” She managed.

Atlas frowned but Anais just smiled and smoothed her face out. She took a breath and tightened her control on her scent.

She worked to put out and even, happy omega scent that wouldn’t have Atlas wondering what was going on.

Her nose twitched at the scent of a second omega in the space. She didn’t normally have any trouble with other omegas, but she felt threatened by Eileen.

Last night she had hoped that she would be able to cook for her mate and they would share the space together. Atlas talked about taking Anais grocery shopping but didn’t elaborate about what he assumed Atlas’s responsibilities would be.

Anais thought it had been clear what she wanted, but maybe it wasn’t.

Anais had asked Atlas point blank what the alpha had expected of her and she remembered Atlas telling her that he expected nothing. Maybe Atlas had been clear about what he expected from Anais.

Anais glanced at Eileen again and bit the inside of her cheek. Atlas expected nothing from her. Did that mean that he wouldn’t share a meal with her or spend time with her? He had said they would solidify the bond and go grocery shopping, but Anais was confused.

She was struggling to find her footing in his new environment and the role she thought she would play was taken by someone else. She carefully watched Atlas and Eileen interact. She tried to subtly scent the air around them but she didn’t smell anything that would indicate more.

She was sure there wasn’t anything romantic between them but she didn’t feel any better.

She missed the last exchange between them but heard Eileen excuse herself.

Atlas brought her over to the island where the food was laid out. There was an assortment of pastries and juice along with ham and sausage. Anais thanked Atlas and they made their plates side by side.

“I thought we could go out after we ate,” Atlas told her when they sat down. Anais subtly shifted to be closer to him. Atlas didn’t seem to notice. In fact, he didn’t seem to be affected by Anais’s presence, or lack of, at all.

“I’d like that,” She told him. “Where will we go?”

“First, we will get you some new clothes and then we can get groceries, unless you want them delivered?” Atlas told her.

Anais shook her head. “No, I’d like to get them from the store.”

Atlas nodded and they finished their meal in silence. Things seemed easier for Anais that morning, but she was unhappy that there was a housekeeper in her new home.

She didn’t say anything to Atlas about it though. If Atlas was happy having someone else to take care of the things for them, then Anais would try to keep her mouth closed. In less than a year she would have a pup to take care of so there would be plenty to do.

They left the apartment just after one o’clock and Anais realized it was Sunday.

That didn’t mean much for the city since there were always crowds and tourists, but it was normally a slower pace than the weekdays.

Anais had enjoyed going for walks while she was working for Roman. There wasn’t much to do when the club was closed and she never had a lot of money, so she walked and utilized the free arts and activities the city had to offer on her only day off.

Walking was apparently not something that they would be doing because Alfie was once again waiting at the curb for them.

Atlas ushered her through the doors to the building and into the waiting car where Alfie held the door open for her. Atlas had nodded to the doorman and introduced Anais by name before he shuffled the omega along without comment.

She slid inside and Atlas followed, a mirror of the night before. It seemed like Alfie knew where they were going because he didn’t ask Atlas where he needed to go.

Anais stared out of the window as they drove through the city and wondered where they were going. She would find out soon enough, but she began to get anxious.

She knew that Atlas wouldn’t let her buy anything with her own money, he had already said as much, but she didn’t know how she felt about the alpha laying down money for her for clothes when she had already done so much.

She had run out of time, though, because they stopped next to the curb and Anais looked over to Atlas’ window. He was on the curb side and Anais ducked her head to see the Macy’s sign above them.

A little out of her price range, but it wasn’t Versace or some nonsense that Atlas could have brought her to.

They left the cool air of the car and headed up the short flight of stairs where a doorman waited for them. She greeted them cordially and Atlas nodded while they walked by. Atlas escorted her to the omega female section of the store with a hand at her back.

“Alpha Hawke, welcome back,” a petite beta greeted them.

Anais turned to look at her fully and she clenched her jaw. She was pretty, with shoulder length brown hair and a smart skirt suit. The warm smiled on her face told Anais that Atlas was familiar to her and that she might be more interested than just being a personal shopper.

She smelled faintly of lemon, a neutral beta scent that usually calmed Anais.

Today though, she was on edge. She tried to keep herself still and control her own scent while Atlas smiled back.

“Hannah,” Atlas greeted her. “This is Anais. Ana, this is Hannah. She is a personal shopper here that has helped dress me very well for many years.” He turned back to face her. “We need a new wardrobe for her today.”

Hannah turned to Anais and gave her a once over before she smiled again. Anais noticed that the warmth in her eyes was absent as she looked at her. “Nice to meet you, Ana,” she greeted her, though Anais thought she was anything but happy to have her in her store.

Everything in her posture and tone suggested that she didn’t think much of Anais even if he scent was neutral.

“Nice to meet you, too,” Ana replied softly.

It hadn’t escaped her notice that Atlas hadn’t introduced her as his mate and her shirt collar covered the bite. She also realized that while he had introduced her to the doorman at the apartment, he hadn’t told them Anais was now Atlas’ mate.

Atlas wasn’t touching her and was, in fact, standing separate from her, much like a colleague or friend, not a mate. An uncomfortable feeling settled in her gut.

“Well, let’s see what we can find,” Hannah said. She briskly began to walk around and deferred to Atlas about the clothing selection, ignoring Anais for the most part.

Atlas sometimes asked her opinion but more often than not gave her a direct answer without his omega’s input. Anais followed silently along, listening and watching as they discussed her body type and height along with what clothing style and size she would need.

Anais tried to relax and let Atlas do what he wanted, but the uncomfortable feeling only grew. By the time they arrived at the dressing room there were many clothes on the rack that Hannah had provided. She told them she would leave them be and would be back shortly.

Atlas sat on the plush cushion in the spacious room with his phone and began to type something out. Anais took that as her cue to start trying on the clothing.

There were slacks and button-down shirts.

There were dress shoes and fancy gowns.

There were designer skirts and soft shirts, but none of the clothes were really things she would have chosen for herself and she wasn’t comfortable in them.

She tried on outfit after outfit as Atlas watched and nodded his approval or not.

Anais hadn’t been particularly looking forward to the clothes shopping but she hadn’t expected this. She had almost no say in the clothes that Atlas would buy and maybe that was the way it was going to be.

She thought about the housekeeper in their home right now. Was she cleaning her room? Dusting the living room? Unloading the dishes that Anais had started last night?

Anais felt like she was spinning. In less than a day she had completely lost her autonomy. She was now mated to a very rich and powerful alpha who hired staff to take care of their house and determined what clothing Anais would wear.

What else would the alpha dictate? What say would Anais have in any part of her life from now on?

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TBC

AUTHOR’S NOTE: so I think we’ve all realize that Atlas is a very controlling alpha. Stay and read to see how it plays out…

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