Chapter 1: Meeting Alpha Ian

Francesca’s POV

I have refused to step foot outside of my new bedroom since we arrived in Alpha Ian’s mansion. I was doing my best to ignore how stunning the room was, trying my best to hold onto my anger. I was justified in being angry, in being absolutely furious with my mother’s decision to remarry. She has chosen to give up her position as the head of our pack and was now going to be second in command to a man. And not just any man. Someone who was ten years younger than her. Just thinking about it made my blood boil.

I’ve been uprooted from my beloved home and now I’d be forced to live in this soulless mansion. I couldn’t shake this feeling that something terrible was going to happen. There were times when I would feel a certain way, when the hairs at the back of my neck would stand on end and my heart would start racing for apparently no reason. And since my mother told me she has sought an alliance with Alpha Ian and he accepted, I’ve been getting that feeling more frequently.

I slowly rose from the bed and looked around the huge room. The curtains were blood red and rustling lightly due to the breeze blowing from the open window. The bed had cream-colored sheets. As I ran my fingers against the material, I realized it was made of the finest silks. I guess the claim that Alpha Ian’s family were the richest werewolves in New Orleans was true after all. My suitcases were abandoned by the door. I should definitely unpack but I couldn’t be bothered. I wanted to sulk some more. I swiped open my phone and scroll through I*******m for a while, laughing at hilarious reels.

I knew I couldn’t stay cooped up in my room forever. I was proven right when one hour later, my mother walked into my room without knocking. Jessica Reginald was an intimidating woman even on a good day. When she was angry, however, she was downright frightening. She was tall, and just like me, had ash blonde hair. Her eyes were a glacial blue just like her personality. Right now, she was fixing me with a stare that could bring even our strongest soldiers to their knees. But I was no weakling. I won’t back down. I held her gaze and kept my head held high.

She let out a scoff as if she was amused with my behavior and walked over to my bed. She sat down gingerly, looking elegant in her high-waist pants and suits. I’ve always envied the effortless grace she exuded because I’m the opposite. I’m way too hot-headed and brash with absolutely zero finesse. I knew what she was going to say even before the words left her mouth. Deep down, I knew I should be more supportive and understanding. I should be a better daughter but I was struggling. I guess my mother was right when she said I was always a little selfish.

“What exactly is the meaning of this?” Jessica asked after some minutes have passed.

“Mother, I have no idea what you are talking about,” I replied, still holding eye contact.

“You’re nineteen, Francesca, not nine,” she said in a low voice that rang with authority. It was her Alpha voice. She really was trying to bring me to heel. Well, it wasn’t going to work. “Sulking in your room isn’t cute anymore. It’s just immature. You should act like an adult, your actions should reflect my upbringing.”

“Are you saying I’m not allowed to have feelings when my entire life has just been uprooted?”

My mother rolled her eyes heavenward. “Oh please, you simply moved to a different house, a different territory but you will still be attending the same university, you still have the same friends, you will still be running through the same forest in your wolf form. Quit being dramatic.”

“Why did you have to seek a marriage alliance huh? What was the need? I liked my life just the way it was,” I shouted to her face. I had promised myself to keep cool but I was losing my temper.

“You know exactly why, don’t act dumb.” My mother’s voice was cold. “Ezekiel and his band of psychotic rogues are getting out of hand. They’ve been encroaching on our territory, they’ve been murdering and looting without mercy.”

“You could have still become partners with Alpha Ian without marriage. Did you not think of that? I thought your independence was important to you. You used to be the most powerful woman in this territory and now you have to answer to a man!”

“I’m still the most powerful woman in this territory, you ignorant little girl,” my mother said icily. “In a few days’ time, Ian and I will be wed. And in three months’ time, I will be crowned Luna right alongside him on the night of the full moon coronation. Can’t you understand what that would mean? You will be the princess of the most powerful pack in New Orleans. I did this for both of us.”

“I never asked for any of it,” I said softly.

My mother shook her head as though she couldn’t believe the words coming out of my mouth. “I don’t have to explain myself to you and I sure as hell don’t give a damn about your petty feelings. Get yourself out of bed. Alpha Ian wants to meet you.”

I bristled at this. Somehow, the thought of meeting him made me irrationally angry. As far as I was concerned, he was responsible for every little wrong in my life right now. I might find it difficult to not punch him in the face if I met him. I bet he was probably hideous. No man with the type of reputation he has could be good-looking. I didn’t want to meet him. I simply didn’t want to leave my room.

“I don’t want to meet him and I don’t have to,” I said. “You can’t force me.”

“Oh alright then, I guess you’re fine with me cutting your allowance,” My mother deadpanned. There was no humor in her tone. She wasn’t bullshitting.

“You wouldn’t!” I said, panicked.

“You know I don’t joke around, Francesca. I’ve never had a sense of humor.”

I was fighting the inner battle to scream at the top of my lungs at how unfair this entire situation was. But that would just further my mother’s narrative of my immaturity and childishness. And to be honest, it wasn’t as though I could hide from the man forever. I was living in his house for fuck’s sake. I might as well go out and meet him now. Rip off the figurative Band-Aid.

I rose from the bed and reluctantly followed my mother out of my room. We walked down a winding staircase and were now in an open hallway. We walked through the main living room which was deserted and made our way to Alpha Ian’s Study. My mother knocked on the door firmly. After a few minutes, a deep baritone called out that we could enter.

We walked into the verse room and I took a second to look around. Its tall walls were lined with books that looked expensive as fuck. As much as I loved reading books, especially first editions, I’d be scared to death to come near these ones. My mother cleared her throat beside me and I almost jumped in fright.

I directed my gaze towards the man sitting behind the large oak desk and I felt my heart stop beating in my chest. I was transfixed. Alpha Ian wasn’t at all what I was expecting. He was breath-taking. He was blessed with the kind of beauty that made you ache, that made you want to possess, the kind of beauty that poets of old used to write sonnets about and painters worshipped on their canvasses. His jet-black hair was cut short and styled off his forehead. His eyes were obsidian black and they seemed to stare right into my soul. It made me uneasy. I felt suddenly naked for reasons I couldn’t comprehend.

His lips were full and sensual in ways that could haunt your deepest fantasies. Even though he was sitting, I could tell that he was tall and the white unbuttoned shirt he wore emphasized his broad shoulders. His long and tapered fingers were tapping a lazy rhythm on his desk. For a second, I stared at them as if hypnotized. My gaze snapped back to his face and he smirked as if he knew something I didn’t.

My mother pulled me forward since it was obvious I was frozen and couldn’t move. My mother and I each sat in the two chairs opposite Alpha Ian. Whatever haze I was in was clearing and my anger returned in full force. There was something innately infuriating about his attractiveness. He was supposed to be hideous. This wasn’t fair.

“Ian, this is my lovely daughter, Francesca,” My mother said with a sweet smile. What the hell? I’ve never seen that expression on her face before. Was this the effect of Alpha Ian’s charm?

“Francesca, you’re as beautiful as your mother,” Alpha Ian said, smiling warmly. “It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you.”

“I wish I could say the same, Alpha Ian, but unfortunately I can’t.” My response was the kind of rude that deeply satisfied me.

“Francesca Reginald!” Jessica was apparently scandalized. “How dare you!”

“It’s okay, Jessica,” Alpha Ian said, chuckling. The tone of his voice was rumbling deep in a way that made my spine tingle. It just made me hate him more. “She’s honest. I like that. Okay, Francesca, lay it on me. Do you have a problem with me?”

“I do.”

“Care to elaborate?”

“I think you have ulterior motives for agreeing to this marriage.”

Alpha Ian raised a curious brow. “Such as?”

“Oh I don’t know,” I said, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Maybe you want to turn our pack into your own personal slaves, make us do all the heavy lifting for you.”

“That’s ridiculous,” Jessica said.

“Your mother is right, that is a ridiculous claim. Everyone will be treated equally.” Alpha Ian said. He sounded so calm and unfazed, a man who was confident in himself.

“Now, why do I find that so hard to believe, huh?” I said, wanting, no needing, to goad him. I wanted him to lose his cool, wanted to see that arrogant smirk wiped off his face. “I can’t help the feeling that we will get the short stick of this bargain. There is an imbalance of power here. You could very well decide that our warriors will be on the frontlines of the war when the rogues finally decide to attack. Something tells me leading them all to their death would be nothing to you.”

Alpha Ian went completely still after I finished talking. Even my mother seemed shocked into speechlessness. I was grinning from ear to ear, immeasurably pleased with myself. There was no way I was going to let this infuriatingly gorgeous man have the upper hand, Alpha or not.

“Jessica darling, could you please excuse us?” Alpha Ian said in a tone that was deceptively pleasant.

My mother rose from her chair and left the Study without a word. There was a tense sort of silence that filled the room after she left. My chest was rising and falling with every breath I took. I felt adrenaline rush through me. I couldn’t remember the last time I was this excited.

Alpha Ian stared at me for a prolonged period of time. There was a dangerous glint in his gaze and it should have been all the warning I needed. But I’ve always been too stubborn for my own good. He slowly removed his cufflinks and unbutton his shirt sleeves. He rolled them back, revealing veiny muscular forearms that made my mouth dry.

“You know, Francesca, at first I thought you were just an outspoken girl,” Alpha Ian began on a lazy drawl, “But it’s clear you’re disrespectful and never really check yourself before you talk. See, in my house, I don’t tolerate disrespect.”

“You can’t just demand respect from me,” I said, tone mocking. “Respect needs to be earned.”

“I agree but how can I earn yours when you won’t give me a chance?” he said. “You seemed to have already made up your mind about me. You don’t like me for whatever inconsequential reason. And you’ve somehow decided that you will make your stay here miserable for all of us.”

“You’re actually smart. I guess that’s one thing I can like about you.”

Before I could comprehend what was happening, Alpha Ian was out of his seat and rounded the desk. He stood before me and yanked me out of my chair. I had no time to get my bearings. One of his large hands wrapped around my slender neck in a secure hold. He wasn’t really squeezing but I felt the pressure. He towered over me, the grin on his face was feral, devilish. He was an apex predator, an incredibly powerful one. I was fully aware of that fact.

“You’re just a spoilt brat, aren’t you?” he growled.

“Guilty as charged,” I shot back.

“I should treat you like one then,” he drawled, tone charged in a way that melted my blood into liquid fire. “I should bend you over this desk and give you a spanking you would never forget.”

And before I could stop myself, the damning words were out of my mouth. “And would I call you Daddy while you do it?”