3 - Hidden Agreements

Chloe Jane

This dress feels like it’s sitting too tight on me, but Kim assured me that it’s not. I’ll be meeting my supposed fiance in the next few minutes and for someone who is calm most of the time, I am feeling incredibly nervous.

Not because I’ll be meeting him, but how uneasy I am about the entire thing. I understand why I need to do this and why it’s been decided for me. But it feels like I’m about to be a pawn in something major and I have no idea how to stop it.

I hear my sister’s heart picking up its pace and once again, I wish I could see her. “Are you happy about this, sis?” I ask the question that has been playing on my mind since my father announced this.

She’s sort of been avoiding me, and I know it’s guilt on her part. I doubt she wants this for me, but I’m sure she thinks I’ll be safer in a pack with a strong Alpha as my husband. 

Again, I catch a spike of anxiety in her scent, but I know my sister … she won’t be honest about her feelings with me. Taking my hand, she pulls me into an embrace and breathes out a long sigh.

“This man will keep you safer than we ever can, CJ,” she says again, not answering my question. “That’s all we want.”

“Thank you,” I answer as if on cue and even if she could pick up on my apprehension, she’ll never say a word. The urge to ask her why she didn’t marry the Alpha sits on the tip of my tongue, but I’ll never say it.

She breaks off our embrace, then she takes me by the hand and leads me into the dining hall. “Daddy is waiting with Alpha Mason in the dining hall. We’ll have a glass of wine together before dinner,” she says while we slowly walk. 

“Alpha Mason,” I repeat his name, realizing that it’s the first time I’m actually hearing it. 

No one has given me any details about this man, much less what his name is. All I know is he’s going to be taking over from my father as Sovereign next year and is truly passionate about reinstating that abandoned bill. 

I can hear hushed voices just as we walk into the open dining space and three separate heartbeats and scents. One I recognise as my father’s, the other two are unfamiliar to me.

“There she is,” my father says, and I hear the clicking of his shoes as he walks towards me. My sister puts my hand into his and he kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful, honey.”

“Thank you, Daddy,” I say, a small smile tugs at my lips even though I am not particularly in a cheerful mood. That’s the thing with my father, though; I love him more than I care about my self-preservation. 

He places his hand on my lower back and turns me to face, who I assume, is Alpha Mason. I hear someone stepping forward and the calming, warm scent of lavender and chamomile totally blindsides me. 

“Chloe Jane,” a deep, resonant voice says my name and a shiver shoots up my spine. “As beautiful as your name, I see.”

I know for a fact that I look as confused as I feel. His scent is calming and feels like a lullaby, but his voice…Gods, can a voice have sex appeal? For someone who relies on her sense of smell and hearing, this is quite perplexing. The two different combinations are jumbling up my senses and I have no idea how to feel.

“Chloe, this is Alpha Mason and his Beta,” my father introduces us and places my hand into Alpha Mason’s. Another confusing thing … his hands are incredibly soft, completely not what I expected from an Alpha.

Aren’t they supposed to be tough and battle hardened? I wonder if Alpha Mason had to fight for his title or if it was passed down to him. 

I fumble over my words, but eventually get out a hello. He chuckles at my obvious naivety and my father tells us to head to the dining area where we take our seats. For some reason I expect to be seated next to my sister, but that lavender and chamomile scent surprises me yet again.

Sucking in a breath, I can feel him leaning in close. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting here, Chloe Jane,” he says. 

A shiver ripples all over my body and I don’t even find it odd that he calls me by my full first name. This man must look incredibly handsome, and for the first time since meeting a stranger, I wish I could actually see him.

As usual, my food is already cut up, so eating is easier for me and I don’t feel like a fool in front of our guests. Throughout the dinner, he asks me questions about myself and actually listens to me when I answer. From his questions, and the ones I ask, I can tell he’s quite intelligent and worldwise. 

I can’t help but wonder again why this man wants me as his bride. If it’s just to protect me, what’s in it for him? There was no hint of anything untrustworthy about him and his Beta, either. Gods, this is bothering me so darn much!

After dinner, we have a nightcap and the men head to the parlor while my sister and I stay behind to chat a bit. 

“And? How do you find him?” She asks as we have a glass of wine together. “He’s incredibly handsome, by the way!”

I chuckle at my sister’s swooning and take a sip of my wine, swirling the liquid around in the glass. “He seems intelligent and knows what he’s talking about. I can see why Daddy likes him so much,” I admit. 

“Is that all?” she asks, seemingly confused. “I mean, I wasn’t sure how I would like him, but…”

Kim’s words get drowned out, because I suddenly hear someone’s heartbeat picking up—my father’s. Pretending to take a sip of my wine, I strain my ears to where he’s meeting with Alpha Mason while promising to apologize for eavesdropping later on.

“...That is the agreement after six months,” my father says, sighing. “No one will dare come after your pack and my daughter once this law comes into effect.”

“Especially not with a heir in her belly, and from what I’ve seen tonight, she will make a splendid bride and mother to my children,” Alpha Mason says, and I have to do everything not to drop the glass I am holding.

“But after six months, if there’s no heir…” Alpha Mason trails off.

“I know,” my father says, swallowing deeply. “That won’t be an issue, trust me.”

Wait, my father said nothing about this marriage needing an heir so soon. Is this the fine print I am unaware of? I need to be pregnant within six months of being married?!

“Excuse me, I’m feeling quite tired,” I say, a loud buzzing sound reverberating in my ears and with my sense of smell, walk towards where I know the front door is. As soon as I close the front door behind me, I run out, but I nearly fall down the front steps.

I knew there was a catch to all of this! I need to be pregnant after six months?! Goodness; I was fine with being married off, but needing to fall pregnant so soon? Was my father going to tell me about this?

Tears slip down my cheeks and I try to wipe them away, but more come. I sniff as I hear them walking and try to compose myself, but then a different scent hits me like a freight train and my back immediately goes ramrod straight.

Smokey cedar, worn leather and expensive whiskey— How can someone smell like all three of these things at once…and why is it causing goosebumps to pucker all over my body? A heartbeat picks up pace and I hear footsteps inching towards me.

“Hello? Is somebody there?” I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice, and failing miserably. “I can hear your heartbeat and smell your scent; who are you?!”

Another footstep. “I’m—”

“Ah, you must be Ruin!”

My father’s voice snaps me out of my fear and I look toward where the voice came from. “Ryker said you’d arrive today, but I didn’t expect you so late.”

Wait, my father knows this person? Was he expecting him? I’m about to ask him this when he speaks up and his words shock me to my core.

“I see you’ve met my daughter already; this is Chloe Jane, your charge for the next few months.”

His charge…? My eyes widen when I realize what my father means by that… this person, this man who smells like temptation and sin, is going to be my bodyguard?