Chapter 2: Alpha Rising

Fitz shook his head, his shoulders slumped in defeat. "We need this to save the family business, and you know it. We're struggling, and the Taylors' connections will put us back in the black." He turned a pained expression to his siblings. "What choice did I have?"

"None at all," Daniel Everest said as he entered the study of the Everest home. "And I would appreciate you two not making your brother miserable on his wedding day or causing him to second guess his family obligations."

Dimitri watched as their father walked across the floor to the wet bar and fixed himself a drink. "Family obligation does not include marriage," Dimitri said. "This isn't the day and age where arranged marriages are the norm. People have the right to choose their own spouses."

"Or in our case, their animals choose them," Lainie added, tucking her dark hair behind her ear.

Their father waved off her words. "Not everyone has a destined mate. Stop believing fairy tales." He then turned to Dimitri, pointing at the middle child with the hand that held his whiskey. "And family obligations run strong in this family no matter what century it is. We need this union to stay afloat, and besides, Mandy is a fine woman. Fitz here is doing well for himself." He smiled at his eldest and then took a swig of his drink.

"I like Mandy," Lainie said as she faced Fitz. "Don't get me wrong. I just couldn't do it, that's all. The whole thing seems so cold, so impersonal. You two barely know anything about each other."

"Ah, but you will," their father said with a short nod. "You both will when it's your time." He gestured to Dimitri as well as Lainie. "Combining families keeps us stronger than others. A merging of resources and power is what these type of unions are all about." He smiled over at his daughter, and Dimitri felt a twisting in his gut at the smug look on his father's face. "As a matter of fact, I've already been talking to Lars Hemingway about introducing you to his son, Miles."

"What?" Lainie asked as she shot up from the sofa, her arms straight at her sides, hands clenched into tight fists. "No." She waved her hands in front of her as if wiping the suggestion out of existence. "Nada. Not going to happen. I knew Miles in school. He was a weaselly boy then, and he's not much better now. I'm not interested. I won't."

Daniel Everest narrowed his eyes at his daughter. "You will do what you're told," he said with a snarl. "I've taken care of you your entire life, and this is what you'll do to help your family. As long as you are living under my roof and a part of this family you will abide by my decisions. We need his trucking business."

"And so you'd whore out your daughter to get it?" Dimitri asked, stunned that their father could be so callus.

"I am not whoring out my daughter," their father snapped, turning and pouring more whiskey into his glass. "I'm looking out for her future, just like I did for Fitz and like I'll do for you."

"No, you won't," Dimitri said with a shake of his head. "I can look out for my own future. I'll pick my own bride, thank you." He should have suspected their father wouldn't be satisfied controlling just one of his children's lives. The man would insinuate himself into all of their lives for his own good.

"As will I," Lainie said, anger lacing her words. Dimitri cocked an eyebrow at her, and Lainie rolled her eyes as she blew out an exasperated breath. "You know what I mean. Don't be stupid."

"You'll both do what you're told, and that's the end of it," their father warned. He then straightened and forced a plastic smile on his face. "Now, enough of this rebellious chatter. Let's celebrate your brother's union." He raised his glass in a toast. "To Fitz."

Dimitri watched as his father took a swig of his whiskey, but couldn't bring himself to join. None of it felt right.

Fitz lifted his glass and took a small sip, his lips twisted in a grimace as he pulled the glass away from his mouth, his expression lost. Lainie just stood there, anger twisting her features.

Dimitri set his glass on a table and walked out of the study, his stomach a knot of anger ready to snap. It wasn't bad enough that their father ruined Fitz's life; now, he expected to ruin the rest of his children's futures, as well. The man was insensitive and selfish. There was no way Dimitri would tolerate their father's intrusion into his life. He would choose his own course, his own mate. Fitz may have felt he was stuck. Dimitri felt no such obligation. The time had come for him to leave the Everest homestead and strike out on his own.