Chapter Two

Chapter Two.

                         Zeeland 

I tried to focus on anything other than the woman who was seated right in front of me. I watched as her face alternated between different expressions, ignoring how much they stirred me.

I'd come to Washington DC with the sole intention of picking a mate, if only to secure my position in the pack.

The Alpha selection was in a few days time, and I had that much to convince the council that this woman was my mate. Else I'd lose the chance to become the Alpha.

I clenched my fist. That wasn't an option.

With just a glance at her back at the auction hall, I'd decided she was the one I wanted. And I was ready to pay anything to get her. I wasn't usually spontaneous, and my decision surprised even myself. I couldn't explain how I'd felt back then, but the moment I saw her, a foreign and overpowering sensation had engulfed me.

As I took in her perfect alabaster skin, and blonde hair which had a healthy glow to it, I'd felt like running my hand through it to confirm if it was as soft as it looked.

I hadn't felt a strong reaction towards a woman in a very long time. I still couldn't shake off how sexy she'd looked in that iron-like lingerie. Nor how it'd aroused me.

“Where are you taking me to?” She now asked, shaking me from my thoughts.

“Greece.” I replied absentmindedly. I wasn't looking forward to it.

She pouted and turned her face towards the window. Then she faced me again, and squinted slightly as if concentrating on something that was plastered on my face.

“What are you doing?” I snapped, and to her credit she didn't flinch.

She merely averted her gaze, and remained quiet throughout the journey. I decided it was for the best, since I wasn't ready to engage in any unnecessary conversation with a woman who could stir long-forgotten feelings in me, with nothing but her scent.

Eleven hours and a close shot to a quarrel later, we were in my car driving to Zen's fort. The Fort as it was called was a large cluster of buildings that housed the different members of Zen's pack’s high members.

As the thought of facing the council crossed my mind once more, my stomach clenched in worry. The war of claiming the Alpha's position was a tough and stiff one. For one, any of the incumbent Alpha’s sons could participate in the selection. And to everyone else, but myself, I was nothing but a cripple. 

A liability. 

“Interesting,” Jaslyn suddenly whispered, cutting off my thoughts. I turned towards her, arching my eyebrows a little.

Her lips were slightly parted, and her face was unnaturally pale. But she was glancing through the window with fascination. I had a sudden urge to run my tongue along her rosy lips. The urge was so sudden and intense that I started to reach for her, but my hand hung midway as she suddenly whirled around.

“Greece is beautiful.” She smiled, and I leaned back against my chair to watch her with mixed feelings.

She was beautiful. And feisty.

I grunted, and turned my head away just as Dmitri pulled the car into the parking garage. My Beta was still looking as stern as he did when I told him of my decision to take a pretend-mate. He didn't approve, but had agreed that we had no other choice.

“Listen to me carefully, Jaslyn.” I faced her with a grim expression. She was getting paler, but I blamed that on her experience at the slave house.

She said nothing, but instead gave me a questioning look. My gaze slightly drifted down to her clasped hands, and back to her face. 

“Are you okay?” I asked her, though I didn't really care.

My attraction to her or not, nothing about her status was going to change. She was an Omega, unqualified to be my real mate. I had other uses for her though.

Like becoming my sex toy.

But that could only happen after I'd ascended my position as the Alpha of Zen pack. Before then, she had to act as my mate.

And if she failed, I'd kill her myself. 

My eyes glinted as I turned my attention to her again. I spotted a hint of nervousness in her eyes, before she averted her gaze again.

“You have to act as my mate.” I said straightforwardly without mincing words. Her head jerked up, eyes widening.

“W-what?” Her voice barely qualified as a whisper.

I leaned in towards her, and her breath caught in her throat. I regretted my action immediately, as her scent permeated around me, inducing the sudden urge to pull her against me, and kiss her until we were both out of breath.

I ignored my raging urge, and narrowed my eyes.

“Your life depends on how you act, Jaslyn. Act as my mate, and I'll let you live.”

She was silent for a fraction of a minute. Then she pursed her lips stubbornly.

“And if I don't?” She asked.

“Then I'll have to kill you. Remember you're my hostage now. No one has to know of course. To others, you're my mate, but to me you're nothing but my slave. Understood?” I asked.

She nodded slowly.

I leaned back against the chair, and waited for Dmitri to pull the door open.

He helped me onto my wheelchair, and pushed me towards the Fort. Jaslyn followed behind without a word.

“And who do we have here?” A voice rang out as we went through the hallway. I subconsciously clenched my fists, willing myself not to lose it. At least, not at that moment.

Moments later, Armand and Benoit walked out of the shadows. Their faces were a mask of mockery before it landed on Jaslyn, and back to me.

“Move out of the way.” Dmitri ordered calmly.

“Allowing your Beta to make decisions for you now, aren't you?” Armand's laughter rang through the otherwise silent hallway.

Silent rage unfurled through my belly.

“I’m not in the mood for jokes. Move out of the way.” I ordered.

The brothers merely glanced at each other, before Benoit lowered his head downwards placing us on eye level.

“The mate selection ceremony is tonight, Brother. I can't wait to see you kicked out of the Alpha selection.” He guffawed.

“I’m looking forward to it too.” I retorted silently; a sharp contrast to the hatred that nestled in my heart for my stepbrothers.

“You really think you'll become the Alpha? What a joke. Snap out of it, Zeeland. You're nothing but a cripple. How do you expect to win?” Armand laughed loudly again, before turning around to leave. His brother snickered before hurrying after his brothers.

“Take me to my room.” I said calmly.

“What about me?” Jaslyn questioned hesitantly.

“You’ll sleep in my room tonight.” I said, and nodded at Dmitri.

                         ★★★

Jaslyn wasn't in the room when Dmitri wheeled me back into the room. I'd been summoned by the council barely hours after my arrival. Thankfully, it went well. They'd believed that the woman I brought back home was my mate. But I had to prove it tonight.

“Do you think she's a good choice?” Dmitri murmured.

I grunted. “She has to be. And she'd better not think of running. By the way, what about the vampire that was captured?” I asked, letting my mind divert from Jaslyn.

“He’s not volunteering any information. He'll probably be beheaded tomorrow.” Dmitri explained.

I nodded silently. “Keep an eye on Jaslyn. My brothers may try something funny tonight, and we wouldn't want that to happen.” I instructed.

He nodded, and turned to leave.

“Dmitri?” I called out, and he faced me again.

“Seal off the room. I need to use the bathroom.”

He nodded curtly.

I waited until I heard the special lock click from outside, before I slowly rose from my wheelchair. I stretched my limbs tiredly. Pretending to be a cripple was surely a tiring business, but the only way to achieve my aim.

Someone had orchestrated the accident that'd claimed the lives of my parents years ago. I'd been in the car, but fortunately I'd escaped unscathed. 

However, I'd sworn the doctor to an oath, and faked being a cripple. I was sure someone from my family had caused that accident. And until I had proof, I had to keep on faking my disability. 

If only to keep my life safe.

I suspected Armand or his brother. And if truly they were the culprits, I had to give it to them for being so cold-hearted to the point of murdering their father and stepmother; my mother.

Twenty minutes later, I came out of the bathroom to hear the sound of rapid knocking on my door. Almost walking to the door out of habit, I halted at the last minute and turned back to sit on the wheelchair before rolling myself over.

Jaslyn’s hand hung midway about to hit the door again. 

“Err…” her words trailed off as she glanced down at my body.

I almost smirked before I caught myself.

“Where did you go?” I asked.

“Nowhere. I just went out for some fresh air.” She simply replied.

My eyes narrowed. “

You have less than thirty minutes to dress up for the mating ceremony.”

Her eyes squinted. “What ceremony?”

“The mating ceremony. Now come inside, and help me dress up.” I ordered.

Her eyes went as wide as saucers. “Help you what?”

“Don’t tell me you've never seen a man's nude body before, Jaslyn. Come inside this instant before I make you regret being in existence.”