6. Tame The Beast Within.

JAMES.

'James, buddy, let's go check out our future bride,' my wolf whined via mind link.

I scoffed inwardly as I hated his sudden liking for a girl we barely knew just because of an alliance.

I blocked him and tried to occupy my mind with something else, anything else, than the thought of her beautiful sleeping innocent face imprinted in my mind.

I changed into my suit after taking a quick shower and headed to the pack house to my office, hoping to get some work done. But it was useless. My wolf whined for Chloe, the girl who had invaded our territory and our lives. He wanted to be near her, to touch her, to claim her for himself. He gave me a headache with his constant nagging.

'Buddy please, keep it together… Besides all women are the same, she will probably end up cheating too, ' I told my wolf to try to calm him but he whined even louder. My headache turned to migraines.

I couldn't take it anymore. I left the office and drove back home, hoping she would be awake by now. Maybe if I talked to her, I could make my wolf, Zeke see reason. Maybe we could find a way out of his sudden obsession with a woman we barely knew.

But as soon as I entered the house, I bumped into my nosy father, who had a smug grin on his face.

"James, my boy, back so soon from the office?" he asked, clapping me on the shoulder.

"Yes, Dad. I forgot an important document I had to pick up… What are you doing here?" I lied, trying to sound casual.

"Is that the case? You should have just called like you do, I could have sent a messenger to bring it to the office," He replied.

I felt my stomach flutter with butterflies… Why did I have a nosy dad???

I sighed softly, hiding my emotions," It's fine, I'm here now… Anyway, why are you here? Ain't you meeting your buddies at golf today?" I asked inquisitively.

My father smiled and leaned closer to me, " I'm keeping an eye on your lovely fiancee." He whispered cheerfully.

I rolled my eyes. He knew damn well that I didn't want this marriage, that I didn't want her. He was practically the one who had wanted this more than anyone… I didn't care.

"Dad, please. Don't start with that. You know how I feel about this."

He sighed and shook his head. "James, James, James. You're being stubborn and foolish. This is a great opportunity for our family. Chloe is beautiful and looks smart, from a powerful and wealthy pack. She's perfect for you."

Perfect for me?!

I clenched my jaw. He was wrong. She was not the one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. She was not the one who made my heart race and my soul sing. She was not the one whom I could see myself loving, ever.

"Dad. She's a stranger. A stranger who might not want me like I don't want her. She's only here because of the alliance..."

My father frowned and shook his head again. "That's not true, son. You just need time to adjust, and to get to know her. She needs your love, patience, and kindness, not your anger and resentment, James."

I snorted. Love. What did he know about love when my mother left him when I was 10?

He had never loved anyone else since she left. He only cared about power, status, and money. He only cared about grooming me to take over after he retired.

He didn't know what love was.

"Dad, stop. Just stop. You don't know what you're talking about. You don't know what love is. You don't know what I need. You don't know what she needs. You don't know anything."

I pushed past him and headed to the stairs, hoping to escape his lecture. But he followed me and grabbed my arm, stopping me as soon as I wanted to take the first step on the staircase.

"James, wait. There's something I need to tell you. Something important."

I sighed and turned to face him, annoyed. "What is it, dad?"

He looked at me with a serious expression and lowered his voice. "It's about Princess Chloe. She didn't bring any clothes with her. She only has the clothes on her. She has nothing else to wear."

I raised my eyebrows confused at what he meant. "And? What do you want me to do about it?"

He smiled and winked at me. "I think it would be a nice gesture to show her around the pack and buy her some clothes. You know, make her feel welcome and comfortable. Maybe even take her out for dinner. You know, make her feel special and appreciated. Maybe even make her fall in love with you."

I groaned and rolled my eyes. He was unbelievable. He wanted me to play the role of the perfect fiance and pretend that I liked her, that I wanted her, that I loved her. He wanted me to lie to her and myself.

"Dad, no. Just no. I'm not doing that. I'm not taking her anywhere. I'm not buying her anything. I'm not making her feel anything. I'm not playing your games. I'm not playing her games. I'm not playing anyone's games. I'm done with this. I'm done with you." I replied coldly as I pulled my arm away from him and continued to the stairs, ignoring his protests. I didn't care what he said, or what he wanted, or what he thought. I didn't care about anything, except getting away from him, and from her.

But as I reached the second floor, I felt a tug in my chest, a pull in my soul, a whisper in my mind. My wolf. He wanted me to go to her, to see her, to be with her. He was happy, excited, eager to scent her.

I cursed and rubbed my temples, trying to block him out. But he was persistent, insistent, relentless. He wouldn't let me go, he wouldn't let me rest, he wouldn't let me forget. He wanted her, he needed her like the air we breathed.

I gave up and followed his lead, hoping to calm him down, hoping to shut him up. I walked to the door of the bedroom, where she was sleeping.

I opened the door and entered the room, closing it behind me. I looked around and saw her lying on the bed, under the covers, still asleep. She looked peaceful, innocent, and beautiful.

I felt a surge of emotion, a mix of lust. My cock slightly twitched in my pants with need.

My wolf growled in my head. He wanted her badly, but I ignored him and sat on a chair near the window. I poured myself a drink from the minibar and waited for her to wake up. I had to take her shopping, as my father requested. It was the last thing I wanted to do, but I had no choice. I had to play along with this charade until the wedding. Then I would ignore her for the rest of our lives.

Yes, I would do that!

An hour later, she stirred and opened her eyes. She blinked and looked around, confused. Then she saw me and frowned.

"Who are you and where is my father ?" She asked, her voice raspy.

I rolled my eyes. " I'm Alpha James, your fiance and you are in my pack…Your father left you so that we can get to know each other before our wedding next week." I revealed the truth.

She scoffed and sat up. "With you? No thanks. I'd rather gag myself and die."

She pulled the covers off her and began walking towards the door with a weird step. I immediately thought she was handicapped and that's why her father was in a rush to dump her in my custody.

I clenched my jaw and stood up.

What a con man, Alpha Tennyson!!!

Chloe wobbled towards the door as if she wanted to leave. I stayed glued to my spot because I wasn't going to stop her.

Suddenly she stumbled dangerously while clutching onto her head. My instincts to protect her suddenly kicked in and I rushed to her side and held her before she could fall to the floor.

She glared at me with her beautiful blue eyes, "Let me go now!" She demanded and I heed to her.

She dropped to the floor like a sack of potatoes.

"Awe," she winced painfully and I enjoyed seeing her hurting.

"You think that was funny? Let's see who agrees to marry a brute like you. My heart belongs to another and I'm leaving." She declared openly.

My heart clenched with rage, I couldn't believe what I just heard. Chloe had the audacity to tell me that she loved someone else.

How dare she? How dare she reject me when I too didn't want this from the beginning?

I felt a surge of anger and pain in my chest as if someone had stabbed me with a silver knife. I clenched my fists and gritted my teeth, trying to control the beast inside me.

The beast that wanted to claim her, mark her, and make her mine. The beast wanted to punish her and make her pay.

But I couldn't do that. I couldn't let my emotions get the better of me. I had to be rational, calm, and composed. I had to follow the rules, the rules of the contract I hastily signed in the morning. I had to marry her, whether I liked it or not.

"Don't think I'm happy about this, Chloe. You're not my choice. You're just a burden I have to bear. Don't expect anything from me, because you'll get nothing." I replied to her rude statement. She glared at me and I knew I hit a nerve.

If she was going to be rude to me, I would do the same... It's like an eye for an eye.

"Meet me downstairs in five minutes," I ordered.

I opened the door, stepped out of the room, and slammed the door behind me.

Did I really need this alliance with her father?

I walked down the hallway and headed towards the stairs. I needed to get out of this nightmare. I needed to get some fresh air, space, and peace.

I needed to get away from her rude attitude.