Page 7 of Forced Alpha Bride
“Gratitude, Elder Glass,” I answer, smiling back. “I call an end to the meeting, so I may leave to attend this serious business. See that the other challengers are attended to. Dismissed.”
Mitchell immediately leaps from his seat and down onto the killing floor. I pay him no mind as he disappears into the shadows, looking for his son. I walk slowly up the stone stairs, making my way to the basement level.
Down below, I hear a lot of movement as the elders attend to the challengers. Any minute now, they’ll call for healers, and that scheming bitch Regina will already be planning to pair one up with an eligible female to depose me.
By the time I make it to the basement level, my body is aching so much, I can barely move. As I take the last set of stairs, I see my best friend Flint waiting for me at the top.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters. “You won.”
“Don’t sound so shocked,” I retort, dragging myself up the last few steps.
“Bro, I have the greatest confidence in you. You know that. But you went up against all thirteen of the pack’s strongest and most deadly killers. I really thought I’d never see you again.”
“Well, I’m here,” I gasp, finally making it to the top. Flint throws an arm around my waist, and I lean on him gratefully.
“So, what’s next?” he asks. “Should we throw a party, or do you have official edicts you want passed immediately?”
“I need to lie down,” I groan, holding in my cracked ribs. “And food. These wounds are taking their time healing.”
“Okay. After that, then?”
“I have to find a girl,” I say, sighing as I shake my head.
“Uh… okay. Not what I expected your first law to be, but if that’s what you want—”
“No, you fool!” I snap, leaning on Flint as he helps me through the back door. “I have to. It’s a law I didn’t know about. If the winner of the alpha’s challenge is not married within two days of his victory, he loses the position.”
“What the fuck? How come we didn’t know about this?”
“It’s not like Uncle Leroy carried the ancient scrolls around in his back pocket,” I mutter.
I stay quiet as Flint helps me over to his beaten-up old car, where I collapse into the passenger seat. I pull out my phone and stare at it, starting to feel truly nervous for the first time.
“What are you looking at your phone for?” Flint asks, chuckling. “You don’t know any girls.”
“I know one,” I reply, tapping the screen.
I’ve never had much time for girls. A few one-night stands here and there don’t count as dating, and I knew not a single girl in town would step up to be my luna, no matter what I offered her.
Even if there was someone who would marry me, the elders would forbid it. They’ve fixed the rules against me.
There’s only one option left, and I don’t even know if it’s going to work. I’ve heard the whispered rumors and seen the banners popping up in my apps. I wouldn’t consider this if I had any other choice.
Feeling like an absolute fool, I take a deep breath for courage and tap on the bright pink link for Porter’s brides for hire.
Chapter 3 - Winnie
Clear dawn light is breaking across the Range as I come to the turnoff for Gryphon Eyrie. Seeing the mountain peaks graced by the early morning light makes a flare of hope bloom in my chest.
Today looks like a perfect day. Warm sun, clean air, a cold hint in the wind. I’m taking this sunrise as a good omen!
It feels like a day where good things can happen. One of those days where you wake up and can just feel it’s full of promise. My anxiety flickers deep inside my belly, and with it, a hint of excitement.
What does my new husband look like? Am I really going to just marry some random guy?
The jagged edges of the pass block the sun as I follow the twisting road down into Eyrie. I remind myself it’s not a random guy. It’s someone hand-picked by Iris Porter.
And so far, she can do no wrong.
