Page 8 of Forced Alpha Bride
Even though Galen and Kit are the most recent alphas who engaged with her service, her name has been appearing on everyone’s lips lately. It seems everyone has a distant cousin or friend of a friend who has been involved with her, and her name holds considerable weight back in the human world.
Nerves bubble up in my guts again, and I grip the steering wheel tightly as I leave the mountains behind and drive into the town. Gryphon Eyrie is a bit bigger than Quartz Key, as it sits in a wide-open section of the valley. It gets a lot of sunlight and is well-known for its parks and decorative buildings.
On my way towards the center of town, I don’t see a single person, and the anxiety hidden beneath my excitement risessharply. I tried to contact Krista several times on the way here, and so far, she hasn’t answered a single message.
What’s going on here? It’s like a ghost town.
Even though it’s very early, I’d still expect to see the odd person out and about, gardening, jogging, playing with their kids.
Where is everyone?
When I finally reach the main part of town, my nerves explode into full-on terror. The shops are closed, the streets are empty, and it looks like Gryphon Eyrie has been completely abandoned.
What the fuck is going on?
I park near the main fountain, where Iris said to meet her. Frantically, I message Krista, but there is still no reply.
Maybe I should just take off, go straight back home. Something is really wrong here, and I need help.
Before I can start becoming truly unhinged, I see a person sitting at one of the picnic tables under the trees. They’re in a shadow, so I have no idea who it is, but I’m so relieved to see another human being that I almost cry.
I didn’t even see them until they moved. Are they hiding there? What should I do?
My phone buzzes, making me jump so hard, I almost hit my head on the roof.
Winnie, is that you? I’m sitting at the picnic table.
I read Iris’s message, wondering how she can be so calm when it looks like Gryphon Eyrie just got hit by the Rapture. I struggle with my fear for another minute or two before I finally get out of the car and hurry across the park to join her.
I run the whole way, glancing up to check the sky as I go.
Should I be out in the open? What the hell happened here?
I rush into the wooded area where Iris is waiting, collapsing on the bench opposite her. She looks up and smiles warmly, extending her hand across the table to me.
“Hello,” she says. “I’m Iris. Nice to meet you, Winnie!”
“Iris,” I almost choke on my response as I give her hand a quick shake. All my fear-induced questions have dissipated in my mind in the face of how normal she looks. I’ve never seen a woman so neatly put together, one who radiates such calm and confidence.
She smiles warmly, tilting her head a little. Every single perfect blond hair stays neatly swept up behind her head, as if her style would remain fixed in place through the toughest blizzard. Her pale blue suit is an expensive cut, with thick, luxurious fabric designed to hug her curves and keep her warm as well.
“How are you, dear?” Iris asks. “Normally, I’d bring coffee and a snack, but as you can see, the shops are all closed.”
“Yeah,” I cough lightly, trying to get my breath back. “What the hell is going on here? Where is everyone?”
Iris’s face falls, the smile fading as she turns somber. “Roderick died. Yesterday, in fact.”
“Oh no!” I exclaim. “Poor Krista—no wonder she didn’t answer my messages.”
Iris nods. “Indeed. She’s at the manor with her mother, grieving. But the whole town is in mourning now.”
“Over Roderick?” I ask, confused. If this is a tradition, it’s one I’ve never heard before.
“No.” Iris shakes her head. “Well, partly. But the alpha’s challenge was initiated. There was a circle of thirteen for the council to consider, and they hoped to appoint the new alpha peacefully. A new challenger came, and they could not refuse him. Because he won and killed most of the others, the entire pack is now in mourning.”
I stare at Iris in disbelief, my shocked brain finally starting to put the threads together.
“You mean… I’m here for Roderick’s successor?”
