Chapter 1
(Em's POV)
With an hour yet before we had to be at the weekly pack meeting I couldn't understand what my husband's rush was. Then again over the course of our three year marriage I had learned his ability to be relaxed about anything was non-existent. It was as if he was afraid if he relaxed for even a moment he would miss out on some life-altering event. This way of being had simply become one of the greatest annoyances in my life.
"The new Alpha of the North-Valley pack is going to be there. I need to get there before he arrives so I can be at your father's side during the initial introductions." Nervously pacing the length of our bedroom our eyes met for the briefest of seconds. It was all about power and his want for more of it, that much had always been clear.
"Pierce my parents live across the street for God's sake! Go take Jasmine next door to the sitter and I'll be ready by the time you get back." Nodding he left the room allowing me to finish my preparations in peace.
Never in a million years had I imagined I'd be married to a perfectionist and yet here I was. I knew full well what his motivation was even if my father couldn't see it. My being the eldest child of the Alpha meant that one day I would run the pack with my mate at my side. Quite a step-up in rank from the low-level fighter position Pierce had previously held. Yet having been hand-selected by my father left little room for argument on my end.
Typically wolves find their mates around the time their eighteenth birthday comes to pass. There is the rare exception in which it takes longer and my misfortune led me to fall into that category. At twenty-two my father felt we had waited long enough and saw fit to select one for me. Two choices were given; take Pierce as a substitute or have my father force me out of the pack. Needless to say I made my choice.
I had however managed to find contentment in the work I did for the pack. I had easily made a name for myself as the best female fighter. It tends to happen with alpha blood running through your veins. The constant patrolling and training in addition to handling most of my father's paperwork kept me preoccupied the majority of the time. Overall I had everything I'd ever want or need so not having my true mate shouldn't have been so terrible. Not letting Pierce mark me also kept that avenue open just in case.
"Emily!!! Let's go!!!" Adding the final touches to my ensemble I found myself quite pleased with the 'casual yet classy' look I'd achieved. As far as I was concerned I had no one to impress so why bother with anything fancier?
A stern-looking and terribly dissatisfied Pierce met me at the bottom of the stairs. His dark eyes roamed every inch of my body in what appeared to be complete disgust. Hair slicked back and greasy, a suit far more suited for a wedding than a routine pack meeting, every inch of his exterior groomed to perfection.
"North-Valley's Alpha just arrived! I've missed the initial introductions because of you!"
"I'm sure he'll still be anxiously awaiting your arrival so take it easy! You wouldn't even be given a personal introduction if it weren't for the family you married into!" Bitterness laced every word I spoke. I couldn't help but put him in his place whenever possible. A spoiled impatient Mama's boy was all he had ever been, tantruming much like my two-year old niece whenever he failed to get his way.
No more words were spoken as we made our way to my parent's house. He knew deep down the truth behind my response was undeniable. I was no more than a pawn in his far-fetched power play. Little did he know I had no intention of becoming Alpha unless my true mate appeared. I was going to step aside and let my brother Matthew take over when the time came. How my brother would feel about it I didn't know, but it was a far better option than letting my power hungry spouse royally screw up all the hard work my father had invested in the pack.
