Alpha

Chapter 6

When I left the bathroom, I gave Konrad's goon a bit of stink eye before turning to take another path. There was a long line of annoyed women who I didn't want to deal with at the moment. The problem was that the corridor led to a balcony that overlooked a dance floor. There was no other way out of this area. If I wanted to return to the table with my pack, I'd have to go past the annoyed women.

I decided to give it a few minutes, hoping that I'd be faced with women who didn't know that I was the reason they had to stand in a line for the bathroom that had quite a few stalls.

The dance floor was full of wolves enjoying themselves. Along the edges were a lot of tables, chairs, and booths for those who'd rather sit it out. Some wolves liked to stalk the exterior of the dance floor, searching for what they thought was ideal. I looked at the offerings, well, some of them. This was one of a few areas that we could have fun in.

When I looked at the males below, I knew they would never give me what I wanted. They could never create the desire that I craved. No one made my heart stutter like he did.

I was leaning against the balcony when Konrad approached. There was no cocky stride, no view of self-importance. Just a wolf that wanted more.

Stopping in front of me, Konrad leaned one arm on the high balcony. The other reached out, brushing the hair from my neck. It was at that moment that I flinched, and my breath hitched. A soft smirk filled Konrad's face.

"And there's the proof."

"What proof?"

His fingers pressed against my clavicle, sliding to my sternum. As his hand flattened, it pressed against my chest.

"That this heart cannot lie."

Konrad's hand moved behind my neck, gently pulling me in as he closed the gap between us. I didn't resist. I knew what was coming, and I wanted it.

When his lips pressed to mine, I knew that fighting was pointless. My denial was never going to work. I could not resist.

Konrad's lips pulled on my bottom lip, dragging out the kiss with more passion than I'd anticipated. Pressed against the balcony, we were in full view of anyone that walked to this area or happened to see over the high ledge, but I didn't care. I was floating in a dreamy sea.

But like always, my mind reminded me that in large bodies of water, wolves sank to their demise. It whispered the words, the memories of the past, the visions of the truth.

"Bow down to me in front of everyone."

Konrad pulled back with a frown.

"What?"

"Show me that you can accept subservience."

"Megan," he chided.

I nodded. "I thought as much."

Pushing Konrad out of the way, I walked down the corridor, leaving him in the muted light of the alcove. I was not going to discuss anything more with him. I was not even going to consider it when it was obvious that Konrad could not bow down to a mate who was the leader.

I decided that distraction was necessary. So, rather than return to the table full of women or men I wasn't interested in, I walked to the bar. At the very least, I'd get a drink. With a bit of luck, I'd get more than that. A night, perhaps, but I'd settle for a tawdry moment somewhere. It was clearly my thing to do for random hookups.

After ordering a drink, I leaned on the bar with it in hand, waiting for luck to strike. It didn't take long before a handsome wolf approached. He gave me a nod with a devious smirk.

"Andy," he called out over the loud music. "Wolf Valley."

I gritted a smile. The Wolf Valley territory was close to the base of the mountain, nowhere near my land. For a temporary lover, he stood a chance, but for someone more permanent, he was less than ideal. I'd come to learn that many wolves didn't like putting too much distance between themselves and their family.

"Megan, West River."

Andy nodded for a moment. There was a smile on his face, but I could see the thoughts running through his mind. He turned and looked at the board.

When he turned back to face me, I knew I had blown it. Three little words. They were now cursed.

"Megan Nolan, as in the Alpha of West River?"

"Yeah," I said uneasily.

"Not a chance."

He turned and walked away. I huffed, frustration radiating through me in great waves. The only positive I could find from this was that I'd fulfilled the Beta's request to be seen here. Now I could go home and tell them that I was right.

I had no idea how I'd find a mate that would accept being a lower rank under me. This world was so sexist it wasn't funny. It was actually so ridiculous that if I thought about it for too long, I'd end up crying. My life was doomed to this. Getting close but refuse the second they realize the truth.

I looked at the board and checked all of the Alphas. There was one who was not like the others, and she stood out like a neon sign. I was the only female Alpha here.

When I turned to put my empty glass on the counter, I saw Konrad at the far end. There was a group of male wolves who had congregated. Konrad was on the exterior ordering a drink. The other wolves were watching the women dancing.

Our eyes met. I felt my heart skip a beat. This was ridiculous. I knew he was everything, and I was ready to walk a path that would see us repair the past and our issues, but it could not happen. Not when Konrad would not be subservient.

I know that we could meld packs and rule jointly, but it wouldn't happen. I could not let my pack go or become something else.

Packs were generally ruled by the family and no one else. I was the only one left of my family, whereas Konrad had siblings. He could pass his rule over to his younger brother or skip him and pass it to his sister. There were more siblings, but I didn't know how many. Konrad had this world thinking that he was an only child. It was not the truth.

I could not see a time when Konrad would bend or even talk to me about a compromise.

But was I giving him enough of a chance to saysomething?