I sat under the table for a few minutes, stunned. What just happened?

Eventually, I crawled out and picked up the last few pieces of ceramic and food from the floor, placing them onto the paper towel. Gathering it up, I tossed it into the garbage can and then went upstairs. I had a few hours to relax before I needed to make lunch and then start cleaning bedrooms and bathrooms.

Sitting down at my desk, I booted up my old laptop and opened a document. I loved to write and was currently working on a short story. My dream was to be a famous, published author one day.

I lost myself in my imaginary world of talking animals and happy families. It wasn't until the alarm on my phone went off that I returned, miserably, to the real world. I stood up and checked my hair and makeup once again before heading to the kitchen to cook lunch for a bunch of people I didn't like. Well, maybe I liked Alpha Arlo.

Yeah, I did. A little too much.

Lunch went as planned, with the men buzzing with conversation and my cousin looking over the moon. The arranged marriage must be happening for sure now, and it made me want to punch her in the face.

Alpha Arlo knew he was my mate. Why was he going through with this? Britney was the most despicable human being on the planet.

Throughout the entire lunch, Alpha Arlo didn't take his eyes off me, making me feel incredibly self-conscious. Everyone else was too busy talking and planning to notice he wasn't involved in any conversation.

"So, the wedding should happen as soon as possible?" I heard my aunt ask once I'd finished filling their glasses with wine and stepped back to flatten myself against the wall.

"Sure," was all Alpha Arlo responded.

"Good, good," my uncle replied in an icy voice. I wondered what was going on between the two men.

"Perhaps we do it before you leave to go back to your own territory? So that Britney can accompany you and settle into her new pack?" my aunt asked, trying to piece together the plans she needed to make.

"We can try," Alpha Arlo deadpanned, clearly not interested in their banter.

"Remember what we talked about, Arlo. I will not hesitate," my uncle told him, glaring fiercely.

"Got it. Are we done here?" he asked, pushing back from the table. Nobody responded, so he stood up and pushed the chair in. Then, he piled his silverware onto his empty plate and picked it up, grabbing the empty glass as well.

"Mel can get that; you don't have to worry about it!" my aunt exclaimed, standing up.

"Mela-" she started, but Alpha Arlo interrupted her.

"I got it, thanks though," he said dismissively and walked into the kitchen to take care of his dishes. His beta followed his lead, taking his dishes into the kitchen as well. I could have cried at the thought of those few dishes I wouldn't have to wash. Maybe all of the dishes would fit into the dishwasher at once, and I wouldn't have to hand-wash them!

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Everyone in the room turned to glare at me, and I put my head down in response.

"Yeah, I know. I'll get punished for that later," I muttered.

-------

For the next few months, Alpha Arlo and his beta were in and out of the house as my aunt and cousin worked on wedding plans. It was going to be a big wedding, and everyone was invited. There would be a giant reception with lots of alcohol and food. Britney had elected the wedding to be grand, which meant that it couldn't happen before Alpha Arlo had gone back to his territory.

Guess who would be a server at said wedding? Yours truly.

I wanted to run away and never come back.

One evening, I was walking up the stairs to get ready for bed when harsh whispering hit my ears. It was coming from upstairs.

"I don't want to do this, Xavier. I can't do this," Alpha Arlo whispered desperately.

"You don't have a choice!" Xavier exclaimed.

"I know," Alpha Arlo replied, defeated.

"If you don't do this, he will declare war between our packs. I don't want to lose any more warriors than we already have dealing with this pack," said Xavier, a tone of disappointment in his voice.

"Britney is disgusting. I don't want anything to do with her. She tried to seduce me last night, and I could hardly even get it up. She sounded like a cat in heat," Alpha Arlo whispered quickly, and I heard Xavier start to chuckle.

I had to hold my laughter in as well, but somewhere deep inside of me, I was upset that he'd slept with her.

"You can't have Melanie, Arlo," Xavier finally said, getting straight to the point.

"Who said I wanted her?" Alpha Arlo replied nonchalantly.

Stab. Right in the heart. Ouch.

"You can clearly see it, you know. You stare at her constantly. You stick up for her, you do things yourself when she could be doing them for you. It's obvious," Xavier snapped.

There was no reply.

"Goodnight, Xavier. I'll see you in the morning," Alpha Arlo snapped, opening a door and closing it hard.

"What an idiot," I heard Xavier grumble before he stepped into his own room and shut the door.

The next morning, I started my usual routine. Alpha Arlo had spent most mornings with me, drinking coffee silently and reading his book while I cooked. But today he was nowhere to be found. He showed up for breakfast, though. Ate his food and then left with Britney attached to his arm.

He did the same for lunch. And for dinner. He had stopped clearing his own plate. He stopped acknowledging me completely. The little winks here and there had stopped as well.

After dinner, I was outside pulling weeds from Aunt Chris's garden. She doesn't work, so it keeps her busy from time to time. Most of the plants were just flowers that she couldn't get to bloom.

I smelled the familiar scent of sandalwood and cloves as Alpha Arlo stepped up behind me.

"We should talk," his deep voice said. This time it ignited something primal within me.

He was my mate. One hundred percent. The bond was starting to form.

"You're my mate," I told him, and he nodded.

"I know," he replied.

"You're still going to marry Britney?" I asked him pathetically, and once again he nodded, his eyes serious.

"I have to. I know you heard Kyle and I talking in the hallway a few months ago. I know your scent better than anyone else's," Alpha Arlo said, closing his eyes and rubbing his temples.

"So what do we do then?" I inquired, twirling my fingers in the grass before me. I was glad I hadn't turned around. Tears were silently streaming down my cheeks.

"You're beautiful. You know that, right?" he asked me. I didn't respond.

"I'm sorry," he said, and I just knew it.

He's going to reject me.

I turned around, sobbing, and hugged him.

"Please don't. We can figure out a way around this. Please," I begged. I was sure I looked pathetic, but I didn't care.

"I have to protect my pack, Melanie, no matter what," he replied sadly.

I straightened up, knowing there was no way around any of this. I'd take it as best as I could.

"I, Arlo Lewis, reject you, Melanie Wakefield, as my mate," he boomed, and there was an audible snap that sounded around us as I crumpled to the ground in pain. Alpha Arlo was grunting and yelling continuously until the pain let up for both of us.

He stood up, wiping the sweat from his brow, and walked away. Leaving me there curled into the fetal position as I cried like I'd never cried in my life.