THE ALPHA'S MARRIAGE OF DECEPTION

Chapter 2

James POV.

"What the f..!" The word escaped from my lips before I could catch it.

My eyes flew wide open, for a second, it felt like someone launched a fist in my stomach .

Thick saliva gathered at my throat. I couldn't gather enough strength to push it down my dry gullet.

"Yes Evren my Lord," Elder Cedric said proudly, " he's the perfect mate and future Luna for our young Alpha James."

"Evren??? That's the last straw! Father stop them, please don't let them do this..." I murmured and prayed silently from where I was sitting, lowering my head and hiding my panicked face from the public.

Voices filled the room. A few elders' nodded. Some whispered to each other smiling, like they had just won a lottery.

Elder Cedric kept going, puffing his chest. "Everyone knows the impact of Evren from the area of education, to business, to health and and even charity organizations which has not only influenced the lives of people in crescent packs, but other packs across the world."

I watched as he raised his hand dramatically, "My Lord, if this is about me,I would have put-in my daughters for this, after all, everyone in this hall knows that I have three mature daughters ready for marriage."

He paused, smirking.

Then he declared shamelessly.

"But none of my daughters' feet could fit into this shoe."

I almost vomited.

"We can't afford to make a mistake of choosing a weak Omega as a mate for young Alpha James, If we are to build on our success and to look into the future that our tomorrow will be brighter than our today."

My heart sank. I quickly observed my father. He wasn't shouting. Neither protesting.

He was pouting. He was nodding head. Slightly. Slowly. My own father.

I started blaming myself. Who even asked me to accompany my father to this devilish meeting in this place.

I should have directed my coming here to something important. But will father allow me? My answer is as good as NO. He always wants me to get adequate knowledge on how he runs the pack.

My father finally spoke. "If you all agree with this, kindly raise up your hand."

I could see everyone, including those people who were mocking Elder Cedric a few moments ago, raising their hands in the air.

How people change fast.

At this point I knew my fate was sealed, signed and delivered. Nothing I could do to salvage the inevitable.

"To Elder Alexander..." My father pointed to a man from where he was sitting.

Evren's father.

A bald headed man with gray hair and in his late fifties. A very prominent elder in the pack too with his regalia screaming of politics.

"Do you agree with this proposition?"

Laughter plastered on his face as If It's a lifetime opportunity he had been waiting for.

"My lord," he said, his voice slick with fake respect. "Who am I to say no when the king comes for a bride?"

He stretched his arm wide in the air. "You have me, my entire household and everything I labored for."

He finished with a bow, "I am the most favored to be honored as an in-law to my king."

Intense laughter reigned throughout the room. I looked at him with intense rage.

"Big fool!" The words flew out of my lips. My saving grace was the unceasing noise and chattering from the background that covered my voice.

I had to put-up courage and ushered my legs out of this demonic place.

I knew sitting a minute in the midst of people who know nothing about me and having the gut to deliberate on my future, will not only infuriate me further but may get to the level of leaving a few dead bodies behind.

To worsen it, if my father could ask Elder Alexander for his permission? How come he couldn't ask me?

That utter selfishness and wickedness too. It means my father, the one I primed as a role model to me, prioritizes Crescent packs far above my happiness?

"Send a message to your daughter, Elder Alexander, the wedding of the union will take place tomorrow." My father commanded.

Tomorrow?

Just like that?

The room erupted with celebration. Cheers. Back-pats

It's like I was kept in an oven of hundreds of degrees Celsius, struggling for my breath. Intense hate is what I perspire. As I observe my enemies chorusing a song of victory. This is a well-plotted move and they should enjoy the victory while it lasts.

I couldn't withstand the razzmatazz taking place in front of me again. I courageously walk up to my father on my way out, while he speaks into the ear of one of the guards to pass instructions.

"Can you please spare me a few moments father? I will be in your office waiting." I asked, my voice shaking.

Was it a command? I can't even say, all I want is that few minutes, at least the last time I checked he is still my father.

He raised his index finger into the air for me to spare him, few minutes. I couldn't wait, I marched quickly into his office.

Immediately the second door closed behind me. I grabbed a bottle of vodka and a cup containing a small quantity of vodka. I tossed the content aside.

I poured myself a fresh quantity, full this time, gulped it down my throat, my Adam's apple bulged in and out as it flowed ceaselessly with hate down through my throat. The hair on my skin tingles, and brace up for the challenges ahead.

I stood there, the glass cup brazenly held in my hand when the door creaked open.

He walked slowly as if nothing happened.

"Father! Can you please explain to me what just happened there." I uttered with intense fury pointing to the doorway, will I stand in front of him?

My father walked past me to locate a seat , while he poured a handful of brandy into an empty cup to take a sip.

"You were deliberating my life with some group of dipsomaniacs and not even consulting me, your son? Not considering my compatibility with this so-called person. And who told you I'm not in love...

"Enough!" My father voiced out . It thundered through the room like a tremor determined to uproot the building from its roots. Everyone knows him with such a voice, he only uses it when he means business.

I almost peed in my pants. His thundered voice almost threw me off balance.

"Define love?" He said flatly.

"What?" I blinked.

"Define love?" He repeated, "Go ahead."

I opened my mouth. Then shut it.

I waited for a few seconds.

When he asks these trivial but simple questions, you should clearly know what he is driving at.

"Huh..." I tried to find an exact answer to this simple but trivial question.

"You see, you can't even help yourself out with this simple question." He countered.

"Love is fantasy, son. you know love truly is? It is the possession of power, status, influence and materialism."

My eyes widened. Who is this man? Is this truly my father? What has he turned to? Or who has turned him to this?

"Your mother wouldn't have loved me if I didn't have something substantial to put on the table. She wasn't my fated mate."

"What are you trying to say father? You mean, I should marry a stranger, someone I don't know a jack about? Someone I'm oblivious of her taste, philosophy and even love language?"

"Leave that one son, I married your mother without knowing any of these you listed and we have been happy ever since?"

"Father, I will never be part of this!"

"You will, son!" He uttered solemnly.

He stood from where he sat, re-arranged his regalia and approached the door.

"Let me tell you that your wedding is taking place tonight, exactly nine pm. The elders assumed that it would be memorable to combine the ceremony with our annual meeting, since all our guests come from far places. This wasn't my decision, it was the decision from one of the elders immediately after you took your leave."