Becoming the Alpha's Pawn

The minute I walk through the door, I feel it, the toxic waves of hatred radiating from them. Perspiration dampens my underarms as I come to a stop in front of the room, my face a cold, ungiving mask. I might be here to beg for help but I'm not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me weep.

"The alpha will be here in a few minutes". The gamma who had led me into the room whispers into my ear, leaning in as close as she can manage. So far, she's been the warmest of them all….and she's far from warm. If the pack members are like this, I can only imagine what the alpha is like. The thought is barely out when the announcer's voice blares through the room.

"The alpha arrives!!!!". She announces. All around me, the pack members quickly rise to their feet, heads bowed in respect. I do the same, my heart thudding in my chest nervously. And even though I can't see him, I feel it the moment he enters the room.

It starts out as a dull sense of awareness at first, and then in a split second, it's like a compelling pull towards him. I shut my eyes tighter as I will the feeling away but it's…..so beautiful. It's like everything beautiful I know and love, standing at the other end, beckoning onto me. It feels like torture to shut it out. So I give in. My eyes flit open slowly and at the head of the oval shaped table, I find myself staring at the most intimidating man I've ever set my eyes on. And he's staring right back at me.

He's seated, but even that is not enough to disguise his height. Unlike the rest of his pack who are on the paler side, he's tan. Even his hair is a darker blonde, a perfect honey shade with golden streaks that I've never seen before. He sports a trim stubble over a strong, square chin and I think his eyes are green at first till he blinks and they seem to shift color again. I'll conclude on hazel. He's dressed in a black dress shirt that's buttoned all the way up his chest. I've heard stories about Draaven Ventura the Valiant, 1st of his name and the great alpha of the Silver Glow pack. What I never heard was that he is the most beautiful man alive….and he is my mate.

My heart does a funny dance of excitement and fear as that realization dawns me. By the intense look in his eyes, I can tell he feels it too. This is not at all the way I imagined it'd be like. This setting….is far from magical. His face remains hard and impassive as he stares me down, giving away none of his emotions. I don't let my expression waver either as I stare right back.

"You may sit". He says to the room, his voice a low, deep timbre and his eyes never once leaving mine. They all comply instantly, settling into their respective seats at the round table. And just like that, I'm the only one left standing. Once again, all eyes in the room turn to fix on me, and the scrutiny is so intense it feels like I'm naked before them. The alpha leans forward to plant his elbows on the table, an eyebrow raised at me inquisitively.

"Well well well…who do we have here?". He asks, a mocking inflection to his tone. The whole room stares at me for an answer. Resisting a cold sweat, I straighten my spine and square my shoulders. I might be a near defeated heiress, but I'm a proud one.

"My name is Valeria Heroux, daughter of Lyon Heroux, Alpha of the Shadowflame Pack of the South". I hear a snicker from one of the seats and my blood nearly boils over in rage. Once upon a time, Lyon Heroux was a dreaded name and Shadowflame was the strongest pack in the south. Now, we are nothing but a fallen kingdom and a subject of mockery to our enemies. How quickly things fall apart.

"I didn't hear that". Draaven says, his eyes boring into mine coldly. A whip of indignation flashes through me. He damn well heard me right. He raises the eyebrow higher at me. "Are you not going to repeat yourself?".

I'm not sure what to expect, but I'm pretty sure this is not how mates are supposed to treat each other. My blood curdles in fury but I do repeat myself, a little louder this time.

"My name is Valeria Heroux, daughter of Lyon Heroux, alpha of the Shadowflame Pack of the South which currently stands a risk of crumbling under the feet of the Ironclaw Striders".

"Like we give a bloody hell if you lot go extinct". Someone else mutters not so quietly from the seats. A few giggles ensue after him, and the corners of my mouth tighten in rage. But I refuse to look at any of them, keeping my gaze fixated on the one person who actually matters. When he speaks, the whole room goes quiet immediately.

"So why have you come? Shouldn't you be fighting to protect your lands?". He just wants me to say it, to beg for it. My throat closes up with pride but I remind myself that this isn't about me. It's for my family, for the pack.

"I have come to ask for your help, alpha. The war has gone on for three consecutive days, our lands lay ruined, our houses burned, our men killed and our women molested. We underestimated the Striders. We are holding up but we will tire soon. Shadowflame has sent me to ask Silver Glow for help, on grounds of a favour long promised".

"And what favour do you speak about?".

"As you all know, my mother, Lilith Heroux is not of southern origin. She's one of you….".

"We don't consider her one of our own". A harsh voice cuts me short from the seats. The owner is an older man with the most piercing set of green eyes I've ever seen. They blaze at me in anger. "She forfeited all rights to her kinship when she chose to marry the southern barbarian that's your father!!!!".

"But she still bears the right to her promise!!!". I snap angrily. "Every member of the alpha family is bestowed a word of promise at birth, no? My mother might have been cast out, but she never got to use hers. Northern blood still runs in her veins and for as long as it does, she will always be entitled to her promise". I turn to face Draaven. "Am I wrong?".

He stares at me with an intensity so deep I'm pretty sure it's hatred. "Your mother might have only told you half of the story, kitten". He says. My nostrils flare in irration at the nickname but I reel myself in.

"What has she not told me?". I ask.

"It seems you were not told that a word of promise only carries weight if the alpha family is still in power". He cocks his head at me. "Your mother's family no longer sits on the throne and on legal grounds, I owe neither you nor your mother nothing". My heart drops to my stomach as his statement sinks in. Why wasn't I told that part? But…I can't just go back like this. This can't be the end for us. I need his help.

"Oh….I'm not aware of that". My voice is smaller. I hate that my nervousness is finally beginning to show. I think of what to say next but there's really only one thing I can do at this point. Beg. "I'd still like to request for your aid…..alpha. Shadowflame needs your help…. please".

He keeps staring at me emptily and I can just tell that he's not impressed. So I do the next best thing I can think of. Shoving down my pride, I get down on my knees. A little gasp ripples through the room and I'm glad they all understand how big of a deal this is. Members of the alpha family of a pack never kneel….and yet here I am. The tears prickle my eyes but I blink them away aggressively.

"I kneel before you today on behalf of all of Shadowflame. Please, help us. I beg of you.".

He stares at me intensely from his seat and with each passing second, I feel the tears sting my eyes harder. Finally, he speaks.

"We'll help under two conditions". Of course….of course there'll be conditions. I expected this much. "Shadowflame shall pledge allegiance to us, a pledge to willingly offer aid in the form of army, land and resources should we ever need it".

"Agreed". I say without hesitation.

"And the second condition….". He leans back into his seat, a smirk appearing on his lips. "....is that you, Valeria Heroux, shall become my bride".