It is not Tea Time

Alpha Fauz's POV 

“Did you sign an alliance with The Moonlight Pack?” My voice echoed down the hallway before I reached the door. 

“The mate bond is just an excuse, right? This is an arranged marriage!” I blasted as I stormed into the Alpha's office, staring at my father and the marriage certificate on the table. 

Boldly written on the certificate were my name, Alpha Fauz Zlan, and my supposed mate's name, Nora Brooks.

The spaces that ought to be filled with my signature and Nora's were boldly endorsed with the royal stamp. Since my father was the Pack's Grand Alpha, every authority bowed to him.

My father remained on his seat, unfazed. His lips were dangerously pressed together as he struggled to remain silent.

“Your mating ceremony is tomorrow,” he threw another bomb shell, sounding so calm.

“What!?” My brows furrowed. 

“You are binding me to a stranger. This is barbaric! I won't have it!”

“Enough, Fauz!” my mother barked, and I turned to her, stunned.

Grand Luna Rosa stood beside the window, arms crossed, and eyes sharp. I had mistaken her earlier silence for support.

“My Grand Luna,” I said slowly, “ Did you also agree to this? Are you a part of it too? Nora Brooks? I don't even know her!”

My father finally rose from his chair. I braced myself for anger, but what I saw in his eyes unsettled me more. He wasn't angry. Underlying his blatant and cold stares, was pity.

“The preparations are already underway,” he said quietly. “Show up tomorrow at the Grand hall and claim your true mate. Or lose everything, including your position.”

Damn! I hissed, ready to banter, but he didn’t wait for my response. He stormed past me and out of the office. 

The door slammed shut behind him and I grunted.

Something snapped in me. My anger spiked and I shouted. “Fine! The throne means nothing to me! I’ll relinquish my title and…”

My mother closed the distance between us and pain exploded across my face like a storm as she slapped me across the face.

With my mouth sagging, my hand flew to my cheek where my mother had just slapped me. I stared at her in shock.

“Grand Queen…” I whispered.

“I am not yet the Grand Queen!” She snapped.

“Not without a Luna beside you.” Her eyes blazed like fire and her words sounded like an accusation.

She grabbed my arm and forced me into a chair.

“Your father is trying to save you. He is trying to save us.”

“Save me?” I laughed bitterly. “By selling me into a bond I never chose?”

“She is your fated mate,” my mother insisted.

I scoffed. “A lie you carefully arranged.”

“Watch your mouth, son,” her eyes hardened and I leaned back with my arms crossed over my chest.

“You know the pack laws! Without your fated mate, you can't continue your reign!” she paused letting her words sink in.

“It's been two years since you became the Alpha… you still have no Luna. This will bring calamity on us. The elders and pack members are already murmuring.”

“But …”

“Do you know how happy I was when we found your fated mate?”

“How is that your obligation? That was for me and her to find out…” I barked.

“But you didn't… you have been too busy to notice a quiet girl in a quiet Pack. Nora is a good girl… Trust your mother… you will definitely…”

“Mother, don't patronise me!” I cut in angrily.

“Then listen carefully,” her jaws tightened.

She stepped closer, lowering her voice.

“Your half-brothers are circling in. Two years as Alpha without a Luna has made you vulnerable.

My stomach sank.

“If you don’t secure your true Luna, you will be challenged and ousted.”

“And you know the law, when an Alpha falls… banishment follows.”

Silence swallowed the room as she waited for her words to sink in.

“Tomorrow, you will stand in the grand hall and claim Nora Brooks. Or you will lose your crown, your pack… and your name.”

She turned and left, the door slamming shut behind her.

My lips quivered as I understood the trickiness of the issue at hand. 

Despite the strict pack laws, my father had many concubines and many bastard sons. I wasn't his first son, but I was the first son of his true Luna, my mother. 

By the pack laws, I was the Alpha heir. When I became the alpha, it didn't go down well with my half brothers, especially my father's oldest son, Enzo Zlan.

I didn't take the privilege lightly. From childhood, I lived more on battlefields than in comfort. I trained relentlessly, fighting beside my father. 

Everything I had ever done was to prove I deserved the throne. Love was a luxury. I didn't have time for women and I didn't have a mate.

I had never thought I would be bound to a stranger. But do I have no choice here?

I paced the room restlessly as I gradually accepted my fate.

But one question lingered in my head.

How could my parents be so certain that Nora Brooks was my fated mate?

Did they sense the bond? Consult a Diviner? Or was this again my mother’s skillful manipulation?

“Gaius!” I called my Beta.

“Find out everything about Nora Brooks. She is from the Moonlight Pack. I need every single detail about her in the next few minutes.”

“Yes! Your Highness!” He bowed, and turned to leave, but stopped like he remembered something.

“Nora Brooks from the Moonlight Pack? I know her."

"Really? Is she famous? You seemed to be well informed about her. Did..."

"It seems she is seeing Alpha Pitman of the Dreamer's Pack.”

“What!?” My eyes widened.

Alpha Pitman isn't just anyone. His Pack has been an age long enemy of my Pack. Our pack members don't associate. Anyone caught involved with them is considered a spy and traitor.

…And this woman, Nora Brooks… by the next moonlight, she would be my mate, my Luna...

“Are you still standing there?” I barked at Gaius who was still lingering around.

“When did I ever accept rumors?” I roared. “Go! Bring me proof!”

“Yes, your highness!” Gaius rumbled and stumbled out.

Rage burned through my veins.

Didn't mother and father do their findings? Or are they blinded by desperation? What is it with their claims that a stranger is my fated mate when she is nothing but a traitor!?

My gaze fell on the marriage certificate still sitting on the table.

The urge to tear it to pieces nearly consumed me, but destroying it would change nothing. The deal was sealed.

“... but as soon as we are mated and her involvement with the Dreamer’s Pack is revealed, she will be considered a spy,” I muttered. “... A traitor… traitors were burned on the stakes!”

I ran my hands through my hair, pacing about the office relentlessly.

Just then the door opened and the smell of Becca’s black rose tea wafted into my nose. Although I had my back against the door, I caught the scent instantly.

Becca was Beta Gaius' younger sister. We grew up together and she had great culinary skills. She had been in charge of my meals since I got my wolf at age 15. Then she was just 12.

I had my wolf quite early, and had difficulties in calming it. Becca's tea helped me calm my wolf until I was eighteen and I could control it myself.

Not only that, her meals suit my palate in ways other meals didn't.

After I returned from war, she has been in charge of my meals and has been serving tea to calm my post traumatic disorder. Her tea worked better than my pills. 

“Becca,” I called coldly, with my back against her. “I didn't order tea. This is not tea time.”

“I heard…” her voice wavered. “... I heard your mating ceremony is tomorrow.”

Why did she sound like that? I turned to look at her.

Tears brimmed in her eyes and her hands shook as she placed the tea cup on the table.

“My Alpha,” she whispered, brokenly.

Something twisted in my chest.

Becca wasn’t just a cook, she was family. Seeing her like that unsettled me.

I stepped forward instinctively and pulled her into an embrace, patting her back.

“It will be fine,” I said.

She stiffened and abruptly pulled away from me, staring up with tear-filled eyes. 

Her lips quivered like she wanted to talk, but she turned around and ran out.

“Becca!” I called

fondly like I usually do, but she didn’t stop. The door slammed shut.

“What is wrong with her?” I scoffed and picked up the tea. Shutting my eyes and savoring the scent, I drained it in one go.