The next day, everyone in the mansion tried to go on with activities as usual. Alpha Amal had asked everyone to be on high alert, and the entire mansion was buzzing. Throughout the day, random acts of kindness were being done to Sam, and she was truly confused. One of her favorite things to eat with pancakes was bacon, and that morning, she was giving a breakfast of bacon and pancakes with eggs. Aside that, she was also given everything she asked for without so much as a single question. The pack members seemed to be giving her the best treatment possible, and she was confused. Alpha Amal would not notice, because he was in his room, entirely focused on the phone lines, but even he was getting treats; the chef had sent someone up with a bowl of chocolate covered strawberries, and his glass or orange juice had not run out even once. He had an extra phone brought into the room for his convenience, and over a call, he and the Elder Caleb spoke about strategies they would use to catch th
After their meeting with Alpha Amal's grandmother, she and Alpha Amal went over to the kitchen, to get a midnight snack. They had watched about 4 James Bond movies, and she had fallen asleep against Alpha Amal's shoulder. When she woke up a few hours past midnight, a blanket had been thrown over her shoulder, and Alpha Amal's grandmother was nowhere to be seen. A note had been propped under the half-empty popcorn bowl, and she pulled it out to read. In her loopy script, she had written: “When you wake up, please take the popcorn bowland empty the contents into the waste bin. Also,I know that Amal will not wake up on time, sowhen you're up Sam, be a doll and wake him too.PS: I do not trust his father as far as I canthrow him, and as you know, I am a frail old lady.Look into him, okay?Signed, G’ma.”Sam had let out a soft chuckle when she read the letter, and she had done what the note said so Alpha Amal could have a few minutes more to sleep. She had gone to her kitchen, put
The Stephens' Estate had always looked large in the town; even without being in it, everyone in town could see that it was large. In the plans in her hand, Sam could see that it was small and could get deceived into thinking it was a small area. Yet, the moment that everyone who was participating in the search went in through the wide, double gates, they all rolled to a stop.Anyone who had thought that it would be a small job was now having second thoughts, Sam herself included. The few people who seemed undaunted were the Elders and Alpha Amal, who had taken no notice of everyone else's apprehension. He had walked forward before realizing that Sam was not beside him, and he stretched out his arm for her to take, and although she was afraid, she did so, following his lead. Over the expanse of the Stephens' family estate, everyone went, taking on the posts that they had said they would. Before their arrival, Elder Caleb had split the everyone onto parties was and allocated areas
It was a sunny day, which did not match how the people in town were feeling. Still, business went on, and Sam soon found herself sitting alongside Paisley in Eileen's place, watching her try on dresses. The custom in the Dark Orchard pack was to wear anything but the color white, and Paisley could just not decide if she wanted the dress in purple or in blue. Sam was already flustered and considering making a run for it, but she had a suspicion that she was going to be caught and Paisley would have too much to say about it.Sighing, she tried again to help Paisley see reason. “Tell me the pros and cons of the dress. Why you like them and why you don't.”“I like the purple one because it's purple,” muttered Paisley, still checking her figure in the full-length mirror. “But I also like the neckline and the sleeves. Very elegant, and after helping you guys with this, I can reuse it and wear it to other places too.”Nodding in the background, Eileen agreed and watched as Paisley twirle
The next morning, Alpha Amal and Sam did something unusual, and went down the stairs to have breakfast in the dining area. She suspected that it was because they had a guest, but she could not be sure. Sometimes Alpha Amal just enjoyed spontaneity, and she knew that the other servants truly enjoyed setting up for grand meals, so it was honestly no surprise when the long table was covered with a lacy white table cloth, with placemats and a full cutlery service. On their way down the stairs, they saw Charity, who was on the side of the stairs, winking. Right as Sam passed her, the silly girl said, “ouuu, fancy!” and there up spirit fingers. It made her laugh, and Sam had to fight for her composure. She looked over at Alpha Amal who had heard Charity too, and there was a small, barely noticeable smile on his face. Oh, Charity, thought Sam. The girl was a clown and would get her in trouble one day, but not today. The dining hall was adjacent to the mansion's open floor, and already
It was the morning of the wedding and Sam was nervous. She had gotten married once, but it was a signatory event, and all she had needed was two people aside from her husband then, Derrick. Two of the members of the pack guard had been the signatories, and the reception was just lunch at the diner in town then. But now she was going to be having a grand wedding to Alpha Amal, under odd conditions, but married nonetheless. She had lived in his pack for almost a year, and she knew him better than anyone else did. She knew that he liked to cuddle, and that when he smiled, only his right eye made a crinkle. She knew that he liked to watch her get ready, and he never missed a head massage, which was the point they were at now. Sam was watching him through the mirror, and he was watching her, beaming. She paused to really look at him, to take in the moment, and he squeezed her arm. “I can't believe we're getting married today. I'm so excited to finally live with you. "Glancing at him, Sa
Alpha Amal's POV.He had just gotten married to the woman of my dreams, and he had gotten my mother back. It was foolish of the kidnappers to have simply dipped off my mother in broad daylight, and from all inclinations, they had been foolish enough to send representatives. He wanted to go straight to the dungeons to interrogate them, but the reception was being held in his mansion and it would be disrespectful of him to leave his newly married wife alone in the reception to interrogate a terrorist. Besides that, his mother was safe with his grandmother, avoiding her husband like the plague, and he wondered what that was about. He had a reception to attend to, so he pushed all of that to the back of his mind and wrapped his arm around Sam. He could not begin to explain how long he had wanted to be able to do that - just hold her in public.She looked radiant bedside him in that blue dress. She was matching his eyes, and when he had helped her zip up her dress, he had almost peeled th
Sam sat down beside Alpha Amal, holding onto the arm of the chair. Wedding celebrations were still going on downstairs in the mansion, but she had already had enough to eat, and besides, there was nothing she wanted to eat that couldn't be made later. She was really concerned about Alpha Amal's mother, who had been kidnapped. And since it was not customary for her to ask to interrogate kidnappers on her wedding day, the next best thing was to interrogate Alpha Amal's mother.She sat patiently, waiting for Alpha Amal's mother to speak. Beside her, Alpha Amal did the same, forking out cake from his wine glass. His grandmother sat on the table holding a wine glass of cake too.When everyone had settled on the chair, Alpha Amal's mother began to speak. “We had a feast that night at my mansion. It was the birthday of one of my favorite servants, and I wanted to celebrate with her, so we had a feast. It was a grand affair. Lots of food, you know ?” She looked around and Sam nodded in unde