Chapter Five

Reese’s POV

The Alpha family was herded inside and led to the living room. Reese felt like she was on display as Troy kept staring at her. She felt almost naked, remembering the things he’d done to her, the things she’d done with him. Oh, goddess, could it get any worse? Her cheeks felt on fire.

“Reese,” her father hissed and she snapped out of it once again. What the hell was wrong with her today? Was she still drunk? She could only wish.

“Good afternoon, Alpha Madden and Luna Madden, it’s a pleasure to meet you both,” Reese said and bowed her head respectfully.

Troy looked at her unashamedly and she gritted her teeth. “Alpha Troy, welcome.” Her eyes blazed into his and she quickly looked away as she saw the amusement etched there. Bastard.

“It’s so nice to meet you, Reese. I’ve heard wonderful things about you,” Luna Madden said with a smile.

“Oh, like what?” Reese asked.

Her mother laughed then and stepped in front of Reese. “How about we sort out drinks. Any preferences?”

Her father gave her a look and she sighed. There would be hell to pay later if she was rude, especially to Troy ‘Asshole’ Madden. She averted her gaze and took a step backwards as her mother fussed and small talk resumed.

“Reese, why don’t you come help me in the kitchen?” Her mother’s words prompted her into immediate action and she practically ran to the kitchen.

“What is wrong with you?” her mother asked.

“Nothing, it just all feels so clinical,” Reese answered her.

“They’re good people, Reese. They’re good leaders and that means their son will be a good man too. Just give him a chance. You might find you like him more than you think.”

Reese snorted internally. There was no chance she’d ever like him. What the hell was her mother even saying? Good people, her ass. They were known for their ruthlessness, how they bred the strongest warriors and how their members never ever left their pack. They were probably too scared to relocate to another pack.

Lunch consisted of grilled salmon served with a side of salad and hot potatoes with butter and parsley. Her father had given Alpha Madden the head seat at the table while he took the seat opposite him which left Reese right next to Troy on one side as their mothers sat next to each other on the other side.

The food was dished up and Reese speared her fish with her fork. She’d prefer to stab Troy with her fork instead but she knew that wouldn’t go over well with the current company being an Alpha family and his parents.

“Beta Lucy, this salmon is just fantastic. You’ll have to give me the recipe,” Luna Madden said.

Pride shone in Lucy’s eyes. “The secret is to add roasted walnuts to the honey so it soaks it in before grilling the salmon.”

“Your father tells me that you graduated early from college with honours no less.” It was the first time Alpha Madden spoke directly to Reese.

“It was an easy course.” Colour coated Reese’s cheeks again as she found the Alpha’s eyes.

“I doubt Botanical Sciences are that easy, especially since you finished the five year degree in two,” he replied.

She could feel Troy’s eyes on her once more but she refused to look at him. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. She also refused to believe that she wasn’t good enough. Being rejected took nothing away from her and the idea that it should was so outdated it was almost funny.

“Troy, is there anything you’d like to ask Reese?” Her father just had to meddle, like seriously, give it a rest already.

“Are you sure we haven’t met before? You really look very familiar,” Troy said.

Reese could feel the blood drain from her face. No way. He wouldn’t do that, would he? “Nope, I’d remember a face like yours.”

Luna Madden laughed with her mother. “Isn’t she just a gem, Travis!”

Reese helped her mother to clear the dishes from the table once lunch was over and they all moved back to the living room where Lucy served them coffee and dessert. Reese declined dessert as did Troy and Luna Madden watched them both.

“You two should get to know one another a little better while we discuss the marriage contract,” Luna Madden said.

“Yes! Reese, why don’t you go show Alpha Troy around a little. The view from the upstairs patio is breathtaking,” her mother piped in.

Reese stood up reluctantly but plastered a fake smile on her face and looked at Troy. His lips turned up a little and he stood up as well to follow her. Their parents were idiots, beaming at the new couple like they were in love or some shit.

Troy trailed her up the stairs, his hand on the small of her back. She hated his heat, his touch and the way he thought he could just touch her! What a dick! She pulled open the patio doors and promptly sat down in one of the loungers.

Troy walked to the railing of the patio and leaned forward on his arms. “Your mother was right, the view is fantastic.”

Reese looked up and found him looking at her instead of the actual view she’d come to show him. She scoffed and turned her head away. Troy chuckled low in his throat and pulled the other lounger closer to her and sat down.

“I had no idea who you were last night,” Reese said.

“If you’d known who I was, would you still have let me fuck you?”

Reese’s irritation showed in her eyes and Troy grinned at her. “Well that doesn’t matter now, does it. You’ve already fucked me so you can move on now since you never fuck the same woman twice.”

“And you fucked a stranger before marriage, what’s the difference in who I fuck and how many times I fuck them?”

“Oh, please, it’s not 1780 where a woman’s virtue is her only possession,” Reese bristled.

“Do you often fuck strange men in motel rooms?” She wanted to wipe that smirk right off his face.

“Yes, almost every night. Does that bother you? You can still call off this sham of a wedding. Why do you want to get married anyway?”

Troy laughed and she hated that even his laugh was sexy. “Liar, liar. You’re pussy told a different story last night.”

“I’m still not marrying you,” Reese said and folded her arms across her chest.

“You don’t really have a choice, my little rejected fiancé. I was so sure you’d want your necklace back.”

Reese touched her neck and looked up at him with wide eyes. “So you steal panties and necklaces too, is that your little trump card? It’s just a necklace.” It so was not just a necklace. How the hell hadn’t she noticed that it was gone? When had he taken it and why had he taken it?

The realization struck her then. He’d known exactly who she was and he’d fucked her anyway. He’d played her game better than she had. It was just her rotten luck to have a one night stand with her future husband. How the fuck does that even happen to someone?

Troy stuck his hand in his pants pocket and pulled her torn underwear from it. Reese gasped as she watched him bring it up to his face and inhale deeply. His eyes darkened and Reese gripped the armrests of the lounger tightly.

“What the fuck,” she muttered.

“The necklace is engraved, a gift from your grandmother. It’s not just another necklace. I’ll return it to you the moment you say, ‘I do’. I’ll see you sooner than you think, Reese.” He then tucked her panties back into his pants pocket and stood up from the lounger.

She had no words. What in the actual fuck had just happened? Troy left her on the patio and she swallowed nervously. ‘Fuck my life,’ she thought.