Chapter 12: The Deal

Two days of sleepless preparation, and I woke before dawn, well aware that this day, of all days, was going to shape my future. It was going to be the day I finally got to meet Alpha Don Carter, on his own turf, in the epicenter of his strength. This meeting, so crucial, was, in fact, a necessity. I wanted him to listen to me. I wanted an opportunity to present my arguments.

In front of my closet, I considered my choices. Each one was important to me. I could not come across as flighty and/or desperate. Instead, I wanted to project the appearance of a female who was to be taken seriously—one who had knowledge of and could handle power.

Then, after a moment’s consideration, I settled on a deep emerald dress. It fit me enough to turn heads, without going over the top. It was elegant, understated, and very measured. I added a minimalist earring and necklace and was satisfied enough to take note of myself in the mirror. At first, I stood up a little straighter and worked the material around my hips.

It wasn’t the flashiest dress that I owned, but it made me look like a composed woman—poised, elegant, and collected. A woman ready to negotiate, not beg.

I was satisfied. I went downstairs for breakfast.

However, to my surprise, my stepmother, Agatha, was already seated in the dining hall. She did not usually turn up this early.

“Good morning, Princess,” she greeted warmly, her smile thoroughly practiced.

“Good morning, Mother,” I said, raising an eyebrow. “You're here bright and early.”

"I wanted to talk to Jay, but he's still asleep," she nodded.

I let out a soft sigh. “I didn’t even notice what time he came home last night.”

Something unreadable flashed in her eyes before she sized me up from head to toe. "You look nice," she said. "Where are you going?"

I carefully put down my coffee mug and looked right into her eyes. “I’m off to the capital. It is time for me to start mingling with people and making closer connections. This will greatly help the pack’s business later on.”

For a short moment, a silence fell between us. But then her lips pursed into a thin line.

“Why don’t you let Jay deal with that?” she said with an icy tone. “This isn’t a very ladylike affair for you to get involved in business.”

I squared my shoulders. “No, Mother. I can handle this by myself. Besides, I will also be going to my father’s office.”

Her sigh was subtle but laden with disapproval. I recognized better than to continue the conversation. I downed the rest of my coffee in one swallow and excused myself. I was eager to get out of the house before Jay showed up. If he discovered where I was headed, he might try to prevent it. I wasn’t ready to justify myself to him. Not yet.

It took us over an hour to get to the capital.

As the cityscape appeared before me, I could feel the familiar knot forming in my chest. This was where the politics took place, the place of the Alpha King, where backroom deals were made and broken. Many alphas held court here, my father among them.

As I entered the shopping mall belonging to Don Carter's pack, I had to fight the urge to pace my steps out of awe. This thing loomed large and imposingly as a deliberate affront to greater wealth and power.

Notwithstanding its majesty, the center was surprisingly quiet at this early time.

I scanned the area for any glimpse of Don Carter. Finding nothing, I approached a guard standing by the entrance.

“Excuse me,” I said. “Do you know where Alpha Don is? "

The guard looked at me momentarily before realization lit up in his eyes. “He’s in his office, but he’s very busy today. He’ll be leaving again soon.”

I nodded, hiding my disappointment. “Thank you.”

I hurried down the hall quickly, my footfalls deliberate and confident. Luck was with me—just as I approached the offices, Alpha Don came out of a corridor up ahead with his Beta.

I approached with a racing heart and bent my head into a respectful bow.

"It is my life's honor to meet you, Alpha Don," I stated.

I was looking for him to walk by me without giving me a second look.

He just stopped instead.

Slowly, I raised my head—and froze.

He looked like a man who had just seen a ghost.

A confusion stirred within me. I had not been introduced to this man before—not in this lifetime, not in my previous one either.

Before I could reply, his Beta moved ahead, ever so slightly intercepting my way. “I apologize,” he said with a strained, proper smile, “but the Alpha is very busy today.”

I fought the temptation to roll my eyes in exasperation. "My name is Melody Madison," I said decisively. "Daughter of Alpha Madison and a friend of Maya. Alpha Don—is this any of your business? Perhaps I might interest you in a deal?"

At my command, the Beta stiffened. His gaze darted to Don, and he growled under his breath, “This is Jay's fiancée.”

Don blinked several times as if shaking off thoughts that had drifted from elsewhere. Then he spoke.

His voice was deep and imperious, the power evident with each syllable.

It brought a shiver up my spine.

“What deal?” I met his stare without wavering, every shred of determination I had blazing in my chest. “A deal,” I said calmly, “for the throne.”