03. Happy Eating

My knees lost the strength to stand up and a pair of strong arms comforted me.

The smell of cedarwood hit my nose and temporarily dulled the pain of my fresh rejection. I looked up and saw Alpha Redd giving me a worried expression.

"Tasha. Are you all right?"

"What happened, Natasha?" Daddy asked.

"Alpha Ali just rejected me."

There was no surprise on their faces. Not even a fake worry. They were expecting it. The two of them.

I saw red. "What have you done, Daddy?"

"Your father did not do anything. It's just your mate was an asshole after finding out that your pack is going downhill. You don't deserve an asshole like him," Alpha Redd spat.

Disgusted, I broke away from his hold and faced them. Daddy couldn't look me in the eyes as if he was guilty of doing something.

"Are you my dad, Alpha Redd? Why do you answer on his behalf?"

He shrugged his broad shoulders, smirking. "It's no longer an issue. Now that Alpha Ali is out of the equation, you'll accept me as your mate."

"Mate? You are not my—"

I sniffed the air and his smell—cedarwood was stronger than ever. My beast howled at the back of my head, hurt but at the same time glad that we found our second-chance mate.

What. The. Fuck.

"See? I know that you're my mate even if that bastard hasn't rejected you."

"You disgust me."

"I love you, too," he responded, void of any emotions in his words. "Now. The night is getting cold, my mate. Why don't we step inside and introduce me to your brothers? Which I already met, by the way. You're busy looking after the orphans that you didn't know about. But that's okay. You will make a good mother to my pups. You will bear a dozen of them. I want strong alphas."

"Fuck you!"

"Natasha! That's not how you talk to our visitor!" Dad scolded me.

I shook my head, still feeling the betrayal my own father did. He conspired against Alpha Redd so that nothing would be in his way. Or maybe he even threatened Ali so that he would reject me.

I had to know the bottom line of this. And if ever I found out Alpha Redd was behind Ali's rejection, he will regret it.

"He is not a visitor but an asshole who wanted to force me to marry him." Alpha Redd folded his arms in front of his chest. "You will never have me, Alpha Redd."

"I can wait about that and there's no need to be hasty. I came here to get to know more about you, my beautiful Tasha. Not to ask your hand to marry me. I'm not the asshole that you think of me after your rejection. Poor Alpha Ali. He did not know how amazing you could be. An amazing Luna. Too bad I own you now."

I clenched my fist while glaring at him. "Nobody owns me except me."

He threw back his head and gave a hearty laugh. "Feisty. I also like women who know how to fight. Careful, Tasha. You will make me the reason for my death and I will die happily in your arms. Beside you."

"I will gladly kill you myself, Alpha Redd."

"Natasha! That is enough! You have to respect Alpha Redd. We raised you like that!"

"I won't, Dad. This man ruined everything! Ali rejected me because he threatened him."

"If he allowed being threatened by me as you speak, he did not deserve to be called an alpha. It would be better if he would give his position to his beta."

"How dare you say that!"

Daddy went in my direction, and attempted to hold me, but evaded it. Hurt crossed his face. Could he blame me for what he did? He really planned this meeting right at this time?

"Let's enter inside, Natasha," he said and turned his back on us.

"After you, my mate."

"Shut up," I responded and followed my father, careful to put enough distance between them.

True to Daddy's words, I found my brothers waiting for us at the table. The food was ready and it looked like we were having a feast.

These should be for Ali and I's marriage announcement celebration. Not for Alpha Redd. We took our seats and to make it more annoying he sat beside me.

My brothers rise when they saw Alpha Redd and made their curtesy bow as well as the other servants.

Except me.

"You may take your seat, brothers-in-law."

I clenched my fist. How brazen could this man be?

"Alpha Redd, they are Natasha's siblings. The oldest is Ezra followed by Walker and Zion. The youngest of the family is Natasha, my princess."

"Dad. You did not tell me my brothers would be coming."

"You did ask, Natasha. Besides, you were busy earlier and I could not stomach disturbing you."

"Let's get this done. I don't want to see Alpha Redd's face anymore."

"Natasha. You pay your respect to Alpha Redd," Ezra chastised giving me his famous scowl. He rarely smiled. Actually, he never smiled. He acted as if he was Dad. Walker was the type who was never bothered unless it involves him. Zion was the typical easy-go-lucky who believed women loved him dearly because of his looks. He had but his oozing self-confidence turned me off. But never the women around him.

"I don't want to."

"Let her be, Ezra. She's only acting cute," Alpha Redd stated. "Trying to gain my attention. You already did my mate. You already captured this heart of mine a long time ago. Good job."

"Mate?" Zion asked, his eyes twinkling in amusement. "And here I thought she is mated to another alpha."

"Alpha Ali rejected her."

Zion winched. "It's typical. Perhaps he realized Natasha is ugly."

To my annoyance, I kicked his leg under the table while my two brothers did not say anything.

"Alpha Redd, can you protect our little sister to the best of your ability? We heard rumors about your pack. On how yours is on a tight spot because of what you did twenty years ago."

"Wait. What did he do?" I interjected. Perhaps I could use it to my advantage.

Ezra threw me a glance, and said, "It's not my story to tell, Natasha. It's Alpha Redd and if it is true you both are mates, he will tell you about it at the right time."

"What right time is that? When did he like it? But if not, I will continue waiting in vain?"

"Children...why don't we eat first?" Dad said, motioning to the food.

As appetizing as the food looked served at our table, I did not like it. It was also funny how I could still act as if everything was fine when in fact I was crumbling inside. I cannot stomach eating anything and all I wanted to do right now was to go to my room and cry my heart out. Because that was what I should do right? After that painful rejection. Not to converse with this arrogant alpha beside me who easily blended in with my family as if he was already part of us.

I loathed him and I wanted to punish him for being too friendly.

My brothers, Alpha Redd and Daddy started eating everything with gusto. Except me. The food on my plate was still untouched.

Did Dad already give me to this brute? Why did they act as if the rejection was not a big deal for me? As if they wanted it to happen in the first place.

Suddenly, a spoon with rice and a little meat was already in front of me.

“Eat, Tasha. This is our celebration. Why does your face look like you are attending a funeral?”

“Because it should be supposed to be like this!” I exclaimed. “I should cry and fight for my love. Not pretend as if all are okay with me. It isn’t, Alpha Redd. My mate just rejected me without giving me a valid reason. It was too painful. Why can’t you all understand what I am feeling inside? My wolf is hurting as well as me!”

The smile on Alpha Redd’s face disappeared.

“You should never let the bastard’s words affect you, Natasha. He did not love you in the first place. I told him Alpha Redd wanted to take your hand. Did you know what his reaction was? Nothing. He gave up after knowing it.”

Ezra stopped eating while my two brothers did not give a fuck.

“Brother. How come you know about Ali when I did not tell anyone about me finding my mate?”

Ezra threw me a wary look. “When you always went shopping, do you think no one is following you? Just because you did not see somebody after does not mean there is none. He knows you are constantly keeping in touch with Alpha Ali and the two of you would meet in the mortal world. My question is, why did you hide Alpha Ali from us, your family, Natasha?”

“Maybe she was ashamed because he is ugly, Brother. The only one who is handsome is me. None other else,” Zion replied, boosting.

"You make my stomach upset, Brother. We hide our relationship because we are not ready for it."

"But when you suddenly became ready, Alpha Ali rejected you. Cliche."

"Silence!" Daddy roared which made us shut up.

I put both of my hands on my lap, biting the inside of my cheeks. I wanted to walk away. To hide from Alpha Redd. He was sickeningly calm beside me, enjoying the show. Having the best day of his life.

"Zion. Natasha. Are you both three years old? Aren't you ashamed of Alpha Redd beside you? Is this how we treat our visitors? Answer me!"

I winced at his voice, showing his authority towards his children. Towards us.

Zion pouted, not being accountable for his actions.

"It's Natasha's fault, Dad for acting like a brat."

When I could no longer fathom him being a jerk, I slapped the table using my palms. The water inside the glass danced as well as the utensils.

I stood and looked at Dad in his eyes. "Let's get this done, Dad. Why is Alpha Redd here as well as my brothers? This is not a normal visit, isn't it? Tell me the truth right now before I do something I regret right now."

"Alpha Redd is formally asking for your hand in marriage and the wedding will be next month."