THE ALPHA’s PLUS-SIZE CONTRACT LUNA

Everett's POV. 

“Your dress may not fit tomorrow because you've been eating too much, Everett!” Mom's voice boomed across the dining table. 

I froze with a sausage in my mouth, waffles and whipped cream in my hands, ready to be shoved inside. 

She settled down angrily on the chair beside Dad and locked eyes with me. 

“You should be losing weight, Everett. Not eating like a fucking glutton” My insides knotted at her words. 

They burned through my chest but I swallowed them. It wasn't the first time she'd be speaking like this, why should it hurt more today?

Dad set down the newspaper he was reading and glanced at me for the first time since I joined the table. 

“Tomorrow, you find your mate, Everett. Don't embarrass me” he stated clearly, voice commanding. 

I looked at him and swallowed. But he wasn't done. 

“You are my eldest daughter,” he continued. “Everyone expects you to marry into a powerful alpha family” 

Mom rolled a lettuce salad into her mouth and scowled. “Not just any alpha family, but the Harrington family” 

My fingers dug into the edge of the table. The Harrington family was one wealthy Alpha family in the city. Cassian is their only son and also my friend. 

“Don't let us down, Everett,” Mom added. 

I sighed.

Laughter erupted across the room, making my head snap. Lissa was seated with her legs crossed, eyes moving around everyone at the table. 

“My sister doesn't look like she's going to lose any weight,” she remarked. “The zipper would definitely not close tomorrow” 

I stared at her blankly, wondering what she was trying to prove with her words. The next moment, my stepmother flared in anger and she slammed her hands on the table. “Stop eating, you fat girl!” She yelled. 

“You won't eat anything until the ceremony ends tomorrow!” 

“Mom—” I tried to object but she cut me off, her voice sharp and terrifying. 

“You don't want to do it?” She asked. 

For a moment, silence enveloped me. The next second, I stood up from the table, tears stinging my eyes.  “I'll obey” 

My eyes scanned the room at my family's face. Everyone looked comfortable with the decision and no one looked like they cared about me. They were more concerned about my weight—about the embarrassment that I was. 

I stepped out of the house before they could stop me, but behind me, I heard Mom's loud voice. 

“Where are you going?” 

I didn't answer. 

I walked until I arrived at the teahouse downtown. I stood at the entrance and stared at my friend who was seated at the centre, her face buried in a book. 

Celine looked focused but a moment later, she lifted her gaze and they met mine. Her lips widened into a smile immediately. I walked to her, sinking into the seat and forcing back a smile. 

She frowned. “Let me guess. Your parents stopped you from eating?” 

A chuckle escaped my lips. “You're right” 

“I knew it.” Celine’s face turned in fury. “But I came prepared,” she winked. 

She dipped her hand into her bag and brought out two bars of chocolates. I looked at her with a smile but then it disappeared like it was never there. 

“I can't eat this. I'm allowed to eat only after the celebration” My voice cracked.  

Celine grabbed my hand and slid it across the table, face filled with concern. 

“Listen, Everett,” she said. “Whoever will choose you tomorrow will choose you for who you are, not the person your parents are trying to make you become” 

Her words soothed my heart but then another worrisome thought settled in. “Do you think Cassian would?” 

Cassian Harrington. An Alpha who had stood by me when everyone else criticized me. He defended me when they called me fat, fought for me when they bullied me. 

“Of course, he'd choose you without a second thought!” Celine smiled. 

My lips widened into a smile. Celine was right, Cassian would choose me without thinking twice. It had always been like that. 

My gaze moved to the entrance when someone walked in. 

Holy shit. Talk of the devil. 

Tall, and handsome. Broad shoulders, carefully chiseled face and jawline. Hair stuck to his forehead, face shining under the bright lights. 

For a moment, I was lost in the perfection of his face. 

Cassian looked around the room until his gaze landed on me. Holy goddess, he had been looking for me! 

A smile settled on his lips when our eyes met. I returned it. 

Celine traced my lost gaze down to Cassian and she gasped. She turned back to me and whispered. “I'll leave you two to talk” 

She stood up, patted my shoulder and walked out of the teahouse. I didn't stop her. 

Cassian walked forward, settling down in the seat across from mine. 

“Hi,” he smiled. 

Heat rushed to my cheeks. 

“Hey, Cassian” 

“How are you feeling about tomorrow?” He asked. 

“Nervous,” I replied truthfully. 

He must have noticed the nervousness in my voice, because he squeezed my hand which rested on the table. My body shook violently under his touch. 

“The day will turn out fine, okay?” 

I nodded.

I hadn't noticed stares were on me from every corner, until someone spoke. “She’s to be mated tomorrow too? Even a beggar won't choose to be with her” 

I swallowed at the words of whoever it was. Cassian's face twitched in anger, he stood up before I could hold him back. 

He moved over to the table where the words had come from. “Apologize to her. Right now” 

The guy who had spoken was grey eyed with disheveled hair, looking half drunk. 

He laughed loudly. “I was only joking” 

Cassian's face darkened. “I didn't ask. Apologize to her immediately” 

The guy's smile vanished. He turned to me reluctantly and muttered words of apology. I didn't respond, just watched as Cassian returned to my table.

The moment he settled down, he dipped a hand into his chest pocket and brought out a bracelet. I watched as he wrapped it around my wrist with a smile.

I stared with my eyes widened in shock. The bracelet was currently trending in the market, I never would have expected Cassian to get it for me. 

“Don't mind a word from anyone, Everett. Tomorrow, I'll be there” 

His words made me smile, almost moving me to tears. He had always been there since childhood, of course, he would be there tomorrow too. 

By the time I returned home, I was smiling like a fool in love. Mom was in the sitting room when I entered. I greeted her and made my way upstairs. 

“Where have you been?” She asked before she added. “Don’t tell me you've been hovering around the healer's place again!” 

I ignored her and walked into my room. I laid on the bed and stared at the ceiling, then at the bracelet on my wrist. 

If there's one thing I had been wishing for, it was for the moon goddess to make Cassian my mate. Even if we aren't mates, I hope he'd choose me anyway. And tomorrow will decide that.