2. Marriage& Memories

MILES’ POV

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Walking into the house, I slam the door behind me, my hands itching just to punch something or someone.

“Miles Armani!” My mother’s annoying screech comes from the living room and I make my way there, plopping down on the couch across them.

I put my feet up on the coffee table, resting my hands behind my head.

“How can I assist you?” I tease in a honorable manner. “Drop the act, I already heard what you did.” She drops her stack of papers on her lap, her one knee crossed over the other, her gaze hooded, anger radiating off her.

I tut, clicking my tongue, “What did you expect from me?” I raise a brow, “That I accept her and swoon over her bleached hair?”

My mother’s toes bounce up and down, her finger tapping against the paper stack beneath her hand.

“I at least thought you’d have the courtesy to be polite.” She grits out, her jaw ticking with annoyance.

“Courtesy?” I snort, “Like you had the courtesy to wait before arranging a marriage for me?” I cock my head and I pull my feet off the coffee table, sitting upright before leaning my elbows on my knees.

“Don’t talk to me about courtesy if you don’t have any.” I stand before walking out of the living room.

I stride toward the door, freezing when I open it and I stare at the back of someone I know all too well…

“What are you doing?” I lean my shoulder against the doorframe in amusement.

I watch intensely how Jaiden turns on his heel, his hands tucked into his pockets, his green eyes distressed when he meets my gaze.

“I came to see you, but I…”, “Changed your mind and stuck around anyway to terrorize yourself?”

“No.” His face scrunches up.

The anger flashing through his eyes makes me realize how big of a dick I’ve been.

I haven’t even apologized for what I did and here he is, standing in front of my family’s home, wanting to see me.

“I’ll just go.” He rolls his eyes, turning, “Stop.” I stand upright, “I’m sorry.” I admit, even though I don’t feel sorry, it’s my loyalty to my best friend to say it.

I’ll mean it, someday.

“Yeah right.” He snorts, dragging a hand through his short cut hair.

“I am, I’ll make it up to you. I’ll buy you a beer.”

He raises an eyebrow at me, making me laugh out loud, “Fine, a dozen.” I pull the door shut behind me and we hit the bar.

—

“Miles Armani! Are you kidding me?” My mother’s screeching voice makes me sit upright, my head pounding and I look around to see I’m in my own bed, but how I got here is a question for another time.

“Stop yelling.” I seethe, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.

She strides over, pulling the duvet off me and she gasps, turning her back to me.

I look down and find my morning glory at attention, making me smirk, “Should have known better, mother dearest.” I tut before getting out of bed.

“You have five minutes to get to the elder’s hall to sign that marriage certificate and not piss the elders off!” She yells, stomping to the door.

“Excuse me?”

I have no idea what the hell she is talking about.

She whips around, looking up at the ceiling.

“For Goddess sake, put pants on!” She yells and I’m really getting tired of the sound of her voice.

“Maybe if you were here last night, I could have informed you that you’re getting married today. You have four minutes left or the elders will take your alpha status.” She threatens and walks out.

I glance at the time, noticing that it’s almost nine am and I hurry to put on decent enough clothes before rushing to the elder’s hall.

Arriving, three minutes late, I start to apologize, a coat of sweat making my skin sticky as I pray to the Moon Goddess to keep my position.

Elders are not fond of people being late.

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t find the perfect shirt to get married in.” I smile when I reach the table, looking at elder Maddi with the best puppy dog gaze.

“Alpha Miles, do you know what a watch is?” The sarcasm dripping from her makes my nose twitch irritably. “Yes and if I could read it in my sleep, I wouldn’t have been late.” I nod and I stand next to Alison, glancing at her and my eyes trail down her body.

I mentally snort at the sight of her white silk dress that hugs her body, it’s a nice looking dress, it has a very high slit that splits at her upper thigh and the dress hugs around her legs, but showing them off also in the front.

“You know it’s not a real wedding, right?” I whisper and Alison’s big green eyes are glaring at me.

Her narrowed gaze does nothing to affect me and I focus on Elder Maddi.

“In fact, Alpha Miles, this is a real marriage. This is a contract that prevents her to leave, that gives her the Luna title immediately with no question and she has every right to be looking beautiful, unlike you who are dressed casually, she respects this.” Elder Maddi has never put me in my place faster.

“I’m sorry, you’re right…After Emily..I just..” I scratch my nape, my chest denting.

“It’s fine, I was just saying.” Maddi waves it off and I frown. Did I just use my mate’s death to get a pass?

“Low blow.” Tyron growls angrily, but he has nothing to worry about because I’m mad at myself too.

I would never have done that and I hate myself for doing it.

Alison stares at me with disgust and I roll my eyes.

“Can we just get this over with?” I glance at Alison, “I’d like so show my mate around.” The sarcasm dripping from my tone goes unnoticed by elder Maddi, but Alison gives me a questionable look.

“All you need to do is sign the paper Alpha Miles.” She twirls the pen in her hand and points the end at me. I smile happily as I take it and pull the paper closer to me, signing it.

“All done.” I slide the paper over to Elder Maddi and she looks at it and slides it over to Alison, who also signs it.

“I’ll make copies and send it out, don’t forget that you need to mark one another and if it’s not done by the sixth full moon that comes…you’ll be forced to do it in front of people.”

My face falls…what the hell is she talking about?

“Excuse me? No one said anything about mating and marking.” I seethe, “I said nothing of mating, Alpha.” She bows her head before leaving and I turn to Alison, “You knew.” My eyes narrow on her.

“This is a mate arrangement, what did you think was going to happen?” She snorts. “I suggest we get it over with.” I notice how her cheeks heat.

She wants this…

“I don’t fucking think so.” I scoff before turning on my heel and I walk to the exit.

“Aren’t you going to show me around?” She yells from behind me and I open the door, turning sideways and I look back at her, “It shows how gullible you are if you believed that.”

I leave and mind link a servant to have them do it.

Her entire existence pisses me off.

She knew about the marking, my parents knew and now I have six months to do it before I’m forced…

How can they expect that of me?

I snarl as anger overtakes and my bones crack as I roll my neck and within seconds I shift as I step outside.

I dart into the woods and run to where my mate is buried.

I shift, sitting naked on my kneels in front of her stone.

I read the stone, something I’ve done about a hundred times in these past two weeks..

Emily : Alpha Miles’ Fated Mate

It’s all they let me put up, nothing else.

It’s ridiculous, there’s no message, no sensitivity all because she wasn’t apart of the pack…

How is this happening to me?

I can’t even touch Alison’s hand to greet her, not that I would want to anyway, and now I am told I have to put my lips on her skin, sink my teeth into her flesh and lick her wound?

Hell no, I think I’d rather lose my title than do that.

I shed a few tears as I brush my fingers over her name and I think back of how beautiful she was…

I loved it when we had a picnic and she would lay on the grass, her dark locks would be sprawled around her face and we’d laugh.

Goddess, I miss her laugh.

I miss to watch how her honey orbs would light up and the way her cheeks dent, those dimples have always had my heart.

She looks so beautiful…she looked beautiful…

I wish she was here…

“Son.” My father’s voice makes me stand and I turn, looking at him pulling on his shorts and he tosses me a pair.

“What are you doing here?” I glare at him.

“Alison said you ran off and it wasn’t hard to figure out where’d you go.” He shrugs.

He wants something…since I took over as alpha of this pack, he never asked how I was, he never reached out to me, not even when Emily died.

“No, why are you here?” I seethe, I don’t want anything from him or mom.

“I came to check if you are okay.” He frowns at me like I am offending him.

“Why now?” I cross my arms and I feel the light water droplets fall on my skin.

“What do you mean?”

I snort, turning my gaze to the side and I focus on calming down as I stare at a tree.

“I know I wasn’t there for you, but I am now.”

A low growl escapes my lips and I glance at him with a hooded gaze.

“I don’t need you.” I grit out before turning my back on him.

“Just come home, it’s starting to rain.” He sighs before I heard him walk off.