Chapter 6

Harper

We pulled back up to the house in Louise's car, giggling about the movie. I sat in front, and Katie was in the back with our obscene amount of shopping. It was the day after my birthday and the worst night of my life, and Louise and Katie had declared it pamper Harper day. We went into town and had lunch, and then some shopping, followed by a chick flick.

I looked up out of the window and was shocked to see the driveway full of cars, and despite knowing nothing about cars, I could tell that these were the luxury sort. I knew my mum had planned a cake this evening since we couldn't celebrate my birthday yesterday. My parents had no idea about what had happened last night, and quite frankly, I was happy for it to stay that way.

I glanced at Louise, and she looked concerned.

"That's the Alpha's car," she said, pointing to a gold-coloured monstrosity. "And that's the Beta's?" She pointed to a black sleek type one.

"What are the Alpha and Beta doing here?" Katie asked from the back seat.

I shrugged. "Maybe they are having a meeting," I said. My dad's office was here, so if they had to talk about finances, then maybe they called in.

I jumped out of the car and leaned against it as the girls grabbed the shopping. Since last night, I felt weak, and they were doing their best to make things easy for me. We headed into the house, and I walked into the living room to see my mum and Caroline Stokes, the Beta's wife, sitting drinking tea. My mum saw me and squealed.

"Oh, Harper, you are home." I glanced at the girls, and they shrugged. "Caroline, please meet Harper." Mrs Stokes stood up and took my hand.

"It's very nice to meet you, Harper," she smiled. "And happy belated birthday, dear."

"Oh Harper, why didn't you tell us!" my mum exclaimed, and I looked at her, confused.

"Tell you what?" I asked. I could tell she was about to answer when I heard my dad's voice.

"Harper?" he called. "Is that you?"

"Yes, daddy," I called back.

"Can you come to my office for a moment, please?" he called back, and I headed down to his office, where he was standing in the doorway smiling.

"Hi pumpkin," he said as I reached him. He then guided me into his office, which I was surprised to see was full.

The Alpha was sitting behind my dad's desk in my dad's chair, and the Beta was sitting in one of the other chairs, while Tommy was standing in the corner. He threw me a pained expression and then glared at something at the wall behind me. I suddenly had a bad feeling as I turned my head in the direction he was looking.

My heart dropped to my stomach, and my eyes fell on him. He was here, in my home. Colton leaned against the back wall, and I watched as he looked me up and down slowly, like he was undressing me with his eyes. His eyes met mine, and I couldn't help my breathing become shallow as he slowly licked his lips and smirked at me. What the hell was he doing here now?

"Ah, Harper darling, please come in," the Alpha's voice pulled my attention to him, and I turned back to the room. "Please take a seat." My dad guided me to the only empty chair across from the Alpha and next to the Beta, who was smiling at me, too.

"As I was saying, Darren..." The Alpha turned to my dad. "I am sure you're beyond happy about the new development, and such a merge will be very beneficial to the pack operations,"

"Yes, absolutely, Alpha," my dad said, and he smiled at me, too.

"And you agree, Eric?" the Alpha asked the Beta, who nodded.

"Who am I to argue with fate?" he said, chuckling.

"Well, then it is settled," the Alpha said. "And let me be the first to congratulate the new couple!"

Wait! What? I looked around. Well, everywhere apart from the direction of the eyes that feel like they are drilling into my back. Everyone was smiling at me apart from Tommy, who had his eyes closed and looked really upset.

"Daddy?" I asked. "I don't understand. What's going on?" My dad smiled at me, but it was the Alpha who answered.

"Why, yours and Colton's engagement, my dear," he said with a big grin.

I suddenly felt like I was going to be sick, and I felt the sparks before I knew he was there. Colton took my left hand and slipped a gold diamond ring onto my finger, and he smirked at me as he lifted my hand and kissed it. I shuddered as sparks ran through my body. Colton leaned into me and kissed my cheek and then whispered.

"You're all mine now, Strawberries."

I looked at the ring on my finger and then back around the room. Tommy had the look of fury on his face. Everyone else was smiling and chatting. Colton ran his hand up and down my arm, and the sparks made it hard to think straight.

I was engaged! To Colton Stokes! At any other time, this might have been one of those dream-come-true moments. Hell, this time yesterday, I might have thought that this was my dream come true. But now circumstances were different, very different. I took a step away from Colton and shook my head.

"But he rejected me," I whispered. The Alpha stopped talking and looked directly at me. Then, I realised my father, and the Beta had stopped talking too and were also looking at me.

"What did you say, Harper?" the Alpha asked, his tone oozing with authority. I couldn't help but bite the side of my lip. The Alpha was an intimidating man.

"I said, he rejected me," I said a little louder and then looked at the floor, although I could still feel the Alpha's eyes on me. Then I heard him chuckle, and I looked up in shock.

"Oh, don't you worry, my dear," the Alpha said with a big smile. "Young Colton here was a little rash in his actions, but he regrets that now, don't you, young man?"

"Yes, Alpha sir, I do," Colton replied before grabbing my hand in his. "And Harper, I am truly sorry, and I would like this opportunity to make it up to you and show you how much of a loving husband and mate I can be." His tone was sincere, but I knew it was just for show.

"But you rejected me," I said again, more insistently. "So the bond... it's broken, isn't it?" I looked around at the men in the room.

"My dear child..." the Beta smiled at me. "I was under the impression that while my son was somewhat foolhardy, you didn't actually accept the rejection."

I nodded. "Yes, Beta sir." The Beta stood up and smiled.

"Well, there you have it," he said. "The bond is still alive, and as long as you complete the mate bond by the third full moon, then the rejection will be a silly mistake of the past." He clapped Colton on the back and then leaned over and kissed my forehead. "And please, call me Eric. We are family now."

"Wait, are you saying that you are expecting her to complete the bond and tie herself to this jerk for the rest of her life? And all within three months?" Tommy shouted. "Darren, really, are you going to allow this?" My dad glared at Tommy, his face going red, but it was the Alpha that replied.

"Thomas, I understand your concerns and admire your guardianship of your niece. But I assure you that the moon goddess wouldn't have paired her with Colton here if they were not a good match." There was something about the way he said guardianship that felt like more than just an uncle looking out for his niece.

"But you-" Tommy started, but my father interrupted him.

"Tommy, that's enough," he snapped. "If you have nothing productive to say, then you can just leave." Tommy stared at my father in disbelief before muttering something under his breath. He stalked over and pulled me into a hug.

"I'm sorry, kid," he said, and then looked at Colton and pointed a finger at him. "I'm watching you, very closely." Then he threw a nasty look at my father and stormed out of the room. I watched him go, feeling like I had lost my only ally. He had literally thrown me to the wolves.

It was the Alpha who spoke next, shocking me out of my death stare with the door.

"Well, I think we should give the new couple a little privacy," he said. "I hear there is cake!" He then headed around the desk, shook hands with Colton, and kissed my cheek. I was shocked to hear Colton growl, and there was something about it that caused a flutter in my stomach. He had just growled at his Alpha for getting too close to me. The Alpha just chuckled in response.

"Nice healthy wolf there, boy," he said and chuckled again before heading out of the door, followed by the Beta, who was frowning at Colton, and finally, my father.

The door closed, and we were alone. I suddenly felt extremely nervous. I looked at Colton and saw that he was staring at me, his eyes almost completely gold. I didn't know what emotion he was feeling, but our eyes only switched out to wolf when there was some strong emotion present. And a wolf's eye colour is a mark of rank. I had silver eyes, but when Colton and I completed the mate bond, my eyes would likely turn gold like all high-ranked.

Then it hit me; when Colton and I completed the mate bond. Oh crap! I was going to be mated. I felt sick and like I needed to sit down again. Colton must have noticed because he took my elbow and guided me to the chair behind me. He kneeled in front of me and looked at me with concern.

"Hey, Strawberries," he said, moving my hair to one side in a tender gesture. "Breathe." He ran his thumb in circles on my hand like he had last night. I felt the panic attack that was forming, subside, and he smiled. Last night! Last night when we had slept together, and then he rejected me! But now he was here, and I had a ring on my finger. The anger hit me like a wall, and I jumped out of the chair away from him.

"You bastard!" I hissed at him. "How dare you?"