“What? How do you know?” I said, as I leaned forward and raised my eyebrows.
“I talked to Connor late last night, and he said that Mason was can seriously considering it.” Emma and Connor had been “secretly” dating for quite some time. To be honest, they sucked at hiding it. They were head over heels for each other.
“Why are you so against getting married to him?” Emma asked. “I mean, arranged marriage is a pretty shitty thing in general, but it's with Mason-fucking-Fortescue.”
“I know,” I said.
“He’s like…imagine if Jake Gyllenhaal, Brad Pitt, Jason Momoa, and a lumberjack all had a baby, and that baby was given magical sexy shifter powers. That baby would be Mason.”
“That’s not even biologically possible.”
“Whatever, “ she slurred. “I’m just trying to say that you could’ve been paired with someone much worse.”
“Yeah, I know, but I don't want to be with anyone. I always dreamed that I would rule this clan alone. I don't need marriage or a man to validate my status as an alpha.” Of course, that wasn’t the only reason, but I didn’t feel like getting into that with Emma.
“I can understand that,” Emma said as she looked down. “You're doing this because you're a good alpha. You want what's best for the clan.”
“True.” My biggest fear was letting down my clan. I was all they had to look up to. Their safety was solely on my shoulders.
“Also, Mason’s a pretty good guy, underneath that rough, militant exterior. I don't think he’ll try to control you or tell you how to be an Alpha. From what I understand, he has a lot of respect for you and your leadership style.”
My heart leapt in my chest. “Really?”
“You just perked up a bit,” Emma said, narrowing her eyes. “You wouldn't mind being married to him, wouldn't you?”
I paused and bit my lip. “I don't mind him. I very much mind the idea of being in any sort of love-driven relationship.” I tucked a single curl behind one ear. “I don't think I could handle it.”
Emma grabbed my hand and squeezed. “You're worried he’ll be like Gregory.” Her voice was gentle.
“Yes,” I said, my throat feeling tight.
“Mason won't be like him.”
“You barely even know him.”
“You’re right, but I know Connor, and he wouldn't be best friends with someone who is like Gregory.”
I knew I shouldn't judge Mason based on my past trauma, but it was the only way I could protect myself.
“Besides, Aubrey – it's a political marriage. You'll just be married on paper. That's it.”
“Don't forget the ‘you need to have children’ part…” I groaned and lay back on the rug.
“Ooh, That'll be fun,” she said, clapping her hands like a little girl. “Mason has quite a reputation for being good in–”
“Stop right there,” I said, trying to maintain a straight face. “I don't want to hear about it.”
Emma giggled. “You're such a tight-ass sometimes. You're 26 years old, not 70. Stop being a prude. Loosen up a little.”
“Okay, fine. Maybe I do want to hear about it, but you're not making my decision any easier.” The thought of Mason’s mouth pressed against mine, his hands exploring my body...god damn.
“I'm sure you want all of the nasty details,” she teased. “When do you have to make your final decision?”
“I don't know,” I said. “They want to meet with me tomorrow afternoon. I think Mason will be there, too.”
“What are you going to say?”
“I haven't decided yet. Probably that I agree to the marriage contract, but that I will only be his wife on paper and for the purpose of having kids.” I sat up a bit to drink a sip of champagne. The bubbles tickled as they went down my throat.
“And?”
“And that there should be no expectation of love or romance. Friendship, perhaps, but love is off the table.”
“Damn, girl. Harsh.” Yeah, it was pretty harsh, but there was no way in hell I was going to admit that out loud.
“Why?”
“You're not going to give him a chance?”
“No. Why would I? Like you said, it's just a political marriage.”
“I don't know, Aubrey…” Emma had a point. I know I should give him a chance. He might be harmless. He might be the best thing to ever happen to me.
I just can't let my guard down to find out.
***
Seeing Mason in the Town Hall made my decision so much harder. He was wearing a thin navy pullover over a grey button-down shirt, with khaki trousers and dark brown leather loafers. His dark brown hair with grey-ish blonde highlights was pulled back into his signature man bun, and he had a bit of stubble that accentuated his razor sharp jawline.
Holy shit, he was hot. I wanted him with every fiber of my being, and my bear certainly wasn’t helping me control my urges.
We sat at adjacent tables that faced the row of stone-faced councilmen. They were still dressed in all black, and most of them looked exhausted beyond all comprehension. I tried not to steal glances at Mason, but my bear was wearing down on my self-control. Once again, she kept growling “mine”, but she was even louder this time. Much to my disappointment, Mason didn't even make eye contact with me or look in my general direction.
Perhaps he is just as upset as I am. Maybe he is repulsed by the idea of being married to me. The thought made me sick to my stomach.
The council members took attendance, and then Councilman Black turned to Mason and me. “Alphas Moore and Fortescue,” he said, extending his arms to us. “Am I correct in assuming you understand the terms of your marriage?”
“Yes,” I said, attempting to project my voice. Mason nodded solemnly and looked down at his hands.
“Excellent,” he said, adjusting his sport coat. “Do you have any questions before we proceed?”
Mason and I said nothing. My stomach was churning and I was starting to feel faint. I really wished my mom and dad were here to support me through this.
“You are unusually silent for being two normally outspoken people.” Councilman Black furrowed his brow. The councilmen behind him laughed softly.
“Councilman,” I said. “Will Alpha Fortescue and I be expected to have anything more than a professional relationship?”
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Mason sit upright and raise his shoulders slightly. Councilman Black’s eyes darted between us rapidly before he cocked his head.
“No, you will not,” he said. “We cannot ask you to engage in a personal relationship with Alpha Fortescue. You are only contractually obligated to produce children and ensure the safety of the clans.”
I nodded and bit the inside of my cheek.
“Any other questions, Alpha Moore?”
I hesitated. “Yes, actually.” I looked at Tabitha, who looked forlorn. “Are you sure this is our only option? Like I said before, an arranged marriage is –”
“Alpha Moore, do you not care about the state of Timber Creek?”
“I do, I just –”
“I am extremely disappointed in your lack of initiative. I would expect more from an Alpha.” Councilman Black’s eyes narrowed. “Should we replace you with someone who is more willing to do what needs to be done for their clan?
What the fuck? Councilman Black and I never got along, but this was an unexpected response. I tried my hardest to hold back tears, and I could feel myself tense up as if I was preparing to fight.
Councilwoman Fortescue stood up and turned to Councilman Black. “You are out of line, Councilman.” Tabitha snapped her fingers in agreement.
“Excuse me?”
“I may be a newly appointed councilwoman, but I cannot sit in silence any longer. Do you not realize what we are asking these two to do? Marriage is not something to be taken lightly.”
I always thought of Christina Fortescue as being solemn, snobby, and elitist – the perfect recipe for a mother-in-law from hell. I neve
r would’ve thought that she’d defend me.
“Do you oppose the decision, Councilwoman?”
“No. All I ask is that you treat these two with more respect and be more understanding of their hesitation at this time.”
“Perhaps she isn’t the right alpha for the job, then.”
“That’s not –” Councilwoman Fortescue said, stamping her foot.
“Learn your place, Councilwoman,” Councilman Black said, seething. “Alpha Moore needs to accept the terms of the contract, or we will find someone who is willing to do so. Perhaps we should look into why she is so against this – does she want us to die at the hands of a mass murderer?”
A loud thud broke Councilman Black’s train of thought, and sent a murmur through the crowd. “Do not speak to my mother that way, Councilman Black.” Mason said, his voice booming. He gestured to me. “I’d also recommend that you do not speak to Alpha Moore this way, either. If she doesn’t accept the contract, I won’t either.” He looked livid, as he very well should be.
Councilman Black crossed his arms, his mouth slightly agape. “You are –”
“Your behavior and leadership on this matter is reprehensible, Councilman Black.” Mason turned to me. “If you don’t mind, Councilman, I’d like to have a word with Alpha Moore in private to discuss this further.”
“I do mind, actually. We need to come to a decision and have you married – or not – immediately!” His pudgy cheeks turned bright red as he furrowed his grossly overgrown eyebrows, nearly obscuring his beady black eyes.
“You can wait, then.” He stood up and walked elegantly out of the room, and I followed behind him.
I had no clue what the fuck was going on, or what was going to happen between us. Today showed me that Mason and I were in this together, if not as lovers, than as allies.
And you know what? I was okay with that.
Chapter 4: Mason
I led Aubrey out of the Town Hall and to the water fountain in the center of the quad. We sat on a bench facing the fountain, in between two fragrant rosebushes. It was getting really hot outside, and I was starting to regret wearing a sweater.
Note to self: at least dress in weather-appropriate clothing when you’re trying to impress Aubrey.
I also regret not ripping Councilman Black’s fucking throat out. How dare he speak to the mother of his own Alpha that way? How dare he speak to my potential wife that way?
I stole a glance at Aubrey, who looked like she was trying her hardest to keep herself together. I wanted nothing more than to hug her tight and let her know that she wasn’t going to do this alone.
Sadly, I think the last thing she needs – or wants – is to be anywhere near me. She seemed like she was completely against the idea of getting married to me and falling in love, and I don’t blame her.
Maybe it’s for the best.
She seemed to be sick with terror throughout the entire hearing, but somehow managed to look as breathtaking as ever. The sun made her glossy curls glisten, and brought out the gold in her silky smooth skin. She wore a fitted business casual black dress that emphasized all of her curves, from her thick thighs to her voluptuous chest. She was absolutely stunning, and easily the most beautiful thing I had ever seen in my life. My bear was beginning to overpower me; his desire to claim her as his mate – our mate – was stronger than anything I’d ever experienced. It took all of the strength I had to not run to her and take her in my arms.
“Do you want to marry me, Aubrey? You can say no. We can stop this right now.”
She swallowed hard and scratched her neck. “I don’t want to get married at all, but I need to do it for the clan.”
“You do enough for your clan. If getting married will cause you pain, you shouldn’t do it.”
“If this will keep them safe, I will,” she said as she buried her face in her hands.
She and I were similar in that regard. We both seemed to place the safety of our clan above our own emotional safety. That’s why I tend to suppress my emotions, which doesn’t help me seem any less like a cold-hearted asshole.
“Do you want to go through with this?”
“Want to? No. Need to? Absolutely.” She looked at her shoes and started biting her thumbnail.
I tried to look into her eyes, but she made every attempt to avoid my gaze. “I will do whatever I can to make this as pain-free as possible for you.”
Her eyes widened. “What do you mean?”
“You wanted to keep this professional, right?” She nodded. “I can guarantee we will be professionals, and nothing more. We’ll be co-alphas, co-parents, and nothing more.” I tried my hardest to mask the disappointment in my voice. “We don’t even need to be friendly with each other.”
She took a shaky breath. “Mason, it’s not that I don’t want us to be friendly with each other,” she said. My heart leapt. “I just don’t know if I’m ready for something as big as marriage.”
“To be honest with you, I’m not sure either.” My bear seemed to be, though.
“I really don’t think I’d be a good wife, co-alpha, co-parent, whatever.” She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “You deserve better, particularly when whoever is out to kill shifters is going to make our lives a living hell.”
I wanted to jump up and tell her I felt the same way, that my father left me with scars that will never fade, that my bear wanted to spend the rest of our lives with her…
“How do you know what I deserve?”
“I don’t.” She paused and cleared her throat. “I know what a good leader looks like, and I know what they need to thrive. Right now, I’m not in a place to lead my own clan, let alone two. I’d just bring you down.”
We were much more alike than I would’ve ever expected. I couldn’t tell if that was a good thing or not.
“So, do you want to get married, or not?”
“I do.”
“What do you need from me?”
She hesitated. “I need to keep my distance from you.”
My heart broke, but I maintained my stone-cold demeanor. “I can do that.”
She searched my eyes and frowned. “Thank you, Mason.”
We sat in silence for quite some time. For the first time ever, my bear lead me astray. The one person I wanted to spend my life with didn’t feel the same way. My natural instinct was to fight to keep her close, but that might be the one thing that drives her away. I wanted to tell her to give me a chance, but what if I didn’t deserve one? What if I end up hurting her?
Perhaps I’m not worth a chance. My father made that pretty clear.
A muffled sob caught my attention. Aubrey was covering her mouth with her hand to cover the noise, as tears were streaming down her cheeks.
“Aubrey,” I said, extending a hand. “Are you okay?”
She choked back tears. “I’m sorry, this is embarrassing.”
“Don’t be embarrassed, please. You have nothing to be embarrassed about.
“Maybe Councilman Black was right,” she said. “They should find a better alpha for the job.”
“Councilman Black is a misogynistic asshole. We should ban him from the council.” I clenched my fists. “He is in my clan, meaning I am his superior. He used to be my dad’s best friend, so I grew up with him around – he was a sack of shit then, and is a sack of shit now.”
Councilman Black loved to play the role of puppet master. He liked taking other people’s lives into his own hands. I wouldn’t have been surprised if he smooth talked the city council members into thinking an arranged marriage was the only viable option.
“I'm not ready for this type of responsibility. I never was,” she said. “I didn’t even get a chance to prepare for any of this. I’m terrified, Mason.”
Unlike me, Aubrey wasn't raised to be an alpha. She was thrust into the role suddenly when her parents suddenly died. It was a huge blow to the town, and Councilman Johnson assumed the duties of alpha until Aubrey was equipped to take over
. One night, she was just another girl who happened to be the alpha’s daughter. The next, she was in charge of an entire clan.
That's part of the reason I admire her so greatly. I was groomed to be a leader, while she came at it naturally. I had a lifetime of training to become an alpha, while she had a little less than a year to learn what she needed to learn. When it comes to leading a clan, she could easily kick my ass – and I thought that was super fucking sexy.
“I don't think either of us are,” I said. She sniffed in response and pulled on the bottom of her dress. “I think you and I both have more in common than you may think.”
She nodded, her face buried in her hands. Her sobs became quieter. I wanted to tell her that both of us are emotional wrecks in a shitty situation. Even though she made it clear she wants her distance from me, I could use having her around. Her presence makes me feel whole, like I've been missing something that I didn't even know existed.
I needed her, but I didn't want to make her uncomfortable by encouraging her to give us a chance…to give me a chance.
“I know you said you wanted to keep things professional, but I have a suggestion,” I said. She tensed up and looked up at me.
“If we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together, we might as well get to know each other. I think we could find comfort in each other through our shared struggles.” She said nothing as her eyes filled up with tears.
Did I fuck this up? Fuck, way to go, Mason.
Still, there was no turning back now. I took a deep breath and tried to keep my composure. “Let's spend some time together, just you and I. No pressure, no romance, no promises of friendship. Okay?”
She nodded, and my heart leapt in my chest. “You free tomorrow evening?”
“Yes,” she said.
“Meet me at my house at 5 – it's not too far from yours, and it’s hard to miss – and we’ll go from there.”
She smiled and I gave her a quick nod before walking away. I knew that tomorrow would be the day that makes or breaks our relationship; the day that I could lose the chance to be with my mate forever.
Alpha Arrangement: A BBW BWWM Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcane Affairs Agency) Page 4
