Alpha's Arrangement

By Gabrielle Demonico

Sexy. Wolf. Bad boy.

Those aren't words a new shifter bride in Troubled Fork ordinarily associates with her groom-to-be. But the um, "engagement", of Emma Easterdale and Alexander Malthorn is far from ordinary.

In fact, she wants nothing to do with him.

Alexander is hot. There is no doubt about that.

Yet, this alpha to be has two strikes against him and is headed for a third. Against her will, not to mention her better judgement, the curvy female shifter finds herself thrown into the arms of a man she can't stand, or resist.

What could possibly go wrong?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Gabrielle Demonico
• Release date: Jun 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311132611

Gabrielle Demonico

Thank you to all of my readers for your support! I am so grateful to each and every one of you for purchasing my titles. It means so much to me that you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy creating them. For those of you new to my work, you’ll likely be surprised by the variety you see. All I can say is that I have a sixth smut sense that knows no bounds! The plain truth is that I have a great passion for each of the tales I create. So, no matter which one(s) you purchase, you can be sure that I’ve done my best to deliver you a sexy, spicy tale. To keep up-to-date with my latest releases, please visit my website at (www.grdemonico.com). Thanks again! :)

Book preview

Alpha’s Arrangement

by Gabrielle Demonico

Copyright 2013

Smashwords Edition

This is a work of fiction. Names, places, businesses, characters and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, actual events or locales is purely coincidental.

All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the author or publisher except for the use of brief quotations in critical articles or reviews.

All participants in this title are 18 years of age or older.

***

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***

"Uncle… Please."

No. My decision is final, Emma.

"But… why? Why me? Any number of females in the pack would be willing…"

Albondiel Braithwait, Emma Easterdale’s uncle and leader of the Troubled Fork wolf clan, interrupted and said, Because you are the one that I can trust to do this for me. Now is not the time or the place to discuss it. We will talk about it tomorrow.

Emma turned away from him, faced forward and pressed her back into the church pew. She crossed her arms at her chest and as she did, a flurry of organ music filled the grand hall of the Troubled Fork church. Within moments, everyone in the assembled throng rose to their feet as the wedding procession began to make its way down the aisle.

It was the event of the year and it was all anyone had been able to talk about in recent months. The Ritual of the Claw had been a success and it appeared as though humans and shifters had the sanction of Nature to mate. The first such union of that kind would take place in the next few minutes.

Honey Thompson and Brock Walters were at last to be married.

All that gathered turned to look as Honey made her way down the aisle. After a few moments, she reached the altar and took her place next to the rugged bear shifter. They both turned to face Preacher Mitchell.

Tears pooled in Emma’s eyes as she watched, but she was not emotional at the sight of the nuptials about to take place before her. Unable to contain herself, she turned towards her uncle once again.

In a hushed tone she pleaded, "I don’t want to be with someone like that. Please, anyone but him. I…"

"I said tomorrow." He snapped.

Satisfied that the ceremony could start, the preacher turned his attention to the congregation.

You may be seated. He said.

A dozen rows of hundred year old pews groaned in unison as everyone took their places. Once the attendees had settled in, the preacher began…

Dearly beloved, we have gathered here today to witness the eternal joining of this man and this woman in matrimony… He paused and looked towards the couple. Would you please face one another and join hands?

As Honey and Brock took each other’s hands, the preacher continued, Will you, Honey, take this man to be your husband and to live together as one in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you promise to love, honor and keep him in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?

Honey looked up into Brock’s eyes and replied, I will.

The preacher turned his attention to Brock. And you, Brock, will you take this woman to be your wife and to live together as one in the holy covenant of marriage? Will you promise to love, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, forsaking all others, as long as you both shall live?

Brock nodded, I will.

Next, the preacher looked in the direction of a young boy who held a small pillow in his hands and motioned for him to approach.

May I have the rings please? he said.

The boy walked towards the trio and extended the pillow upwards to the couple. They each took their respective rings and in one smooth motion, slipped them on one another’s fingers. Once they’d finished, Honey gazed into Brock’s eyes and smiled.

As she looked on at the happy couple, Emma drifted away into her thoughts…

Alexander Malthorn.

It was a name, a man and a wolf that she was quite familiar with and not in a good way. He was next in line behind his uncle for alpha of the Silver Gulch pack. And there wasn’t a single female within five hundred miles that didn’t know it. And, if they didn’t know who he was, he made sure they found out all about it - whether they wanted to or not.

A smattering of terms came to mind when she thought of him. He was arrogant, conceited, egotistical, pompous and damnit to hell, sexy. The last one is what bothered her the most. It was an awful combination.

Why did it always seem like the most beautiful of men had such awful personalities? Disgusted, she bit her lip and shook her head. This was the man who she was to marry? Him? Of all the wolves her uncle might have picked. This was unrivaled suckage at its zenith.

She imagined how awful their first meeting would be…

Ugh.

Alexander, meet your bride Emma, the chunky girl from Troubled Fork.

Awesome.

The preacher concluded, And now that this man and woman have given themselves to one another as signified by the exchange of rings, I hereby pronounce that they are husband and wife. Brock, you may kiss the bride.

And Devon…

Shit.

What the hell was she supposed to tell him? Things weren’t serious between them yet but, this?

She imagined the conversation she was going to have with him.

Oh hey, yeah a movie sounds good. By the way, do you mind if I marry someone else? No? Super! I love dating you!

After a kiss and collective swoon from all in attendance, the bride and groom made their way back down the aisle and as they did, everyone stood. Everyone that is, except Emma. Instead, she dropped her elbows to her knees and held her head in her hands. As the wedding party passed by, Albondiel reached down, placed his hand upon her shoulder.

He leaned in towards her ear and said, My office. Tomorrow morning. Ten o’clock. Now, come with me. Let’s have fun tonight, my dear.

***

As she drove to her uncle’s office, Emma reflected on the prior night.

It had been a beautiful ceremony and Emma was sad she couldn’t have enjoyed the evening like she’d hoped. Emma was happy for Honey and Brock, of course, as well as what this meant for the future. For too long, shifters had lived double lives. She was optimistic that this would be the first step towards the end of that way of life - once and for all.

Yet, in spite of that happiness for them and a positive outlook in general, the dread of what was about to take place overshadowed it. With reluctance, she pulled into the parking lot of her uncle’s office, got out of the car and headed towards it.

At ten o’clock sharp she knocked on the door. Emma held on to a flicker of hope that Albondiel would have somehow forgotten, or maybe, he wasn’t even in his office.

Or perhaps…

Come in! Albondiel thundered.