The Mad Alpha's Substitute Bride

(ALICE)

"How did you even get a table here?" I whisper.

Darian gives me a half smile. "I pulled some strings. I thought you’d like the food."

I open my mouth to tell him that I would have preferred pizza and something cheap to drink, but I don’t want to hurt his feelings, so I decide to keep my opinion to myself.

"Oh," Darian suddenly says. "I got you something." He reaches over to a small table by his side and picks up a gift bag from what looks like a very expensive store. "Here."

Now I really feel uncomfortable. "You’re already doing so much. I don’t need this. I didn’t get you anything."

"That’s fine. It’s a gift. Your birthday present."

I take the bag as I glance at him. "Why did you get me a birthday gift? I already—You’ve already given me so much: the cupcakes and all the food you’ve been sending me..."

"Your friend got you an entire outfit. I had a feeling you wouldn’t let me buy you an even nicer one, so I thought I’d get you this instead."

I open the bag and take out the softest scarf I have ever felt. It’s emerald green. A stunning color. I could bury my face in this scarf and die happily. It’s so beautiful and silky.

When I look up at Darian, he’s smiling broadly. "You like it, then?"

"I do." I can’t stop touching it. "But why did you get me a scarf? This is for cold weather. Winter temperatures back hardly ever drop to scarf level."

"Which is exactly why I bought it." He grins. "I bet you’ve never had a scarf before because you never needed one."

I stare at him, trying to understand his logic. "That’s a big brain move there."

He laughs. "Isn’t it? Am I right? Is this your first scarf ever?"

"It is," I admit. "And I love it. I don’t know what this material is, but I could sleep in it."

The pleasure in his eyes makes my heart skip a beat. "I hope you don’t mind, but I ordered us a three-course meal in advance," Darian tells me. "I wanted to give you the scarf first. I would have gotten you something better, but I wanted to give you something you’ve never had before. Look at the corner."

I pick up the side of the scarf he is pointing at and see something embroidered in gold thread.

Darian’s Alice.

He’s making this too real for me. He’s forcing me to face a reality in which someone cares about me. I don’t understand. I’m scared to understand.

I look at him, a pang in my chest. "Darian, why are you doing this?"

"What do you mean?"

"I—My friends told me not to look a gift horse in the mouth, but if you figured out where I live, then you must’ve looked me up in the registry. You know the truth. Why are you still interested in me?"

He’s about to say something when I hear someone call out my name. My entire body turns stiff as a board.

Turning my head to the left, I see a familiar face approaching us. She’s not alone. Willow is dressed in a beautiful gold dress, and right behind her is her father, Thomas.

The beta looks shocked when his eyes land on my date. The first thing he does upon reaching us is to greet Darian, much to my surprise. "Your—"

My date holds up his hand, a warning look in his eyes. "Stop. I’m here with somebody."

Thomas’s eyes settle on me, and I see the barely restrained anger and disgust in them. I’ve seen him mad before, but never like this. It looks like he wants to skin me alive.

I shrink away from him, knowing he is capable of doing just that. My companion notices my fear, and he growls. "Why are you scared of him, Alice?"

Thomas immediately smooths out his expression. "Alice is a member of my pack. She has no reason to be scared of me. Right, Alice?"

His eyes dare me to say a word.

I shake my head, a wooden movement.

"A member of your pack?" Darian sneers. "Then why did I come across her so badly wounded the other day? Someone had beaten her to a pulp. Is this what is done to your pack members?"

"Alice must have picked a fight with someone," Willow titters, covering her mouth to hide her smirk. "She does that a lot. She’s a little uncouth. Always getting in trouble."

"That’s not how it looked to me," Darian says darkly. "It looked more like she had been used as a punching bag by someone. It’s a pity she’s not talking; I guess I’ll have to investigate the matter myself."

When Thomas freezes, I wonder about Darian’s identity. Who is he that even the beta of a pack is scared of him?

"Alice?" Willow’s voice is sweet but dripping with contempt. "What are you doing in a place like this, anyway?"

"She’s my date." Darian gives her a cool look. "And who are you?"

Willow focuses on Darian as if assessing him, and when I see the interest in her eyes, my heart sinks. If she expresses her interest to her father, Thomas is going to make sure I stay away from Darian. "I’m Willow Elvin. My father is the beta of the Moonlight Pack. And you are?"

A female indicating her father’s identity like this is usually a surefire way of seizing the interest of a male. After all, she has just told him that she has power and backing.

But Darian doesn’t look impressed, much to Willow’s annoyance.

"None of your business." My date looks irritated now. "If you’re done interrupting us, you can leave."

His arrogance shocks me, and to my surprise, Thomas puts his hand on his daughter’s shoulder. "Let’s go, Willow."

Willow shakes off her father’s hand. "I just want to know how they even let Alice in here. Look at the clothes she’s wearing, Father. Alice, dear, if you didn’t know how to dress for a place like this, you could’ve told me. I would’ve helped you."

My cheeks grow hot, and she continues. "You don’t have to embarrass your friend, Alice. That’s so distasteful. I would have shared any of my old dresses with you, if you had just asked me." She looks at Darian, her exquisite features twisted into a pout. "She doesn’t pay attention to herself. I’m so sorry for my friend. She just doesn’t understand her surroundings. She’s an orphan, you see. There was no one to raise her and give her proper values."

"If your father is the beta of the pack," Darian counters, his eyes sparking, "then it was his responsibility to teach her what you think is lacking."

Thomas’s face turns red, but my date is not finished. "It seems to me that you’re the one who is being distasteful. We are trying to enjoy our evening together, and you keep forcing your way in. I think it’s time you leave."

The flash of anger in Willow’s eyes has me swallowing. She’s going to make sure I pay for this humiliation.

I want to tell Darian to stop, but I can’t find my voice. If I were ever truly scared of anyone, it’s Thomas.

Thomas gives me one last look, which promises retribution, before saying, "I have to be somewhere. It was nice seeing the two of you. Come along, Willow."

He drags his daughter away, and I tremble.

Darian looks at me, his brow furrowed. "What’s wrong?"

I shake my head, trying to calm down. "He’s going to kill me," I finally whisper. "You shouldn’t have said anything to him. What have you done, Darian?"

I’m so terrified that I can’t even feel my legs. If I could, I would walk out of this place and run home to pack my bags and leave right now. Forget the mating gathering and the consequences of not attending. I don’t want to face the punishment that Thomas will have planned for me tonight.

Darian gives me an uncomprehending look, and then, as realization settles on his face, he gets to his feet, rage in his eyes. "It was him? He did that to you?!"

I can see the bloodthirst in his eyes, and I grab his wrist, pulling him down before he makes a scene. "Stop. Please. Don’t make things harder for me."

"Be honest with me. Is the beta of your pack responsible for your injuries that day?" His voice is harsh.

"His daughter isn’t my biggest fan," I admit. "She and I don’t see eye to eye, and he doesn’t like it when Willow is unhappy."

"How long has this been going on? Does your pack alpha know?"

I wet my lips, feeling on edge. "Everybody knows, Darian. I don’t want to talk about this. Just leave it." I can’t control the way my hands are shaking in fear. "You shouldn’t have spoken to him that way. He’s going to punish me for it. And Willow wasn’t all too pleased with your snubs. She’s—" I sigh. "Forget it. I knew I shouldn’t have stayed for the mating gathering.

I’m going to leave tonight. I can’t risk Thomas coming after me again."

Darian lets out a soft growl and gets to his feet, wrapping one hand around my wrist and picking up my belongings with his other hand. "Let’s go."

"What are you doing?" I ask as he pulls me behind him, walking out of the restaurant. "What about dinner?"

"Forget that. I want to know what’s been going on with you."

The car that brought me here turns on its headlights. It’s parked across the road, but when Darian motions with the hand that is holding my things, the driver gets out, comes over, and takes them from him.

"Get the food packed, Jimmy. Alice and I are going somewhere else."

The driver, Jimmy, looks between the two of us before nodding. "Alright."

Darian leads me down the street for several blocks until we reach a small coffee shop. "Go take a seat."

His voice is authoritatively sharp, and instinct tells me to obey.

He looks furious. However, it’s strange that the angrier he looks, the safer I feel. Nobody has ever been angry on my behalf before. They’ve pitied me, yes. I’ve gotten sympathy. But anger at the treatment I face? Never.

Even Edith and Mary have never expressed this emotion. I can understand why. Wolf shifters look down on the weak. That’s why it’s very surprising to me that Darian is still choosing to be with me. It doesn’t make sense to me, but I don’t want to dig too deep.

As I find a spot for us at the back of the café, I see one of the servers approach each of the tables where customers are seated. He speaks to them softly, and they all get up and start to leave.

I get to my feet, too, but the server shakes his head at me. "Please, sit."

Confused, I look over at the counter where Darian is standing, a black card in his hand. I notice the server flip the "open" sign on the door to "closed." The whole place is empty now, and Darian finally joins me.

"What are you doing now?" I ask warily.

"Giving us a private setting to talk," he tells me, his voice steady but anger still lingering in it. "I ordered us some sandwiches. Now, talk. Why has the beta of your pack been abusing you?"

This is a perfect time to discuss my lack of wolf spirit. Darian already knows about it, but I should still say it out loud so he hears it from me. But I don’t want to. It’s the elephant in the room, but I don’t want to touch it.

What if he changes his mind after I say the words out loud? What if he decides to agree with Willow and Thomas and every other member of my pack?

"Willow has never liked me. And as I told you, her father dotes on her." I mention a few incidents but deliberately keep everything vague. "Darian, don’t cause trouble. I’m leaving. I would rather go in one piece. I don’t want to give Thomas any more reasons to hurt me."

"He’s not going to hurt you. If he knows what’s good for him, he won’t so much as look at you," Darian growls. "And what was that nonsense about not going to the mating gathering? You have to come. I will be there."

"If you think Thomas is going to let this slide," I mutter, my mouth dry, "you don’t know him. I’m not a coward, Darian. I can stand up for myself. But when people are stronger than you, and of a higher status, it doesn’t matter what you do. No matter how much you fight back, you will always be the one getting hurt. Getting injured. I’m tired of the constant humiliation. I want out."

"Running away isn’t going to solve anything," Darian insists. "You’re not understanding. Come to the gathering. Even if the fates don’t bind us, I will still choose you. You have no reason to doubt me. You don’t have to run away. You can choose me. Nothing will happen to you as long as I’m around. I won’t let you down, Alice."

I stare at him, my heart pounding in apprehension. "What if you find your fated mate? What then?"

He’s silent, and then he smiles at me. "I don’t see that happening. And besides, I would rather be with you. You’re interesting, and I know that being with you is going to make me happy."

"How can you say that for sure when you’ve only spent such a brief amount of time with me?"

He doesn’t get irritated at my constant reluctance. Instead, he reaches out, takes my hand, and presses his lips against my fingers. "I just know. You need to have some faith in me. Come to the mating gathering. In the meantime, I’ll make sure nobody so much as touches you. That’s my responsibility and my promise to you."

"Who are you?" I finally ask, hesitantly. "Why was Thomas scared of you? You said you work in the royal palace. What is your designation?"

Darian looks delighted. "You never looked me up?"

"Should I have?"

His grin broadens. "Don’t look me up. I would rather surprise you. I do work in the royal palace. And if Thomas knows what’s good for him, he’ll stay away from you." He kisses me intently. "I’ve never felt this way before, Alice. I don’t know if this is love or whether I believe in love at first sight, but that’s how I feel when I see you. When you’re near me, it feels like the whole world has stopped. I can only see you. Don’t take my words lightly. I never say what I don’t mean."

"I—" His words have overwhelmed me, and I feel flustered. "I’m not a romantic, Darian. I don’t want to get hurt. There’s a reason why nobody has ever wanted me. What if you change your mind?"

His smile is wicked and sincere at the same time. "I will never change my mind. You don’t have to worry about that. As long as you promise to be mine."

This is all moving too fast. I should be pumping the brakes, but I can’t seem to do that. It’s like I’m falling into a rabbit hole, and Darian is dragging me farther down. Common sense is going out the window. I want to believe him. I want to place my faith in him.

Maybe Mary and Sam were right. Maybe meeting Darian was fate.