THE ALPHA'S MARRIAGE OF DECEPTION

Chapter 1.

James POV.

I watched with excitement as I sat next to my father, the king and alpha of Crescent pack. It was elders meetings, the most important gathering in Alpha Crescent pack.This takes place once in every five years.

It's an event only for the elites. People who take strategic positions in the crescent moon pack. where diverse issues from economy, to welfare and other sectors are raised.

This alone prides Crescent packs far above every other pack.

Wines and different delicacies were served. Likewise the best musicians and dancers were hired to do their own justice to this memorable occasion.

As I pay keen attention to how diverse issues were raised and how my father used his knowledgeable position to bring up solutions to some of these issues, others were thrown into the gatherings for the elders to add their inputs.

Then someone yelled from the gathering.

"Long live our king!"

Head turned.

I frowned.

It was Elder Cedric.

He wobbled up his tired feet towards the stage. A wine glass swinging in one hand and his other hand were reaching out as if the walls were moving. The stench of alcohol overwhelmed him like a dark cloud.

"Long live the king." The congregation replied. Some with a loud voice, others with tired sighs.

My father is not the type that is snubbing,regardless of how stupid or great your idea is.

He always warned us severally saying 'give the stupidest person his chance to speak,the greatest things in life sometimes come from stupidest ideas or people.'

Father instructed the MC to hand-over the mic to him,at least to magnify his voice.I could hear hysterical laughter from a section of the crowd making jest of what he was about to say.

"Not again, Cedric. Please not again this afternoon." This was the mockery low-tone voice from a robust woman in a reddish gown to another slim lady sitting besides her.

I caught her eye-roll. Likewise, few people in the room.

Everybody knew he was drunk and hardly will there be anything worthwhile or sensible coming from him.

"My name is Elder Cedric,and I am the minister of the transportation sector." He stated as he belched out gasses of alcohol into the air. He staggered at the same spot trying to gain balance.

"My Lord, I may be partly intoxicated but am not stupid." He voiced out shamelessly.

The whole room exploded into laughter. While a section of the audience were Bronx-cheering him.

I could hear a lady quietly saying, "He always makes a mess of himself when he drinks, I hope the king wouldn't give him an audience."

"Decorum please!" One of the guards ordered.

"My lord, we have seen astronomical progress made in our pack from your father's reign to yours, in the area of science and technology, education, and other aspects of life that can add value to human existence."He stated.

"Hardly in the past has anything worth cherishing associated with Crescent pack. But thanks to the immense intelligence that had been bestowed on you by the divine goddess."

As silence reigned in the room, I re-adjusted my chair.

It seemed Elder Cedric's utterances, for once, were tilting from sheer stupidity to something worth pondering on for the first in a long while, maybe his alcohol consumption has not hit the threshold of stupidity in him, I guess while he is still talking with sense.

"I can boldly say we favorably compete and out beat other packs based on our recent achievement in the sectors I have earlier mentioned," he continued.

"So what is your input in all of these? It seems we don't have much time in our hands before we move to other items on the menu," my father interjected, while intermittently gazing at his wristwatch to check the time.

"However, here is my suggestion, my lord. We need to start planning for the future.

The Crescent pack needs a worthy successor to your throne left behind by your ancestors."

Everybody knows the worthy successor, your son, Alpha James, we have seen him grow up with uncommon knowledge and understanding, and without sugar-coating it, you have really raised him well." He added.

"But he is mateless!" A baritone voice from the crowd countered.

I furrowed my brow, my eyes opened in bewilderment from where I sat, contemplating the next action from these people, these filthy old rags called elders.Their thoughts and actions totally negates my perspective,aspirations and plans for the future.

Who told them I am mateless? The love of my life is Sophia. They all will be shocked when we announce our baby.

We have been together for quite some time. I used to constantly promise her, the only thing that can bring separation to us in this life of sin is death.

Not even these filthy old rags deliberating on our future. My demeanor changes from friendly to threat and hate.

In one instance, I felt like charging towards elder Cedric In rage, thrust a sword into his protruding belly and severed his bald head from the rest of his body.

"I know he is mateless, peradventure if there is any, I personally am not aware of it. This is the area we need to be very careful of. If truly we are deliberate in taking the right steps that will make our tomorrow better than today." He suggested.

"So what are your suggestions for the future?" My father inquired.

I turned sharply towards him.

Seriously Father?

Why would you have to pitch a tent with these people in a sensitive matter of this nature?

The magnitude of respect I have for you in tackling fragile issues like this, is out of this world, but you are condescending to this drunkard level.

Why can't you instruct him to go and have his seat, and inform him that these sensitive issues will be revisited in the next subsequent meeting of the elders, after due consultation with the subject-which is myself- have been duly conducted?

"Thank you my Lord," Elder Cedric uttered with a bow, "may your days be long, may the goddess of our land continue to bestow upon you the knowledge and requisite you need to govern us right for uncommon growth, prosperity and progress in this pack..." He replied this time pacing to and fro on the podium.

"Elder Cedric, please be kind enough to go straight to the point,we have limited time at hand to address other pertinent issues, but I believe the point you are trying to raise is very germaine." My father countered.

"Sorry my Lord, I am suggesting Elder Alexander's daughter, Evren, is the perfect person."

Chapter 2

James POV.

"What the f..!" The word escaped from my lips before I could catch it.

My eyes flew wide open, for a second, it felt like someone launched a fist in my stomach .

Thick saliva gathered at my throat. I couldn't gather enough strength to push it down my dry gullet.

"Yes Evren my Lord," Elder Cedric said proudly, " he's the perfect mate and future Luna for our young Alpha James."

"Evren??? That's the last straw! Father stop them, please don't let them do this..." I murmured and prayed silently from where I was sitting, lowering my head and hiding my panicked face from the public.

Voices filled the room. A few elders' nodded. Some whispered to each other smiling, like they had just won a lottery.

Elder Cedric kept going, puffing his chest. "Everyone knows the impact of Evren from the area of education, to business, to health and and even charity organizations which has not only influenced the lives of people in crescent packs, but other packs across the world."

I watched as he raised his hand dramatically, "My Lord, if this is about me,I would have put-in my daughters for this, after all, everyone in this hall knows that I have three mature daughters ready for marriage."

He paused, smirking.

Then he declared shamelessly.

"But none of my daughters' feet could fit into this shoe."

I almost vomited.

"We can't afford to make a mistake of choosing a weak Omega as a mate for young Alpha James, If we are to build on our success and to look into the future that our tomorrow will be brighter than our today."

My heart sank. I quickly observed my father. He wasn't shouting. Neither protesting.

He was pouting. He was nodding head. Slightly. Slowly. My own father.

I started blaming myself. Who even asked me to accompany my father to this devilish meeting in this place.

I should have directed my coming here to something important. But will father allow me? My answer is as good as NO. He always wants me to get adequate knowledge on how he runs the pack.

My father finally spoke. "If you all agree with this, kindly raise up your hand."

I could see everyone, including those people who were mocking Elder Cedric a few moments ago, raising their hands in the air.

How people change fast.

At this point I knew my fate was sealed, signed and delivered. Nothing I could do to salvage the inevitable.

"To Elder Alexander..." My father pointed to a man from where he was sitting.

Evren's father.

A bald headed man with gray hair and in his late fifties. A very prominent elder in the pack too with his regalia screaming of politics.

"Do you agree with this proposition?"

Laughter plastered on his face as If It's a lifetime opportunity he had been waiting for.

"My lord," he said, his voice slick with fake respect. "Who am I to say no when the king comes for a bride?"

He stretched his arm wide in the air. "You have me, my entire household and everything I labored for."

He finished with a bow, "I am the most favored to be honored as an in-law to my king."

Intense laughter reigned throughout the room. I looked at him with intense rage.

"Big fool!" The words flew out of my lips. My saving grace was the unceasing noise and chattering from the background that covered my voice.

I had to put-up courage and ushered my legs out of this demonic place.

I knew sitting a minute in the midst of people who know nothing about me and having the gut to deliberate on my future, will not only infuriate me further but may get to the level of leaving a few dead bodies behind.

To worsen it, if my father could ask Elder Alexander for his permission? How come he couldn't ask me?

That utter selfishness and wickedness too. It means my father, the one I primed as a role model to me, prioritizes Crescent packs far above my happiness?

"Send a message to your daughter, Elder Alexander, the wedding of the union will take place tomorrow." My father commanded.

Tomorrow?

Just like that?

The room erupted with celebration. Cheers. Back-pats

It's like I was kept in an oven of hundreds of degrees Celsius, struggling for my breath. Intense hate is what I perspire. As I observe my enemies chorusing a song of victory. This is a well-plotted move and they should enjoy the victory while it lasts.

I couldn't withstand the razzmatazz taking place in front of me again. I courageously walk up to my father on my way out, while he speaks into the ear of one of the guards to pass instructions.

"Can you please spare me a few moments father? I will be in your office waiting." I asked, my voice shaking.

Was it a command? I can't even say, all I want is that few minutes, at least the last time I checked he is still my father.

He raised his index finger into the air for me to spare him, few minutes. I couldn't wait, I marched quickly into his office.

Immediately the second door closed behind me. I grabbed a bottle of vodka and a cup containing a small quantity of vodka. I tossed the content aside.

I poured myself a fresh quantity, full this time, gulped it down my throat, my Adam's apple bulged in and out as it flowed ceaselessly with hate down through my throat. The hair on my skin tingles, and brace up for the challenges ahead.

I stood there, the glass cup brazenly held in my hand when the door creaked open.

He walked slowly as if nothing happened.

"Father! Can you please explain to me what just happened there." I uttered with intense fury pointing to the doorway, will I stand in front of him?

My father walked past me to locate a seat , while he poured a handful of brandy into an empty cup to take a sip.

"You were deliberating my life with some group of dipsomaniacs and not even consulting me, your son? Not considering my compatibility with this so-called person. And who told you I'm not in love...

"Enough!" My father voiced out . It thundered through the room like a tremor determined to uproot the building from its roots. Everyone knows him with such a voice, he only uses it when he means business.

I almost peed in my pants. His thundered voice almost threw me off balance.

"Define love?" He said flatly.

"What?" I blinked.

"Define love?" He repeated, "Go ahead."

I opened my mouth. Then shut it.

I waited for a few seconds.

When he asks these trivial but simple questions, you should clearly know what he is driving at.

"Huh..." I tried to find an exact answer to this simple but trivial question.

"You see, you can't even help yourself out with this simple question." He countered.

"Love is fantasy, son. you know love truly is? It is the possession of power, status, influence and materialism."

My eyes widened. Who is this man? Is this truly my father? What has he turned to? Or who has turned him to this?

"Your mother wouldn't have loved me if I didn't have something substantial to put on the table. She wasn't my fated mate."

"What are you trying to say father? You mean, I should marry a stranger, someone I don't know a jack about? Someone I'm oblivious of her taste, philosophy and even love language?"

"Leave that one son, I married your mother without knowing any of these you listed and we have been happy ever since?"

"Father, I will never be part of this!"

"You will, son!" He uttered solemnly.

He stood from where he sat, re-arranged his regalia and approached the door.

"Let me tell you that your wedding is taking place tonight, exactly nine pm. The elders assumed that it would be memorable to combine the ceremony with our annual meeting, since all our guests come from far places. This wasn't my decision, it was the decision from one of the elders immediately after you took your leave."

Chapter 3

James POV.

"Father!" I cried out, " have I offended you in anyways?"

"Not at all, son, everything is about your future and the future of this great pack. So prep-up, the maids will be on their way."

He slammed the door. The fading away of his footsteps drove me mad.

I took the martini bottle and smashed it against the wall in anger. So intense that it attracted a concerned maid.

"I hope all is well, Alpha James?"

"Did I call you? Or did i tell you that all is not well with me, so get the fuck out of here!" I melted out my frustrations on the innocent lady.

"I am sorry my alpha." She replied by quickly shutting the door.

I scratched my head in frustration, wondering what to do next.

'Elope. James you need to elope. You need to elope with the love of your life. You need to elope now!' A tender voice instructed me.

These people think they can control your life like a video game console? Then you need to show them the stuff you are made up of.

I checked the time. I still have roughly five hours left for their ill-fated wedding. Not in this life will I be part of this shame.

To get to Sophia's place wouldn't take me more than an hour. Thankfully I have the keys to her apartment. An hour later we should be on the road out of this prison. We wouldn't take any luggage to prevent any suspicion.

I picked up my black card, the most important item in this life of sin to me now . I had to tip one of the drivers to help me with a car, parked a few kilometers away from the palace.

A few hours later, I was at Sophia's place. I do not have to move the car into her garage. I picked up her apartment keys from my car safe box. I knew she would still be at work by now.

My mind had been occupied by the event that had taken place at the palace and what lies ahead after we leave this pack. I thrust the key into the keyhole and I pressed the knob. I opened the door absentmindedly.

"What?" the word barely came out of my mouth.

Sophia gasped. Her hand flew around chest, trying to cover herself with the bedsheets.

She looked pale, shaking. Her voice was messy and crashing into each other.

"My alpha James!" She uttered.

She and a rogue wolf stood up from the bed to get the bed sheet to cover their nakedness.

"Can someone explain to me what is going on here?" I uttered with confusion my eyes darting to and fro around them like a pendulum.

Sophia's lover faced the wall like a scared little pup.

I yelled, "Turn around now!"

He did.

I felt like the floor disappeared beneath me. It was David, my formed chauffeur. Chewing my woman.

I could see her undies and that of her lover's boxer, scattered on the floor.

"So is this what you have been up to Sophia?"

"No, I can explain?"

"What explanation?" I fired back.

The room became tense like never before. Intense Sweat had been palpitating on my forehead.

Sophia was about to move closer to me.

"If you move an inch closer, it would be the greatest mistake you have ever thought of." I uttered with fury, my blood began to boil.

The other guy was jiltering at the corner close to the bed.

"It was not my fault, I have called you severally about the issue of your performance in bed, but you have refused to do something about it. I crave for sex a lot and you are not just available..."

"Shut your trap Sophia, you bloody harlot! Is that the reason you have been sleeping with this trash? My former-chauffeur?"

Pointing to him aggressively he still shakes at the corner of the room.

"And you, when have you been fucking her?" I asked point-blankly.

"I am so sorry sir..." He stuttered with words.

"You have not answered my question." I fired back in rage.

I said, "since when have you guys been seeing each other?

"Around that last year sir."

Sarah quickly interrupted, "it's a lie. He is lying, get the hell out of my room."

"Shhh... how many times do I need to tell you that you should stop interrupting me, I won't repeat myself anymore."

"Which means, you are the owner of this too." Pointing to Sarah's belly from where I stood.

He nodded yes and faced the ground.

My gaze returned to Sophia, "never in your life do I want to have anything to do with you again."

"Pls I can explain my Alpha."

I stomped out of the room in anger while she followed me, she had looked for ways to put on her crop-top and bum-shot to cover her shamelessness.

I promise this won't repeat itself again, Alpha James." Sophia uttered while pleading with me until I got into my car.

At this moment people have been gathering and this is what I detest most. Can you imagine breaking up with a woman now and seeing your face on the front page of the morning tabloid the following day as a newly wedded couple to an entirely different woman? That is too ironic.

I yanked off her hand, I slammed the door and I sped off. Sophia doesn't deserve me. I had to leave the lies, betrayal and fake love we have behind. I have to love myself. I have to stick with the elders' and my father's plan for me.

My father has always been right when he takes this kind of stance. I have to love my Luna with everything in me and everything I have and everything it takes for my marriage to work.

Afterall I don't even know Evren closely. Everything I have heard about her attitude were just rumors.

Elder Alexander POV.

"Brilliant, I never knew that you were such a good actor, look at the way you perfectly play your role. The idiot took it hook, line and sinker, likewise everyone." I slapped Elder Cedric shoulder and hugged him for a job well done.

"I have been acting since I was little, just never took it as a passion, when the stakes are very high like this I have to recall my passion." Elder Cedric smirked. While they both busted into laughter.

"But, how do you manage to convince your daughter, Evren?" He questioned with curiosity.

"Do you think Evren is ready for this? I do not think She is ready to condescend to this level, not to talk of any pack politics?" I uttered.

Elder Cedric's eyes opened in bewilderment, "so what are we doing now, because we only have a few hours to the wedding? I wouldn't be part of this if this is how you are going to mess me up. I thought Evren had agreed to the union, I never knew that this is the story you will be coming up with. And you know the repercussions if..."

"Enough Cedric!" I bellowed while my laughter suddenly transformed into intense anger.

"I have it under control. Just concentrate. Just focus." I commanded.

I reached for my phone in my pocket, and commanded, "bring in the package with you."

A fraction of seconds later, she was brought in. She was enveloped in blue clothing and black veil.

"Get this out of her?" I bellowed with anger, don't you guys know that she is an important asset to this mission?"

Immediately, the veil was uncovered? The lady was partially naked only with a bra and pants.

She quickly uttered,"father" and was about closing the distance for a hug. I quickly raised my hands to stop her on her track, "Don't father me!"

Elder Cedric quickly cut-in when he sighted the person in front of us.

"What have you done to Evren? Why did you have to go this far to subdue your daughter to this level? Your only daughter, Alexander. This clearly shows your desperation. But..."

"You talk too much, Elder Cedric!" I quickly cut-in and fired back in rage, sending a note of warning to his unguided tongue.

"This is Evelyn and not Evren." I uttered.

Elder Cedric's eyes felt like bulging out of his eye socket in shock.

"So, Evren had a twin sister?" Elder Cedric uttered in confusion.

"Tend her up, we are running late for the wedding!" I instructed the guards.