Her Arranged Alpha (Honeycomb Valley Alphas #4)

Chapter 1 - Maddox

I stood proud as I waited for the results to come out of Katie's machine. Katie leaned against the table, her white lab coat tightly wrapped around her middle. She tapped her foot, seeming nervous as she glanced at the machine, then back at me.

"You know you didn't have to come down," she said, fiddling her fingers together.

I knew I didn't, but I wanted to. I wanted to know right away if my name was spit out next. I didn't want it to go through the grapevine first.

"And you might not be the next one that gets picked, Maddox. It's random. I have no control over whose name comes out."

I could feel it was my turn. I woke up this morning, and I just knew that I was the next to be mated. I wasn't going to sit and wait; I wanted to be here when it happened.

"I feel it."

Katie made a face. "You said that last time."

"That was a false alarm," I said, tapping my fingers on the table. "I feel it in my bones."

Katie offered a small smile. "That's what you said last time. And the time before that."

I flattened my hands. "That machine is going to spit my name out. Just wait."

Katie chuckled, seeming to relax slightly as she took a seat. She sighed, resting her chin on her hand. "You're eager for this. I don't think any of the other guys have been."

Because I was ready. As much as I enjoyed the attention of every woman when I walked into the room, I was jealous of what the other Alphas had. Even Frank had a loving wife. Frank of all people. To say I was angry that he got someone before I did was putting it kindly.

I waved a hand toward myself. "Look at me. If anyone should have been married first, it's me. I have the looks, the personality, and you're married, but trust me, I could have had you swooning if I wanted."

Katie snorted and rolled her eyes. "Your ego is outstanding, Maddox. I thought my husband had one, but yours is bigger."

I smirked. "You say it like it's a bad thing."

Suddenly, there was a ding, and both of our heads snapped to the machine. My eyes widened as a paper started printing, and I felt my stomach flip, knowing my name was on it. But who else was on it? Who was my perfect mate?

Katie got up and walked over towards it. She ripped the paper free, and her eyebrows went up. "Oh?"

"Oh, what!?" My stomach dipped as my patience seemed to be on its last thread.

She looked at me and then back at the paper. "Well, you were right, you are on here."

"I knew it!" I threw a fist up and smiled. "So, who's my perfect mate? Is it Jessie from the bar? Oh, maybe Lily from the library. Maybe…”

"Stop guessing," she grumbled, shaking her head at me.

"Well, then tell me," I stated, straightening my back. "Who is she?"

She chewed on her cheek and made a face. She folded the paper up and rubbed her hands together. "It's Jillian."

I felt my body tense up. Every fiber in my being seemed to snap on high alert, and Katie noticed.

"Now, Maddox."

"You're fucking kidding me," I growled.

Katie's eyes narrowed, and her arms crossed. "Growl at me again, and I will call my husband here."

I swallowed, knowing I was directing my anger at the wrong person. Katie just read the paper. She had nothing to do with the pairing.

I ran a hand over my face and turned. I shook my head as I started to pace. "No, there is not a chance."

"This isn't up for debate," she said softly. "What's done is done."

"She tried to kill Frank!" I snapped, turning to her. "And she tried to kill your friend, or have you forgotten that?"

Katie made a face, and I could see several emotions flicker in her eyes. But she pulled her lips into a line and straightened her shoulders. "She didn't do that. She was possessed. You can't keep holding that over her."

"I can and I will." I looked outside the window, knowing I was going to reject her. There was no way I was getting with her.

"This isn't up for debate, Maddox."

"I refuse," I said, turning to her. I shook my head. "I won't marry her. I won't love her. I will not mate with her, so you might as well toss that paper away."

She made a face and gave me a sympathetic look. "The results are sent to the Council. Otherwise, trust me, I tried. There is no way to stop it."

I inhaled slowly. The Council would be on my side about this, wouldn't they? They were furious about what happened and didn't even want to let her go. The fact that the machine paired me with her had to be a mistake.

I straightened my back. "Well, either way, this isn't happening."

Katie frowned. "Just a minute ago, you were fine with whoever came out with your name."

"If it had spat out any other name, I would have hopped right on board! But it didn't. It spat her out. Her ! Of all people, Katie."

"Maddox, you are getting all worked up over this. She is innocent. She's done nothing wrong."

"No, she isn't, and the fact you can't see that concerns me."

Katie walked closer to me, her aura shifting as she moved.

"You listen here. My machine doesn't make mistakes.

It's paired up three couples, which, need I remind you, are all happily married and have children.

You are going to need to get over the past and figure this out.

" She shoved the paper against my chest. "Now, go talk with your future wife. "

I grabbed the paper, curling my fingers around it. "Your machine may have paired up three couples, but it didn't pair me up correctly."

She sighed, looking tired. "What do you want me to do about it?"

"Fix it."

She glared. "It's not broken. Maddox, it hasn't made a mistake."

"Well, it did."

She sighed. "Maddox, I have other things that need my attention. Such as figuring out what to do about the darkness. I don't have time for this." She waved her hand at the paper in my hand. "Because frankly, it's not a problem. If you have an issue with this, take it up with the Council."

"Fine, I will."

I turned for the door and yanked it open.

"Maddox."

I paused, looking back at Katie. She had some papers in her hands now, but her eyes looked at me with hardness. "If you hurt her, you will regret it. You guys were made for each other, whether you believe it or not."

"You're saying that because she's your friend and you don't want your friends to be hurt."

Her face remained the same. "Yeah, but also because she's your mate and if you reject her, you're only hurting yourself."

I turned, storming out, and I heard the door slam shut behind me.

I felt pure rage as I walked down the halls, questioning why in the world it would put me with her.

Why Jillian? What did we even have in common?

I knew there were tons of other women out there that I could have been paired with. So, why her?

Once outside, I headed to my car. I ripped the door open and got inside.

I grabbed the steering wheel and froze, wondering what my next steps were going to be.

Would I head to the Council and ask them what they wanted me to do?

Surely, they would side with me. Or should I go and tell her that there was no chance I was going to be with her?

I ran a hand over my face and clenched my jaw. I took a few deep breaths, knowing that there wasn't much I could do about the situation.

But I still had some power, and I could reject her. I could draw a line in the sand. We may be forced to marry, but that didn't mean I had to love her.

I turned my car on and started to drive to the Council building. I didn't know what I was even going to say to her, but I knew I wouldn't accept this. I wasn't just going to agree to being with her, knowing what she was capable of doing. I wasn't going to be the next target.

I headed inside and up the stairs. My hands were curled tightly as I walked, heading straight for the doors. The receptionist got out of her chair. "Maddox! They are in a meeting right now."

I ignored her, shoving the doors open as I stepped inside.

The Council was all seated in their chairs, and someone sat in front of them.

I felt a tug as the person turned, light orange hair fell over her shoulder, and her dark brown eyes stopped on me.

My body seemed to jump on high alert as I stared at Jillian.

Why was she even here? What was the Council doing having a meeting with her? There was no way they knew that she was my mate yet. Katie just got the news, not even ten minutes ago.

"Maddox, we are in the middle of a meeting."

I didn't look away from her. I felt that tug, that need to be near her, and it disgusted me. She may appear innocent, but I didn't believe it.

I walked across the space towards her. Her eyebrows went up, and I took in her face as I got closer. Jillian had freckles and that pale skin to match. She was wearing a deep green dress shirt and a pair of jeans.

"Maddox," Ralph's voice echoed around the space angrily, but I ignored him.

"Jillian, it seems that Katie's machine spat your name out with mine."

Her eyes widened, and her mouth dropped slightly. She looked flabbergasted.

"What?" The entire Council seemed shocked. "How do you know?"

"I just left Katie's lab," I said, not removing my eyes from Jillian.

She was weak. She was a traitor. She might have fooled the others into thinking she could be trusted, but I was not like them. She might have been able to fool others, but I knew what was behind her doe eyes and her innocent expression.

"I won't be accepting you. You can take this as a rejection."

She looked at me like I'd slapped her. I turned my eyes away from her and to the Council. "I'm not marrying her. I'm not mating with her. I'm not touching her."

"Maddox."

"You didn't even want to release her a few weeks ago! So, how the hell can you explain to me that my name was matched with this ?" I waved a hand at Jillian.

Ralph rubbed his face. "Katie's machine is pure truth, Maddox. If what you say is true."

"It is," I snapped, yanking the paper out. "My name and hers."

I turned to Jillian and tossed it onto her lap. "If you want proof."

Jillian uncurled the paper, and her fingers shook as she looked at it.

"This is certainly not what we expected."

"What are you going to do about it?" I asked, crossing my arms.

"You marry her," Paul spoke up, and his voice grated against my skin. I looked at him and Tray, the two Council members I had worked closely with. He couldn't be serious.

"No," I growled.

"Whether you accept her or not, you are mates."

"She's a traitor."

"Jillian has had regular meetings with us and testing with Katie. She is of sound mind."

That didn't tell me she wasn't a traitor. It just meant that she fooled them.

"No."

"You will be married," Ralph said, his eyes drifting between Jillian and me.

"Whether you get along or not is not up to us.

But you will marry. This is part of the human mating operation, and you two are next in line.

Your relationship may be like the others, but you will be married. It is what's best for your pack."

I ground my teeth together, feeling my stomach bottom out. I turned to Jillian, who couldn't even look at me. I rolled my eyes and stormed out. I slammed the door shut behind me as I headed down the hallways and then the stairs.

I felt like my blood was on fire as I stepped outside. The wind helped a little, but not enough. I ran a hand over my face and started to pace.

I needed to clear my head, and the only way I knew that was going to happen was going for a run.

After a few hours of running and trying to figure out what the hell I could do, I knew it was useless.

The Council stated it was to be, and I couldn't fight it.

I was Alpha, and I would do what was needed for my pack.

But just because I agreed to marry her didn't change anything.

I would do what was asked of me, but that was it.

There would be rules and a detailed agreement outlining what I expected from this.

There would be no love. No comfort. Nothing.

Just us sharing a space, which even though it sounded like it was going to be hard.

I could do it, though. We would figure things out, and soon this operation would no longer be needed.

I drove to Frank's pack, trying to iron out the details. I didn't trust her, and I didn't want to wake up with a knife in my back because I let my guard down.

As I got to her house, I remained still for a moment. As angry as I was, I felt a tug to be near her, which only angered me more. I knew that feeling, and I knew what it meant. The guys had given me detailed descriptions of how this felt.

My wolf growled, irritated with me. I knew it was angry since I flat-out told Jillian no and that I wouldn't accept her.

I headed up to her door and knocked. I waited for a moment, but there was no answer. So, I knocked again. I leaned back and stared past the house towards the backyard and into the woods. I sniffed, catching the scent of lemon and citrus.

I remembered that scent in the Council room. I pushed off the railing and headed into the woods. I walked calmly, taking a path that you could tell had been taken more than a few times. Her footsteps were on the ground, and I could smell her strongly as I moved.

The trees got darker, and I knew we were nearing the edge of the wood, the edge of Honeycomb Valley, into another. All the hair on my body rose as I realized she wasn't just out for a walk. She was flat out trying to run away.