Chapter 38
Two Alpha Men and a Player
JESSICA
The team set up the first two introductions of the day in the gazebo.
They decorated the structure beautifully.
I can see the tea plantation from here as well as the garden.
I scan the area, appreciating the view. Hanging from a low-lying branch of a jacaranda tree is a swing.
Everyone is busy. I’m sure they won’t miss me for a few minutes.
I race across the garden. The luxury of meeting the men during the day means I wear a light sundress and simple sandals.
Feeling giddy, like a little girl who discovered treasure for the first time, I run up and admire it for a few seconds.
It’s new. Someone just put it here. Dusting off the seat, I perch on it.
When I’m confident that it will hold, I push myself off, swinging my legs back and forth.
I fly higher and higher toward the clouds.
I close my eyes and enjoy the breeze through my hair.
For just a moment, I pretend that I’m free, without a care in the world. Nothing else exists.
“Now that is a beautiful sight.”
My eyes snap open. I propel out of the swing and land on the man in front of me. We tumble to the ground in a tangled mess of arms and legs. With the momentum of my air attack, the strange man lands on top of me. I can’t see anything but my hair—no, not my hair. His hair blocks my vision.
I lift my right arm to remove the obstruction, but he pins it to the ground. His lips pucker and loom closer to my face. Cocking my left arm back, I punch him in the eye. Catching him off guard, I lift my knee, nailing him straight in the groin, and push him off me.
“What the hell is wrong with you!” I yell, shuffling to my feet.
A throat clears a few feet off to my side.
Turning my head toward the sound, Christian stands there with his camera hoisted on his shoulder.
The sound guy holds the boom mic with a look of surprise.
Holden’s mouth hangs open, his cue cards dangling from his hands.
Raucous laughter rings through the still air from the opposite side of me. Slowly, I turn toward the twins. Jeremy is bent at the waist, slapping his knee. Justin turns red, one arm across his stomach and the other on Jeremy’s back.
I frown. “What the hell is so funny?” I look back at Holden, who regains his composure. He gestures to the man on the ground, who is holding his eye with one hand and his balls with the other.
“Meet contestant number seventeen, Terrell Beck of the Emerald Pack.” Holden stares at his cards, flipping them over to verify the name. “No title. Just Terrell Beck.”
My gaze falls back to the man, howling and moaning in pain. Color drains from my face. Shit! I just assaulted one of the contestants.
“Will you two knock it off!” I hiss at the twins.
I crouch down near Terrell, resting my hand on his arm.
“Hey,” I say gently. Wow, this guy is big.
Either he’s acting overly dramatic for the camera, or he’s a big pansy.
Seriously, I can take more hits than this guy.
Rubbing his shoulder, I add, “I’m so sorry.
I thought I was alone, and you really scared me,” I tell him in the most soft and soothing tone I can muster.
He doesn’t acknowledge me, continuing to roll from side to side and groan. Oh, Goddess, who the hell is this guy? I glare at Justin and Jeremy to stop laughing and help me.
Stifling his laughter, Jeremy explains, “Terrell Beck plays professional football in the Northern A territory. He used to work on the dairy during school breaks and while he was waiting for his draft call.”
I shrug. A professional football player, really? I coo and make what I think are soothing noises. He finally sits up, propping himself up with his arm.
Justin adds, “We almost kicked his ass for telling everyone in the territory that he made out with you in the stables.” Slapping my free hand over my mouth in horror, I remember exactly who he is. Well, I know his name. I never met the guy face-to-face, until now.
“Hey. Hi,” I offer, wincing when I look at his right eye, which is swollen shut and starting to bruise. I run my hand down the side of his face. “I’m so sorry,” I repeat.
He grimaces. “Not use to… getting hit without padding. Can’t imagine what you must think of me.”
“Awww, no. I just hit you in the sweet spot,” I counter, with chagrin. We sit there for a while, and I continue to rub his back and give false reassurances that I am excited to finally meet him. His pouting and carrying on eventually grate on my nerves, but I maintain my composure for the cameras.
Shortly after, some of the production team arrive in a four-seat gator. Sodie is among them, and he bounds out of the vehicle and bends over Terrell to check on him. Sodie flexes his jaw to keep from laughing and winks at me, while helping the big guy into the gator.
Carmen holds a walkie-talkie to her face. Rolling her eyes, she bites, “This is going to be a long day.”
When we move back to the gazebo, I see my parents. Walking up to my father, I say, “I thought it was supposed to be all Alphas.”
Shrugging, he replies, “We didn’t choose him. From what I hear, his agent insisted that he wanted an opportunity to be in the lineup for a second chance at love.”
Second chance? There wasn’t a first one. I keep that part to myself.
“It couldn’t hurt. If you do choose him, well, you are already a part of the Emerald Pack.”
I understand his logic. If I choose Terrell, we will merge our packs together.
The guards could come together again, and I would have his support as Alpha and his continued protection.
It would benefit both packs as well as the entire LS territory.
With all the land from the seventh territory, we could expand the dairy and some of the farms. Heck, we could build a second city, bringing in more jobs and income for the smaller packs. The possibilities are endless.
On the flip side, I remember Terrell jumping through the window of his friend’s car, when the guards scared him away.
He acted cowardly. And just now, I had to stroke his ego and coddle him.
I don’t think I can handle that kind of a man in my life.
I don’t have the patience. It’s unfortunate, though, because our union would produce so many benefits for our people.
I guess if it came down to it, I would view it as a business partnership.
He chuckles. “I can see the wheels turning in that head of yours. Don’t sell yourself short just yet. There are more men for you to meet.”
“Don’t wander around unless instructed,” Carmen lectures. “The next contestant is on his way and should arrive shortly.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I give her a mocking salute and a flashy smile.
She scoffs and moves to the side. Another gator approaches the gazebo, but I can’t see who is inside. “Why can’t they all just show up at one time and tell me who they are in roll-call style? I can get to know them at the meet-and-greet gathering.”
“Then, the show would be boring. Come on, Jess. The day just started, and you already kicked it off beautifully,” Justin jests.
“Not a big fan of Terrell Beck, huh?”
“Not in the slightest. I would rather see you with one of the old Alphas than him.”
“Noted.” I cross my eyes and stick my tongue out at Justin and then turn my attention to the man making his way to the gazebo.
I cock my head as I immediately recognize him—a tall and lean frame with hints of silver in his hair.
He is older, but unlike the other gentlemen I met last night, he looks more distinguished.
“Judge Alpha Sam Harrison, from the Luna Solar Territory,” Holden announces.
Sam, or rather Judge Harrison, and I met before. “It is a pleasure to see you again, Judge Harrison.” This time, I mean it. He always held a special place in my heart.
He rests his hand over mine and presses it to his cheek. “The pleasure is mine, Alpha Princess.” Gently squeezing my hand, he winks. “Oh! I was so captivated by your presence, I forgot to give this to you.” He reaches into his pocket and retrieves a small gift box.
I lean forward, and he reveals a charm in the shape of a tiny gavel.
“I love it. Thank you.” I hug him and kiss his cheek.
As he bids his farewell, I notice a ring on his right hand.
He’s wearing a guard ring. I watch him greet my family.
He is cordial with the twins and respectful to my parents.
Anders slaps his shoulder in a familiar greeting.
Joe reaches for the gift box in my hands. “He was one of us,” Joe says. “A rogue.” How does a rogue become an Alpha?
“Jessica, we’re going to the garden for this next introduction,” Carmen instructs as the gator transports Judge Harrison back to the castle.
I thought I was only meeting two men, but given that the first one was a disaster, I suspect Carmen added another at the last minute.
I just want this over, so I don’t question her.
Nodding my head like a good Princess, I follow the team.
The garden is stunning up close. I can’t believe this is mine.
The air fills with a mixture of a sweet, floral essence.
Butterflies flitter from one area to the next.
Roses of different varieties, jasmine, gardenias, honeysuckle, and lavender, commingle throughout the garden.
A water fountain portrays a woman with long hair and a dress flowing around her, hands cupping a large quartz sphere.
Water swirls around her, giving the illusion of a rainstorm.
“Do you like it?” Jeremy asks at my side.
“I love it! How did you manage this on such short notice?” I’m amazed by the wonderful garden.
He smiles. “I know a guy.” Is he talking about Luke?
I’m not sure I want to know. I doubt Luke would come here and set up the garden, just for me.
Not with the way things ended. “Didn’t take much.
Most of it was already here, just overgrown and lying dormant.
The fountain was here, too. Luckily, the McLoughlin Construction crew had someone who specializes in restoring them. ”
“Thank you. This is amazing, Jeremy.” I sit on the concrete bench near the fountain.
A sense of peace overwhelms me. I can see myself here in the future reading a book.
Then, longing hits. I wish I could listen to children’s laughter, tiny feet dancing in the dirt, tiny hands reaching for butterflies. My heart aches.
“Here.” Jeremy holds out his hand and places a coin in my palm. I turn it over, examining it. It’s old. I’ve never seen one like it before.
“Make a wish,” Jeremy urges, tipping his head toward the fountain.
“With this? But this looks like a collector’s coin.”
“Nah. The man who fixed the fountain found it stuck in one of the pipes. I think it was meant to stay with the fountain. Go on. Make your wish.”
I give him a sad smile. I stand in front of the fountain and study the statue.
She looks like a Goddess. Can you make wishes come true?
Wishes are sometimes just wishes. I close my eyes, holding the coin close to my heart.
I wished for so many things throughout my life.
The one thing I truly want isn’t just for me but for everyone in my life—family, friends, my pack.
I want a future where we don’t have to hide who we truly are, where love is not cursed, and where magic exists freely without recourse.
I wish for confidence, aggressiveness, adaptability, and calmness to take down the Resistance once and for all.
Then and only then can we have a future here in the LS.
Opening my heart and pouring my wish into the coin, I flip it in the air, opening my eyes when I hear the splash of the water.
“I hope all your wishes come true,” a deep voice says behind me. Slowly, I spin around, learning my lesson from the first contestant.
The sun glows behind him. His frame is tall and broad. He has a square jaw and chestnut-colored hair. His profile and his energy seem familiar. He moves closer, and his eyes shine like gold from the sunlight.
My mouth falls open in surprise. It’s him.