Chapter 2. The Proposal

*Maddox*

I hear the word come out of Alpha Ernest’s mouth, watch his gums flap as his fat cheeks shift into a smile, his greasy mustache dancing as he tips his head up and blinks at me.

He’s like a shoddy used car salesman, trying to convince me to take something I don’t want or need.

Something that’s broken and doesn’t even work correctly—something that will never serve its intended purpose.

What he doesn’t know is that I’ve already been considering finding a breeder for the last few months. I just haven’t had the time to try to find a woman who would fit the requirements.

Everything he’s said is true. I certainly don’t ever want to marry again, no matter what. Even thinking about my wife makes my heart tighten up and my eyes begin to water. I have to immediately push her beautiful face from my mind. No, I will not ever take another bride.

That means, in order to have an heir, I have to find a woman who’d be willing to carry my child knowing that there are no strings attached.

That simply cannot happen with any of the women at court. They all want something more.

They all want me.

Finding a woman from one of the other pack lands has always been a possibility, and I’ve had a few Alphas mention their daughters from time to time, but I’ve never wanted to put a loyal Alpha in a position where I’d be using their daughter in such a manner. Whoever carries my child will essentially be unable to ever marry and have a normal life.

What other man would ever want her? Even if she found her fated mate, he’d know that she’d been with me, the Alpha King, and he’d never, ever be able to live up to those standards.

She’d live the rest of her life by herself, discarded and alone.

Who would want that?

Apparently, Alpha Ernest has found someone who won't mind. I need to know more.

“Who is the girl?” I ask, trying not to sound too interested, like I am humoring him. It isn’t too hard for me. My reputation for being abundantly cruel isn’t completely unfounded.

“Her name is Isla Moon, Alpha Maddox. She is a member of my pack. Today, she came in and asked if I had any odd jobs she could do to pay off the debt she owes me, and I offered her this one. She accepted.”

He is holding something back. I can tell by the way his eyes are wide, the way he shrugs his shoulders as he speaks. There has to be more to Isla’s story than this. “Why does she owe you money?” I ask him.

He only shrugs. “Family debt. I’m not sure.”

I study his face. He is lying. He knows exactly what it is. I wonder if the girl has been manipulated to be here of if she came of her own free will. Had she heard about the handsome, mysterious Alpha King and wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to spend some time in his castle and frequent his bed?

I also want to make sure she isn’t some prostitute who is going to make me sick. “Has she been… inspected?”

“No,” he says. “But that’s not necessary. The girl is a virgin.”

I scoffed. “How do you know that?”

“I’ve known her for her entire life,” he says quickly. “My pack is small. I know everyone. Of course, if you are worried, you can send your physicians in to see. If I am lying, I would gladly pay you twice what I owe you, sir. I would never deceive you about such a thing.” I raise my eyebrows. He realizes he slipped up. “I would never deceive you about anything.”

Somehow, I doubt that. “What does she look like?” I ask.

“She’s beautiful,” he tells me. “She’s outside the door.”

I shake my head. I don’t want to see her yet.

“She’s a small girl, about this tall.” He raises his hand to show me she’s about five foot two or so. “She has long, blonde hair that is curly, and her eyes are wide and blue. Her skin is smooth like porcelain and bright. She’s a bit skinny, I think, but she has large breasts and curvy hips.”

I close my eyes and slowly shake my head at his crassness. It shouldn’t surprise me. I wonder if the girl can hear us. “Is she intelligent?” I don’t want my heir to be an idiot.

“Oh, yes. She did very well in school. Top of her class. She went to college for a couple of years but had to drop out for… some reason.” Again, he is holding back. He knows why. “She’s a sweet girl. You will enjoy her.” He winks at me, and I know he means sexually.

It makes my skin crawl because I know he wishes that he could enjoy her.

I don’t know why the girl has decided to come with him here, but I won’t be sending her back home with him, not today anyway.

I have a lot to do today, including a dinner party with an Alpha from a distant region. I decide I will keep her and possibly speak to her for a bit before I determine what to do. While it does sound like her services may be the solution to my problems, I’m not sure I’m ready for all of these complications.

“How old is she?” I ask him.

“Twenty, I think,” he says.

Twenty. She is young. When I was twenty, my father was still alive. I wasn’t even the Alpha King yet.

It seems like a very long time ago.

The image of my wife’s face flutters in front of my mind, and my mouth wants to move of its own accord.

“Rebecca….”

I don’t say her name. I’ve learned not to. It makes people question my sanity, and since they already do that enough over my alleged viciousness, there’s no reason to have them think I’m seeing ghosts as well.

If there’s one thing they don’t need to worry about it's me seeing Rebecca. I’ve looked everywhere for her and have never seen her, not even once.

Not even in my dreams.

“What do you say, Alpha Maddox? Why don’t we make this agreement? Take the girl. Enjoy her. If she gets pregnant and gives you an heir in the next year, my debts are erased. If she does not… I will find another way to repay you… plus interest.”

Alpha Ernest extends his hand to me. I take a deep breath and look at his palm, not sure whether I should shake his hand or not.

Do I want to take the girl and keep her as a breeder—or send her back home with this man, possibly to her family, or possibly to become some sort of sex slave to him?