The Alpha's Bride Chapter 2 - The New Bride Candidate (cont.)

Caden massaged his temples with force as he observed the obstinate Alpha standing before him.

He had anticipated Damon’s resistance, yet the Alpha appeared more resolute than ever this time.

The reality was that Caden had been managing a flood of correspondence from Elders, all of whom were attempting to arrange a marriage between Damon and his potential next bride.

Elder Parker was being particularly persistent, insisting that Damon meet with Marcy—the latest candidate—face-to-face.

While a single Elder was not a major threat, Damon had already alienated a significant number of them. Caden was certain that if the Elders didn't have to maintain a public facade of being kind leaders, they would have already blacklisted Damon, ruined his name, and manipulated other packs into declaring war against the Dark Howlers.

Both Damon and Caden despised interacting with the Elders, a group of arrogant former Alphas desperate to prove their continued relevance. The entire Council of Elders was a volatile mix of testosterone and inflated egos, ready to explode at any moment; most dangerously, they possessed the influence and connections to turn the masses against them.

Although the Dark Howlers were the most powerful pack and boasted skilled warriors, they would be at a severe disadvantage if multiple packs formed an alliance against them.

"It has been over three months since you saw your previous bride candidate. Their patience is wearing thin," Caden argued, trying to convince Damon. "Rumor has it that if Elder Parker succeeds in making Marcy your Luna, he’ll have the backing to become the next head of the Council. Are you going to let him use you as a stepping stone? Why not show them that you aren't anyone's pawn?"

"Ignoring him is exactly how I show that," Damon countered.

"They view your silence as a sign of cowardice. You must step up and take control of the situation."

"Are you attempting to manipulate me?" Damon’s voice dropped to a threateningly low pitch.

"No," Caden replied, maintaining a perfectly neutral expression. "As your Beta, I am simply presenting the facts. Why not just deal with this girl and silence them? Or would you prefer to avoid the minor chore of bedding a woman and risk the safety of the pack instead?"

Damon raised an eyebrow, his lips thinning. "So you’re suggesting I put that stuck-up woman in her place?"

Stuck-up? Caden wasn't certain of Marcy’s personality, but any she-wolf willing to go along with an arranged marriage to a stranger likely lacked the qualities of a true Luna.

A Luna should stand up for her convictions rather than being a puppet for others. If Marcy couldn't even stand up for herself, how could she protect and lead a pack? Regardless of her status, a genuine Luna would have approached Damon herself instead of relying on political schemes to win him over.

In this scenario, it was clear that Elder Parker and Marcy’s father were the ones pulling the strings.

Should the union with Marcy happen, her father, Alpha Edward, would benefit immensely. Even if Damon chose to ignore him, the marital connection would be undeniable, raising Alpha Edward's social standing. Furthermore, it was likely that Alpha Edward had struck a bargain with Elder Parker, who had presented Marcy as the ideal Luna for the Dark Howlers.

It was a tangled web of parasites waiting for Damon to strike the bait, and Damon was fully aware of the trap.

Damon had played this game many times in the past. He would visit the prospective bride, inspect her thoroughly, and then publicly declare that a common slut was unworthy of being his Luna.

This move didn't just insult the woman, her ambitious father, and their entire pack; it also served as a major humiliation for the Elder who had suggested the match.

Despite how much Damon offended them, they couldn't openly criticize him because, on the surface, he had fulfilled his duty by meeting the candidate and simply found her wanting.

Noticing that Damon was considering the idea, Caden decided to give him one last nudge.

"She isn't just any commoner. Have you seen her picture? She’s tall, blonde, a real beauty, and she is quite well-endowed..." Caden gestured with his hands in front of his chest to imply Marcy’s large bust.

Damon tightened his lips and began typing on his keyboard. As he scanned the screen, a scowl deepened on his face.

'What is your take on this?' Damon questioned his wolf internally.

'She looks like nothing but trouble,' his wolf answered.

Damon let out a frustrated growl. 'If I go, there's trouble. If I stay, there's trouble. Which path of trouble should I take?'

'Don't act like this is new. Why ask me when the answer is obvious?'

'Because you are supposed to be my voice of reason,' Damon replied.

'I'm glad you recognize that. But you’ve already worked this out yourself. I know you hate dealing with vipers, but a wise Alpha avoids a direct fight when possible, opting for a more subtle approach. Forget the bride for a moment; you might uncover valuable intel while staying at their packhouse. They won't dare move against you if your location is public knowledge. Now, let me rest and don't wake me unless it's a crisis...'

Damon felt the presence of his wolf fade as it retreated into the recesses of his mind.

Damon was unique among his kind. While other werewolves could sense their wolves' emotions—feeling their anger, joy, or restlessness—Damon could actually carry on a full conversation with his. This was a secret known only to him and his wolf.

His wolf had been a primary reason why Damon was able to become and remain the Alpha of the Dark Howlers at the young age of seventeen.

Though his wolf wasn't particularly talkative, it offered the perfect guidance when needed, and Damon knew his wolf possessed the collective wisdom of many past lives.

Like most werewolves, Damon began sensing his wolf in his early teens. However, on the night his parents died, his wolf spoke to him for the first time.

'I'm sorry, kid...' the wolf had said, causing Damon to bolt upright in bed in the middle of the night.

"What was that...?" Damon whispered, looking around the dark room for the speaker.

'I am within your mind. Your father tasked me with protecting you.'

Damon was utterly bewildered. "What? How? Who are you?"

'I am what your people refer to as the Alpha's wisdom, manifesting through your wolf. I served your grandfather and your father, and now I serve you.'

"Why did you stop serving my father?"

'I'm sorry, kid... he and your mother are gone...'

The massive emotional blow had forced Damon to grow up instantly.

Since that day, Damon had relied on his wolf to keep him grounded.

Not every Alpha had the ability to converse with their wolf, and while his wolf didn't know if Damon was the only one, he had cautioned the boy to keep the ability hidden.

Returning to the present...

"The report claims she is untouched," Damon remarked, pointing toward his computer monitor. "You know I prefer women with experience. And as attractive as she might be, she isn't worth a whole day of travel. I could find a dozen women like her within a thirty-minute drive without even leaving this office."

Caden maintained a forced smile, masking his annoyance.

In Damon’s view, virgins required too much effort—flowers, chocolates, and sweet talk—and they became far too attached afterward.

Damon had no patience for such things. For him, intimacy was strictly about physical pleasure; no woman had ever gotten closer to him than that.

"What's the harm?" Caden continued his persuasion. "You get to enjoy a new conquest, and once you're bored, you just announce she's unfit to be Luna. Marcy might be a virgin on paper, but my contacts suggest otherwise. I'll handle your security, and Maya will dig up some dirt on the girl so your excuse sounds legitimate. We know how this works. We'll be in and out in three or four days at most, and the Elders will be off our backs for another few months."

Damon’s jaw tightened as he ground his teeth together.

"Fine. We depart in..." Damon paused, checking his schedule. "Five days."

Caden exhaled a sigh of relief. "I'll make the arrangements."

Caden walked out of the office feeling triumphant. Maya enjoyed traveling, and whenever they joined Damon on these visits, they treated it like a spy mission, usually ending in a passionate night together. Just the thought of it was enough to get him excited.