Taming His Alpha Female

Back in Captivity

*Miranda’s POV*

As wheels hit the crushed stone of the driveway leading to the pack house, my chest tightened and my skin crawled. The crunching sound was a major trauma trigger. They say there’s no place like home... they have that down pat alright. There’s no place on earth I detest more.

I opened the door of my independence and stepped into captivity. Exhaling in defeat, I nodded my greeting to the staff waiting at the door. My mother ran this house like one would have run a plantation back in 1790.

I found my way to the office, humming to the tune of Somewhere I Belong by Linkin Park. Music was my escape. I could just as easily find myself in the lyrics as I could get lost in their beat.

When I opened the door, I found my father pacing back and forth, his hands pushed into his greying hair. “Daddy? What’s wrong?” My father didn’t rattle easily.

“The Beta from Cole’s pack was here,” he said without looking at me. “What’s his name?” He paused.

“Warren,” I told him. The name that once brought me pleasure now filled me with disgust. What the f**k was he doing here? I clenched my fists as I felt my blood boil. We had promised each other that our arrangement would never reach our professional lives. It was clear the gloves were coming off.

“Cole has declared war on our pack.”

“On what grounds?” I exclaimed, my muscles tensing as a fought not to fall into my father’s footsteps by pacing the home office he had.

“He claims we are a liability to our people, too weak to lead.” He stopped to look at me. I knew the blame rest on my shoulders, as it usually did. “Our Beta has retired, leaving his position vacant. He has no offspring to carry his responsibilities by replacing him.”

“Then we interview for his replacement,” I told him, squaring my shoulders. Surely it wouldn’t be difficult to find someone willing to fill the position. We had many strong young men in our pack who would feel honoured. “What about Delta Daniel’s son, Devon?” I asked, feeling hopeful.

“He’s not cut out for the position. The boy is strong, but he isn’t the sharpest tool in the shed.”

“I will go through our files and call all suitable candidates in for an interview,” I told him. “What else?”

He stopped to look at me, standing still for the first time since I arrived. I felt my heart rate quicken as I realized what he was about to tell me wouldn’t be good. “I have also reached retirement. I’m not young anymore. I am not as strong as half the other alphas out there. You, my dear, are my only heir, and you do not meet the requirements to lead this pack, or any pack. You can not and will not lead without a strong mate to back you.”

“That is so sexist!” I exclaimed. “Cole is Alpha, and he doesn’t have a mate. The fucker doesn’t have half the hoops to jump as I do.”

“That’s no way to talk, young lady,” he says, looking at me as his eyes glow red. “Ladies do not behave the way you do.”

“I’m not a lady,” I told him, raising my brow in defiance.

“Then you will never find a mate.”

“What if I have?” I asked.

“You should do well to remember. We chose our mates based on rank and lineage,” he said, glaring at me. “There’s no sense in falling for the runt of a litter and crowning him King.”

“We still have time. I am not twenty-two yet,” I told him, feeling the life drain right out of me.

“Two months Miranda! Do you really believe we have time?” he scolded me. If I weren’t so stubborn, I’d coward at his aura, trying to overpower me. I am of Alpha lineage. I will be the future leader of this pack. The first Alpha Female to rule. I bow down to no one.

“f*****g Cole,” I hissed between clenched teeth. “He rejects me as his mate, only to declare war on us because I am single.” I kicked the metal bin at my feet. It clattered into the corner with a sharp, high-pitched noise.

“Miranda!”

“So he wants this...” I gesture to my surroundings, “but not this.” I run my hands over my body.

“MIRANDA! ENOUGH!” my father’s voice resonates through the room, the windows vibrating at the intensity. I only glare at him. It was hard controlling my temper, especially when is came to that f*****g bastard, Cole. “The Beta-”

“Warren,” I interrupted.

My father glares at me. He hated being interrupted. “He says you have been courting?” he said. “If that’s true, make it official. It will tie you to Cole, but at least you will be in control of this pack. It won’t be thrown to those wolves.”

“I’d rather die,” I spat.

“That was one of Coles’ suggestions... To erase you.” He rubbed his hand over his face as he exhaled and dropped his shoulders.

That mother fucker! If ever I thought I hated Cole, it was nothing compared to what I was feeling right now.

“What do you want me to do?” I asked, the air leaving my lungs as I felt my resistance wane.

“I have selected a mate for you. He is the second son to the Alpha of the Eclipse Moon pack. He is strong, and the perfect choice to sire heirs.” I felt nauseous at the thought of being picked out like livestock to produce pups. It wasn’t fair to be a she-wolf. Nothing about this was fair. If I was born with a p***s, we wouldn’t be having this conversation right now.

“Do I have a say?” I asked, already knowing the answer.

“No! It ends in three different scenarios. The first would be that you marry and be mated to Stephen, or even-”

“Warren,” I added, with a massive eye roll. I felt a migraine close in on me after the morning I’ve had.

“Yes, Warren.” He groaned, rubbing at his temples. “The second option would be to hand over the pack, complying peacefully. And the third-”

“Is to fight for what’s ours, and what’s right!”

“At the cost of innocent lives?” he challenged.

“This isn’t right daddy, this isn’t fair.”

“f**k fair! It’s time to put on your big girl panties and grow up.” My father never swore. He was at his wit’s end. I was facing a death sentence. How would I die? In battle? Or will my soul die as it’s bound to a man who I don’t love and who doesn’t love me?