Her Alphas

2. The Guest List

~ Savannah’s POV ~

I transform out of my wolf form as I arrive home. We live in a beautiful house on the hills. Our backyard is literally the woods, making it easy for us to come in and out in our wolf form. When I step foot into the house, the sun is just setting. I check the clock, it’s 6.31 PM.

“You’re late,” says Kathy, one of the Omegas that serves in our house. She takes my coat and pushes me toward my dad’s office. “He’s been waiting for you,”

“Aw come on, it’s just one minute,” I whine.

“You tell him,”

I roll my eyes as I stand in front of the door. Kathy backs away immediately. Only Alphas and Betas are allowed past this point. Quickly, I fix my hair and shirt and knock on the door.

The double doors immediately open to my dad’s office and I see my father leaning back against a chair and Beta Lilian Parker, wearing her doctor’s uniform, is attending to him. Next to her is her husband and mate, Beta Jon Parker, who’s also my dad’s second in command. Sitting on that chair, dad is looking pale and sickly. Unlike the strong Alpha self that he is. He is only in his late fifties, but now he looks way older.

“Dad? Oh my god, what happened!?” I gape and step closer.

“It’s just a small heart attack, not a big deal, don’t worry about it,” Dad waves his hand carelessly and turns to Beta Lilian, saying “Can you give us a moment?”

Beta Lilian nods and collects her equipment, saying, “I will be right outside if you need me,”

For a moment, I’m just standing there in shock. I never knew that my dad is having health problems. Is this the first time he’s had a heart attack? How severe is it?

I look over to Beta Jon, giving him a questioning look. He only replies with a shrug as if to say he doesn’t know anything either.

Once Beta Lilian leaves the room, I turn to face my dad again and ask, “A small heart attack? Dad, you never told me you’re sick, what the hell is happening?”

“I’m not sick, I’m just expiring,” Dad says as he adjusts his shirt back.

“Dad,” I warn.

“How are you, Savannah? Have a seat. How was the campus tour?” he changes the topic, motioning for me to sit across the table from him.

I sigh and take that seat.

“The campus tour was great. I’m really excited to start school in the fall,” I pause for a moment before continuing, “There’s a freshman welcome event later tonight, I was thinking of going there after our meeting…”

That’s a total lie. Obviously. I’m just looking for a way to go out tonight and see Derek.

“Right. A freshman welcome event, not a party at Delta William’s lake house” he says as he grabs a fresh cigar from his cigar box. Beta Jon is quick to offer him a light. I quickly glance at him, wondering if a person with a heart condition should be smoking cigars in the daytime.

“It’s the last day of school, dad,” I mutter under my breath. “Don’t I deserve to have a little bit of fun? I mean, look at you, risking it all right here,”

Dad lets out a smirk.

“Aren’t you curious how I know about the party?”

“You’re the Alpha here,” I scoff. “Of course, you know everything,”

Well, not everything. Not about me and Derek, at least.

“Hey, don’t get upset. I’m just trying to make small talk here, you know, like other normal people?”

“But you don’t make small talk,” I narrow my eyes on him.

“Ha, you know me so well. You must be my daughter,” he laughs.

I take note of my dad’s attempt at a joke. I know very well that my father isn’t the kind of man who makes jokes. I narrow my eyes further and say, “Dad, what is it with you? You’re acting kind of… strange,”

“Time does a lot to a man, Savannah. Time can do the same for a woman too,” he replies even more suspiciously.

I stay quiet, waiting for my dad to continue.

“Speaking of time, you’re turning eighteen next week. You’ll officially be an adult,”

“Just on paper,” I shrug. “On the inside, I’m still twelve,”

Dad ignores the comment and continues, “With you becoming an adult and me turning into fertilizer with each passing day, I think it’s time we talk about your future,”

Dad then turns to Beta Jon and says, “Jon, the papers,”

Jon nods quickly and pulls a stack of papers from his briefcase. He walks around the table and places them in front of my confused eyes.

“What is this?” I ask, my fingers rifling through the pages. The very first page is a letter with dad’s official letterhead, some sort of invitation for a dinner party.

“It’s an invitation to a birthday dinner. Your birthday dinner,” Dad answers.

“It’s dated tonight? But my birthday’s still next week,”

“As you can see, Savannah, time is of the essence for me,”

I don’t understand what he means by that, so I keep flipping the pages, looking for more information. On the next page is something labeled ‘The Guest List’. I scan the list quickly and recognize all the famous last names.

“Here’s the deal, we are throwing you a special birthday celebration tonight. Jon and I will make sure to keep the guest list very well vetted. There will be plenty of suitable matches for you at the party. The sons of all the most powerful Alphas in the country. So, go make some friends, get connected, and get to know some of them. I have a feeling that your future might be in attendance,”

“My future? Wait—what does that mean?” my eyes shoot up from the paper back to his face.

“You only have a few hours before the party. Go get dressed, wear something nice. Have Kathy help you,” he waves his hand dismissively and stands up as if he’s about to leave.

“Dad, wait a second, don’t shoo me off right now, I’m not done!” I call out after him. “What’s going on here, I don’t understand!”

Dad turns around and shoots me a serious look, saying, “To put it simply, I want you to find your mate from the list of options I’m giving you, do you understand me?”

“A mate?!” I gape again. “From this list?!”

“I’m not going to live forever, child. Time is running out,” he says. “Whoever ends up being your mate will have to help you lead our pack, so yes, I need that person to be of a certain stature,”

“But—”

“But nothing. Remember who you are, you are Savannah Wilcox. The sole heir of the Blue Moon Pack. You need to put yourself in the right position to assume control after me, or there will be an upheaval, do you understand?”

“I am in the right position, dad,” I argue. “I’m smart and hardworking, I know I can lead the pack even without outside help!”

“So, what, you’re just gonna marry that Gamma Kid? Make him the next Alpha to lead my pack?!” Dad’s voice boomed around the room, striking a chord in me.

“You… know about me and Derek…?” my voice cracks. I’m trying to hold my composure, but I can’t.

How does he know about Derek? We were being so careful…

“The shenanigan stops now, Savannah. Be serious about this. Find a mate from the list of Alphas I gave you,” he says in that low, scary tone. He stands in front of me and I’m too scared to look at him, so I glance down at the door.

Dad takes my chin with his hand and tilts my face back up. My eyes are glassy. I’m trying my best not to cry.

“Listen to me, marriage is perhaps the biggest decision an Alpha female can make and I will not stand by and watch you throw your life away. You’ll marry someone of my standards and the two of you will continue my legacy,” he continues.

Tears begin rolling down my face. Thinking about the future he’s drawing up for me, I can’t help but feel hopeless. I don’t want it to be like this. I don’t want a loveless marriage. I want happiness and fireworks and all that jazz.

Shakily, I look up at him and plead, “Dad… please… I love him…”

“Love?!” he yells loudly, pulling his hand away. His hand goes to his chest as if he feels some pain there. He holds his chest tightly to apply pressure as he calms his breathing.

“Breathe, Alpha, breathe,” Jon reminds him, holding his shoulder.

“Don’t. Use. That. Word. In. Front. Of. Me!” Dad speaks through his heavy breaths. “Remember who you are! Love is only your duty!”

Jon sees that the Alpha needs help convincing me, so he quickly steps in, saying, “Miss Savannah, it’s only a party. Just give it a chance. You never know, you might actually find your mate there,”

And then it clicks to me. Why dad is so adamant about throwing this party and doing it now instead of waiting one more week. He wants to make sure I’m not going to run off with Derek because once I turn eighteen and I see that Derek is my mate, I will definitely choose him over anything.

Dad is walking away now, heading to the door. His hand is about to reach for the door handle, but before he can leave, I quickly speak up.

“You’re really going to sacrifice my happiness for the sake of the pack?” I ask, my voice sounding extremely bitter. “If you don’t want me to choose love, you shouldn’t have made that Blood Pact with mom! You could’ve remarried and had other heirs that are more suited to lead!”

Dad doesn’t answer for a while. Though I can’t see his face, I know that my words strike a chord in him.

“That was my mistake and that’s why you should know better,” he answers finally.

He looks back and takes one last look at me before turning away again, saying, “You will attend the party and you will meet your suitors. I’m expecting a marriage within the next twelve moons at the latest,”

“A what!?”

“And that’s final!” he says before slamming the door shut.

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- - - - - To Be Continued - - - - -