“You look lonely, want to dance?”
The next girl that walked up to him was a sweet blonde that looked like she had seen him before. She had need and desire in her eyes. Justice didn’t see it going that way. He was instead thinking about Allie and comparing her black hair to the other woman’s blonde tresses. It wasn’t the right color on her head or in her eyes. Also, even though she was cute, Justice didn’t feel anything for her. He knew that he was supposed to, that she was gorgeous, and the fact that she was walking up to him was a good sign for what he would be able to do to her. He just didn’t feel anything.
“I’m good, thanks.”
His answer got him a funny look and the woman didn’t take it well. He had no idea what her name was or anything about her, but she knew who he was.
“You’re not better than everyone else just because you watch the Alpha’s family. I didn’t think you would be so stuck up.”
Justice wasn’t ready for how upset she got. He actually took a physical step back because he wasn’t ready for any of the vitriol that was sent his way. What had he done to make her so mad?
“I am not interested, that’s all. I don’t have time for all of that.”
She grabbed him suddenly in his crotch and felt him. Justice didn’t even have time to pull away, shocked that she had put her hands on him in that way. She did so herself and told him that he was just right. “You are worth the time, so just let me know when you are in the mood. I would love to show you how good I could feel and how much better you’d feel if you gave into your desires.”
Justice nodded his head, watching out for any more times her hand was going to come out and grope him. He didn’t know what to think, but the girl was gone, and he was left discombobulated. What had just happened to him?
Justice was thrown off hardcore by the action of the random stranger. He knew that she was from the pack, but he’d never met her before, still didn’t know her name. She knew who he was though and that was odd. He wished that he had come with someone, so then maybe he could ask them what was going on. He couldn’t though, Justice was there alone. He had come to take his mind off things, but one thing was for certain, Justice was right back to thinking about Allie. It was hard to say it out loud, but Justice was ready for something more. He knew that as soon as she came back, they were going to work something out so that the two of them could be together. Justice didn’t know how that was all going to work out, but he was convinced that there would be some answer that would come to him. It always did.
Chapter 16
Allie
Ben had a few phone calls that he had to make, which left Allie alone for a short time with Bishop. She guessed about Bishop and what he didn't like, what he was looking for, and she was dying to figure out if she was right or wrong. Allie needed to get to know Bishop. Who was the man that she was meant to be mated with? He was so kind and instantly warming, but was there something more to his welcome? It all seemed too good to be true and she finally asked him why he agreed to it. Men weren't like women; they had a choice. Why would he go along with marrying a complete stranger? What did he get out of it? Allie had to know and it finally spilled out.
“Well, you get to a certain age, and you don't have any heirs, people start to get nervous. People start to say that I need to be mated finally and start the process. They will lose faith in my lineage if I don’t, then, they will lose faith in me.”
While Allie listened to him, it became clear that he didn’t agree. He didn’t seem to care what all those people thought that he needed to get married or do any of those things. Likely he was like many other Alphas, trying to keep his thin hold on everything intact. She had watched her brother do the same thing. Allie hadn't thought about what he would need out of it. She thought that it would be because he liked the way she looked or something like that. She never would have imagined that it had to do with what had to be done. Why had she thought that it was only women that got that sort of pressure?
“So, you are not really in it for love?” Allie asked carefully. It wasn’t really the question that she wanted to ask, but it was kitty-corner and that was going to have to be good enough. She was afraid to ask the real question that was just at the tip of her tongue.
“Arranged marriages are complicated, don’t you think? They are complicated, but they work ifbothparties know what they are getting into.”
Allie didn't know what to think. She had a question on the tip of her tongue when her brother came back and they all decided to sit down for dinner. It was late when they arrived and she was hungry, but she wanted to see how the two of them got on. Allie had come into it thinking that she was never going to marry Bishop. It made no sense to pretend like she had much of a choice. Allie had a whole lot of problems coming her way because of the decision she had made, and was it wrong for her to want some sort of relief from that? What if Bishop was the answer for her and Justice as well? She wanted to tell Bishop the truth and see what happened. She wanted to see how he would react but knew that it was too dangerous if she was wrong. For the moment, Allie was just going to have to keep her comments to herself and see what happened next.
“How are the two of you getting along?” Ben asked. It was a weird question considering the circumstances, but not that hard to understand. There was a bit of quiet in the room and about the time Allie was going to croak something out, Bishop smiled large and said that they were getting on famously. Allie smiled about it, feeling the same way, but not sure why that was. She was so confused about her feelings and how she felt about it all. She liked Bishop true, but not in the way that she was supposed to. He had said all the right things, smiled her way, but Allie didn’t think that he liked her in the way that he was supposed to either. She had the feeling that it would be far different to be married to a guy like Bishop.
The real problem was that Allie couldn’t be sure. She would have to really put her faith in him and then still, Allie didn’t know what that looked like. She tried to imagine a life with Bishop, but it just hurt. He wasn’t her type and besides that, Allie didn’t think that any girl was going to be his type. She couldn’t shake the feeling he gave her. Why didn’t her brother see it?
They had dinner and the conversation was breezy enough. It was the chance for the two of them to get to know each other and Allie was for it. Bishop was an enigma and she wanted more. There was a chance that it seemed easy enough, but there wasn’t much that could be said.
Halfway through dinner, Ben had to leave to get another phone call. Allie apologized for him, and Bishop waved her off. “That is what he needs to do. Being Alpha is a lot of responsibility.”
Allie agreed. “It is, but you seem to be able to stay at the table.”
He agreed. “Yes, well, the company must suit me.”
That made Allie grin. She couldn’t help it and before too long, Allie was sure that he was looking at her differently. It still wasn’t sexual, but he was looking at her then like he could really see her. She squirmed in her seat a little bit, uncomfortable with the way he was watching her.
“Can we talk plainly, Allie?”
She nodded. “Please, it’s much easier that way.”
“Well, let’s just say that I know you have a secret that you are keeping from your brother, and it won’t be long until he finds out. I can already tell by the way you walk, smell, all of it. I also pick up that you know I have my own secrets that I have kept to myself. It would be best for both of us if we came together in the quickest time available. We need to fall in love tonight and make it seem like nothing else will do but for us to be mated tomorrow. That will solve both of our problems in one fell swoop. I am glad you came here pregnant. Now I know that I will have an heir.”
Her brother came back in, and her heart was now beating hard in her chest. Was he being for real? Could they really do that, even though it seemed so out of propriety? Allie really didn’t know what to think. Her mind was racked with bad thoughts she was trying to get out of. What was she supposed to do next? Could she really agree to such a thing?
Ben looked from one of them to the other and asked what was going on. There was likely tension in the air, but it wasn’t enough to stop Allie from shrugging and acting innocently in love. Even though there was Justice to think of, Allie knew that they could never be together. She knew that once the pregnancy was found out, so would Justice, and he would likely be killed for it. She had no doubt that she would do what was necessary to keep it from happening.
