Alpha Arrangement: A BBW BWWM Bear Shifter Paranormal Romance (Arcane Affairs Agency)

by Camille Laurent

  Gregory was silent. He quickly glanced at Black, who was looking into his lap.

  “Answer the question, Gregory,” Andrews said, raising his voice.

  “Yes,” he said, his voice quiet.

  Councilman Truman rolled his eyes. “I think we’re done here.” He turned to the Council and crossed his arms over his chest. “Those who wish to adjourn the meeting, say ‘aye’.”

  A chorus of voices muttered their agreement. “Those opposed, say ‘nay’.”

  Councilman Black was silent, surprisingly. Gregory was gripping the podium with his good hand.

  “Meeting adjourned,” Councilman Truman said. “We will meet at our normally scheduled time tomorrow.”

  The chairs emitted a high-pitched screech as they scraped across the stone floor. Gregory was shaking at the podium, and glaring at Aubrey. I grabbed her hand and looked into her eyes. “We did it,” I said. “We made it. Everything is okay.”

  She nodded and stared at our intertwined hands. I turned to my mom, who gave us a sympathetic nod and a smile before heading out.

  Suddenly, I felt the table shake violently. Aubrey looked up and jumped back in her seat.

  “You won’t fucking get away with this,” Gregory said, spit flying everywhere. He turned to the remaining council members, who were talking amongst themselves. “If you leave these two in charge, more people will be murdered. I guarantee it.”

  “Gregory, step away from them,” Sheriff Andrews said as he slowly approached him.

  Gregory slammed his hands on the table. “This is ridiculous!” He pointed to Aubrey and me. “Councilman Johnson wasn’t the first to be targeted, and he won’t be the last. You are all murderers if you keep these two in charge.”

  Councilman Truman looked pissed and ready to shift. “That is enough, Gregory. The meeting is over.”

  “You’ve slandered me, haven’t you?” Gregory said to Aubrey, his noxious breath stinging my nostrils.

  I firmly placed my hands on his chest and pushed him away. “Get the fuck away from her.” I turned to look at Aubrey, who was staring at Gregory with her eyes narrowed.

  “You’re the reason the entire council hates me.” His thin, chapped lips began to bleed as he spoke.

  “Gregory, stop this instant or we will be forced to detain you,” Councilman Truman warned as he approached the three of us. Andrews and a few other council members followed.

  Gregory ignored them. “You fucking slut. Does the council know you’re not pure because of me? Does Mason know?”

  My bear wanted to rip out his throat. It took all the strength I had to not kill him then and there…but I couldn’t attack him first. He had to pose a threat to our physical safety in order for me to kill him and claim it was self-defense. The last thing Aubrey needed was for me to get arrested and kicked out of Timber Creek because I couldn’t control myself. Also, who knows how the Agency would react if I lost my cool.

  I looked at my mate, who was still maintaining a straight face. Her bravery and strength floored me.

  “Answer me, you bitch!” Gregory lunged across the table and grabbed her shirt. Before I could react, she partially shifted and swiped his face with her paw. I grabbed him and placed him in a chokehold, feeling his blood drip onto my forearms.

  Aubrey stood there, panting and ready to maul him. Her shirt was torn at the sleeve from shifting, and blood stained her paws.

  “I should snap you into two, you pathetic fucker,” I snarled.

  You know what that fucker did?

  He laughed.

  He fucking laughed.

  “I was your first,” he said, staring Aubrey down. “You’re mine now. You always will be.”

  I couldn’t stop myself. I threw him onto the ground and he fell with a on his already broken arm. Before I could step on his throat and finish him for good, Tabitha grabbed my arm and held me back. I looked down at Gregory, who was moaning and cradling his arm. Fuck, I hoped I’d split his skull.

  I noticed that the glove on his broken arm had fallen off, and his palm and the tips of his fingers were stained a dark black, as if he had dumped his hand in ink. I cocked my head and tried to get a closer look, as this looked like something we had gone over during training in the Agency…

  My concentration was broken once I heard the doors creak as a group of soldiers from the Timber Creek Defense Force barged into the hall, guns raised cautiously. They usually patrolled the Town Hall when meetings were in session.

  “Take him into custody,” Sheriff Andrews said. A soldier grabbed Gregory and practically threw him over his arm and carried him out.

  I turned to Aubrey, who was only barely maintaining her composure. I ran to her to embrace her, but she kept me at arms length.

  “I can’t, Mason,” she said, and shifted and ran out of the hall.

  I yelled after her and shifted in an attempt to catch her. Her bear was fast and agile; there was no way I could catch her.

  I couldn’t save her.

  Chapter 10: Aubrey

  I ran out of the hall and didn’t stop until I reached the cabin. I could sense that Mason was trying to catch me, but I didn’t look back. I just couldn’t.

  I mean, look at what I’d done. I couldn’t even move past Gregory. I’d spent the last few years trying desperately to heal and move past everything that he did to me — but when he provoked me, I couldn’t even keep my composure.

  I just proved his point: I was unstable, unfit, impulsive, and too shitty to be an alpha. Mason was probably better off without me. I mean, how could I be his wife if I couldn’t even stand the thought of his own flesh and blood? He’d never have a “normal” wife. I’m too broken, and he deserves someone who is whole. Gregory will always be a dark shadow looming over all relationship.

  I love Mason…but he’s better off without me. There was no way I could go through with the marriage, even though he improved my life in ways I never thought possible.

  I locked the cabin door behind me and buried myself under a pile of blankets on the couch. Here I was, literally running away from my problems yet again. Thoughts of moving the clan away from Timber Creek ran through my mind. We would be safe from the mass murderers, I’d be safe from Gregory…but I’d be away from my mate for the rest of my life. Still, it was my only option.

  I let out a loud, pained sob that shook me to my core. I didn’t want fear to dictate my life, or to put a damper on my love for Mason, but I couldn’t handle this.

  My heart and my bear wanted Mason. My bear was practically roaring at me, begging me to stay and fight for him — to fight with him. I knew that going against my bear wasn’t the right thing to do. It never was. However, until my bear could get me to stop living in fear of Gregory, I would have to take action myself.

  I sat down on the couch and cried. I didn’t want to do this. I didn’t want to let Gregory win. My heart and my bear wanted Mason. My bear was roaring at me to stay and fight for him — to fight with him. I knew that going against my bear wasn’t the right thing to do — it never was. But until my bear could get me to stop living in fear of Gregory, I would have to take action myself.

  I stared into the charred fireplace. Adrenaline was still coursing through my veins. I tried to close my eyes and pretend that I was wrapped in Mason’s strong, safe embrace.

  ***

  “Aubrey,” a deep male voice said, jolting me awake. I felt a warm hand pushing my hair out of my face.

  It was practically pitch black — damn, how long was I asleep? — and I couldn’t see who the hand or the disembodied voice belonged to.

  “Don’t be afraid, it’s just me, Mason,” he said. My vision slowly adjusted to the darkness.

  “How did you find me?” I asked.

  “You told me that this was your favorite place to go when you were upset,” he said, pressing his lips to my forehead. “I would’ve been here sooner, but I wanted to give you some space.” I could smell his musky sand
alwood cologne, a smell that sent me into a daze…

  I wrapped my arms around him. “I’m so sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have acted like —“

  “No,” he said, his voice stern. “Don’t apologize. I need to apologize to you for being related to that piece of shit.” He pressed his forehead to mine, our lips barely touching. “You were strong, Aubrey. Don’t apologize for that.”

  “Strong?” I said with a scoff. “I was anything but. I embarrassed myself. I shouldn’t have attacked him.”

  “I was going to kill him, Aubrey. Kill him. Do you understand? You showed excellent restraint, in my opinion.”

  “I just proved his point,” I said with a sigh. “Maybe he’s right — maybe he’ll always be in control of me. Maybe I’ll never be able to move on.”

  “That’s exactly what he wants you to think.”

  “Ugh, I know.” I pulled back from him and buried my face in my hands. “I just want to live a life without him in it. Either I go, or he goes.”

  “I’ll go with you,” Mason said. “Wherever you go, you won’t be alone.”

  “And leave your clan behind?” I said.

  “You know how much I care for my clan,” he said, “but you matter more. You will always come first. If that means finding a new alpha, so be it.”

  I knew this wasn’t something he took lightly. For someone like Mason, being an Alpha was more than a job — it was an identity. He was raised to be an Alpha, and didn’t know how not to be an Alpha. The simple fact that he was so willing to give it all up just for me was…well, it was breathtaking.

  “I don’t think I’m fit to be alpha anymore. I don’t think I’m fit to rule. I don’t think I can continue with this contract.”

  Mason let out a shaky breath. “We can run away tonight. Just you and me. We can elope, start a family, and leave all of this behind.”

  “As amazing as that sounds, are you really, truly willing to just abandon your clan?” I said. “You know, I’m not going to make you answer that.” I sat up on the couch and placed my hands on the sides of Mason’s face. His stubble tickled my palms.

  “Aubrey…” he said softly.

  “I don’t want to leave you, Mason. You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. When I’m with you, I feel whole — like I can conquer the whole world with you by my side.”

  “And you can —“

  “I know, but I can’t ask you to leave behind your clan for me. I know how important it is to you. My fear shouldn’t stop you from fulfilling your duties as Alpha.”

  We sat in silence for what seemed like eternity.

  “You are my world, Aubrey. You are my mate, and I’ve known this since the moment I laid eyes on you,” Mason said. “What does this mean…for us? Is this goodbye?” I could hear his voice wavering slightly, trying to hold back tears.

  “I think so,” I said, as tears streamed down my face. I wished that there were a light of some sort, so that I could stare into his blue eyes one last time.

  He pressed his lips against mine, our eyes stinging and our tears meshing with one another.

  “I love you, Mason,” I said.

  “I love you, Aubrey. More than anything.”

  Chapter 11: Gregory

  “I shouldn’t have to be bailing you out right now,” Steven said as he watched the guard fumble with the locks on my holding cell. “Just be thankful that they didn’t call your mother, you idiot.”

  “Shut up and take me to your place,” I said. “I can’t go home.”

  “Are you fucking serious?” Steven said, pulling at a tuft of hair on the side of his head.

  “Or else,” I said.

  “You do know that I can ask this nice guard over here to lock you back up, you know that?”

  The guard cleared his throat. “You actually can’t do that, you’ve already paid his bail.”

  “Fuck,” he muttered under his breath. “Fine.”

  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I said with the enthusiasm of a giddy school child.

  “Don’t think you’re off the hook, Gregory,” Steven said under his breath. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”

  I rolled my eyes and followed him to his car. He slammed the door as he got in, causing the vehicle to shake violently. I slowly stepped in and tried to keep my head up high.

  “You were supposed to figure out who we were going to put a hit on,” he said, “and lay low. But instead, you go and stalk your brother and his future wife. Then, you get arrested, and now, it looks like you’ve lost one of your fucking gloves. What the fuck is your problem?”

  “She doesn’t love me,” I said. “I thought she did, but she didn’t.”

  He slammed his fists on the door. “Who the fuck cares? How many times do I have to tell you, she’s the person we’re targeting in the first place! We don’t – I mean, I don’t give a fuck who she loves. I just want her to suffer.”

  “But –”

  “No. Fucking no. I don’t want to talk to you right now.” His nostrils were flaring and his knuckles were white from the strength of his grip on the steering wheel. He closed his eyes and slowly inhaled and exhaled before putting the key in the ignition. “I mean, Jesus, you basically put a giant sign over your head that said ‘Look at me! I exist! Draw attention to me!’” He scoffed as he turned on the car.

  Steven showed no concern for my life – or his, at that – while driving. He made sure that I felt every bump and dip in the road. I could practically hear him grinding his teeth with every sharp, fast turn of the wheel.

  Perhaps it was carsickness, or the achiness from Mason’s assault on my body, but I felt a sinking feeling of despair in my stomach. I felt myself losing my grip on the only person who gave me some semblance of control in my life. He was starting to see right through me. I feared that he soon would use my tactics against me.

  You see, this is why I needed Aubrey. She was a challenge. I couldn’t bend her to my will as easily as I could Steven. She fought back – that feisty little thing. She may not love me anymore, but that will change.

  I stared down into my lap and let out a small smirk.

  “What are you smiling about?” Steven asked as he pulled into his driveway. “You’re insane, you know that?” He stepped out of the car and stomped to his front door. I sank even lower into my seat, taking the stale, thick air into my lungs and listening to the low, dying hum of the engine. A sharp feeling of anxiety caused my throat to tighten, and I felt as if I would suffocate.

  I slowly limped out of the car, feeling my muscles scream out in pain with every step. Suddenly, an idea ran through my head. I pushed past my muscle pain and ran inside the house, where I found Steven chugging a pint of beer.

  “I know who we need to target,” I said, softly, “and I know how we’re going to do it.

  If Aubrey wasn’t going to come with me by choice, I might as well do it by force. I mean, it would be hell to pull off, but we have Rogers on our side. He’d love to capture an Alpha, and I’d love to have Aubrey under my control for the rest of her life.

  Chapter 12: Mason

  I hadn’t left my bed in two days. I was starting to stink, my hair was tangled beyond all repair, and my palms were scabbed from digging my fingernails into them in an attempt to keep from shifting.

  My sheets smelled faintly of beer and pizza grease, and a pile of empty bottles, cans, and boxes strewn around my bed explained why. There were bits and pieces of feathers on my comforter and on the rug, as I had destroyed several of my pillows in a fit of rage.

  I felt as if my world had fallen apart. I no longer had Aubrey, and it felt like I no longer had a part of myself. I was empty. Lost. Destroyed. And worst of all, I was expected to suck it all up and still complete my Agency duties to protect my clan and other paranormals. All I really wanted to do run away and never come back.

  I buried my face in my pillow and inhaled deeply, feeling a bit dizzy at the lack of oxyge
n. I couldn’t leave my mom alone, but the thought of staying here was too painful to bear.

  I thought of how Aubrey must be feeling right now. I couldn’t help but think that I was the cause of her pain. She wouldn’t be in this situation if it weren’t for my existence. I mean, for God’s sake, I’m her fucking abuser’s older brother. I’m sure she was fine before I came into the picture.

  Guess my dad’s blood is toxic...the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.

  Your cowardice is showing, Mason, I thought. You wouldn’t run away, now, would you?

  I once again thought of the despair in my mom’s eyes when she told me my dad had left. I’d be causing her to feel that once again. She’d never recover.

  My phone buzzed on my nightstand. I’d received practically hundreds of calls and texts in the past two days, all of which I ignored. At least 5 of those calls were from my supervisor at the Agency, and I had a feeling I was going to get chewed out later. I could hear my mother lingering outside of my bedroom, pressing her ear to the door to see if she could hear any signs of life.

  Groaning, I grabbed my phone and looked at the screen.

  Mase, call me, please. We’re worried about you.

  Hi, sweetie, I made salmon cakes -- your favorite. They’re downstairs in the fridge when you’re ready. Xoxo

  Mase. Are you alive? The clan’s asking questions.

  I pressed my sore thumb to the screen and scrolled. The messages were all the same -- genuine concern for my well being that barely masked their concern for the state of the clan. I’m sure they were all afraid they’d be targeted next. To be honest, I was just as concerned as they were, and I’m the one with the weapons kit and the Agency contacts. We were in a state of emergency until these murders were solved. Even though they were looking to me for support, I couldn’t give that to them.

  I swiped Connor’s message and began to type out a response: I’m alive. The engagement is off. You’re in charge until I get things sorted out.