Alarick's POV
As Alarick made his way down the hallway, he couldn't help but glance at the room where he had shared an intimate moment with Lina just a short while ago. The memories of their encounter threatened to fade into nothingness, like all remnants of the party that had taken place in this very house. A deep longing for her stirred in his chest, despite the fact that he barely knew her.
Arriving at the dining room, Alarick was greeted by the absence of Rawson, but his parents were already seated at the table. He could almost feel their expectant gazes, waiting for him to make his appearance. Today was supposed to be all about him, and even though he wasn't prepared for such attention, he knew he had to play the role of the dutiful son.
His mother, a striking woman with cascading dark hair and piercing blue eyes, smiled warmly at him as he took his seat next to her. His father, a tall and imposing figure with graying hair and a stern expression, nodded in acknowledgment before turning back to his conversation with Alarick's mother.
Taking a sip of wine, his mother began questioning him with genuine curiosity, "So Alarick, how has business been going?"
Forcing a smile onto his face, Alarick replied politely, "It's been going well so far. I have been keeping up with my work and preparations for my inauguration."
"That's good to hear," his father interjected sternly. "You know how crucial it is for you to excel in order to succeed as the alpha."
"Yes, father," Alarick answered obediently.
"Speaking of success," his mother chimed in smoothly. "How did things turn out with Melissa? Is she still on track to become your mate?"
The weight of that question hung heavily in the air. He couldn't put it off any longer. "I must confess, things have changed. I won't be pursuing a relationship with Melissa as we had planned," Alarick stated, bracing himself for his parents' disapproval.
"Upset? Upset?!" his father scoffed, his voice laced with anger. "That's an understatement! First, you betray our trust by sleeping with the intern, and now you reject the mate we carefully chose for you! You've brought shame upon our family!"
Alarick tried to defend himself, "It wasn't like that, father. We came to a mutual agreement--"
"No excuses!" his father barked, slamming his fist on the table. "You know the rules of our pack! Your wolf will lead us one day, and you must choose a suitable mate to strengthen our pack's position."
"And I will!" Alarick declared firmly, fueled by determination. "But not Melissa. I am willing to accept another mate chosen by you, but not her."
"But Melissa was the best candidate for our pack," his mother chimed in, her voice tinged with disappointment.
His alpha authority flared up within him at their insistence, causing Alarick's wolf to growl in protest. "I understand my duty and I am willing to fulfill it. But I cannot force someone into a life that they do not want. Melissa dreams of finding her true mate and if she becomes part of our pack, she will lose that opportunity forever. I refuse to sacrifice someone else's happiness just to fulfill an obligation."
Alarick's eyes drifted towards the dense forest, where he had first met Lina. The trees stood tall and proud, their branches reaching towards the sky like outstretched arms. He longed to follow his heart and pursue his own happiness, but he couldn't bear to drag someone else down with him. Meeting Lina and Melissa had opened his eyes to the possibility of a life beyond fulfilling pack duties.
His father's intense gaze bore into him before finally releasing a heavy sigh. "Fine. We will consider other candidates, but don't expect us to be lenient again. Your responsibilities as the future alpha outweigh your personal desires."
Feeling like he had just narrowly escaped a harsh punishment, Alarick nodded stiffly. "I understand, father. I will not disappoint you."
The tension at the dinner table was palpable as they ate in silence, both avoiding any mention of the forbidden topic. And after what felt like an eternity, it was finally time to leave. As his parents excused themselves and made their way towards the door, Alarick and Lina exchanged disappointed glances. But before they could retreat completely, Alarick's father turned back with a warning look. "Just remember, that intern is not an acceptable match for someone of your status." Alarick wanted to reply, but he hold back, there was no point in starting another argument.
As soon as they were out of sight, Alarick let out a deep sigh and ran a hand through his hair. He knew his feelings for Lina were frowned upon by his family and pack, but he couldn't deny the strong pull he felt towards her. But as always, he would do his best to fulfill his parents' wishes.
In an attempt to clear his head, Alarick decided to take a walk and found himself under the tree where he had last seen Lina. The forest was alive with sound and movement, the leaves rustling gently in the breeze. Images of Lina flooded his mind and he couldn't help but think about how much he wanted to be with her, despite the difficulties that came with it.
Suddenly, a rustling sound behind him snapped Alarick out of his reverie. His wolf instincts kicked in and he went on high alert. But when he turned around, he saw Lina standing there with a shy smile on her lips. The wind blew through her hair, causing it to dance around her face as she tucked a stray strand behind her ear.
A rush of emotions flooded through Alarick as he stood there looking at her. He couldn't believe his eyes - was she really here? His wolf was practically howling with desire, but he forced himself to remain calm. "What are you doing out here?" She didn't reply, just gazing at him with those captivating eyes. Unable to hold himself back any longer, he ran towards her. She was just an arm's length away, but as he reached out to touch her, she suddenly disappeared into thin air.
But he couldn't shake the feeling that she was just here, in this very spot. Inhaling deeply, Alarick tried to calm his racing heart. Lina was human after all - she couldn't simply appear and disappear at will like that. He must be imagining things, his mind playing tricks on him due to his growing loneliness and longing for her. With a heavy heart, he started making his way back to the mansion where he would try once again to quell his yearning for the one person who seemed to understand him like no one else could.