The Challenge Two Alphas, One Girl

Elizabeth’s POV Flashback

“You can’t expect to marry someone like that Elizabeth, not when an Alpha is interested!” Exclaimed Grandmother, clutching her pearls and fixing my hair.

“But…is the Alpha really interest in me though?” I had to ask. I frownedt myself in the mirror. I was all dolled up by my mother’s specifications. There were rumours that the Alpha had a mate already, a rogue of all people. No one seemed to know exactly who it was. There were just whispers.

“You’re either important enough to be talked about or you’ll talk about others,” said my mother, walking into the room with a necklace she wanted me to wear. sighed. I had promised Cody I would meet him near the edge of the woods on our estate. That was where we usually met. He was our groundskeeper’s son and my father hated everything about him. My mother went along with whatever father thought. I wanted Cody to glimpse me all dressed up. I liked seeing his eyes light up when he looked at me. Alpha Malachi did not look at me like that though he smiled and was a polite and incredibly powerful and rich gentleman. I escaped the fussing of my mother and grandmother and stole down the stairs.

Cody was my mate but I had not accepted him yet. I had not fully rejected him either. I had left it up in the air. My parents threatened me with a life of hardship: disinheritance! I shuddered. I was too young then to know there were worse things. I spotted him chopping wood about a mile from the main house. He was tall and powerfully built. I was nineteen and he was a bit older but not by much. I had never even asked him his age. He split a huge piece of wood. He cleaved another. He was in overalls as usual with a grimy shirt underneath. He was sweating, the sheen of it coated his tanned skin. His blue eyes focused on the task at hand. His sandy brown hair was tousled. Mother thought he was an eyesore but I found him a sight for sore eyes even messy like this. Iedged closer and I knew when he had smelled I was there because he paused and stiffened. His face broke into a smile.

I came out from my hiding place in my gown shyly approaching him. “You’re not gonna twirl for me,” he teased, grinning. I shook my head, covering my face with my hands, hiding my huge smile and blushing cheeks. End of flashback

I sighed. Maze returned to my booth. He was going on and on about the Friday lookalike and his conspiracy theories. It was so odd how I loved how much he looked like his father although I had never really been that close with his father. I would never have had Mazey if I had married…

“Cody!” I breathed. I spotted him or perhaps smelled him immediately. It was unmistakably him, though older with laugh lines and dressed professionally, not in work overalls.

Igripped True’s arm nervously. She held my hand from across the table. Maze stiffened and glared at Cody. He reminded me precisely of his father and how he had acted at seeing Cody, having the nerve to be jealous despite also having a mate. I forgave Maze instantly though. He was my son. His annoyance was different, more protective than possessive.

“Lizzie!” Said Cody softly as though he could scarcely believe his eyes. I could hardly believe mine. I had been convinced that he would not show up. True outed me   Long-Lost…

“She thought you weren’t gonna show up!” Said True just as Friday returned from the bathroom, escorted by Thaddeus so Maze would have to stop his conspiracy theories anyway. He instructed me and Thaddeus’ parents that we not tell Friday he was planning on visiting her mother and Malachi. I had signed the papers, the divorce papers. Right there in the club, to Maze’s utter surprise. He almost tried to stop me, uncomfortable with how ready my agreement was. Good riddance.

Maze kept a hand on my arm as I should up to hug Cody. He was reminding me of the days where he would always have a tiny handful of my long skirt as he followed me about the house. I had thought him lonely but Malachi had only wanted one. One son!

Cody embraced me warmly. He hugged me so tightly. His hug alone made me feel better than I had in weeks. I buried my nose in his chest. I peaked up at him, blushing slightly, my eyes wide. He broke into a gtin.

“Still shy after all these years,” laughed Cody. Maze’s POV

My mother was acting like a giddy school girl over some random guy. I took a deep breath. I had to be happy for her. I heard a little voice in my head. My Friday. I looked at her. Her doe eyes were on me, her expression concerned

breaking up. You’re allowed to be upset even though it was doomed from

all four of our parents. I remembered that the heartbroken parent on my end, my mother, had only been drunk a few times and snippy at people, not shot someone, likely sentencing himself to death and then skipped town forever. I kept forgetting that Friday and her brothers had all essentially lost their father or would lose him soon enough. They probably felt like he was dead already. I drew Friday closer to me, relinquishing my mother’s hand so she could hug that guy properly. nuggled into me and my wolf purred. He had stopped hating

alone time with her…guy,” said True. Lord Timbre raised his glass to that and allowed his wife to lead him to the dance

dancing,” insisted

a latin number. They had even requested specific music from the DJ. He announced them! Thaddeus was too tall to hide behind anyone even me. He groaned and Friday rubbed his chest soothingly. The seductive music began and the

track. The audience even gasped at a few lifts that they did while Thaddeus sighed and Friday

Elizabeth’s POV

relieved for once to see Mazey go off with Friday. I settled into the booth with Cody. He was quiet, pensive now that we

I blurted out. “Sorry is the first thing I want to say,”

shocked. I had wronged him plain as day. I recalled it so

him touch me though. The Alpha, Malachi, would smell him on me if I did. Time passed quickly and Malachi, whom I had gotten to know and whose father was close with my own father, proposed with a huge glamorous ring. I gasped. 7 was floored by the ring but nervous about marrying someone I felt I barely knew. My friends thought I was crazy, saying they would jump at the chance to be Luna, the highest-ranked she-wolf in the pack! I remembered Cody’s face when

opened the window. He was in his pyjamas. I had never seen him in anything but work overalls before. I smiled wistfully, fighting back tears, scared of what he would say. We had never even kissed. He was relatively a stranger

I know! But I’ll work hard! I won’t ever let you go without!

thought of all the money that had been spent, the invitations had all went out. Everyone would be at church tomorrow and I would wed the Alpha and

sprang up in my lower tummy instantly as our skin touched. He wrapped me in his arms, squeezing me so

now,” I said stalling. “When?”

It was.

you at your cottage in the morning with my stuff packed,” I said, not knowing what had come over

He asked

I would?

down on mine and the fire he evoked in me threatened to consume me. I broke the kiss but I let him hold me for a long time. He left, reminding me to pack my stuff. He offered

I did not go to meet Cody. He climbed into my window again when I was alone in my white

my wedding dress. He unveiled me. I looked at him, mortified that he would force me to go off with him. He

, ” was all he said, emphasising each word, as a tear escaped

force me which was what I had feared. He left, climbing out of my window. Though he left, fear gripped me anyway. My she-wolf was heartbroken. / was very good at ignoring her so I did just that. When the wedding was over, Cody was gone. He had quit and left. He did