CHAPTER 3 Pay Me to Be Your Mate? 

Mia's POV

Alpha Thomas's Beta grabs a hold of my elbow and tries to steer me out of the ballroom but I yank my arm out of his grasp.

"I am not going anywhere with you," I sneer at Alpha Thomas and his Beta.

"Perhaps we should just let the girl go," his Beta tries to be the voice of reason.

Alpha Thomas pinches the bridge of his nose and lets out a frustrated sigh. "I only want to speak with her in private. I do not plan on kidnapping her. After I speak with you, Miss Turner, you are free to leave."

I look at the two men that are standing in front of me. They couldn't be any more different from one another. Alpha Thomas has a mischievous look in his hazel eyes. His dirty blonde hair is pulled back into a low, messy bun a the base of his head. I can see the definition of his muscles through his neatly ironed dress shirt. Even though I would never admit it out loud, he is really attractive for an older man.

His Beta on the other hand is tall and lanky. He has a serious and worried look in his eyes. It is clear that he is not comfortable with Alpha Thomas's plan to speak to me alone.

Chewing on my bottom lip, I stare at Alpha Thomas as I, try to decide if he is trustworthy. Alpha Thomas refuses to break eye contact. There is a small smirk that is playing on his lips and I cannot help but wonder what he is thinking.

"Give me five minutes," Alpha Thomas says. "I think I have an arrangement that will suit the both of us."

"Five minutes," I say sternly. "They will notice if I am gone longer than that."

I peek over my shoulder and see Alpha Richard, talking animatedly to my stepmother. Not wanting to wait around to hear what Madison has to say, I bolt out of the ballroom door with Alpha Thomas and his Beta quickly on my heels. I rush out into the parking lot and instantly realize that I don't know where I am going.

I come to an abrupt stop and Alpha Thomas runs into my back. My body lurches forward but before I hit the ground two strong arms wrap around my waist and pull me upright. Alpha Thomas presses me against his chest until I find my footing and I swear my skin tingles slightly under his touch.

The scent of sandalwood envelopes my senses and I swear it makes my mouth want to water. I don't know what this man is doing to me but I don't like it. His hot breath fans against my neck and it causes goosebumps to spread over every inch of my body.

"I am sorry," he whispers next to my ear.

Pulling myself out of his arms, I brush my hands over my ugly, yellow dress and try to compose myself. "Which one is your car?" I ask him, ignoring the look of lust that is in his hazel eyes.

Alpha Thomas points in the direction of a black Mercedes. The lights flash as he unlocks the doors. Alpha Thomas's Beta opens the passenger side door and waits for me to slide in the front see. The door slams beside me and it causes me to jump in my seat.

Sliding into the driver's side, Alpha Thomas lets out a sigh.

"What about your Beta?" I ask. His scent is quickly filling the inside of the car and it is becoming overwhelming.

"He is waiting outside," Alpha Thomas says shortly.

Swallowing the lump that is stuck in the back of my throat, I nod my head curtly.

"Let's get down to business," he says seriously. "I think we are both in a predicament that neither one of us wants to be in."

"I don't know what you mean?" I say holding my head high.

"You mean to tell me that you want to be set up with one of those old fuckers in there?" Alpha Thomas laughs loudly.

"Well... No," I admit. "I would rather not be set up with anyone. I want to wait for my fated mate."

"This is where I come in," he says with a smile. "I am being pressured by my elders to choose a second chance mate. That is not something that I am interested in doing."

"What does that have to do with me?" I ask as I cross my arms over my chest.

"I propose you become my second chance mate," Alpha Thomas says like it is no big deal.

I cannot stop the cackle that escapes from my lips. "Have you lost your mind? You just told me that you aren't interested in a second chosen mate."

"That's the beauty of it. For a year, we will pretend to be madly in love. At the end of the year, we get a quick divorce, I will give you a large sum of money, and you are free to find your fated mate."

My eyes widen in shock. "You can't be fucking serious," I say offended. "You want to PAY me to be your mate?"

"You are focusing on the wrong thing," Alpha Thomas growls. "I am giving you an out from your family. It is no secret that you are not the favorite of the three daughters."

Before I realize what is happening, I reach up my hand and slap him across the face. Alpha Thomas holds his cheek but he doesn't look wounded as I hoped. In fact, his eyes are sparkling even more than they were before.

"I am sorry that I kissed you." I can feel the tears beginning to well up in my eyes. "You can take it up with my stepmother Madison if I caused you too much trouble. Now if you don't mind I would like to leave now."

I try to push the door open but Alpha Thomas's Beta holds it closed. I look over my shoulder and glare in Alpha Thomas's direction. "Tell him to let me out, now."

"She can go," Alpha Thomas says loudly and his Beta opens the door and sets me free.

I begin to storm back toward the ballroom when his Beta grabs me by the arm. "Alpha Thomas wanted me to let you know that he will be visiting your pack soon."

I rip my arm out of his grasp and growl at him. He chuckles lightly before he walks away.

As I walk back into the ballroom I see my stepmother waiting for me in the entryway. Rolling my eyes out of habit I know that she is angry because I kissed Alpha Thomas and perhaps caused a problem with Alpha Richard. But I could care less, the last person that I will end up with is Alpha Richard.