Payment To the Alpha

Avery's POV

Yesterday was lovely. We walked around the estate and James showed me everything there was to see, it was huge. It had its own medical facility as well as a few smaller stores for groceries and such. No more than twenty minutes north of the estate there was a small village that apparently James is in charge of.

Another twenty minutes away from there was a shopping mall, cafes, library, and a school where all of the village kids go.

The mansion itself was gigantic as well, with 38 bedrooms and each of them with its own adjoining bathroom. There was a movie theater and a huge kitchen where everyone either helps to cook or they cook their own food, breakfast is always made by a woman, that's all I heard because no one would give me details about the woman.

James informed me that tonight there was a gathering, a ball of sorts where I would meet everyone, excitement wouldn't be my first word to describe how I felt about it. Anxiety would be more appropriate.

They were all gathered in the dining hall for breakfast. James wasn't down yet. I moved out of his room yesterday and into my own for my stay here. I didn't feel comfortable sharing a bed with a man I don't really know. Plus, whenever I saw him I wanted to jump his bones so I'm pretty sure seeing him without a shirt would do no good to my cravings.

Everyone who lived in the mansion was at the two tables downstairs, having breakfast, I asked who they all were and all I got as an answer was that they are all like a big family. The vague answer, yet again.

I had showered and gotten dressed, taking a few deep breathes before walking downstairs to join the others. Amber was up here earlier telling me to get ready and not be nervous. Easier said than done.

I walked out of my room and towards the staircase. There was a long hall leading to the two staircases that went in a circular way and in the middle downstairs was a table with a beautiful flower arrangement on it. I made my way downstairs and took a left, through the kitchen and into the dining hall. As I entered, all eyes fell on me and I felt like I was about to throw up, ruining the meal for everyone.

Two guys start tumbling towards me, dragging each other back so the other won't reach me.

"Hi, I'm Michael!"

"Hi, I'm Adam!" They both screamed as they reached out to their hands for me to shake.

I giggled as they started patting each other's hands away.

"Hello boys. I'm Avery, it's nice to meet you," I responded, not shaking either of their hands as I was scared they'd accidentally rip it off.

They just stood there staring, and I looked around the room trying to connect my eyes to anyone that could help me.

"So do you have a boyfriend? How old are you? Where are you from? Are you coming to the ball tonight? Would you like a date?" The questions poured out of them as we stood in our places. My mind feeling a bit unsteady and I would love to sit down right now.

"ENOUGH!" I hear a loud roar coming from behind me and I jump at the sound. I froze as all eyes fell behind me and the two guys in front of me slowly steped back.

A strong arm wrapped around my waist and pulls me closer to a big, warm, and big, oh did I say big, body and when I look to my side to see who it is, it is none other than James himself. His eyes piercing those of Adam and Michael. "She's going with me. Enough questions. Go sit." Those were the only words he uttered that made the guys scatter and take their seats, everyone then continued eating and talking as normal.

James takes his other hand and pushes back my hair behind my ear and leans down, he whispers softly, seductively, "I see you have admirers. Let's hope they do not become a problem. I will take care of them if they do. There are many eyes on you baby. Perhaps tonight is going to be harder than I thought." His hand tightened around my waist with each word he spoke. My panties are destroyed, soaking wet at his words and the touch of this man is turning me into a blob. I close my eyes as I feel his hand caress my cheek.

Wait a minute, he called me baby? Holy crap he called me baby?!

I pushed away as I fought to catch my breath, all I really wanted was to rip off his clothes but I needed to think straight, and to do that, he couldn't touch me.

"Listen here Mr. I am not your baby. Did you get that? I will accompany you tonight but do not under any circumstances think that you own me! That I belong to you! Because I don't. Please do not call me baby... What are you doing?" I whisper scream at him as he steps towards me, I refuse to move and stand my ground, he comes so close that our bodies are rubbing against each other and he leans down, grabs my chin roughly, and forces me to look at him.

"You're cute when you're serious, you know that?" That was all he said with a grin on his face before he let me go and made his way to the table, grabbing some food while pulling out the chair next to him, motioning for me to come and sit. I roll my eyes and go sit beside him.

I was in my room sitting on the bed and reading on my phone when a wave of frustration washed over me and I tossed my phone to the side of the bed.

Something was off, I could feel it in my gut. I was not supposed to be here. The feeling continued to grow as well as the frustration slowly growing stronger. The ball was tonight... I had no idea how to feel about it, why did I have to meet everybody when I was only staying for a few days? Everything was circling my mind and I felt like I was going to pass out.

I decided to get my shit together and go take a hot bath, perhaps after that, I'll feel better.

I went to the adjoining bathroom and turned on the water, putting in a bath bomb I found in one of the drawers underneath the sink. I stripped off my clothes and got in the tub, freezing while I let the water fill the tub and warm me little by little.

I had just dried off and gotten dressed in a plain white t-shirt and a pair of jeans when a knock on my door interrupted my thoughts about tonight.

"Come in!"

I waited for whoever was knocking to step in, and just as I started walking towards the door to open it, the door flew open and Amber came sprinting in, clapping her hands, jumping up and down in glee.

"TONIGHT'S THE BAAAALL!!!" She yelled as she took my hands and wanted me to join in on the excitement. However, the confused and unamused look on my face made her joyfulness fade quickly... and I felt like I had killed Bambi or something by the way Amber was looking at me, with her big doe eyes and lips hanging.

"I'm sorry Amber, it's great that you're excited... I'm just not."

I said in the hopes that she would stop looking at me like a sad puppy and just accept the way I felt about the situation, which was apparently hoping for too much.

"What do you mean you're not excited?! You have to be, it's a BALL!?" She said it like it was going to change my mind. I let go of her hands and walked to the bed, sitting on the edge, facing Amber.

"I'm sorry, I'm just not that thrilled, plus I have this really bad feeling in my gut that's telling me something is wrong." I noticed Amber stiffen at my words but quickly relaxed and composed herself.

"I know this is probably something you're not used to, and after what happened at breakfast I'm sure you're even more reluctant to go, but please, it will be fun, I promise. We will get ready together, I will lend you a dress and just for tonight, let go of all your worries and allow yourself to have fun, no strings attached," Amber said with a comforting smile on her face.

I must say, hearing Amber's speech did put my mind to ease a little bit and the way she described it, us getting dolled up together, did sound like fun.

"Alright let's do it, but I must warn you, I'm not used to formal gatherings like this, but you did make this night sound a lot more fun than it did 10 minutes ago so, let's." At my words Amber started jumping and cheering again, telling me how much fun this was going to be.

We sat in my room talking for about an hour before she told me she had to go but that the hair and makeup personnel would be here at 6, helping us get ready and the ball was at eight, then she left.

I looked at my phone to see the time was only 12 so I decided to go downstairs and see what the rest of the people were doing.