- Everest -

"Your father is here, would you like for me to fetch him for you?" Heidi asked as she finished with my hair.

"No."

"I don't mean to pry, but it seems to me that you aren't extraordinarily close to your father." She sounded.

I sighed, "of course not...look, I know your alpha has money, power, respect, and titles...but I couldn't care less about any of those things. Neither Titus or I are ready to get married."

I could see she was getting ready to correct me for using his name so I quickly continued.

"I don't know how, but he lost the love of his life, it's completely unfair that he has to marry me." I left out the fact that I wasn't exactly amped to marry him no matter how nice he had been to me so far. "And because of our fathers we have been arranged to be married, so forgive me for being just a little bitter towards the both of them."

She remained silent.

"And another thing." I continued, "what is up with Phyllis?"

At this she laughed lightly. "She doesn't mean to be so...forward with others, but I suppose she's just grown a little too comfortable in her position here. You have to remember that there hasn't been very many females here at Graystone Mansion, so for so long she has been the one woman in charge."

"Well I'm here now."

"And here you shall stay" she agreed cheerfully. "I know she can be somewhat of a pill, but just try and respect her."

"I give my respect to people who respect me." I sounded.

"There."

I looked up and saw that she had finished brushing light amounts of makeup on my face, I was a doe eyed blushing bride...I looked the part, but was I actually ready to go through the with this?

"I can't believe this is happening." I whispered as I looked away from myself.

"I...I can't give you much advice, Alpha Graystone is his own unique person since Maggie's passing, and after tonight you two will know more about each other than you expected to while also creating a unique bond that he didn't have with her."

"Huh?" I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you telling me that they never had sex?"

A sad smile filled her face, "Alpha Graystone, for all that he is, has always been a gentleman, and his mate was a true lady with grandiose ideas of giving herself to her mate on the night of their Union."

"But?"

**

I actually jumped a bit at the sound of the unexpected knocking. Not even two seconds after the knocks did the door open.

Phyllis entered with her permanent sour face, her ashen hair pulled back in a sleek knot at the nape of her neck. "It's time."

I began to walk forward when she continued.

"I will take you down to meet everyone if you would follow me."

Once more I stepped forward, "I'm perfectly capable of walking myself downstairs, thank you." I was almost out the restroom door.

But Phyllis wasn't having it.

"I'm to walk you down." She stated as she grabbed a hold of my wrist.

I ripped my arm away from her grasp, "you will refrain from touching me Phyllis, you'll also do well to remember that your job is to manage the household and not me." I said with a small growl. "Now seeing as you are neither a council member nor one of my parents then I bid you a good evening."

And just like that I rushed passed her.

In truth I had realized I didn't know exactly where I was suppose to go, but I didn't have to look far as I found five men awaiting my arrival at the base of the grand staircase.

Every one of them was dressed sharply, my father smiled up at me but it wasn't his gaze who I looked to.

Now more than ever I was going to need Titus.

Only he knew how I truly felt about this arrangement as he too was going through the exact same thing.

His head raising slowly at the sound of my feet, a heavy brow lifting ever so slightly as he took in my appearance, a small smile teasing to come through...this was probably because my outfit was a huge improvement opposed to this afternoon at our meeting.

He stepped forward and met me on the second to last step.

"Miss Kirkshaw." He greeted me as he took my hand in his, I noticed for the first time that he was wearing leather gloves.

"A-Alpha Graystone." I acknowledged.

I let him lead us down the remainder of the stairs and then follow the older men into a room I had yet to enter.

The room was large and there was a small table, and only two chairs.

"It's time for the both of you to sign a multitude of paperwork." One of the council men said.

I took a seat and picked up a pen, Titus did the same. The first thing you will sign is the contract, both of you may read it if you'd like." The other council member said, "but essentially the contract states that you agree to marry each other and remain faithful to one another. In the fine print you will find that if anything happens to Titus, you Everest will remain on this land if you choose to but you will forever have Northern Stone pack protection...for this contract you will also have to sign an extra for Alpha Kirkshaw as well as one for council record."

We both nodded.

I already knew the only way out of this marriage was death. Unless both parties consented to a separation (like my dad and Rich's mom).

With hesitant hearts Titus and I looked at each other, "after you Everest."

I refrained from rolling my eyes and slowly brought my pen to the paper, I watched as my hand seemed to move of its own accord, ink scrolling over the paper as I perfectly signed my name. Once done it was his turn, and he too seemed to take care in his penmanship to prolong the inevitable.

"Very well." The Alpha Supreme sounded as he took the three contracts. "Now it is up to the both of you to decide if you would like to sign the marriage license before or after The Revealing, that choice is yours, but for now..." He stood up straight and used a deep voice "I Clifton Graystone, Alpha Supreme order the both of you to reveal everything about each other in an honest fashion as neither of you are allowed to enter into this marriage with secrets or unresolved issues."

"Now we'll leave you." One of the men sounded, and just like that Titus and I were left all alone.