Her Arranged Alpha Husband by Alicia Banks
Chapter 5
Ben
While he was taking a walk around the village at night, there were drumbeats and music in the far off. The sound was carrying through the canyons and when he turned into his wolf, it became quite easy to follow. His mind was on Teri, and he knew without knowing, that she was going to be where the sound was coming from. It was all he could think about and once he found the source of the ethereal sound, he realized it was coming from Teri. She was drawing him in the middle of the night, into a canyon with her and several other women, all nude. His eyes were immediately drawn to his future mate, whose body was delectable.
Teri’s black hair was dark and long, flowing down her body and covering some of her most prized pieces from his view. Long legs would come from underneath her long hair, as would peeks of her nipples and soft breasts. Ben’s eyes were drawn to her body, and he watched it move to a rhythm. All of the naked women were singing and dancing in the same way, but he couldn’t get his eyes off of Teri. She was so beautiful, andhis body was immediately ready for her. Fate had given him a perfect wife, and he was going to cherish her as soon as he could get his hands on her.
Teri and her dancers all went to the ground onto their back, humping up into the air. His eyes were transfixed by their movement and there was nothing he could do but watch. He wanted to go down there, join in, and enjoy his wife. She was already his as far as Ben was concerned, so it wouldn’t be that big of a sin to get a taste while he was getting to know her. It wasn’t unheard of and though it was frowned upon by most, he was going to be Alpha, so no one would say a word to him. All he had to do was go down there.
Ben thought long and hard about it, seeing her in such a way, totally void of clothes and concern. She didn’t know that he was there, watching her. It was one of the best sights of his life, and the anticipation to mate with such a beautiful and free woman was more than he could handle.
Suddenly, as if on cue, the song stopped, and Teri looked up to the ridgeline and to him. He didn’t budge, their eyes meeting. He was in beast mode, but she knew it was him. There was a submission in her eyes that he was willing to do about anything to see close up. He wanted to go down there to her so badly but knew that she would just run off. Teri didn’t have to make it easy for him to get to know her.
The singing started again, a haunting sound that he learned was his future mate. Not only was she gorgeous, but talented as well. He was already thinking about what it would be like to be with her. She was going to make him rich in so many ways. What would it be like to have her doing those dances just for him? He couldn’t wait to find out, as long as he could figure out how to soften her.
Teri danced and sang in a sultry way that kept his heart beating fast. Ben wasn’t sure what was going on with the two of them, what the friction was that he could feel, but he knew that he had to have her, sooner rather than later. She ignored him after her song started. He had no idea what ritual they were doing, but it was beautiful, and he watched it all the way through. Teri never looked back up there to him though, not once. He tried hard to get her attention, but she wasn’t giving it. Instead, she just went about what she was doing. Ben wanted to talk to her, needed to almost, but it was made clear that she wasn’t going for it. He would have to find another way to get close to Teri.
His mouth was dry when it was over, and he walked slowly back to where he was meant to be. Ben’s heart wasn’t going to forget how she made him feel. He had no clue what was going to happen next, but he was ready. Fate was right. He and Teri were meant to be together.
***
Ben looked for Teri early in the morning. He had a feeling that she was hiding from him in the daytime but was likely coming back to the village at night. After what he’d seen the other night, there was nothing holding him back from getting to her. It was clear that she wasn’t ready to fall to her knees in love with him just yet, but there was something there. Ben could feel it.
He waited on the bluffs for activity early in the morning. When he saw her getting out of her house, Ben sighed to himself. It was clear that whatever was going to happen between them was going to be his responsibility to make it work. She was nervous and he had to make her feel alright. He wanted her, badly, but going slow may be the only way that he got her in the way that mattered. If she didn’t want him, then none of it mattered. Ben didn’t want a reluctant bride.
So instead of trying to convince her that he was the one, he did all he could to learn her ways and customs. He wanted to know enough to bring her relief when she missed her family. It was clear that she would by how much she was loved by all.
He wanted to be with her, introduce himself and talk to her, but Teri didn’t want to talk. As the twenty-one days went by and he didn’t get not one chance to be face to face with her close up, Ben had to do what he could in other ways. He had never followed someone around and watched them before, but that was the only way that Ben was going to get through his fix with Teri. He needed her, had to have her, but the only thing that stayed the same his whole visit, was the fact that Teri kept her distance. He had to admire her for it, even if it drove him nuts. It also made him realize that Teri was likely going to be a handful when they were finally mated. She was likely trying to push him away, scare him with her antics, but that wasn’t the case at all.
It made Ben sure beyond a reasonable doubt that Teri was exactly who he wanted. He hadn’t had much faith on the Fates being right, but they were. Teri was it, and he hadn’t even kissed her yet to know. They hadn’t even touched, but Ben was convinced that she was the woman he waited for. It was a strange feeling to love a stranger and that’s what she was.
The day of the mating ceremony came, and Ben was anxious. He was finally going to get to see Teri up close and have her in his arms. It was literally all he had thought about his whole time there. Teri’s father and mother came to see him the day of. They informed Ben that Teri was getting ready, and the ceremony would go on like it was supposed to.
“The Fates are always right.”
Evelyn nodded her head, as did Ross, but he was surprised that his daughter was there getting ready. He really thought that he was going to have to chase her down. He was so glad that he didn’t have to do it and there was actually a smile on his face. “Yes, Fates. I worried for a time that my daughter’s stubbornness would be stronger than Fates.”
Ben chuckled, but he could see that his new bride was going to be a handful. Ben didn’t mind the spirit, it was going to make it interesting, but seeing her own parents worried about it was telling. Teri really was a free spirit, which meant that Ben was going to have to convince her that he was freedom too. It might be hard to do, considering that their relationship started with so much being given up for him. She was going to lose everything, and Ben was still trying to find a way to soften the blow.
It was a hard subject to think about, especially when the two of them being together officially was so close. He didn’t want to go into the mating ceremony still strangers, but Teri had been sure to make that happen. He regretted that.
