For Love & Honour

Elara POV

Whoever came up with the idea of arranged marriages should be dragged out on the streets and have rotten tomatoes thrown at him but I have no say in this as I am currently in on this as well.

“First, Martina Roosevelt,” I started, moving back and forth the room.

Alec lets out a pained groan, throwing his head back to show his discontempt.”

“Lara…”

I paid him no attention as I continued. “She lives on the eastern edge of the pack. Her father, Mr Roosevelt owns a vast amount of land on which he harbors numerous successful businesses.” I tilt my head to the side as I put the file down, smirking. “That's quite impressive.”

Alec doesn't give me the satisfaction as he he shakes his head and shifts in his seat, still showing frustration at this situation. He has been condemned to the chair in his office, forces to listen to me read from a file, individual profiles that has details of who his future wife may be.

I am on file number one and his brows are furrowed just like when he is close to lashing out but he never does, well not around me though. Alpha’s need to marry. It is a tradition and Alex is failing at that.

“I am not interested,” he mutters, his beautiful eyes track me as I pace back and forth in front of him.

My finger trails along the page as my eyes read further down, grimacing at the description. “By the Sun gods, these descriptions are so detailed. Its is creepy.”

“I have been trying to get you to stop looking or even reading them.”

“Martina is apparently of medium height, four feet five inches to be precise.” I let out my breath. “The gods forbid they be exactly specific…has brown hair and brown, a shade of brown to black eyes.”

I glance yo from the page as Alec rubs his hands over his face.

Having him sitting here, at my whim will never not be exhilarating. There is so much power in this room, and it all belongs to him. Yet, I have a glorious amount of control over it.

It is the benefit of being the Alpha’s best friend. Well, his only friend since he kind of scares people away and I have been with him for a very long time.

“Is this all supposed yonmena something to me?” He raises a dark brown until it disappears beneath the length of his ruffled black hair. It is as dark as his name they speak of on the streets of Golden Pack.

“She has a tatoo though, its at the side of her boobs…” I rub my nose.

His eyes flare. “Do not tell me they added that.”

I smother my laugh behind my hand. He takes everything too seriously. Which is why I'm glad he has me because why so serious Alec?

“No, but whoever put this file into existence took every liberty describing each person to their latest flaw. Apparently Martina has excellent posture and doesn't know how to fight.” I straighten my own, knowing it probably needs some work.

His mother is trying to cater for his selectiveness, it seems. He insists he isn't picky, he is just not interested in marrying right now.

His gaze tracks my movements as I continue to pace around the room. “This is quite disturbing, El.”

“Most importantly, she had status amongst her perks, is softly spoken and polite,” I tell him. Some people find value in such traits, although some people aren't Alec and his face immediately turns sours suggesting he is not one of them.

“Okay…Trust me, none of that indulges me.”

I lower the file, tired. "Come on Alec. Give one of these poor ladies a chance. It is not her fault she has been bred to be married off to a wealthy, powerful man like you."

Alec and I have spent most of our childhood together. We practically went through teenage crisis together so I understand his mood swings from time to time even though he claims it to have one. We spent most of our teenage years chastising the customs and traditions that govern his life, and that of many others of noble birth.

We also spent an equal amount of time not being able to do anything about it. The one time we tried, it was a disaster so we gave up.

It is easy for me. I am no one. Although I go by different names. Elara to everyone, El or Lara to my close ones.

My mother came here ten years ago with me by her side, no money to her name, but eagerly looking to work for someone to cater for our needs. Alec's mother, Queen Latifah, graciously accepted my mother and gave her a work which is to be her personal assistant. But my mother died after two years of being her assistant and I took over the job.

"This girl doesn't have to worry about me marrying me,” Alec says bringing me out of my memories

I looked straight at him trying to coerce him. "But it says here that she has great horse riding skills and an good shape for birthing children."

He shakes his head, like he doesn't believe me. "Stop joking around El.”

“No seriously, see.” I turn the file around, pointing to where it was written on the page it was printed. “Whoever wrote this wrote it in preparation of how likely it is she will provide heirs.”

Alrc stretches his long legd out in front of him, massading his neck.

“This id torture, you know that El.”

“Fine.” I turned the page unto the next victim putting Martina’s file underneath. “Next is Rosetta Freeman,” I say out as I examine it

Alec lets out a loud groan which earned a gighle frkm me. “You’re enjoying this, arent tou.”

“I should say no and lie but yes, I am, a little bit.

“But im serious Elara, Stop.” Alec’s tone is firm enough that I actually oblige him. I knoe when yo push him, and when yo back off. And gim ysing my full name and not nickname is enough. It is why our friendship works so well.

"You know I really don't want to put you through this torture but your mother asked me to show these to you," I remind him, dropping my arms, although I still clutch the papers. He has to choose someone eventually. The people are already spreading rumours.

Even if he is looking at them like he's contemplating how quickly he can snatch and tear it all into pieces the moment it is in his grasp.

"I don't want to marry any of these women," he says again for the upneeth time. "Thus entire situation is not real."

I take a step towards him. "You're not interested in anyone. Are you sure? It had been four years since you became Alpha and tradition mandates that you marry within one year of assuming the position."

He rolls his eyes.

I get frustrated when he starts actingand shifting his mood when this comes up sometimes, until I remind myself of how miserable it must be to be faced with a union not built on love, but on power.

He hasn't confided in me that he's struggling with that aspect in particular. He doesn't need to. I can tell by how worn down he looks every time it is brought up.

Right now he looks practically ruined as he slumps in his chair, although still can not escape looking like the perfect Alpha. It might sound funny but over the years, many Alpha's have come and gone through this walls. None of which, in my opinion, compare to Alec.

I'm not saying this to flatter him though I have never said it out but his towering height assists with the intimidating looks that everyone claims he has. That and the fact that he's extrermely well-built, with muscles that are unmistakable, even when he is wearing his baggiest clothing.

But it goes further than that...It's his intensity, the quiet threat of danger that even I feel on certain occasions. I can't imagine what it feels like to be someone he actually wants dead.

What is most important for me to remember is that I can value him as an Alpha and a friend, but other than that, Alec is off limits.

Non-negotiable.

Yes, I admit that there have been more than one moment where I've admired Alec beyond what makes him a good friend. He's deliriously attractive, and even I'm not immune to it. He exudes raw s*x appeal, and has an intensity that would be impossible to escape if he ever became interested in me sexually.

He has never, not once, made an advance on me. We are strictly friends.

But on my end, I think I've always been in love with him, but I've never considered him sexually attractive until these recent years. Since he became Alpha, he's become quiet, harder to reach, yet simultaneously more fuckable.

What's wrong with me?

I know he doesn't see me that way. It feels wrong to fantasise sometimes, especially when our friendship means so much to me.

I'm assuming my attraction to him is based on nothing more than the fact that I can't have him. I mean, the forbidden fruit is always the sweetest. He is to be married, and not to someone like me.

"I am choosing my wife, someone that I would inherently spend the rest of my life sleeping next to, not my next outfit," he reclaims pointedly. "If I decide on anyone, it won't be based on some profile some creep put together to flaunt their supposed good sides."

I sigh, stepping close enough to pull his hair away from his face. He sighs as he removed my hand.

"How else will you meet your wife? You don't go to events. You only visit the town if your presence is needed to settle trouble, you turn away your face at any young woman who isn't me." I raise my brows, folding my arms over my chest.

He married his eyes slightly. "Hm."

"Then again, I doubt you see me as much of a woman," I joke, giving him a half smile.

I meant what I said. I doubt he has seen me close to a woman before. To him, I have always just been his best friend, his close confidant, not someone capable of being anything that resembles s*x appeal.

He does not say a word. Rather he stares blankly at me. Perhaps shocked by my words.

I dont pay him any satisfaction as I continued, ignoring the burning fire in his gaze. “You must marry a woman of noble birth, Alec. Or someone who is wealthy, or of a high status, someone who the public can accept of her status to be Luna.”

He tilts his head a lttile to the side. “Or someone that is my mate.”

I take a pause before responding. “I know. But finding only comes from you actually meeting people and getting to know them,” I remind him, giving him a wide smile that he only shakes his head at.

“Besides, how would they find you when you’re stuck staying inside and out on pack and kingdom meetings.”

Generally, the