Betrothed To An Alpha? I Don’t Think So!

Evelyn Darkwood stared at the sprawling height of her father's estate.

It'd been more than a year since she came here, and even during his funeral, she hadn't graced this place.

Her cheeks hollowed as she slurped her boba tea, making her way into the building. She took the stairs to the second floor, and the very second she stepped out into the large living room, she was met with not just one, but all three of her siblings. 

Brandon Darkwood.

Lyra,

And of course, Preston, the most stuck-up of the three and the eldest. 

She, on the other hand, was the youngest, the alienated one, which…they didn't seem to like very much, not with those frowns on their faces as if an imposter just walked in. 

"Why are you wearing sunglasses inside?" Lyra seemed irritated. 

Evelyn rolled her eyes. "Because I want to?" 

The oldest, Preston Darkwood, narrowed his gaze, frowning. "Drink, really? At our father's will reading?" 

"What do you mean?"

"You are drinking at our own father's will reading, Evelyn!" 

"You've got to be kidding me." Evelyn composed herself, every trace of amusement vanishing from her face. "It's boba tea. Just boba tea! Do you have to bite at me for everything?" 

He examined her from head to toe like she was some pest unworthy to breathe the same air as him, and looked away, scoffing loud enough she heard. 

Brandon was the only one silent, but he wasn't lacking that derisive glint in his gray eyes. Just like every other one of them, he thought of her as unequal to them, as if she didn't belong in the family. 

They looked down on her—have constantly done so since they were kids. Isolated her. And it never changed, not even after they all grew up. 

Though she didn't care that much anymore at age twenty-two, now she wished she could get a punch at any of their faces, even if just once.

Her phone pinged. And she looked at the message. 

[Evelyn, will you be okay over there?] It was her best friend, Amber. 

She responded. (Yeah. I must be here. I'll be fine, this shouldn't take more than an hour. Once we're done over here, I'll see myself out and go out on a nice date with my boyfriend)

She pocketed the phone the second the door pushed open, the lawyer walking in. Geralt Harth. He'd been the family's legal counsel—one her father had never once thought of replacing. 

Behind him was another man. 

Her uncle, Mr. Lincoln. What was he doing here? To serve as a witness to this will reading?

It wasn't even just him, but there were other presences within this room. Tight business partners of her father. Big, powerful men.

"Everyone, please take your seat," Mr. Geralt said. 

Evelyn sprawled on one of the sofas, slurping a mouthful of her boba tea. Her siblings seemed irritated by the sound, but at this point, who cared?

"Thank you all for being here today for the reading of the last will of Sage Darkwood," Mr. Geralt, who'd taken his seat at the only desk within the living room, spoke. "This is a public will reading as you've all been notified. Surprising, yes, but this is what Sage Darkwood wanted, and so I will begin with personal assets. Last shall be followed by his corporation, The Darkwood Group."

The room was silent so much you might hear a pin drop. 

Brandon and Lyra were on edge. 

Preston, however, seemed unbothered, confident even, because he knew that corporation was going to his and no one else. Everyone could already guess. 

"I leave my only acre of land to Brandon Darkwood," Mr. Geralt read. 

Evelyn stared. 

This estate, including one other, was given to Lyra. 

So far, she hasn't gotten a dime—not that she came expecting any. She wasn't exactly a favorite.

Mr. Geralt paused reading. 

Was that it? 

Well, at least this was all over, and she could leave.

Grabbing her drink, she rose to her feet, making her way to the door.

"Is this it?" she heard Preston ask. "What about the company? TDG?"

"Young master Preston, you should calm—"

"Geralt, don't tell me that my father didn't give out TDG. Look properly in those documents! What are those stupid glasses on your face for?" he snapped, getting agitated.

Geralt swallowed, lowering his gaze to the documents again.

"Sir, TDG is here…"

"Then what the hell is the problem?" Prestion question.

Geralt was reluctant, crossing eyes with Evelyn who'd stopped and turned at the commotion.

"No one is going to be pleased about Sage Darkwood's decision. So I'll like to make it clear that what I'm about to read is exactly what he penned down," he said pointedly. "None of this has anything to do with me as I'm only doing my job as the family's legal counsel—"

"No one cares," Lyra scoffed, irritated. "Get to the point."

"Alright," Geralt picked up from where he stopped, blowing out a breath. "I, Sage Darkwoood, leave the entirety of the Darkwood Group to my daughter—"

Preston and Brandon furrowed their brows. 

Daughter? What?

They both look at Lyra. 

A smile spread immediately on Lyra's face, and she rose from her chair. 

"—Evelyn Veora Darkwood."