Chapter 47

Jasper Hartford’s POV
Lizzy had been quiet since the meeting with my father last night, I didn’t like it. I wanted her to tell me about how she was feeling, I didn’t like being shut out like this. It was my job to look after her, how was I supposed to do that if she wouldn’t even talk to me.
One thing she had mentioned to me was that she was trying to think of a way of getting out of the arrangement my father had agreed to on her behalf. That was pretty much the only thing on my mind too. Even if I wasn’t a strong alpha like my father, I still had to protect my mate from people who were trying to hurt and use her.
“What is wrong with you? You have been distant all day.” Nico said as he sat down beside me.
I had somehow made it to the last lesson of the day without really speaking to anyone other than Lizzy. I was disappointed that I couldn’t make that last for just one more lesson. Also, why was my supposed future beta the only one who couldn’t tell when I didn't want to be disturbed.
“It’s my father, he has agreed that Lizzy and I would do something which we need to somehow get out of.” I replied.
I hoped that I would be able to leave it at that but Nico didn’t seem willing to let it go. He insisted that I told him everything, not sparing any of the details even though he was clearly annoyed by what I had to say. I kept my voice low so that nobody else in the room could hear our conversation but even so I was glad when Nico’s growls sent everyone else running out of the room.
“You can’t let him get away with this, we have to do something.” Nico replied.
Talk about stating the obvious, I knew I had to do something but that was much easier said than done. Alpha Graves wasn’t exactly giving us a lot of choice, he made it clear that trying to defy him would only make things worse for both Lizzy and our pack.
“What do you suggest? I don’t want to risk people in our pack getting killed.” I replied.
“I think we need to leave.”
His words filled me with anger. Did he really think that it was a good idea to leave the pack and abandon everyone else to their fate? Didn’t he see how messed up that was? An involuntary growl left my throat, Nico laughed and held up his hands as a sign of mock surrender.
“Hear me out, if we leave and start our own pack then they would have no reason to attack your father’s pack.” He told me.
“But where would that leave us? I don’t know how many people would come with us but it certainly wouldn’t be enough to stand against the Graves pack and their allies.” I reasoned. It was simple maths, the Graves pack had thousands of strong warriors and we wouldn’t stand a chance against them.
“There are a couple of large packs near where I was planning to go to university who are very progressive. If I told them what was happening then I am certain they would support us.” He replied.
“Contact them, we need to have everything in place before this time next week.” I said, just as the teacher walked into the room. Nico nodded his head in agreement. I spent the rest of that hour planning everything that we would need to have in place before we left the pack while pretending to pay attention to the lesson going on around me.
It was going to be difficult to pull all of this off without raising suspicions from my father. We were going to need lots of help from Nico and Adam if we were going to arrange everything in one week. Once my lesson was over I started heading back towards my car, eager to speak to Lizzy so I could share our plan with her.
By the time I was halfway across the car park I noticed someone leaning against my car. I didn’t recognise them but judging from the way they were dressed and the way they were holding themselves I guessed that they were an alpha. Seeing him leaning against my car as if he owned it made me want to lose my temper but I had to reign myself in. If he really was an alpha then he could easily kick my ass.
“Who are you and why are you touching my car.” I asked.
“I knew this would be your car Jasper, it is the most expensive car in the parking lot. Just like you it is all show and no substance.” He answered, without actually answering either of my questions.
‘This guy takes arrogance to a whole new level.’ Garnet said with a groan.
“Fine, I am predictable. Are you going to tell me what is going on here?” I replied, rolling my eyes at him. I probably shouldn’t have been so blatantly disrespectful to an alpha when I was in the position I was in but I couldn’t stop myself. He was pushing me too far at a time when I was already stressed.
“I’m Michael Graves. My father told me that you weren’t particularly happy with our arrangement so I decided to come here to keep an eye on you. Besides, it gives me the opportunity to get to know the future mother of my children.” He said.
“This is ridiculous. Can’t you at least give us this week to come to terms with all of this?”
I was quickly losing my temper. Even if I wasn’t counting on this week to make plans for us leaving the pack, I didn’t want this man anywhere near my mate. Sensing my discomfort Michael smirked at me and ran his fingers through his hair. I wouldn’t be surprised if this man had specifically decided to come here just to annoy me and Lizzy.
“Trust me this will be easier if Lizzy and I got to know each other first. Who knows, she might end up enjoying it.” He replied, winking at me.
Garnet rushed forward in my mind, trying to take over my body so he could wring this arrogant alpha’s neck. It took every ounce of my self control to stop him from taking over my body. I was pretty sure that my eyes were glowing because Michael’s smirk was even more pronounced now.
“Careful Jasper, you wouldn’t want me to show you up in front of your whole pack, would you?”
Just as I was wondering if hitting him would be worth the inevitable humiliation, Lizzy walked up from behind me. She took one look at Michael and I, then scowled at both of us.
“Elizabeth, it’s an honour to finally meet you. My father insisted that I got to know you before you joined our pack for a while. I hope you don’t mind me staying with you for the week.” He said, practically purring at her. It was as though he had suddenly morphed into a completely different person. He was smiling sweetly at Lizzy while he took her hand and kissed it, seeing him acting like this was almost enough to make me want to throw up.
“This really isn’t necessary.” Lizzy replied, blushing and trying to take her hand back.
“I know, I know. I tried to tell him that but he insisted. Oh well, at least everyone here seems really nice so far. You wouldn’t mind giving me a lift to your house would you?”
He flattered his eyelashes at her. What was that all about? Did he really think that made him look charming?
Garnet wanted me to do something very violent to him for flirting with my mate in front of me but I could see what he was trying to do. He wanted me to overreact so that I was the one who looked irrational when I told her what he was really like later tonight.
Lizzy agreed to let him come with us. She even agreed to ride in the back of my car with him which really annoyed Garnet. I wanted to scream at her not to trust him but I had to bite my tongue until I got her alone again. For the time being I focused on driving and planning for our escape.
Michael’s presence was going to make it harder for us to get away. It wasn’t as though he was going to let Lizzy and I just walk out of the pack without a fight. We would either have to either leave in the middle of the night or work out some kind of distraction.
We still had some time to work out the specifics. There was one thing for sure however, meeting Michael had made me even more determined not to submit to their will. Getting Lizzy far away from this man was now my one and only priority. I would do whatever it took.