An Alpha's Fortune: Fated Mates Romance (Kismet Dating Agency Book 1) Read online

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  An Alpha’s Fortune: Fated Mates Romance

  Kismet Dating Agency Book I

  By: Haley Weir

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  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Epilogue

  Where to Read More From Haley Weir & Get Free Books

  About the Author

  Chapter One

  Destiny Falls, Alaska

  Casey Hartley looked in the rearview mirror and grimaced as she caught a glimpse of her reflection. After hours flying coach between a crying infant and a snoring businessman, she looked—and felt—like something that crawled out from under a dumpster. She shook off the insecurities and glanced back at the long stretch of road between the airport and the small town of Destiny, Alaska. Her phone rang just as the buildings came into sight. Casey swiped her thumb across the screen and hit the speaker-phone button. "What's up, Liv?"

  "Where are you? I'm freezing. Who chooses to vacation in Alaska?"

  "I thought it would be good to get away and celebrate my promotion," Casey replied.

  "So, this has nothing to do with the house you got in the divorce?" The sounds of Olivia's shivering and clicking teeth filled the car. "How'd the last meeting with the lawyers go, by the way?"

  "It was fine. We decided to split everything equally and just part ways. Ty and I got tired of fighting the inevitable." Casey turned left towards the boat docks. She pulled to a stop and waved to Olivia. The spunky redhead hung up the phone and slid into the passenger seat.

  "What's planned for the trip?" her friend asked excitedly.

  "Just a relaxing getaway with the girls."

  Olivia groaned and flipped down the mirror to check the bags beneath her eyes. "Sounds boring. Maybe we should do karaoke or go to a strip club?"

  "The last thing I want is to get drunk in public and embarrass myself when I'm about to become the face of a multi-million-dollar corporation." Casey's gaze wandered around the streets as they passed by shops and charming homes. Something about Destiny just felt right. "What are you doing for work now?"

  Olivia wore a smile that made Casey regret that she asked. "Sex therapist."

  "Seriously?" She felt herself blush from head to toe. Casey couldn't imagine discussing such personal things with strangers. "That's…definitely interesting."

  "I'm always looking for a new adventure." Olivia propped her feet up on the dash and babbled about the lack of fun to be had in town as she flipped through a travel brochure. "These people could use me in their life if they think fishing is exciting."

  "Come on, Liv, look at the mountains and the fields. Alaska is beautiful. And you always said you wanted to see the Northern Lights, remember?"

  Olivia shrugged and Casey sighed. They drove a few miles outside of town before veering off onto a narrow dirt road. The small cabin looked more like a rustic mansion. Casey let out a long whistle as she admired the large windows that overlooked a lake. "I knew Ty had money when we got married but this is like…trust fund baby money."

  "And this is yours now?" Olivia gasped.

  "Yes, according to the lawyers. I got this along with several acres of land, and he got the New York penthouse and the Florida bungalow."

  "Gosh, rich people are so annoying."

  Casey chuckled and drove the car into the garage. Kayaks, snowmobiles, skis, hiking gear, spelunking equipment, and various other outdoor activity items were neatly organized within the smaller structure. "Maybe you won't be as bored here as you thought," Casey said as she pulled the keys from the ignition and got out of the car. She unlocked the trunk to grab her things and headed into the cabin with Olivia.

  "When are Rina and Diana getting here?" Olivia asked as they shuffled into the hallway and hung up their coats.

  "They should be here in an hour or so. Let's get some fires going and I'll cook supper."

  "No offense, but I'd rather eat the boots I just took off than let you give me food poisoning again."

  Casey playfully punched her friend, laughing at the memory of Olivia with her head hovering over a toilet. It was true, she wasn't the best cook, but Olivia was far too dramatic for her own good. Casey led the way into the main space. The vaulted ceilings and enormous windows gave the cabin a very modern flair while the dark wood tones, stone fireplaces, and rustic decor added warmth. "Wow…"

  "Holy crap, how big is this place?"

  "I'm not sure. We've always owned it, but this is my first time seeing it."

  Olivia wandered over to the bar and plucked a note from under a brandy decanter. "It's from the caretaker. He cleaned and readied the rooms and the kitchen is fully stocked with groceries. He won't be back until the end of the week, but we're supposed to pick up the phone in the kitchen and call his son Cole if we need anything."

  "Sounds like a sweet man," she replied, glancing around at the extravagant room with her heart in her throat. "I'm going up to choose my room."

  It was a pity her marriage hadn't worked out, but Casey considered this a major win. She carried her bags up the staircase and through a long, narrow corridor. Eight doors lined the walls with a ninth door at the far end of the hall. She opened the doors and peeked inside of all of them but chose the one at the end for her sleeping sanctuary. Each of the rooms had their own bathroom, fireplace, and walk-in closet. Clearly, Ty had spared no expense when he had the place built.

  The door opened and Olivia skipped inside before she flopped on the bed in a mass of red curls. "I've got the room next to yours. Also, I looked out the window overlooking the lake, and you aren't the richest person in the neighborhood."

  "What? I have neighbors?"

  "Well, there's about the distance of a football field between you, but it's the closest thing you're gonna get to a neighbor."

  Casey walked over to her window and peered out at the land. The glittering lake gave way to lush green hills before stopping at a thick cluster of trees surrounding what could only be described as a castle. A freaking castle? "Who the heck lives there? Looks like something out of Game of Thrones!"

  "You've never even seen the show," Olivia snickered.

  "I've seen the commercials." Casey shrugged her shoulders and gaped at the castle with shameless fascination. She only stepped away when a knock sounded at the front door. "They're early."

  Olivia bounded down the hall and practically vaulted herself down the stairs before throwing open the front door. Casey smiled to herself as the cabin was filled with high-pitched shrieks and uproarious laughter. She met Rina and Diana at the base of the stairs and was instantly pulled into a group hug.

 
"You look amazing," Diana sighed. "I wish I could squeeze my ass into something like that."

  "I've lost a bit of weight, but I'm not exactly comfortable with my body yet." Casey wasn't the biggest in their friend group, but she had the least amount of confidence. Rina had wide hips, thick thighs, and a nipped-in waist that had taken the fashion world by storm. She was one of the highest-grossing plus-sized models in the industry.

  Casey had always been envious of her friends. They were all beautiful and successful in their own way. She wished she had the confidence to pose for a camera, coach couples through their sex lives, or write scripts for Hollywood production companies. Casey was proud of what she had accomplished in her work at Technocom Inc., but she never found that spark of ambition outside of her career. Her marriage had fallen apart and she had a nasty habit of eating when she was stressed or emotional. She was a mess beneath the tailored suits and the artificially sweet smile she put on for her boss.

  Rina walked over to the bar and poured a few drinks. They grabbed their glasses and raised them high. "To old friends, a much-needed divorce, and a well-deserved promotion. We're so proud of you, Casey. You're a rockstar. Never change."

  The glasses clinked and they downed the brandy with a grimace. Olivia coughed theatrically and grasped her chest. "It tastes like I licked a campfire. Why would anybody drink that?" She waved a hand in front of her burning eyes.

  Rina went in for a second drink with a wicked grin. "It's not for people who chase their liquor with a Capri Sun pouch, Liv. It’s for a more distinguished drinker.”

  Casey ignored their banter and pulled Diana aside. They wandered up the stairs and to her bedchamber. She pulled back the curtain and pointed to the castle in the distance. “Since when is there a castle like that in Alaska?” Casey inquired. “It isn’t even in the travel brochures, and it definitely wasn’t on the website.”

  Diana pushed her glasses up the bridge of her nose and blinked in disbelief. “It looks old, but it’s hard to tell nowadays. Some people are just into that whole fantasy thing. Maybe they’ve got a hardon for King Arthur?”

  “I’m serious. It doesn’t look like some roleplay castle.” Casey indicated to the banners. “That doesn’t look like any coat of arms I’ve seen before.”

  “What do you want me to say? It’s not like there’s a wizard over there capable of time travel. It probably has some sort of historical meaning to the town so they don’t want tourists poking their noses around the place,” Diana insisted. “Come on, let’s just relax and have a good time. We have to make sure Olivia doesn’t burn the place down. You know how she gets when she starts drinking. The girl should come with a warning label.”

  Casey gave in and followed Diana back downstairs. She helped her friends unpack their luggage before they all met around the fireplace. They sipped cocktails and gossiped about everything from celebrities to the latest news scandals. Rina kept the drinks flowing nicely throughout the evening. “Are any of you dating?”

  “Define dating,” Olivia snorted. “I try to keep things casual.”

  Rina nodded her head in agreement. “I’ve had my share of hookups, but everyone I work with is so shallow. After they climb out of bed in the morning, they don’t want to be known as the guy who banged the fat chick. Either they’re after my money or they need a story to sell to the media. I just shrug it off and move on with my life.”

  For Diana, things were a bit different. Casey saw her friend wince as the others discussed the highs and lows of casual flings. “I tried every app and website out there, but no one is interested in something permanent. Finding love in the digital era is pointless.”

  Casey lifted her glass and saluted to Diana. “I, on the other hand, just got out of permanent, and I’m not looking to go back anytime soon. Actually, I think I just want to focus on getting back to the old me.”

  “Getting back to your old self doesn’t mean you have to forget about love, Casey.”

  “I know,” she said. “But I don’t want to think that I need a man in my life in order to be happy. Besides, I’ve been out of the dating scene for so long that I’m not sure I’d be able to get back in even if I tried.”

  “Well, then it’s a good thing this place has a dating agency!” Olivia popped up from her place on the couch and paced in front of the fireplace as she read from the brochure. “Here at Kismet Dating Agency, we don’t just focus on finding you the perfect match. We’re here to help you find your soulmate. Founded by one of the oldest families in Destiny, Alaska, Kismet has a rich history of helping the ordinary and extraordinary by offering a new chapter in their life that is brimming with romance and excitement. At KDA, fairytales become reality.”

  “Wow...what a pitch,” Diana slurred with a wistful smile on her face. “How do you join?”

  “By creating a profile on their website.” Olivia handed Casey the brochure and sat beside her on the plush sofa. “Why not just try it for fun?”

  “It’s a gimmick.”

  “Then what’s the harm in trying?”

  Casey sighed and went to fetch her laptop. The internet connection was slower than she was used to, but still functional. She pulled up the website and gasped when she noticed the same coat of arms that had been on the castle banners.

  Chapter Two

  Castle Black

  Destiny, Alaska

  Giddeon awakened to the sound of his brothers bickering. Ever since Caleb came back after five years of playing professional football, the halls of their old family home had been filled with an ungodly ruckus. Whether it was music that was far too loud for their sensitive ears or an unhealthy need to argue, Caleb made his presence known whenever he saw the opportunity. Giddeon supposed it may have been due to an insatiable appetite for attention. He groaned and climbed out of bed.

  A hiss rang in his ears as he yawned while scratching at his stubbled jaw. The trek from the bed to the bathroom of the King's Suite seemed longer than the night before. All of the hours he spent at the office had finally caught up with him. Giddeon felt an exhaustion in his body that only came when he neglected his duties to the Sleuth. As Alpha, he was responsible for the safety of his people and preserving their history.

  After the Russians appeared on Kodiak Island, his family had fled to the mainland, and all bear shifters within the Sleuth retreated to Castle Black. Most of the Sleuth had broken off from the group to live solitary lives or start families of their own, but there were a few males remaining that were loyal to his family and the legacy they had built.

  Giddeon showered and changed into his favorite suit to start the day. He stepped into the corridor and slapped his youngest brother upside the head as he passed. "Stop antagonizing Caleb, Balor."

  "I'm supposed to be nice to him after he abandoned his duties to chase fame?"

  "You left too. It was Seth and I here cleaning up after the two of you," Giddeon reminded his brothers. "Now, get to work with securing the forest. There's a group of hunters just north of here. We don't need them poaching any of our people."

  Caleb rolled his eyes and stomped away. Balor followed Giddeon down to the kitchens. "Did you see the lights last night?"

  "What lights?"

  "Someone's in that cabin. After all of this time, why come now? Right in the middle of our hunting season." Balor crossed his arms over his chest. "It just doesn't make sense."

  "They own the land. There's nothing we can do about it except keep our people away from them."

  "It wouldn't be a problem if you hadn't sold the lake and that plot—"

  Giddeon lifted his hand, thoroughly cutting off his brother's accusations. "While you were busy running around the Caribbean and Caleb was tossing around a football, I had to take care of business. Selling that plot of land paid off your debt."

  "How long are you going to hold that over my head?"

  "Look, I wasn't the one who gambled with a mobster in Philly." Giddeon left his brother standing in the kitchen and headed out to his car with a ther
mos of steaming coffee in his hand. The drive into town was as long and uneventful as any other day. He knew down to the exact second that the folks of Destiny opened their curtains to let in the constant stream of sunlight. Though the world around him seemed to shape with the passage of time, not much was different than it had been in the era of his father’s reign. No matter how much people liked to pretend otherwise, the same feral urges still remained in the hearts of man.

  Giddeon pulled into the private parking spot and turned off his car. He took a few deep breaths before he climbed out of the driver’s seat and walked in through the front door. His assistant greeted him with the usual upbeat energy, handing over several high-profile accounts within the agency. Giddeon’s pace slowed just before the elevators as he read the names at the top of the list. “I’ve never seen them before. When did they apply?”

  “Around three this morning.”

  “They used a local address?” he asked as he pressed the button for his office.

  "It appears they may be your neighbors."

  He leaned against the elevator wall and flipped through the profile on top. "Recently divorced, but her relationship status says she's keeping her options open. The career portion is marked as confidential and the bio seems like it was copied off of the internet."

  "Mysterious?"

  "Or hiding something. I'll give her a call this afternoon to conduct an interview. Once I know why she hasn't taken the time to fill out her profile honestly, I can work on matching her with someone. Thank you, Alice." Giddeon stepped out of the elevator and into his rather large office. It was rather old fashioned despite the overall modern feel of the building. He sat behind his desk and pulled up the online version of the client list.

  A few clicks later and he stared at a photograph of the most beautiful woman he had ever seen. The image itself was nothing special—it looked more like a campaign photograph for someone running for president—but the woman with eyes bluer than sapphires was...breathtaking. Chestnut waves were cut at a blunt angle that framed her heart-shaped face. Big, almond-shaped eyes and a pert nose gave her an almost fae appearance. Elegant cheekbones and a pronounced cupid’s bow completed the glorious image of her beauty.