Authors: Ella Celestine
Epilogue
The next morning I felt like I was going to puke when I made my way into the office. Hank was already waiting, and he did not look happy.
“You had a delivery.”
“What?” I never had packaged delivered here. I glanced past him and into my office but I couldn’t see a thing because of the gathering crowd. My heart sank. What had it been? What could it be to make Hank this upset?
“This can’t happen.”
“I…” I didn’t know what to say, mostly because I had no fucking clue what the delivery was.
I have to find out.
I stepped past him and headed towards my office. If I could figure out what it was I could try to find a way to talk myself out of this.
Maybe I can flirt my way out of it.
Guilt tugged at me the moment I thought it. I knew that was wrong.
“Oh my god, I’m so jealous.” Paige said as she saw me.
Everyone turned to stare at me.
“I wish I was this lucky.”
“Where did you find him?”
“Does he have a brother?”
“What did you do to get these?”
“Is he para?”
There was a murmur as I stepped into my office and finally saw the delivery. My jaw dropped. A vase sat in the middle of my desk, the roses that occupied it didn’t leave much work space.
“So, who is he?” Hayley touched my arm. I stepped towards them and reached for the card.
“Turns out money is good for something. Have a good day, and try not to get fired.
See you soon, I’ll be waiting for you when you get home.
J.”
My heart skipped a beat. He did
not
plan to break into my house, did he? I reached for my cell phone, instinct telling me to call him and warn him right now that I would kill him if he so much as thought about it. Then I looked at the flowers again. Shock hit me.
There had to be dozens of them. How had he spent this much on flowers? He was going to be waiting for me when I got home? I bit my lip, excitement rushing through my body as I thought about the way he had touched me last night. I guess I could make an exception; after all it would be nice to get home and see him waiting for me.
Naked.
The End
There is no way this was happening.
Most people thought arranged unions were a thing of the past or something that only happened in third world countries; boy were they ever wrong. Of course most people didn’t know about people like me.
I stared out my window refusing to turn and face the person who had opened my door. I took a deep breath. Rosemary, sage and a hint of lemon mixed with cleaner. My mother.
“Brit, you have to understand…” It was my birthright, my job to the pack, my only use.
“I’ve heard it all before.” My arms wrapped around my chest hugging myself tightly.
“Your father loves you.”
“Of course he does, but he sure seems to love his land more.”
That’s what I was worth. Land. Fucking land. My mother didn’t say another word, probably good honestly. I was so close to losing my shit. The wolf inside me screamed to get out, to snarl and bite and run away from here.
But I couldn’t do it. Trust me, I’d tried last night.
The night before I was supposed to meet my new mate, I’d packed my bags and tried to escape. I wasn’t even able to open the window I am now staring out of. I couldn’t.
I can’t leave my pack.
It was stupid and I knew it but they were my family.
A family that is going to pawn you off for land.
I reminded myself but it did no good.
“He will be here soon, please try to look your best.” Her voice was small as she spoke and for a second I thought about how hard this must be on her. I bit my lip as I heard her turn to leave.
“I love you mom.” I whispered. I wasn’t sure if she heard it or not because she didn’t reply, but I did hear her cry softly as she made her way to her room. I forced myself to turn away from the window.
As part of the pack I wanted to please. I wanted to do as I was told, but the human side of me couldn’t get past the fact that my dad had sold me so easily. For land his great-great-great grandfather had owned, but still. Was I that worthless to him? He hadn’t even tried to put up a fight or find another way around it.
Then again he probably thinks he’s doing me a favor.
My dad was old school. The fact I was 23 and not interested in trying to find a mate (let alone married with pups) shocked him. I guess the wolf wasn’t strong enough in me.
I blew out a deep breath and walked over to the closet that I’d soon be giving up. This room had been mine since I was in a crib, now I had to give that up; and all to keep peace between packs. It was stupid really.
The alpha’s probably some gross old man who can’t get a girl without a forced union.
I shivered at the thought of having to spend the rest of my life in a bed beside him.
None the less I did as my mother asked and put something nice on. I picked an A-line skirt and a beige and white blouse. I tied up my frizzy brown curls into a bun and even applied some mascara and eyeliner. Nothing like lashes to make everything seem better; even if I was about to lose my life.
As I slipped into espadrilles, my head snapped towards the window. The sound of gravel crunching against the driveway.
He’s here.
Great.
I looked around my room. I hadn’t even begun to pack.
What if he wants me to go with him tonight?
My heart skipped a beat at the thought. Would my mother let that happen? I swallowed and, just in case, rushed for my small suitcase.
The vintage blue suitcase had been my great grandmothers and had been given to me when I was a little girl. The first things I put in there weren’t clothes. They were my prized possessions. Gifts from friends, keepsakes from family members and most of all my favorite books and my laptop. Then I filled it with as many clothes as I could fit.
The doorbell rang.
My heart did a backflip.
“Britanee!” My father called and seconds later I heard the front door open. I stuffed a couple more clothes in, closed the suitcase and stood.
“Oh god.” I turned to face my mother. She’d put fresh makeup on but her eyes were red. “You look so beautiful.” Another burst of tears seeped from her eyes.
“Mom, relax.” I walked over to her. “It’s just clothes. I look the same as I ever do.” I pulled her into a hug unwilling to face the real reason she was crying. I was leaving.
After a couple seconds she pulled away and forced a smile over her lips. “You’ll like Nathan.” She gave weak laugh. “And I’m sure he will like you.”
“Well let’s go find out.” I put a smile on my own face unable to risk upsetting my mother any more than she was already and we headed down stairs together.
I took a deep breath trying to gain his scent. Sweat, sweet like chocolate, musk and sage. He smelled too close to my father. I wrinkled my nose at the thought and let a small shiver escape me before we made our way into the living room.
I didn’t waste any time in assessing him. He was older than me, but not old. Maybe in his early 30’s at most. He wore a black muscle shirt that showed off his muscles- and boy did he have muscles! They flexed as he stepped up into the doorway, his eyes locked on me. His nostrils flared taking in my scent as I stepped towards him. His green eyes roamed over my body, his brown five o’clock shadow tilted as a smile spread over his face. His hair was brown too- though there looked like it had a touch of red in it that his beard didn’t.
“Hi.” He stepped forward and held his hand out to me. “I’m Nathan.”
“Britanee.” As I reached out and touched his hand he lowered his eyes. My heart skipped a beat. Was he willing to admit that I could be just as dominate? His hand was warm against my.
My heart jumped into my throat as we touched. A shiver ran down my spine but not the kind that was bad. I felt my cheeks flush slightly as I realized we were still touching. I pulled away from him quickly.
I don’t care how cute he is. I still don’t like him.
I thought.
He’ll be a good mate.
The wolf inside me said. And she was right. He was strong, he smelled healthy and he was an alpha. He had control, apparently control he was willing to give up to me. I wasn’t buying it.
Wolves didn’t give up control.
Nathan turned back to my father. “Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?”
Please say yes. I wasn’t ready to leave yet.
“No, I will let you two get better acquainted. We’ll see you next week, right?”
“Of course.” For the second time since I met him I saw Nathan showed a sign of submission as he bowed his head to my father. My brow furrowed.
I hope he isn’t weak.
That was the wolf talking. I did hope he was weak, he would be easier to kill if I needed to.
Nathan turned to me. “Do you have a bag packed?” I nodded not trusting my voice. “I’ll go get it; if that’s alright?”
Again I forced myself to nod. I didn’t really want him being in my room. I didn’t really want him to get my stuff. I didn’t want him to think I liked him or needed him or really wanted anything to do with him- but I wanted time to say goodbye to my family.
As Nathan slipped past me my mother pulled me into a hug, tears rolling down her cheek again. “I’ll see you next week.” It sounded like a death sentence to me. I held her tight unwilling to admit how scared I was.
“The girls wanted me to give you this.” She held out a small box. The girls. My best friends are what she meant. I took it with shaky hands.
She stepped away from me and my father stepped forward. “I love you.” He said pulling me into a hug. “Britanee. I…” He pulled away from me. My father was a gruff kinda guy. My eyes stung with tears that wanted to escape. I ignored the prickling and nodded, knowing that if I said anything I would cry. I wasn’t going to do that.
My dad stared at me, our eyes locked for a fraction of a second, not in a stare down but silently communicating. Silently telling him I would forgive him for what he’d done. Again he pulled me into a hug, trying to hide the water that spilled from the corner of his eyes. “He’s not bad.” He whispered in my ear. “And if he ever hurts you I will kill him; I don’t care the cost.”
Those last words I heard from my dad left me with some faith that he did care. That he wasn’t just going to let me suffer.
My dad pulled away as Nathan came down the stairs. Both men looked at one another.
“I’ll take good care of her.”
“I expect it.”
A smile touched Nathan’s lips as he stepped towards me holding my suitcase in one hand and my purse in the other. “I saw this on your bed… I wasn’t sure if you’d want it but I figured…”
“Thank you.” I took it from him without making eye contact and we made our way towards the door.
I kept my tears to myself as we made our way down the driveway and to the car. Without a word I sat down in the passenger seat and waited as he put my suitcase in the back before getting in the driver’s seat. He started the car without a word and we drove away from my home.
It wasn’t until we’d hit the highway that he spoke. “We’re not that far away. The place I have is about a mile away from the beginning of their territory…”
I grunted in response. What else was I supposed to say?
“You’re welcome to see them whenever you want… I’m not that kind of alpha.”
The kind that didn’t let his wolves mingle with other packs is what he meant.
What kind are you?
I wanted to ask, but I couldn’t bring myself to speak. I stared out the front window as tears ran down my cheek. I didn’t make a sound.
Nathan blew out a deep breath and for a split second I felt bad for acting the way I was; only for a split second though then I remembered that he’d pretty much bought me in return for land. I’d been part of a trade, part of a sale.
Anger tugged at me. Anger at him, at my father, at myself. But it didn’t last long. I couldn’t bring myself to make it last long. I bit my lip staring down at the box I still had in my hand. The one that my best friends had wanted me to have.
As if reading my mind Nathan spoke again. “Is it from your pack?”
“My best friends.” I said and to my own surprise my voice didn’t break. I pulled the lid off slowly and stared down at the contents of the box. The simple chain was not silver. I didn’t need to touch or sniff it to know that, but it looked like it. There was a small, simple gem in the center. A green stone with a purple one on either side. I turned it over in my hand to see each one engraved with a heart.
Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at it.
“It beautiful.” Nathan said from the driver’s seat. He was right.