Chapter 2 C2

The sun is starting to sink down, casting a dim light over the bare

trees and white sparkling mountains. The air is cold, invigorating.

I walk along a snow dusted path leading out of our little village

and into the woods nearby. Large trees, somehow still full with

leaves, form a circle around the clearing.

Aimee is standing against the shadowy tree line. A group of girls,

none of which I've ever bothered to have a conversation with, are

surrounding her. Their voices are low, kept in hushed tones that

only signal one thing: gossip.

I perk my ears, listening in.

"I hear he's ruthless. A monster who's wolf is three times the size

of any other Alpha," a petite, bleach blonde- Mya- whispers, her

eyes wide for emphasis.

Her brunette friend shudders before giving her input. "They say

he's an absolute beast. He goes out commits mass murder

whenever he feels like it!" Suddenly she lowers her voice even

more and it turns shaky, "God, what if he comes here? Who knows

where the hell he is right now."

They all exchange wide eyed glances, looking to gauge each

other's reactions.

Who the hell are they talking about? And why are they so jittery?

As I approach, a stick snaps under my heel. All of them jump,

including Aimee who has seemed fearless for as long as I've

known her. Mya even lets out a choked scream.

All of their eyes turn on me as if I were the devil come to claim

their souls. Their faces ghostly pale and their mouths are agape.

"Goddamn it, you can't do that!" Mya shrieks at me, her face

turning into an accusatory stare. Something about her tone cuts

right through me.

I narrow my eyes and push my lips into a snarky pucker. "If you're

so scared then why don't you go choke on something besides

fear?"

She sucks in a sharp breath, taken aback. Maybe it was a bit too

far, but I can't say that I'm sorry. Nathan has already frayed my

nerves for the day. Mya's mouth gapes like a fish out of water as

she tries to find her words.

"You know what, fuck you," she spits before storming off. The

other four girls follow her off, scowling at me at they go.

I brush it off and turn my attention back to my best friend. Aimee

remains standing with her back towards the trees.

"What was that all about?" I ask, walking up to her and pointing a

thumb back at the group.

She isn't phased by the little scene she just saw between me and

Mya. At one point she tried to teach me how to keep my inner

thoughts inside. Needless to say, she never did succeed. Now she

doesn't even pay attention to my lack of a filter as she raises an

eyebrow, her forehead wrinkling.

"You haven't heard?"

I shake my head, furrowing my brow. I need to know what's going

on. People gossip all the time, but never like this. Never with such

fear.

"They call him the Exiled Alpha," she pauses in order to look up at

the sky as it grows increasingly darker. "Shit, I have to go. I'm

already running late."

Her sentences are rushed as she bends down to grab the strap of

a purple backpack and heave it onto her back.

"Wait! What do you mean Exiled-"

Before I can finish she reaches out and grabs me firmly by the

shoulders, looking me dead in the eye with such intensity that I

feel paralyzed.

"Listen to me Adrienne," she squeezes my shoulders, speaking

firmly, "I don't have time to explain right now, but just- don't go

off into the woods by yourself. I know you like to, but don't. Stay

near the pack. You understand?"

I catch a chill running up my spine; one that's not caused by the

cold. I can only think one thing in that moment, and it's what the

fuck is out there?

I don't understand. I have no idea what she's talking about, only

that whatever it is is dangerous. But I nod anyway.

This seems to be good enough for her because the next thing I

know, she's pulling me into a hug.

"Stay safe, bitch," she says beside my ear. So much for her

seriousness.

She lets me go and steps away. When she does she's wearing one

of her signature ornery grins. Usually that gesture would comfort

me, seeing her back to normal instead of spewing warnings at me.

But it doesn't. Because her smile is half forced.

"Sorry I can't stay for the party. Looks like you'll get Nathan all to

yourself," she teases sarcastically.

A pang of anger shocks my stomach and I open my mouth with

intent of spitting profanities at her. But I bite my tongue as

realization hits me.

She doesn't know.

She doesn't know about the blackmailed engagement or wedding.

If she did, she would have told me. I know she would've. And she

would've kicked Nathan's ass, regardless of the consequences.

I force an empty smile back to her, not quite as convincing as her

own.

Let her have her fun, I think, My problems aren't hers.

"Yeah whatever," I call back as she gets farther and farther away,

"Just don't get aids."

She turns around just brief enough to stick her tongue out at me in

a playful sneer.

I let out a heavy sigh when I turn around and start walking back.

There are a couple people bustling about, a lot of them carrying

various ribbons or decorations.

I walk past all of the working wolves, heading back to my room.

If Nathan or Andre either one expect me to prepare for the party of

my own demise, then they're out of their minds. What could they

possibly do to me? Sentence me to a lifetime of misery?

Oh wait...

• • •

It's been three days since Aimee left. Three days that I've been

locked in my room, trying anything to keep my mind off reality.

The only time any part of me left the room is when I stuck my head

out the window to smoke, not wanting the smell to stick to the

walls. The little glass ashtray on my desk is full and two empty

cigarette packs lay in the trash can.

At least four times a day, one of the lower ranking members, a

maid or a servant, would bring me food. My only guess is that this

is Nathan's way of trying to suck up. Feigning sweetness in hopes

that I won't act out during the ceremony.

What he doesn't know though, is that his pathetic attempt to win

me over is in vain. I won't bend for that asshole no matter how

much food he sends to me.

I hadn't even realized I was letting myself drift to sleep until a

knock on the door stirs me awake.

Each time food was delivered, someone called out to me after

knocking. No voice follows this one.

Now what is it? Let me guess, I have to plan the bridal shower?

They knock again, this time louder.

"I'm coming," I growl, untangling myself from the sheets. I stumble

my way over to the door and open it.

Nathan is standing there, hands in his pockets and a polite smile

on his face. "Well hey there, sleepy head," he chirps. His tone is so

nice that I can almost feel the bile rising in my throat. "The party's

starting in half an hour. So look your best. It is in our honor after

all."

I narrow my eyes and step back, looking him up and down. "Who

the hell are you?"

He laughs, as if that were the funniest thing he'd ever heard. A

cheerful sound, but also a fake one. "I just came to remind you,"

he says with in overly friendly tone before turning business-like,

"Now do something with your hair, put on something expensive,

and meet downstairs in ten minutes."

I don't move. Instead I stand like a statue, keeping my skeptical

stare focused on him.

"Okay, look. As my chosen Luna, you have to have a look that

makes everyone jealous of you on sight. Of course they'll already

do that as long as you're on my arm, but still. I expect you to act

like a perfect sweetheart, and if not... there will be consequences."

And just like that, the act is up. His conceited and bossy attitude is

back in full swing, along with that pulsing vein in his neck. It

always makes an appearance when he doesn't get his way.

I continue staring at him with dead eyes, knowing it would

eventually make that nerve of his crack. If he intends to try and

control my life- which he does- then he'll at least have to give

me his reasoning.

"Why am I your chosen Luna?" I ask, suspicious. It doesn't make

sense to me. We don't get along anymore, so why would he want

to marry me? Against my will at that.

He smirks, meeting my eyes with a devious gleam of his own.

"You're mouthy, Adrienne Gage. A sharp tongue and a clever head.

That's what people can't see until it's already too late."

He moves closer, lifting my chin with his thumb. With less than an

inch between our cheeks, his hot breath fans over my ear as he

speaks in a low whisper. "And I can't forget those grey eyes...

They're so cold. So unpredictable. So... unreadable."

He swipes his thumb across my jaw as he steps away, turning and

leaving just like that. "Remember," he calls, his voice echoing in

the dark hallway, "Ten minutes."

My fingers raise to touch where he did. I rub the skin until it starts

to burn. I'm quite certain I've rubbed it raw with my palm, yet it

still doesn't feel clean.

So that's his reason.

He plans to use me as his pawn.

But I'll be damned if I help him win whatever chess game he thinks

he's playing.

With Alpha Andre's threat in mind, I close the door and get to work

on myself reluctantly. If only I had a fashion savvy best friend like

all the movies portray, then this would be a lot easier.

The cruel thing is is that I do; except she's miles away, partying

her ass off in another pack.

At least one of us is having a good time.