Chapter 2 Shameless

My palms were slick with sweat as I wiped them on my dress, the fabric catching on my trembling fingers.

Six more days.

That's all I had left. Just six days before I could legally take over my parents' company, Evangeline Interiors, and finally escape this hell. But now... now it felt like everything was crumbling around me, faster than I could control.

I stood in the corner of the grand dining room. The pain in my wrist now forgotten. Desmond and Seraphina had me pinned here, figuratively if not literally, and my mind raced over what had just happened.

Ezra, my cousin had caught me 'loitering' outside the room and had dragged me in to stand in front of his parents.

Smirking as they both started seething with anger. Seraphina had gotten up, and even before she did something, I knew what was coming. I braced myself for the slap, and it did, the impact making me hiss in pain. She'd slapped me hard enough to split my lip open, and I could still taste the metallic tang of blood in my mouth.

After a bout of mocking my outfit and shamelessness for eavesdropping she went silent.

"You've been keeping secrets, haven't you, Nyxia?" Desmond's voice slithered through the air, cold and mocking. He stood by the fireplace, his broad frame casting a long shadow across the room. The flames crackled behind him, the only sound filling the tension between us.

I swallowed hard, my throat tight.

Did he know?

"I don't know what you're talking about," I muttered, unable to meet his eyes.

He moved closer, looming over me like a predator savoring his prey. His presence was oppressive, suffocating. Seraphina stood nearby, her arms folded, her lips pressed into a thin line.

"I'm talking about the human," Desmond hissed, his voice low and dangerous. "Ethan, was it? How foolish of you, Nyxia. Did you really think we wouldn't find out? Do you have any idea what this could cost us-what it could cost you?"

No.

I bit down hard on my already injured lip, forcing myself not to flinch. "It's none of your business."

Desmond's hand lashed out before I could react, grabbing my chin and forcing me to look up at him. His grip was bruising, his nails digging into my skin as he leaned closer, his breath hot against my face.

"Everything you do is my business," he snarled. "You're a part of this pack, and you'll follow its rules. You'll end it with him, or I'll end it for you. Do you understand?"

I felt my legs go weak and my heart felt like it would burst out of my chest. Desmond was the Alpha of this pack and as a Beta I was supposed to obey him. But even after four years, I had never, not once felt the compulsion of it like other pack members did, instead I forced myself to stand straighter. "I won't," I whispered, my voice shaking but defiant.

His eyes narrowed, and for a moment, I was sure he was going to hit me. But instead, he released me with a shove, sending me stumbling back a few steps. My head spun from the impact, but I steadied myself before I could fall.

"You'll regret this," he said softly, his voice filled with icy menace. "If you don't break it off, I'll make sure that human regrets it too."

A chill ran down my spine, my blood turning to ice. The threat was clear.

Ethan didn't know about my world, I hadn't told him about wolves, about the power Desmond held in my life. I knew I shouldn't drag him into this. But I couldn't let Desmond win either.

Seraphina smirked from her place by the door, the cruel glint in her eyes making my stomach churn. "You think you can defy us, Nyxia? You're nothing without this pack. Just a silly little girl playing at being important."

Her words stung more than I wanted to admit. I wasn't nothing. I had worked hard-harder than anyone in this house-to keep my parents' company afloat, despite Desmond and Seraphina trying to ruin everything. I had only six days left before I could take over, before I could get out of here with Ethan and finally start a life free from them.

Six days.

"We'll see about that," I said through gritted teeth.

Before they could respond, the door creaked open, and the head maid stepped into the room, her eyes wide and nervous. "Sir, madam, your guests have arrived."

Desmond straightened, his expression shifting from anger to a carefully controlled mask of civility. He nodded to the maid. "Thank you, Hilda. Send them in."

Seraphina shot me a warning look as she moved toward the door, her smile tight and unnatural. "Fix yourself up, Nyxia and leave for work. We wouldn't want our guests to see you looking like this, would we?"

I touched the corner of my mouth, feeling the dried blood on my lip. My heart pounded in my chest. Important guests. Whoever they were, I had to pretend everything was fine. Not the first time I had to pretend, and would definitely not be the last. I couldn't show weakness-not now, not when I was so close to getting out.

"Go clean up and be quick about it," Seraphina snapped, shooing me out of the room.

I rushed upstairs, my mind racing. I grabbed a tissue and dabbed at the blood on my lip, wincing as I pressed too hard. I stared at my reflection in the mirror, my pale skin standing out starkly against the deep red of my dress. My hair was a mess, wild from the earlier scuffle, and I hastily pulled it into a half-updo, securing it with a claw clip.

My hands shook as I tried to compose myself. What were Desmond and Seraphina talking about earlier? There was something in their eyes, something that went beyond their usual cruelty.

They knew about Ethan. But what else?

I headed down the corridor, my mind still reeling. My foot caught on something, and I stumbled forward, bracing for impact.

A large hand caught my arm, steadying me before I could fall. I looked up, my breath catching in my throat.

Sharp golden eyes stared back at me and a shiver ran up my spine.

But as I blinked again they were gone. Replaced with dark brown ones instead.

The man before me towered over me, his broad frame casting a shadow across the hallway. His eyes, cold and unreadable, locked onto mine. A jagged scar ran down his left cheek, cutting through his lip, giving him a harsh, dangerous look.

Danger oozed from him and the hand that he held my arm with started tingling with heat.

Was I hallucinating?