The Broken Wolf

(2) The Party

I stared at a spot on the tile as I mindlessly scrubbed the pots that had held last night’s dinner. My fingers felt raw my skin a bright red as I worked quickly ignoring my growling stomach.

Hungry in more ways than one I managed to fall asleep last night restlessly, dreaming of a man who’s face I didn’t even really see.

Goddess, was I losing my mind? Were all the times Asher decided to use me as a punching bag finally presenting as head trauma. Was it possible that my serious nutritional imbalance finally sucked all the oxygen out of my brain?

The man from last night had been an Alpha. That couldn’t have been clearer. But I had no way of knowing which pack he belonged to or even if he was there alone.

Gods, was I pinning over a mated man?

Not that pinning did me any good.

I was defective. A wolf-less shifter born outside of a bond cursed by the moonless night.

An ‘evil apparition’ as Selene, my step mother, liked to call me. Her nose turned upwards a look of anger and disgust marring her pretty features whenever she was forced to look at me. My only use for the family was cleaning up after them and soon my pairing with whoever grandfather picked would help grow the pack’s resources.

I turned the pot upside down leaving it to dry off to the side. Pushing the man from my memory I forced myself to recite my plan for tonight. Everything had to be perfect tonight, one wrong move one slight hesitation and I’d be right back here.

“Your fathers looking for you.” Sarah steps through the doors that lead into the dining hall holding a crate full of plates her piercing gaze ping pongs to the measly number of dishes I’ve gotten through and she rolls her eyes. “Better hurry before he sends your sibling.”

My position in the pack was difficult for most of my pack mates. On the one hand I was their leaders daughter rightfully had the blood of the Sterling family within me, it meant I was difficult to mess with. On the other my entire family hated me and did very little to hide that truth, which made it very easy for everyone to mess with me.

When I was in school this had meant missing lunches torn books ruined clothing and more than one overnight stay in the janitor’s closet. At home it meant the staff piled on their workload onto me careful to not be seen doing so by my blood relatives as if any of them would care.

I made my way through the massive home the familiar banister gripped beneath my fingers as I made my way up the stairway to the second floor towards my father’s study. He was never anywhere else. I knocked on the heavy door and stood outside it with my hands clasped.

“Enter.”

His voice was slightly muffled but I pushed open the door and stepped into his domain. I kept my back straight gaze focused on my feet as I came to stand in front of the familiar mahogany desk stacked with various papers and books. I waited counting the minutes as he finished whatever he’d been working on. In that entire time, I didn’t try stealing a glance. I wasn’t allowed to look at the Alpha without permission.

“How was the party last night?” Seamus Sterling was a man of very little words, most of the time.

“Fine. Asher introduced me to some people. They seemed to like me.” Thinking of myself in terms of poultry I figured I was a pretty chicken. My hair was curly the unruly mess a gift from the mother I faintly remembered it hung past the middle of my back in a tangled mess my eyes were a light brown another gift from my mother. I didn’t look like the Sterling family with their blonde hair pale skin and light blue eyes, even my last name was different ‘Finch’ as if that deep line in the sand was something I needed constant reminding of.

“And…” His words trailed off I fought the urge to look at him. Had I done something wrong? I smiled said hello and was dragged around like a puppet by Asher most of the night. Did I offend someone? Or did Asher tell him a different story, one where I acted like a brat throwing a tantrum—I wouldn’t put it past my half-brother. He did so love causing me pain even if it wasn’t him doing it. Seamus sighed the sound heavy and stifling I wracked my brain for an answer to whatever question he didn’t ask feeling panic settling in. “Nevermind. You’re dismissed. Selene should have a dress prepared for you tonight. Stick by Ashers side.”

I didn’t nod just bowed my head lower and scampered from the room. It was exactly what he said the night before only this time I had no intention of listening.

#

The party was in full swing by the time we entered. The weight of the room shifted to my brother and I and I barely managed not to grimace.

The dress for tonight was not better than last night—if anything it was worse. The pretty tulle skirt hid the tightness around my hips but my boobs were damn near escaping the bodice. If I thought he’d give it I’d be begging Asher for his jacket. Instead, I wrung my hands beneath the tulle sleeves which covered my arms draping over my fisted hands.

“Quit squirming, dad said there’s some big shot here tonight so try not to get lost.” Asher fixed the sleeve of his jacket gaze catching on something in the crowd. “And smile at the guys I introduced you to, especially Alpha Madoc.”

I wanted to smack him in the head for treating me—once again—like a piece of meat. Instead, I counted my breaths and nodded demurely. He seemed satisfied and ambled off to pray on some unsuspecting girl.

Heaving a heavy sigh, I made my way to the desert table and eyed the pastries. Last night my anxiety had stopped me from even attempting to eat anything but I was determined tonight. After all, if everything went according to plan who knows the next time I’d have the privilege of something sweet.

My hand reached out seconds away from gripping the small cut of cake topped with cherries when a low chuckle drew my attention.

My eyes snapped beside me and I felt my stomach turn. His face was familiar as one of the many men from yesterday I’d been introduced to. Though I couldn’t remember his name even as I racked my brain for an answer.

“Lovely to see you again Elodie.”

I schooled my expression turning to face him, “Hello again.”

“And your brother?” He made it a point to look around me beady eyes settling on my face with a smirk.

“He’ll be back in a second.” A lie but a necessary one especially considering he started to inch closer to me. The mention of my brothers impending arrival stopped him momentarily. He flashed me a grin seeming to take my mood as some coy game.

“Come now, can’t I have a moment of your time?”

Asher, Asher, Asher.

And because demons never do what you want my half-brother didn’t magically appear to put an end to the Alpha’s pushy demands.

I smiled politely my gaze ricocheting off the crowd as I took a hesitant step backwards.

“I should really wait for Asher.”

“Come now, you can trust me. I’m a friend of your fathers, we’ll just sneak out to the garden for a minute.”

I wanted to point out he’d just used the same tactic kids were warned about during health and safety announcements but I doubted he’d find the humor in it. If he stepped any closer, I would have to scream—and if I screamed, I was basically sealing in that I was never going to escape the Sterling household, ever.

No.

If I had any hopes of running away tonight, I needed to mediate this situation.

“We can talk right here, can’t we?” I batted my lashes taking another calculated step back as he took one forward. “I’d hate to get you in trouble.”

“Nonsense.”

Just then an arm shot out in front of me—no a wall.

“Richards. Funny seeing you here, again. I’m hurt you didn’t come by to say hello.” His voice was low thunderous, the ominous timbre sending jolts through my mind.

The man who’d been cornering me—Richards apparently—chuckled. He sounded tense and I snuck a peak behind the man between us only to have my view blocked again as said man shifted slightly.

What the hell was happening.

I was on the taller side still the stranger dwarfed me his broad shoulders rigid with untamed tension I traced the lines of muscle visible beneath his shirt the pressed fabric had been rolled up over corded forearms and I found it impossible not to stare. For a moment it was just me and him, as crazy as it sounded. It didn’t matter that Asher was probably somewhere watching documenting all of this to better punish me later.

“…with her.” I tuned back into the situation on the tail end of whatever was said catching Richards words before the low threatening growl that erupted from the man in front of me shook the very walls.

I fell forward mouth opening on a strangled whimper. Clutching the back of his shirt I tried to clear the sudden muddled senses that overwhelmed me. I found myself doing everything in my power to stay upright at the sheer force of the sound.

If I thought we had the rooms attention before we certainly did now.

My head rested on his back as I fisted his shirt inhaling deeply to try and cool the spikes of awareness his growl had pulled from me.

The smell of smoke and earth filled my senses the heady scent easing some of my panic.

With more effort than I cared to admit I forced myself to step back only my feet didn’t seem to be working and I stumbled. Falling forward my face erupted with heat as a soft low rumbling began emanating from the man.

It felt warm like the first touch of sunlight after stepping out of a freezing cold building, it thawed my blood smoothing the tension in my muscles. I wanted to bask in it I swayed on my feet eyes fluttering shut.

Goddess almighty.

“Are you okay?” That voice again softer now—gentler. I opened my eyes my hands dropping as I realized he’d turned around. Eyes the color of obsidian studied me carefully thick brows pinched slightly, his dark hair was combed back a few inky strands falling over his forehead. “Breathe.”

Rapidly sucking in air I gasped.

“Are you alright darling?” The drawl of his accent had my gaze flicking to his lips my mind warbled.

“What happened?” I mumbled lids fluttering as I tried to steady myself.

He chuckled the sound low and hypnotic. “Well, it looks like I interrupted your conversation with your friend back there.”

We’d moved away from the desert table; we’d somehow shifted over to a corner of the room and I hadn’t noticed. He stood in front of me body effectively shielding me from the rest of the room.

“He’s not my friend.” I licked my lips feeling parched, his dark eyes flicked down before returning to mine.

He smiled and it felt like the world suddenly erupted. “That’s good to hear.”