Chapter 4: Uprooted
2070 Words
Vivian
I held my breath as Finn glared at me. My heart hammered in my chest. I'd never faced off with anyone in Shadowmoon higher ranked than my father, least of all the boss of the entire organization.
“What do you want?" I snipped, crossing my arms. My voice shuddered slightly. Damn, why couldn't I sound as annoyed as I felt?
He tilted his head to the side, his grey-green eyes raking over me, thin lips turned down in a frown.
I swallowed the lump forming in my throat and stared right back at him. It was hard to ignore how young and hot he was, despite the scowl on his face.
Finn was tall, at least a head taller than all the other shifters standing around. Underneath the smooth, silk lines of his suit, I could see his strong, muscular build straining at the seams.
Unconsciously, I bit my lower lip as my eyes returned to his face. He had pale skin and smooth, boyish features. I knew he was in his early twenties, but he could have passed for my age. It made him seem innocent, even though I knew how dangerous he was.
My stomach lurched and my heart rate ticked up again.
His long, straight, red hair brushed his shoulders wistfully and for some reason, I wondered what it would feel like to have his silky strands running through my fingers.
I shook my head and snapped myself out of my trance. What the hell was I thinking? My wolf was practically purring in response to my thoughts.
“This is a little unorthodox, you cornering a woman alone in the gardens." I lifted my arms to either side of the path.
Finn's eyes widened a moment and narrowed again, quickly. I almost wished he wouldn't narrow his eyes so much. When he wasn't scowling, he was even hotter and his eyes, they were so…
I really needed to snap out of it.
“What's your name?" he demanded.
“Why does that matter to you?"
A growl rose in Finn's throat and I noticed how everyone around me tensed. It was like they held their breath, waiting for him to lose his temper.
My father would not be pleased if he knew I was challenging Finn Riker.
I sighed and averted my eyes. “Vivian Summers."
“Summers? The daughter of Jackson Summers, yes?"
I nodded. “That's right. Now, are you going to tell me what this is all about?" I set my hands on my hips.
Finn scoffed. “You know who you're talking to, don't you?" His tone dropped several octaves. He didn't have to say it allowed for me to understand his meaning.
Finn Riker didn't need to explain himself.
“Don't I ever. I just don't know what I did to piss you off. It's not like we've ever met before."
His eyes narrowed into dangerous little daggers and a ripple went through all the shifters around us. I doubted anyone had challenged the leader of Shadowmoon in a long time. I knew I shouldn't. If Finn decided to disgrace my family, my father would never forgive me.
“My apologies." I bowed my head to him, submitting.
“Accepted. Pack your things, you'll be returning to my compound with me once the party concludes."
I snapped my head in his direction. “W-wait, what?"
He arched an eyebrow and pursed his lips. “Was I unclear?"
“No… do I get a say in the matter?"
For a moment, Finn's features softened. He looked borderline angelic as he gazed at me for a long, uninterrupted moment.
My stomach squirmed and I chewed my lower lip. Suddenly, I wished the glare would return. It was far less uncomfortable than his softer look.
“Meet my convoy out front when you're ready."
“Is that an order?"
“Yes." The glare returned and Finn nodded to the circle of shifters. Slowly, they started to back off. “I won't repeat myself and you will obey. Or would you rather I bring your father into this?"
I opened my mouth and clamped it closed just as fast. No, I didn't have a choice. If I refused, Finn would make my father an outcast. He'd lose all his support and protection. Marian and I would lose our prospects of ever finding jobs or mates that would accept us.
Then again, it could all be a bluff. Would he go that far just to spite me? He didn't know me and I wasn't one of his direct underlings. What right did he have to make demands of me?
I lifted my chin. “Try it!" I turned to leave.
Warm fingers closed like a vice around my arm. I gasped and stopped dead. Finn's hand held me firmly in place, a grip that could snap the bones in my arm if I pulled against him.
My pulse skyrocketed and a spark went through me, settling in my lower abdomen. My legs quivered.
I glanced at Finn. He had his face turned away; eyes closed. I could tell he felt the same sensation I felt.
The moment passed and my heart sank like a stone. Is that what all this was about? Finn Riker was my mate.
***
A woman in a tuxedo, matching the rest of Shadowmoon, approached me as I re-entered the ballroom. My thoughts were still a little dazed.
I couldn't wrap my mind around it. How had I ended up as the boss of Shadowmoon's mate?
“Vivian, right?" the woman asked.
She smiled a friendly smile, her round face spreading warmly. She held her hand out to me.
Without thinking, I shook her hand. Her brown skin was smooth, flawless, and warm against mine. It snapped me out of my daze.
“I'm Lucilla, but you can call me Luce. Finn asked me to help you get packed." She gave me a knowing look like she understood that this wasn't easy for me.
By Finn's demand, I had to give up my home, my family, and my life to be sequestered in his compound. I doubted the life he offered would be passionate, romantic, or in any way equal.
“Vivian, I just heard the news." My father rushed over and grabbed me in a hug.
Several Shadowmoon security officers followed behind him with Marian.
Between Luce, Finn's advisor and second in command, and all the security, there was no way I was getting out of this.
“I'm so proud of you, Vivian. You're going to ensure the Summers name is upheld. I know you will." He pulled back and chucked my chin. “You're not going to let me down, right?"
I smiled. My lips felt tight and tense. “No, I'm not going to let you down."
“My apologies, Mr. Summers, we don't have time to celebrate. Finn and the rest of Shadowmoon are already waiting at the convoy. I must insist that we hurry things along," Luce said in a firm tone.
Surprisingly, she managed to take control of the situation without being harsh or throwing her rank and power around. Too bad Finn couldn't learn from her.
“Yes, of course. Vivian, you can leave a list of things you want from the house with me and I'll have them sent to you."
My father hadn't stopped smiling. I thought his face might split in two.
“Dad, can we… talk about this?"
My father frowned. “What is there to talk about?"
I sighed and shook my head. “Nothing, I guess. I'll go change."
All of us, including Luce and the security team, headed up to the hotel room. Marian squeezed past everyone and slipped her arm through mine.
“Vivian, what's the matter? This is… I mean, your mate is Finn Riker. Isn't that a good thing?"
“For Dad and for our family, sure…"
Marian frowned. “Is there something wrong with him?"
“Other than the fact that he's a complete jerk?"
“I'm sure he'll warm up over time. He has the largest organization in the world to run. He probably has a lot on his mind every day."
“That doesn't make me feel any better. I'll probably be retired to some fancy room where I'll be expected to be available for him whenever he has a free second. That's not exactly the kind of relationship I was hoping for." I sneered and shook my head.
“Hey! That's enough about the boss." Luce stepped forward and grabbed my shoulder. She pulled me around to face her.
I could see the edge of her Shadowmoon tattoo poking out from the collar of her shirt. It marked her as one of the highest members in the organization, above all the branch underbosses.
“You're incredibly lucky to be chosen by him and you'll want for nothing for the rest of your life," she explained in that same firm, yet not harsh, voice. “Finn Riker is the greatest leader Shadowmoon has ever had and if I catch you speaking about him like that again, it won't be pretty."
I shuddered and nodded. “I'm sorry. This is all happening very fast. I thought maybe I'd find my mate today and get to know him. I didn't think my entire life would be uprooted and I'd be forced to go to a compound full of strangers."
“Vivian!" my father scolded.
Luce held up a hand to silence him. “I understand why this is difficult for you."
I scoffed. “Do you really? You chose this life."
“That's true." Luce chuckled, her brown eyes lighting up. “And after living it, I wouldn't have chosen any differently. Once you get settled in, you'll see how good it can be."
“I doubt it," I muttered. I grabbed Marian's hand. “Can my sister come along?"
Luce creased her brow and glanced at Marian.
“Vivian, I don't want to go!" She tugged at my grasp.
“She doesn't seem to want to." Luce slowly brought her eyes back to me.
“We're a package deal," I insisted. No one seemed to care that I didn't want to go. “Is that okay, Daddy?" I blinked several times at him, hoping to appeal to what remained of his paternal instinct to please his daughters.
He smiled and nodded. “The two of you should stay together. It would break my heart to see a matched set separated."
Luce let out a deep breath. “Alright, fine. Go and pack, we're leaving in a half hour."
I half-dragged Marian into our hotel room. It wasn't perfect but at least I wouldn't be going alone.
Marian flopped down on the bed as I started to change. “Did you really have to drag me into this?"
“Do you have somewhere else you'd rather be?"
She sat up and shrugged. “No, I guess not. But I don't really want to be locked away in an isolated compound, either."
“That's my problem, too." I threw my clothes in my suitcase and started writing up the list for my father.
It was hard to think of all the things I'd want and need from my home. I put a note at the end telling him to send me everything from my bedroom.
“You know, I do have my own life. I have places I want to go and people I want to see."
I paused. “Marian, did you find your mate at the ball?"
She scoffed and started changing. Almost as if she'd already resigned herself to coming with me. “Do you think I'd keep that from you?"
“Look, I'm not planning on being stuck in this compound and shackled to Finn Riker forever." I smiled and folded the list neatly. “Once I figure out how to get out of this, I promise, we can go wherever you want to go."
“Really?" Marian's eyes lit up.
“Really. Now, pack quickly. You know how disappointed Dad will be if we drag our feet."
“Viv. I'm sorry this mate thing didn't work out the way you wanted." Marian snapped her suitcase closed.
I sighed and shrugged. “If things are bad at the compound, I'll just reject Finn and be on my way."
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