Breaking Engagement

Chapter 8

BRYN

Len, Amira, and I returned to my room in silence. That was definitely a new development. Eiryn had failed to mention anything about the Witch Hunt.

As soon as we walked in, Amira threw herself at the artefact music box that we had brought here and opened it. The sounds of a calm melody emerged, which meant that from now on, none of the werewolves around would be able to hear us. We used artefacts like that on every long mission for safety reasons.

“May I just say that all that smells bad?” Amira dropped into one of the chairs. It was still very clear that she wasn’t comfortable in the dress that she was wearing.

“At least now we know why the client was ready to pay so much.” Len shook his head and turned to the owl, who was sitting comfortably on the post of the huge bed. “Filin, connect us to Zion.”

Yes, that was what we were supposed to do if anything went not according to plan. Zion was the one who put Filin into a bird’s body in the first place, and he could take him over at any time he liked. Filin was also his eyes wherever he went. So, when the bird’s eyes turned red, we knew who we were talking to.

Len briefly described the situation as his rank was the highest among us. Even though on most missions he played my servant, I was never stupid enough to forget who was who. I could even call him a friend…of sorts. But I still remembered that he was above me in the Shadows and showed respect when it was required.

“Bryn.” The owl turned to look at me and I felt slightly uncomfortable under the crimson gaze. “What do you think?”

“I think I’ll kill Eiryn when I come back,” I said firmly, crossing my arms on my chest. “It’s one of the conditions of our contract that all possible dangers should be specified before we take the job. And she clearly missed this. Of course, there’s always a possibility that she didn’t know… But she had to do better research before she came to us. She endangered me and Amira big time here.”

“If you want, you can come back now.” His offer was so unexpected that even Amira stopped what she was doing and the three of us looked at each other in awe. Zion never allowed us to come back without finishing business first. Usually, that would be punishable by death. But right now, he was the one offering us the option to come back without completing the task. Just like that!

“And what about the money?” I asked the most important question.

“You’ll get ten percent from the advance p*****t that was promised to you. Also remember that she didn’t pay the bonus yet.” He went in business mode quickly and so did I.

That would be three hundred thousand, which was decent pay. But that was nowhere near the eight million that I could receive if I completed the work. Eight million would equal freedom for me; I would be able to buy myself out of my contract with Zion and go live wherever I wanted to, happily and carefreely.

“I don’t know about you guys, but I will stay.” I sighed. I had to take the gamble. It was too good.

“Are you sure?” The Scorpion didn’t sound too happy about my decision, which was also strange.

“Yes.” I snorted. “Who knows, maybe I can break this engagement even before the stupid Witch Hunt.”

“I don’t know,” Amira interjected. “This guy looks like a tough nut. But maybe at the Witch Hunt we will be able to drive him crazy enough to say the magic words and call the engagement off? It seems like an important event for them…”

“We are not going to the Hunt,” I corrected her. “You’ll stay here and take care of this Beta of his. He is a problem.”

“I’ll be needed at the Hunt to cover your back.” She jumped to her feet quickly. “No way am I letting you go there alone!”

“Amira.” I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. “Len will cover my back. Especially since he is a werewolf and doesn’t risk much. It’s dangerous enough to bring one witch to the Hunt, we are most definitely not bringing two!”

“Just stay quiet during the Hunt and do not attract attention,” Zion ordered. “If it comes to it and you have to attend, let it be a quiet day. Focus on surviving and I’ll take extra measures to protect you.”

The red glow died in Filin’s eyes and we knew that our leader wasn’t with us anymore.

“All right.” Amira sighed. “One can say that it went well. But, honestly, Bryn, you should have taken the easy way out.”

“Not a quitter.” I chuckled. “But all this means that we have to do double the work now and try to resolve all this faster.”

I went to my desk, got out the list I’d prepared for Amira, and handed it to her.

“Here.” I smirked. “I detailed all the renovations that are so badly needed in this place. Make sure you get all the colours right; some of them are hard to get.”

“Is that fuchsia?” The assassin snorted.

“Uh-huh.” I nodded. “And it would go so nicely with that lime green shade, don’t you think?”

A knock on the door interrupted us, and Amira ran to open it just as any perfect little maid would. There were no surprises there as it was Beta Duncan, and the shining smile on his face told me that he’d come up with a great plan for how to make his Alpha and me closer.

“What is it?” I asked him when he walked in, quickly scanning the room as I was closing the music box.

“Your fiancé would like to invite you for a walk to show you around the pack and the grounds,” he announced.

“How wonderful!” I clapped my hands. “When?!”

“Now.” Duncan smiled. “He’ll be waiting for you at the stables in half an hour.”

“Even better! Tell him I will be right on time!” I giggled, thinking of how I could take a nice relaxing bath before I came downstairs. Maybe even do a facial or two. Revisit the wardrobe, read the book I started...

“Excellent.” The Beta bowed respectfully. “I’ll let him know.”

“Oh, by the way,” I stopped him, “I desperately need your help Sir… I am sorry, I forgot your last name!”

“Bork.” He didn’t react in any way to my disrespect.

“Sir Bork.” I put on my best fake smile. “My maid Amy has a very important task and she needs someone to take her to the nearest city. Would you be so kind?”

“Of course, I’ll send one of my strongest warriors with her,” he replied politely.

“Oh, no, no, no.” I shook my head. “That wouldn’t do. I would only be calm if you go with her.”

“W-why?” He looked puzzled at my sudden request. “I am the Beta; I need to stay here all the–”

“Amy has been with me since my childhood and she is not the strongest of wolves,” I sighed. “If anything happens to her, I’ll … I’ll… I had no idea this country would be so unwelcoming!”

Tears came to me naturally. After years of practice, I could cry regardless of what mood I was in, as much and as long as was required. It was a perfect weapon against any man because in most cases they simply didn’t know what to do with it.

“You know what,” the Beta said, giving up quickly, “now that I think about it, I can ask our Gamma to take care of things while I escort your maid.”

“Really?!” I wiped the tears away quickly. “That would be great! Amy has the list of everything you need to purchase, and don’t forget Ally’s, I mean, Alistair’s chequebook.”

The look on his face was priceless. But he managed to squeeze a nod out of himself, and Amira pushed him out of the room before he had the chance to come to his senses.

Len went to explore around the new grounds and make a map for me, while Filin flew out of the window to do… whatever he needed to do. And I really took my time preparing for the walk. I chose the most ridiculous dress, of course. There were so many frills on that thing that it almost made me look like a cake. However, this was the fashion these days. And it was exactly what Eiryn would wear if she was here. She loved to stand out and I had to obey that while I was her.

About an hour and a half later, I went down. And in another half an hour I found the stables. However, Alistair was not there. Which was interesting. Did he stand me up or just leave after he got tired of waiting for so long? I expected him to at least come growl at me in the case of the latter. But he’d done no such thing…

On the other hand, my life motto was to make lemonade out of lemons. I could go to his chambers now and make a scene there. Maybe cry a little, break something precious… Not that he had much. The house was a mess. It was hard to believe that a prince lived here. Did his father give him the worst pack as a punishment for something?

I was about to leave when I heard some movement within the stables. Horses always were my weakness, even though I’d never had one. But Eiryn had several and when I was her, I could take care of them from time to time. I didn’t know everything there was to know, of course, since a Landon couldn’t have a groom’s job for a hobby. Besides, horses weren’t too fond of werewolves. They felt the predators in them… But they loved witches. And it was mutual.

I went inside quickly and saw two beauties prepared by a stableman, who bowed as soon as he saw me.

“Luna,” he acknowledged me.

“Not yet.” I smiled. “Just call me… Lady Landon. And what is your name?”

“Alex, my lady.” The young guy beamed at me.

I looked at the two mares he was taking care of. One was brown and the other was shining black. They both took my breath away!

“Horses are not afraid of you, Alex.” I raised my brow at him, and a blush appeared on his cheek. Cute. He was about seventeen, blond, muscly from all the physical work… and everything he felt was written on his face. Still an innocent child.

“I am an Omega, my lady,” he said without any disappointment in his voice. “They don’t feel too much of a wolf in me.”

“I see.” I nodded. Omegas were the weakest among the wolves and rarely shifted to fight. I liked them the best because they weren’t as dangerous as others, didn’t have enormous egos, and weren’t aggressive at all. Most of the Omegas I met were easygoing and sweet. However, most of them were also treated like vermin beneath the feet of Alphas, Betas, and so on. I hated that hierarchy. Although it was nothing new for modern society. Even I served Zion now…

“They aren’t afraid of you either, my lady, and you are an Alpha!” the boy said, and immediately bit his tongue.

“That’s all right.” I touched his hand gently and chuckled. “They know I am never going to hurt them.”

A loud growl emerged from behind us then, and the horses went mad…