Page 3 of Delivered to My Beasts (Mail-Order Matings #22)

Imogen

The next morning, I woke up and lay staring at the sunlight pouring through the window. How I’d managed to make it through an evening of pretending nothing had changed, I would never know, but a lot of the credit went to my wolf.

She’d been arguing with me about the mating the whole time, rejecting the idea of mating with Mateo partly because she didn’t like the human side any more than I did, but also because she despised his wolf.

I’d never heard of a wolf feeling that way about another in their own pack, but I couldn’t blame her.

The feeling of dread I’d experienced every morning for months was not entirely gone, but it was a little less, somehow. I could draw a deep breath without choking on it at least. And it was a few seconds before I realized what that was. What exactly had changed. And what had not.

Learning that things were not as I’d been told, that I had literally been sold, made it impossible for me to go through with the mating.

Mateo had pushed to have me move in with him early and save the marking for the actual ceremony, but between my balking and my father’s concern for something happening to ruin the deal, it hadn’t happened.

And now it never would. In order to break free from the situation I found myself in, I needed to have not only somewhere to go but someone to protect me. Which was why the Beasts were the best choice. But if I didn’t hear back from them by later today, I was going to need to find someone else.

Our pack did not intermarry with other shifters, and in doing so, I would be declared rogue.

But since that was likely to be regarded as the least of my sins, I couldn’t bring myself to worry about it.

Or care. My father’s betrayal meant I would not be coming back no matter what.

I’d sooner starve to death in the gutter than live a lie.

And boy did it feel good to be able to say that.

To admit I’d been going to agree to live a lie.

I couldn’t even stand the feel of Mateo’s hand on my shoulder—the idea of sleeping next to him in a bed for the rest of my life?

Oh hell no. How had I even thought I’d survive it?

And how could my father have so little regard for me as his daughter that he would do this?

Despite my anger or maybe because of it, a tear streaked down my cheek and plopped onto the pillowcase.

I swiped at its track and sat up then dropped my feet to the floor and felt around for my slippers.

Maybe I wouldn’t be leaving today, but it would have to be as soon as possible.

With the event coming soon, some of the pack members had been helping out with things like cooking and cleaning, freeing me up for wedding preparations—which, of course I had been avoiding.

I would have liked to check the Mail-Order Matings app, but if I didn’t show up soon, someone would come looking for me, and I could not take a chance on getting caught.

My father would make sure I never got away.

How had I ever felt like it was my job to protect him?

But after a quick shower, I headed downstairs to the kitchen to see that someone had already been there and prepared scones and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Until all this nonsense began, these females would have never cooked for me. I did all the alpha house cooking, morning, noon, and night.

“These look wonderful,” I said, picking up a scone and taking a bite. “And tastes even better.”

“Have some coffee, luna,” coaxed one of the females. “I hope the alpha-to-be comes in time to eat. He said he likes cinnamon.”

“I have no idea.” And never planned to find out. “But he’s been coming over for every meal since the contract was signed, so I imagine he will. He also likes bacon.”

“I’ll make it,” chirped another female. “I’ll fry up a whole pound.”

“I think he was hoping to have fried chicken for dinner one night soon,” I offered helpfully. “With Dutch apple pie for dessert.”

My comments were met with glee as the four women who were in the kitchen began to plan dinner.

I might not want to be here by then, but if I was, I’d be enjoying my favorite meal.

And since the females would be sticking around to eat, I could have my fill.

Settling back with my scone and coffee, I enjoyed my breakfast while waiting for an opportunity to slip away and check the app.

It happened sooner than I expected, when one of the betas brought in a grocery order, and all the females were occupied putting it away. With no males in sight, I ducked out the front door and across the open space in front, headed for the tree line.

“Imogen!” Mateo’s voice carried to me from the side yard of the alpha house. “Imogen, come here now.”

I should have turned around, acted as if I cared that he was calling me, but that would have been more of a giveaway than the opposite.

Despite agreeing to the mating and walking through all the preparations for the humanlike ceremony, I had never pretended to be happy about it.

While he pretended not to notice—in public, at least. And that was where I tried to keep my conversations with him.

Deep in the woods, I settled under a tree and pulled my phone from my pocket. I carried it there, always, even before downloading the app. In a pack populated by busybodies, the device was my only source of privacy. The wedding would cost me that as well, if I stuck around for it.

Swiping the screen, I brought up the Mail-Order Matings app and tapped the notifications icon. My hand shook, making it hard to read, so I took a few deep breaths with my eyes closed then opened them.

I had a match, and to my amazement, it was to the very bears I had sent a message to. Unsure of how the system worked, I had skipped past the matching part, but that didn’t seem to have engendered a penalty of any kind. Fortunately.

But time was not my friend because Mateo had not given up, and I could hear his footsteps crunching leaves along the pathway I had taken. Damn him!