Page 9

Scarlett

It was well past dinner when they returned, so Scarlett sat by Maximilian’s feet with her food while he put a movie on the TV.

Typically, Maximilian would spend the nights leading up to the Wolfmoon roaming the woods with his friends, but not tonight.

He seemed to want to stay close to her, and she soaked up the time.

After all, she would soon forfeit it to be with her mates.

The scariest part of it all was that she had no idea when the inevitable would come—just that it would.

The idea of being with the three men was already planting itself, their last phone call replaying over and over in her mind.

Though she didn’t want to leave her family, she knew the bond would grow thicker with each word they shared.

Even their constant presence would feed the bond’s strength.

“Two plates, huh?” Maximilian chuckled behind her.

“It was a long day.”

“Does that mean you don’t want to tag along with me?”

“What do you have in mind?”

“Come hang with the cool kids and find out.”

She pushed herself off the floor and deposited her dirty dishes in the sink. “Not sure if ‘cool’ is the adjective I would use to describe your friend circle, but I’ll go with it.”

Maximilian scowled. “Keep talking and you’re uninvited.”

Despite that he opened the door and led her towards the south end of the village. Kurt was already waiting for her by the treeline with a bright grin on his face. “I didn’t know you were coming too.”

Maximilian came to a stop next to Kurt, turning a hardened gaze on Scarlett. “I’m allowing you to come with us on one condition: no alcohol whatsoever.”

Scarlett couldn’t agree fast enough, her heart leaping in her chest. They’d never allowed her to be part of their parties. It was only one more reason as to why she had so few close friends within the pack. “I promise.”

“I’ll watch out for you,” Kurt said as he pulled her into a hug.

They advanced into the woods and it wasn’t long before laughter filtered through the trees surrounding them. A group of wolves gathered in a small clearing illuminated by candles and flashlights. When Scarlett appeared, some tried to hide their drinks.

She opened up her mind to Kurt, unable to hide her insecurity. ‘I don’t think I should be here.’

‘Fuck them.’ Kurt grabbed her arm and pulled her to the cooler, reaching into the ice-filled chest and offering her a soda can. He even popped the top for her. ‘Ignore them.’

She followed him over to the group, where everyone’s face came into view: Paul, John, Denise, and Maximilian. Paul lounged against a tree with Denise straddling his lap, peppering kisses over his jaw. Scarlett had known they were a thing, but they always kept their distance in the penthouse.

“Oh, hi there.” Denise greeted with a smile that was surprisingly genuine.

She’d never shown any dislike towards Scarlett but it was refreshing after seeing the others’ reactions.

“I see Kurt is making sure we don’t get you put on house arrest.” Scarlett must have looked as clueless as she felt because Denise laughed and pointed at her soda.

“Oh, yeah.” She found a spot next to Kurt, who’d selected a beer for himself. “I think that’s more Maximilian’s doing.”

“That was all me. I do not want my ass handed to me by my alpha,” Kurt laughed, ticking the rules off on his fingers. “No kissing, no drinking, and no other naughty stuff for you.”

“Damn, you really know how to limit a girl’s fun,” she teased. “I thought I could finally let my freak flag fly.”

“Not with me you won’t. I like myself with all my limbs still attached, thank you.”

“I’ll behave but only because I want to keep you as my bodyguard,” she laughed.

Scarlett didn’t move for the rest of the night, content to let Kurt wait on her hand and foot.

She didn’t care about not being able to drink or find someone to make out with like the others.

After all, there were already three men on her mind.

She leaned against the tree and sipped her drink, spending the night people watching.

Despite the happy, upbeat nature, her heart slowly broke.

A few weeks ago, this was exactly what she’d been dreaming about, but getting to experience it now was bittersweet.

After a while, Maximilian returned and crouched down before her with sorrow-filled eyes.

“Time to go back?” she asked.

He nodded. “Sorry.”

Scarlett sighed. “It’s okay.”

“I’ll walk her,” Kurt offered, standing and helping Scarlett to her feet.

She pulled her brother into a hug, stamping a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.”

He kissed her hair and gently nudged her to go with Kurt, who navigated her through the entwined couples. Scarlett hooked her arm through his elbow, resting her head on his bicep.

It was Kurt who broke the silence. “You know you can always talk to me, right? Because I feel something is going on and I can’t figure out what it is.”

“I know I can. I’m just being an ungrateful brat.”

“You and I both know you’re not a brat.”

“Other than the fact I’m confined to my tower, I have everything I could ever dream of. Some might even call me lucky.”

“Still, don’t call yourself a brat.”

“Only because you asked so sweetly.”

“If anyone else ever called me sweet they’d get punched,” Kurt grumbled.

“I know.”

“Get inside before I get myself and my future alpha in trouble.”

The house was dark by the time Scarlett stepped through the front door. She slipped out of her shoes and was almost safely up the stairs when a shadow moved, and her father stepped out of the office.

“Come here,” he commanded and like a privileged pet, Scarlett obeyed, stepping up to him with her head slightly bowed. “Was Maximilian with you this whole time?”

“Yes. Kurt too.”

“You two are awfully close.”

“I don’t have any other friends,” she said, her voice quivering with the fear that he would take Kurt away too.

“No, you don’t.” Without another word, he stepped around her and disappeared up the stairs into the master.

The entirety of the next day was spent in the kitchen with her mother, preparing dishes and cakes for their evening celebration. It was her mother’s sole purpose in life to organize events like this and the moment Scarlett was old enough, she’d been recruited to help.

With all the food prepared, Scarlett helped her mother carry everything to the tables set up by the lake where they would welcome their new wolves.

This year, there would be three joining them.

Her father could already feel their presence.

When she found a quiet moment, she snuck off with the excuse of changing her outfit.

With some much-needed privacy, Scarlett found that disposable cell phone and dialled the sweet one’s number.

“Scarlett, my love. We thought you’d be busy today.”

“I have been.”

“And still you found time to speak to us.” She enjoyed how much he appreciated her, how soft and sweet he was. Though she couldn’t help but think there was a whole other side of him she hadn’t seen. “Are you looking forward to tonight?”

“Yes.” She wanted to tell him how sad she was about this ceremony most likely being her last, and that soon she wouldn’t be able to keep her secret any longer, but she couldn’t bring herself to admit it.

“Care to share what you’ve been up to without us, little princess?” the scary one snarled.

Scarlett sighed. She hated how her belly fluttered when he spoke to her like that. “I went for a hike with my brother.”

“You mentioned that you got along well with him. I’m sure it was soul healing to be out there with him.”

“It is. I have to get going again.”

“So soon?” the scary one almost snapped.

“Go ahead, love. Enjoy your evening.”

She hung up and changed her clothes quickly, the butterflies in her stomach growing larger. She was playing a dangerous game and even though she was terrified to be discovered, the thrill made it that much more exciting.

The sun was already setting, painting the surrounding forest in a golden light and making the water of the lake shimmer in the last sunrays.

As expected of her, she stayed by her parents’ sides until it was time for her father to address the pack.

Once darkness settled over them, Maximilian stood by her side as her father took the spot before the pack.

“Tonight, we not only celebrate Isis, our mother and maker, but we welcome three new wolves into our pack. Before our eyes, boys will become men as they meet their wolves for the very first time.”

Three teenage boys stepped forward, falling on their knees before their alpha.

“Listen as she calls your name. Feel your wolves awakening in your mind.”

Maximilian wrapped an arm around Scarlett and pulled her closer. She leaned into him and watched as her father guided the three wolves through the bodies of their counterparts into the world.

“Feel their minds push into yours and their body grow stronger.”

Jessy’s body was the first to vibrate, his joints cracking and his bones twisting and contorting. He suppressed his cry into a painful grunt. The first shift was always the most painful, with man and wolf not knowing one another well enough to give up power without a struggle.

“Isis has chosen you to be part of this pack, to protect, serve, and provide.”

Then her father stepped back and watched as the other two boys shifted.

Eventually, their shifts would only take seconds, but it would be a learned skill.

It was rather painful to watch them fight, not wanting to be seen as weak by showing their pain.

Bones shifted out of place as skin ripped and fur grew.

When three wolves finally stood before the pack, Scarlett let out a relieved sigh. She hadn’t even noticed how tense she’d gotten.

Her father stepped before them, the power of his alpha pouring off him in waves. He didn’t need words for the wolves to settle and bow their heads. With each step her father took, they dipped lower until they laid before him.