Page 6
six
ASPEN
I didn’t want to piss off Enzo or Hunter, so I was careful about what I texted Fletcher. Losing my phone again would be shitty. I had to play along with the Savage brothers’ rules.
Me
Hey, Fletch, the king gave me my phone back
Fletcher
Prove it
Me
You have a mole on your left ass cheek. We named it George when we were seven, before our parents told us that wasn’t socially acceptable
Fletcher
He hasn’t locked you up or hurt you, has he?
Me
No
I’m fine
Fletcher
Thank fuck
Is he really coming?
Me
I think so
He left me a minute ago
Did you warn Silas?
Fletcher
Already called him, but he’s not running
Let’s hope he can convince the king that he has no feelings for you. How possessive is he?
Me
Possessive, possessive
Fletcher
Silas is fucked
Nothing we can do about it now
I’ve got to get back to hiding groupies. Now’s the time to pray for Fiona’s life. I know how much you like her
I bit back a small grin.
Me
I’ll get right on it
Good luck
Fletcher
Be careful. I’ll text you after he’s gone. Love you
Me
Love you too
I squeezed my eyes shut and let out a long breath, navigating out of the message. My hands were shaking just a little. My wolf was lounging, though, perfectly satisfied by the current turn of events.
Most wolves didn’t care who their current partner had been with before, so Enzo seemed excessively possessive. But when he couldn’t find my scent anywhere near Silas, or in the cabin, I hoped that might fade a little. Enough to save Silas, at least.
I wasn’t going to bargain with my body to keep Silas or the Creek groupies alive. If I tried, it would just make Enzo think I was more attached to them than I was.
But he cared about my wolf choosing to make things more difficult by flashing his pack.
I could use that, if I was smart about it.
I sat down on the edge of his bed and opened up the message he’d sent himself with my heat cycle. He had to have stopped by his brother’s office for his phone, since he’d forced Fletcher to text him details.
Me
If anyone dies tonight, my wolf is likely to rebel
I didn’t expect a message back.
He obviously didn’t text much. His phone had been in that drawer for more than four months, according to his brothers.
But a message came through a minute later anyway.
Enzo
If you leave our room while I’m gone, my wolf is likely to make sure everyone I meet tonight dies
I bit my lip.
The message was rough.
Brutal.
Threatening.
My wolf purred anyway.
Without thinking it through, I lifted my arm to the top of the bed frame and held my wrist against the metal, snapping a quick picture.
I sent it to him, with a message.
Me
Tied myself to the bed
Not going anywhere
As the checkmark told me my message was sent, I reread it and froze.
There was another clear message behind my words. An unintended one.
He answered immediately.
Enzo
Don’t tempt me, Princess
My face flushed.
The rest of my body did, too.
He thought I was hitting on him. Maybe I was accidentally hitting on him.
Shit.
I shoved a hand through my hair, and typed back another message.
Me
Would tempting you keep everyone alive?
Enzo
Not this time
My heart pounded.
Not this time wasn’t no .
It was maybe next time .
And it was far, far better than nothing.
I dropped the phone next to me and tucked my legs under the bedding. I should’ve gone to the closet for clothes, but his duvet was heavy and luxurious. He didn’t seem to use a top sheet, so the feel of it was nice on my legs.
Part of me wanted to text Silas or call him, to make sure he knew what was coming, but it wouldn’t help him if I made him more of a target. I needed to leave the distance between us.
Letting out a shaky breath, I grabbed the remote and tapped on the first streaming service. It opened up to profiles for all of the brothers.
Enzo.
Huntie.
Clay-Clay.
I bit back a tiny smile. The brothers must have a thing where they changed each other’s profile names to mess with each other.
I picked Enzo’s profile and clicked around, wanting to see what he had watched.
A few episodes of a spy TV show.
Every season and episode of a reality show where normal people had to survive out in nature with very few supplies.
Multiple action and adventure movies.
No thrillers, and no romance.
Hmm.
I turned on the first episode of the survival show. I had nothing else to do, and needed something to occupy my mind while I waited. I loved to read, but the iPad mini that had all of my books on it was back in my cabin, and I hated reading on my phone. It gave me headaches.
While the episode played, I kept checking my phone for calls and messages that didn’t come.
The show wasn’t my favorite, but it held my attention for the most part.
I was two episodes in when Fletcher finally texted me.
Fletcher
He left a few minutes ago
No one died
Me
What did he do?
Fletcher
Announced that he’d claimed you as his mate and told everyone what you are. Checked out the packhouse. Gave us a small fine for some bullshit. Got close to Lucas and told him that if he flirted with his queen again, he would paint his house with his blood. Shattered Graham’s nose for muttering something about you under his breath. Broke both of Reilly’s arms for the same
Other than that, he just packed your shit, took the key to the heat cabin, and left.
He drove off in the direction of the cabin, not Silas’s pack
Me
Holy shit
Fletcher
I’m surprised it wasn’t worse, honestly
I’ve gotta go though
The pack is pissed at me for keeping your secret. Have to try to smooth things over
Me
I’m sorry
Good luck
Fletcher
Don’t apologize
You know you’re the only person I really give a shit about in this world
Me
Same to you
After a moment of hesitation, I sent one last message.
Me
If you can’t fix things with the pack, you can accept the invitation to join Enzo’s
At least we’d be close to each other again
Fletcher
The last thing I want is to make that fucker stronger by joining him
Me
I know, and I get it
Just remember that it’s an option
Love you
Fletcher
I will
Love you too
I’ll let you know when I hear from Silas, his Beta, or Gamma
I bit my lip and tried to refocus on the show playing. I’d missed a few minutes, but that wasn’t a big deal.
My gaze kept flicking to my phone.
I didn’t relax for the next four hours.
Not until Fletcher finally texted me again.
Fletcher
Enzo just left Silas’s pack
He’s broken and bloody, but he’s alive
Relief finally tore through me.
Me
Thank goodness
Fletcher
He made sure to tell Silas that the only reason he was leaving him alive was to spare his mate the tears
He says thank you.
Emotion stung my eyes anyway.
Me
We’re not mated yet
I still might be able to get out of it
Fletcher
I think we’re outclassed here
I’ll try to come up with a way to get you out, but you need to try to find a way to make him care about you, so you can still have a good life
Me
He told his people not to look at me, Fletch
He wants me to be a princess living in a tower
Fletcher
Better trapped in a tower than dead
Me
Has the pack come around?
Fletcher
Not yet
I’ll figure it out though
Goodnight. Be careful
I wiped my eyes again, angrily, as a few tears fell.
Everyone was alive, but things weren’t okay. I was locked in the Alpha King’s bedroom, without any of my clothes or other things. My brother, who was my best friend, could lose his pack because of me. And despite what he’d said, finding a new one wasn’t easy. Not for an Alpha as strong as him. He’d have to start from scratch, and everyone he knew was in Creek.
A packless Alpha was a bomb waiting to detonate. Not safe for anyone. If he couldn’t find people to join him, he’d have no choice but to turn to Enzo’s pack.
At least Silas was alive.
I shut the TV off and curled up with a thick, squishy pillow. Like everything else in the bedroom, it was fancier than I was used to, and smelled amazing. The Alpha was a bastard, but he smelled good. Really good. I hated myself for liking that.
For liking anything about the situation.
I was a prisoner.
A princess in a tower was safe, but safe didn’t mean happy. I knew that better than anyone.
At some point, I must’ve fallen asleep snuggled up with the delicious-smelling pillow. Because at another point, it was replaced by a bare, even better smelling chest.
I only woke up briefly. Some part of me realized that the Alpha had pried the pillow out of my arms and pulled me against him, but it felt so good, so right, that I didn’t care.
When I eventually woke up and forced my eyes open, I found a pair of golden eyes staring at me while a big, warm hand moved slowly over my back.
I was literally wrapped around him. My leg was draped over his erection—covered by a pair of sweats, thankfully—but I could feel that I was a little slick against his chiseled abdomen, my legs open so wide that he had to have been able to feel everything. Not to mention smell it.
And my tits?
Yeah, they were nearly in his face. One of my breasts was trapped against him sideways, and my nipple was literally pointing at him.
Crap.
“You can’t pull me into your arms when I’m asleep,” I grumbled, climbing off of him.
My wolf was wagging her freaking tail.
Wagging it.
Horny bitch.
“You were holding my favorite pillow. I took it, and you climbed on top of me instead,” he growled back.
I only vaguely remembered what had happened, so I had no idea if that was true or not. I always snuggled with pillows, so it did seem possible.
“You should’ve pushed me away,” I finally said.
“I’m not a fucking saint, Princess.”
Clearly.
I made it off the bed, and pulled hair out of my mouth as I stumbled to the closet, my body still heavy with sleep.
When I stepped back out in a pair of his boxer briefs and the remaining long-sleeved shirt I hadn’t worn, the bed was empty.
My forehead creased.
I heard the fridge close, and padded into the kitchen.
The Alpha already had a few ingredients on the counter. He’d cracked two dozen eggs into a bowl, and was holding a pack of bacon.
My stomach growled.
Yum.
The bacon joined the eggs and some cheese in the bowl. Salt and pepper followed. A few veggies, too.
“Are you going to stand there and watch me all morning, Princess?” he drawled.
I shook my head, realizing I had been watching too long. Too closely, too.
“I’m not a morning person,” I mumbled, stepping into the kitchen and heading toward the dishes. I knew the dishwasher was half full. I could deal with that.
If he was cooking for me too.
I paused, my hip against the countertop. “Is all of that for you?”
“Yes. I went to the trouble of claiming you in front of my pack and locking you in my room just so I could cook for myself while you watch.”
I had to bite back a snort.
The Alpha was a dick, but apparently he had a sense of humor.
Maybe it only emerged after he had a naked woman sleeping on top of him.
Then again, I hadn’t done a damn thing except make him hard and give him something nice to look at.
I didn’t say anything else, just opening the dishwasher and getting to work putting things away. I vaguely remembered where everything went after snooping earlier, so it didn’t take as much effort as I would’ve expected.
“You went through all of my stuff yesterday,” he said, watching me through the corner of his eye as he put things away.
“Yeah. Don’t know how I missed my phone.”
“I had it with me when I came back for dinner. When your wolf took over.”
Ah.
Well, that made sense.
“Thanks for giving it back,” I said.
He grunted.
We worked in silence as he cooked the eggs. I put the dishes away, then started loading the dishwasher again.
I was only partially done when he loaded up plates, throwing some butter and jam on toast before he carried them to a pair of chairs under an extra strip of the countertop, near the pantry.
We’d be sitting really close to each other if I went over, so I kept working on the dishes. It would be easier to eat after he was done.
“The food’s ready,” Enzo said.
“I’ll eat when you’re done.”
“No. You’re my mate, not my fucking house cleaner. Sit down and eat.” His tone told me the meal wasn’t optional.
I supposed I should’ve expected as much.
Wolves had a thing for feeding their mates. Most males would sit the woman they were dating on their lap and feed her from their fingers a few times at the beginning of their relationship, just to tell everyone she was taken.
“Fine. You don’t need to growl at me.” I left the dishwasher open. I’d be going back to it. I didn’t have anything else to do.
Enzo watched me as I tried to fold myself into the remaining barstool without bumping him.
It failed.
There wasn’t enough space.
My side was pressed entirely against the Alpha’s when I finally picked up the fork, trying hard to lean away.
He didn’t comment on my leaning.
The food was delicious, but he didn’t say anything when I complimented him.
“So, you trapped me here,” I said, as we finished eating. He had significantly more food than me, but he ate faster.
I wasn’t trying to piss him off. I didn’t want to make him angry, or make my situation any worse. But we had to talk before he left again.
And he hadn’t killed anyone, because I asked him not to. That seemed like a good sign.
“You’re not trapped. The door doesn’t lock from the outside,” Enzo said.
“Okay. But you told your people not to look at me, smell me, or touch me. They’re going to pretend I don’t exist.”
He scoffed at me. “They know I meant sexually.”
“Are you sure about that?”
He stabbed his last chunk of scrambled eggs.
“It doesn’t matter,” I said quickly. “Your wolf wants them to pretend I’m invisible. Fine. But what am I supposed to do all day? I heard that you hunt rogue wolves. I’m not sure what that is. Am I supposed to join you, or?—”
“No. You will never get near a rogue wolf.” His words were ferocious.
He felt strongly about it, apparently.
“Alright. I used to drive with Fletcher, working as a forest ranger with the Creeks. I can keep doing that, if you?—”
“No. I don’t trust him to protect you.”
“He did it for twenty-six years. And?—”
“My brother caught you, and Fletcher didn’t realize it until we?—"
“Stop interrupting me!” My words were sharp.
He eyed me, almost warily. “Easy, Princess.”
“Says the guy who keeps growling at me.”
“Fine. Continue.”
I huffed. “I need something to do. I like to be busy. When I’m trapped inside, I get itchy. My wolf doesn’t like it. If you’re not going to let me work my old job, find me a new one, or let me find one myself.”
“I’ll consider it.” He set his fork down and stood, his side brushing against mine as he moved. He set his plate and fork in the dishwasher and ran his hands under the water.
I dropped my stuff in the sink and followed him as he made his way to the door. “What do you expect me to do all day? Despite what you seem to think, I’m not a princess. I like to work. I can’t stand being bored. I?—”
“Your iPad is on the nightstand. I saw your library on it and plugged it in. Read something. Pretend it’s a vacation.”
With that, he stepped out and shut the door behind him.
I let out an annoyed huff, grabbing the doorknob and twisting it just to make sure it really wasn’t locked.
It twisted, and the door opened.
I poked my head out to see if anyone was guarding me or waiting outside again. They weren’t.
“If anyone sees your tits today, I’ll do more than choke them,” he called out, without looking back at me.
“Fuck you,” I muttered, closing the door.
I almost thought I heard him chuckle, but that couldn’t have been right.
I locked it and turned back to the room. My mood brightened a little when I did.
He didn’t say I couldn’t leave my room. He just wanted me to wear a bra if I did. Mine was in the laundry basket, but I knew where the washer and dryer were.
I would read a book at some point, but I wanted to look around first. Get a feel for the pack. See where they’d hidden their groupies.
I started a load of clothes. Part of me wanted to be a bitch and just wash my own, but that seemed like a waste of effort and water, so Enzo’s went in with them.
When that was done, I finished the dishes and reorganized the cabinets. There was no reason for half of the bowls to be in one cupboard while the other half were in another. The man just wasn’t organized.
When everything was in a better place, I wiped down the cabinets and cupboards, scrubbed the stove, and cleaned out the microwave. None of it was filthy, but it felt good to make it shine.
I swept the floor, then moved through the bedroom, picking up socks and clothes. They went into the hamper I’d emptied earlier.
I switched the laundry to the dryer, then focused on the bathroom. I wasn’t cleaning the Alpha’s toilet—I had to draw the line somewhere—but I had no problem giving the rest of it the same treatment I’d given the kitchen.
The tornado in the cabinets became a well-stocked thing of beauty. I didn’t find any conditioner, which was a bummer, but I’d find some when I went out to explore.
When the bathroom was clean, I checked the nightstand for signs of any of my other things, but only found a few. A photo album with pictures of my family was in one. I flipped through it, and found everything exactly where I left it. If he’d looked through, he hadn’t taken anything.
None of my toiletries were in the bathroom, and none of my clothes were in the closet. All of those things probably smelled too much like perfume. Enzo had probably tossed them out.
My clothes were dry, though, so I pulled them on and grabbed my iPad.
The Alpha had told me to read a book. If anyone got mad at me for walking around, him included, I’d pretend that I was just looking for a comfortable place to read.
He would sniff out the lie if it wasn’t true, so I really would keep an eye out for anywhere that looked like a nice spot to curl up with a book.
I headed out, fighting a grin.
At least I was trapped in a castle, instead of a tower.