Page 3 of Collared

Had I ever dreamt of being part of something bigger?

And so on.

My careful shrugs and nods were apparently enough to take it further, because they had smiled sympathetically.

“Seems like you're in the right place then.”

A leather briefcase was clicked open, followed by a document. A Non-disclosure Agreement. NDA agreement. I wish I could say that alarm bells had gone off in my mind or something of the sort. But no, I'd merely felt...exhilarated? Fascinated? A large stamp with confidential was pressed on all four pages, and I frankly couldn't believe it. I thought of Dad and Papi and how they would have been proud of me right now. It was enough to sign the damn papers even before I took my next breath.

Something exciting was finally happening in my life!

The moment I left that office, I'd felt a change beginning inside of me. Perhaps I felt more connected to my late family. Perhaps it was the idea that someone had noticed me. I felt seen. Recognized. And it felt fucking amazing.

I’d been chosen. Though I didn't know by whom, or how that worked in the first place, those few words managed to create a lingering spark.

But as the weeks passed, nothing happened, and that dainty flare, that warm ray of sunshine, had started to fade. My steps began to falter, shoulders starting to slump, slowly maneuvering its way back into my usual demeanor. Then came the questions, bouncing through my mind like some twisted version of ping-pong. I'd failed the background check. Or worse, they’d already seen enough of me even before I could have shown them they were wrong, or—and this option was far worse—they’d been pranking me from day one.

They had tricked me into believing something I clearly wasn’t. And that thought… damn, it kind of got me down.

And just as I'd almost convinced myself that I should just forget about it all, I got caught in a roller coaster of suspicious events.

First, there was this heated disagreement in the canteen. I wish I could say that at a college with only guys that never happens, but that would be a lie. Still, for one of them to get so openly caught up in a fight, something exceptional must have been said or done.

Then, my eyes wandered where they shouldn’t and got caught by an icy-blue glare that made my stomach flutter and my toes curl. My cheeks had heated at the sudden physical reaction, and fuelled by a nagging feeling of humiliation, I'd fled the canteen. Everyone knew that we were to ignore the large table in the center of the canteen and the guys occupying it.

And barely a few hours after that disaster, I was called to the South Wing again.

This time, no one was there to welcome me. No formally clothed men with philosophical questions and NDA’s. Nope. The room was empty aside from the crackling fire, the empty gazes from the deer that hung on the walls like the twisted trophies they were, and me. And the letter placed on the rich oak desk, waiting to be found.

It was rolled up like a scroll, tied by a silk string, my name written on it with curly letters.

Not a letter, I realized as I rolled it open. Even in its crumpled state it still somehow managed to entice me. Because it said “Invitation.”

You, our brother, who carries his heritage with dignity and pride, who walks this world with his head high, searching for—not quite finding—somewhere to belong. And belong you shall, brother, because today is the day that your life will change.

You are invited to become part of the inevitable, the circle of gold that will keep your spine straight and your dignity intact. To meld into a group of people who are like you, brother, who were once searching but who found—found—what life really means.

Loyalty.

Respect.

Tradition.

Sacrifice.

And tonight your Initiation shall begin.

That was roughly eight hours ago. And even with my brain protesting my willingness to follow the instructions and head out into the woods at night, and probably being fucking spot on, I couldn't let this opportunity pass me by.

Not this time.

So here I am. Standing outside Monterrey Castle, facing the dense forest.

Masked.

Three burly bodyguards in tuxedos were already waiting for me when I got here, and after a quick nod and thorough body search, they told me that we were going for a walk. They put a mask on my face and told me that no questions were allowed. Things would become clear soon. Excitement sizzled in my stomach at the featherlight touch of velvet against my face.

"Ready?" One of them now asks, dragging my thoughts back to the present. No. I nod.

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