Page 63 of Depraved
The old man just looks at me with a glance that says “behave” before he walks over to greet the other two women. My mother gets a bow, and the other woman gets a hug.
I try to convince Fluffy that we should shift and bite him. She doesn’t agree. She trots out onto the couch and sits next to me, a miniature little wolf with a tail thumping like an excited puppy.
She likes the idea of Black owning her.
You’re fucked in the head,I tell her.
She doesn’t get past the word ‘fucked’ and sends me an image of Black’s wolf rutting her.
I clench my fist because I think she’s deliberately misunderstanding what I’m saying, but how do you argue with a wolf?
“Elena!” My mother’s tone is all fake-delight, as sweet as aspartame.
“I’ll bring tea and snacks,” Matthew-the-traitor says as he retreats, shutting the door behind himself and essentially locking me in.
Mom jumps right in, snagging a high-backed seat across from me and smoothing down her business-casual pants as she states, “Georgia and I were talking on the way over here, and we’re thinking that the weather looks good enough for an outdoor ceremony in about two weeks.”
I bolt up, standing, unable to hide my shock as my entire jaw unhinges. My heart runs and hides behind the curtains as my lips move, and I hear myself squeak, “Two weeks?”
My hand comes up to my chest and clutches at my shirt. It’s just a casual t-shirt because I’m not dressed to go out today, but suddenly it feels too tight. My eyes dart wildly, looking anywhere but at the two women sitting expectantly in front of me.
This isn’t happening.
They can’t be serious right now.
There’s so much shit more important than weddings to think about. But they blink demurely up at me, and for a second, I feel caught inThe Twilight Zone.
“But we haven’t even caught Thomas!”
My mother gives a careless wave of her hand. “I hear the elites are hot on the trail. They got a biker this morning, and I’m sure they’ll catch the rest soon. Meanwhile, everyone’s anxious to see their new luna.”
I don’t even hear the luna bit. I’m stuck on the biker. Why does she know shit that I don’t know?
Fury interrupts my panic for a moment as I decide I need to have a few choice words with Pluto about keeping me informed. I don’t know if they’ll do any good, not without Black there to back me up. Pluto and the other alphas treat me well, but they don’t see me or Jonah as one of them. God frickin’ dammit.
I wish Black was here.
Actually, he’d probably just smile smugly and lean back in his chair, crossing his ankles and tucking his hands behind his head as he said something arrogant. Like alphas should fight the fights and omegas should plan the weddings.
Just imagining the shit that would come out of that man’s mouth makes my blood boil.
No, I don’t want Black here. He wouldn’t do a thing to dissuade the two women in front of me.
A wedding!
But what about Jonah? If I’m forced to marry Black, where does that leave him?
Out in the cold is not an option.
Jonah’s place in the pack is still a massive question mark. And while my beta puts on a smile, I can tell that he’s unsettled and uncertain about his future. So am I. Because, at the end of the day, what can I do?
I don’t know.
Georgia picks up on the fact that I’m overwhelmed—not like I’m trying to hide it—and takes a tablet out of her massive purse. “Maybe instead of ceremonies, we should talk about other formalities first.” She taps viciously at her tablet, her nails clicking across the screen before she turns it to face me.
I glance down and see a jewelry website. A dozen oversized diamond rings glitter up at me, some set on pure white backgrounds, others posed on hand models.
My intuition pings.
