Page 23 of The Forbidden Wolf

Without turning from his window, Father sighed. “I give the order, Elyse. I do not wish for any trouble today.”

“Very well.” I smoothed my pale pink dress over my thighs, cringing inwardly at the unpleasant friction of the fabric against the rubbery half-shiftskin hidden underneath. “I’m sure making a public spectacle of replacing five pups’ recently deceased mother won’t cause the slightest bit of trouble.”

Damian laughed. “I think you’ll find Blaze has had considerably more success raising respectful offspring than your father.”

“Watch your mouth, Beta,” Kiana snapped.

Damian bowed his head. “Forgive me. I didn’t mean you, my grace.”

“I don’t care who you meant,” Kiana said. “You disrespect my whole family in saying it. Mind your rank.”

“Of course,” Damian murmured without lifting his head.

Kiana snorted. Our eyes met briefly, and a look of warning glimmered in her bright blue pools. A chill ran up my neck. Surely she didn’t think Damian would challenge our ailing father for the throne when she was gone? But if she did, surely she didn’t think I’d need Blaze to fight in my stead. I may not have had my sister’s level of training, but my wolf could still make a rug out of this Beta male.

At long last, the limo pulled over to a curb and stopped. My heart dropped like a rock into the depths of my bowels, pinning me to the seat. I should have made a run for it when I had the chance. Charlie and I could be anywhere in the United States—sipping mint juleps in Kentucky, riding roller coasters in Florida, eating barbecue in Texas, climbing a mountain in Colorado, surfing some waves in California. Now all of that was lost to me.

A stone-faced bellhop opened my door, and I shielded my eyes against the sudden influx of un-tinted light. A white glove floated into view, and I dutifully accepted the unnecessary help exiting the car. Still squinting, I stepped aside so the attendant could see to Kiana. Traffic roared behind and on either side of me, taxi horns blaring like an orchestra warming up for an abysmal performance.

But in the midst of all that, I somehow still heard the clip-clops of hooves and the rattle of chains, and a quick glance to my right confirmed the presence of horse-drawn carriages lining the opposite side of the street in front of the park. I gasped, suddenly realizing where we must be if we were on the corner opposite the park. My neck snapped back, eyes flying up the side of The Plaza Hotel. In spite of everything, a grin lifted my cheeks.

“What?” Kiana steadied herself with a hand on my shoulder as she smoothed the wrinkles from her plain white travel dress. “Ours is taller.”

“Ours?” I pointed at one of the most iconic buildings in New York City. “Do you mean… do they live here?”

“The upper ranks do.” Kiana cast her potential new home an unimpressed glance. “Can you believe they allow humans to stay inside overnight? While expecting their pack members to secure homes of their own?”

I blinked. “They don’t all live together?”

“No, they live almost as humans.” Kiana’s lips curled with disgust. “Shameful.”

I was still trying to wrap my mind around the concept of wolves living in nuclear families or perhaps even friend-based roommate situations when a female in a crisp, cream-colored skirt and blazer swooped in to curtsy before my sister. She was a few years older than us with long red hair pulled back in a low ponytail.

“My name is Ruby, your grace. I’m to be your helpmaid now that you are my Alpha Heir’s mate. If you’ll come with me—”

“I already have a helpmaid.” Kiana craned her neck to peer down the long line of black sedans that had filed in behind us. “Cerys! Cerys, get over here!” She shot Ruby a reproachful glare. “I have no intention of replacing her as she was specially trained to serve an Alpha Heir. Not just his little mate.”

“Of course.” Ruby bowed her head. “I meant no offense. But if you will allow me, I can show you and your attendant to your preparatory chamber.”

“I will allow it.” Kiana barely glanced at Ruby. She planted her hands on her hips. “Cerys! Walk a little faster, please! You’re not wearing heels!”

I tried to make apologetic eye contact with Ruby, but she kept her gaze firmly on the ground in deference to my family. Apparently, the Manhattan pack wasn’t that different from ours, after all. Our lowest-ranking members were groomed for service from puphood, and whether or not they actually viewed it as an honor, they all did an excellent job acting as if they saw it that way. They tended to disappear if they did not.

As a secondary Alpha Heir, I was entitled to a helpmaid of my own, but I had refused on account of it being a silly tradition leftover from the days of corsets. I might reconsider now that I was expected to mother five pups between the ages of sixteen and three and add as many of my own to that brood as I could. I could see myself becoming too depressed to pull a shirt over my head very quickly.

Cerys arrived, huffing and puffing and hidden behind the bag which contained the dress Kiana had finally picked out for the ceremony. She bent at the knees and bowed her head to Kiana, ignoring me completely, as was her usual custom. Kiana turned toward Father and Damian, who were standing tall beside the limo’s now closed door, surveying territory that would soon belong as much to us as it did to the wolves who lived here.

“Well,” Kiana said, her voice pitching a little higher than usual. “I guess this is it.”

Father smiled absently, his interest flicking instantly back to our surroundings. I frowned; what the hell was wrong with him? It was Damian who placed his hands on Kiana’s shoulder and beamed with pride fitting the occasion. Tears sparkled in the corners of his eyes, and all he could do was shake his head as if he couldn’t believe the day had finally come, even though it was actually here two weeks early.

“Right then.” Kiana squared her shoulders and edged away from him. “Take me wherever it is your taking me, Rudy.”

Ruby didn’t correct her. She simply gestured toward the entrance to what appeared to be a spa. Cerys set off fist, cradling the dress bag like a beloved’s dead body. Kiana followed. But when I tried to join them, my sister glared at me over her shoulder.

“You have your orders,” she said, darting her gaze behind me. “Follow them. This is one day I won’t tolerate any disappointments.”

Kiana walked away. Ruby curtsied to me and then scurried after, long red ponytail swaying across her back. A fourth figure fell into line—my twin’s personal bodyguard, Willa, who had some intense Sigourney Weaver vibes and wore a plain dark pantsuit over her shiftskin.

---