What if Teddy doesn’t come?
What if I’m stuck here for the rest of my life?
My heart races so fast I’m lightheaded, my vision goes funny and then, blissful darkness takes over.
Chapter 5
Wren
My head is down, my eyes staring at the plate in front of me as I sit at the dinner table. Pack Caruso fills the remaining seats, deep in talks about some kind of business deal.
They’re just like Father, thinking that I’m too stupid to catch on to the things they speak about right in front of me.
Unfortunately for me, I reallyamtoo out of it to pay attention.
My head is throbbing, my body a little shaky after I woke up from passing out on the bathroom floor. I had just enough time to make sure I didn’t look like complete shit before joining the pack for dinner.
It’s not like I care if I look like complete shit, but it’s one of their rules to keep myself presentable, and I don’t want to incur a penalty. I mean…what if they remove the mattress from my room and make me sleep on the floor?
“We need to talk to you, Wren.” Kellan’s voice is serious.
Shit. Beatrice failed my little test. I’m about to get punished for asking her to keep a secret from them.
“Yes?” I choke out, my heart racing. My stomach turns, and even though I’m starving, I can’t bring myself to eat the food.
“It’s about your performance today.” The relief I feel at it not being about Beatrice is brief. My ‘performance’.
“Okay.”
“After the mess of breakfast this morning, we were expecting the worst from you today. But we’re very impressed with the state of the house. So, as a reward, you’ll get to pick one item for your nest tonight.”
My heart drops. “One?” But I worked so hard. I did all the laundry. I cleaned every bathroom. I scrubbed the sink. “But—”
“Don’t be greedy,” Jasper taunts. “In fact, you’re lucky we’re letting you have anything at all, considering you botched this morning on purpose.”
Tears sting my eyes as I look around the table, my heart pounding. Botched? Onpurpose?
“Don’t try to deny it, Pigeon.” Kellan shakes his head. “It’s the only explanation for why you did so well today when this morning was so bad. You did it on purpose. Icouldhave said you have to sleep on the floor, but I want to reward good behavior.”
So I was right. They aren’t above taking away my bed.
It’s not fair.
It’s not fucking fair.
My throat bobs, and I look down to hide the shame on my face. “I understand.”
“You understand…?” Jasper hedges, a lilt of malice in his tone.
“Alpha,” I rasp. “I understand, Alpha.”
The words are ash on my tongue, but a sense of relief fills me at Kellan’s words. “Looks like you bought yourself one more night alone. We don’t want to sleep in such…” his lip curls up, “pitiful conditions.”
“Don’t worry.” Jasper smirks. “It won’t keep us from fucking you.”
If I had been eating, I would have choked.
My eyes go wide as saucers, and my cheeks flame at the chuckles of Kellan, Victor, and Jasper.
