A loud knock sounds on the door, making my heart nearly bolt from my chest. Maybe Thane changed his mind and decided to kill me after all. Another knock pounds against the door, making my pulse skyrocket. I suppose if he wanted to kill me, though, knocking on the door wouldn’t be a priority.
After the third knock, I decide I’m being irrational.
“Oh, grazie a Dio! My arms were starting to give out.”
A petite brunette with olive skin and a slight accent waltzes into the room, holding a pile of dresses in her arms. She tosses them onto the bed along with a backpack and spins around, greeting me with a bright smile.
“You know the door locks from the outside, right?”
“Yes, but letting myself in would’ve been rude.” She takes a peppy step forward and reaches her hand out. “I’m Sienna!”
“Fallon,” I say, shaking it.
She pulls my hand to her face, taking a deep whiff, and I quickly snatch it away, glaring at her.
“Sorry,” she apologizes bashfully. “It’s just been a while since I’ve smelled a human.”
“Riiight.”
“Anywho,” she says, clapping her hands together. “Let’s pick out a dress for you to wear!”
“To wear for what?” I ask, as she begins sifting through the pile laid out.
“Oh, he didn’t tell you?” She holds up one of the dresses to my body and then tosses it on the ground.
“Who? Kieran?”
“Alpha.”
I shake my head. “We’re not exactly on the best terms.”
She laughs. “No, I don’t suppose you would be.”
“What have you heard?” I probe, as she holds up another dress.
“Not much, to be honest. I was just told that Alpha had found a human girl to keep as his pet, and I was to assist her, starting with the semi-annual Formal Meetings.”
“The what?”
“Twice a year, the leaders from the other territories come here for a week of meetings and events. I’m never invited, so I’m not quite sure what goes on, but they discuss growing concerns and other important matters.” By now, she’s separated the dresses into two piles. The ones on the floor, which I assume are the rejections, and the ones on the bed, I assume are the remaining contenders.
“How many leaders are there?”
“Sixteen vampires and sixteen werewolves.”
“Great,” I mutter sarcastically.
“The good news is you’re under Alpha’s protection!” she says in a cheerful voice that makes me look at her sideways.
“You act like that’s a good thing.”
“It is! I mean, if you weren’t, they’d probably all fight over your body.” The minute she looks up at my face, she begins to backtrack. “I just mean—”
I wave my hand, cutting her off. “It’s fine. I know I’m nothing more than a piece of meat to you all.”
She immediately drops the dress she was holding and reaches for my hands. “Not to me!” she promises, not letting go of my hands. “I actually think we’ll come to be great friends!”
I pull my hands away. “I don’t do friends.”
