Page 2 of Beast

“Sven is an ass,” Stellan says, not unkindly. He shrugs outof his fur-lined coat. “He never keeps a mistress for long. You were an easyone to get rid of. I would offer to keep you myself, but he’s made itimpossible.” He holds out the coat, easing it around my shoulders. “You have torun. If they find you, they will tear you apart.”

“I’ve never been on my own.” The cold begins to seep into mybones. Though I was not particularly welcome in the pack, I was never on myown. I was always surrounded by wolves.

“That’s funny because I would say you’ve always been on yourown. Perhaps Freya will be kind. Perhaps she will show you the way to a betterplace as she showed the People when we left the first plane. There are otherplanes with other people.”

I feel my eyes go wide. “That is sacrilege. There is onlythis world.”

“No, they want to keep you ignorant. This is a barbaricworld, but it is home. My father traveled to other planes. He went to manyworlds, some of which he should not have gone.” Stellan smiles a bit at thethought. He points to a place far in the west. “Beyond that mountain, that iswhere he said the door is. If you can find it, a whole new world waits for you.Do not waste yourself trying to get back into favor with the pack. They willnever accept you. Find a new pack.”

I stare at the mountains to the west. They loom in thedistance, mighty giants rising from the ground to touch the sky. Can I make it?Are the stories real? I shake my shoulders and let Stellan’s coat slide offinto my hands. I give it back to him. I won’t need it.

In a blink, I change. My limbs neatly adjust themselves, andI am wolf. My senses are a thousand times sharper, and I no longer feel thecold as keenly.

Stellan shakes his head as he stares down at me. “Sventhinks the wisewoman ousted you for her daughter’s sake. I believe differently.You are strong. If they ever fed you properly or gave you a moment’s training,you would be First among the women. Perhaps even the men, and that is what theyall fear. Go, little wolf. Your destiny is not here.”

I run, my wolf legs eating the distance despite the thicksnow. I run, and I do not look back. Stellan is right. There is nothing for mehere.

Chapter One

Dante

The Vampire Plane

I watch my family and friends as they stare at thefloor-to-ceiling projection from the comfortable seats of Dellacorp’s mediaroom. The room is normally used for conferences, but my mother has gone all outfor this party. There are freaking flowers and a champagne station. It’s a lot,but I’m worried no one will want to celebrate at the end of the show. My wholefamily, a large group of our friends, and several key members of thecorporation are rapt with attention, watching everything happening on this finalepisode of the most popular DL in the States.

I try not to laugh at the image of myself pondering thedecision I’m about to make. The producers made sure I thought about theintensely important life decision I was making via reality television invarious states of undress. During filming, I spent an awful lot of time with myshirt off, but I have to admit, I look good in a tux, too. The reality TV mestands at the edge of a lovely, romantic pond, surrounded by greenery andflowers, waiting for the helicopters that will bring the two final women.

I really should have thought this through. At the time itseemed like it would be kind of a funny story, but my parents are taking thisshit way too seriously.

I down a long drink of Scotch as I watch the drama play out.I hope the alcohol will relax me fairly quickly. I didn’t have much of anappetite. I desire neither a meal pill nor an actual warm-blooded dinner. Mygut is not in a good place. On an empty stomach, the Scotch should work fast. Ihave the feeling I’m going to need a good buzz once my parents see the way thefinal stock ceremony ends.

On the high-definition screen, the luxury helicopter landsand a gorgeous vampire steps out, showing off her long legs and perfect figure.She wears a designer gown and looks like a woman on a mission. Veronica.Even her name makes me shiver.

“I knew it.” Susan practically shouts at the screen. My bigsister is a high-octane, type-A version of myself, right down to herred-and-gold hair and green eyes.

My sister didn’t like Veronica at all. It was a mistake toput two alpha females in the same room together. They practically had aknock-down, drag-out when I brought Veronica home to meet the family. Theproducers were thrilled. It makes for excellent television.

“They always dump the first one,” Susan says with a viciousfist pump. “Take that, bitch! I knew my brother would pick the consort.”

Susan’s husband, Colin, gives his wife an affectionate pat.He nods Dante’s way. “Thank you. She would be impossible to live with if youbrought that one home again.”

My mother, Alana Dellacourt, dabs at her eyes, cryingslightly. It makes me nauseous at the thought of disappointing her. Hermanicured hands come out to pat my shoulders. “I knew you would make the rightchoice. The consort is lovely. I can’t wait to begin planning the wedding. Iknow you’re contractually obligated to stay apart from Sheila until after thefinal airing, but I wish she could have been here. I can’t wait to welcome herinto our family.”

On the screen, Veronica is rolling her eyes and vowingcorporate vengeance. Her long red nails remind me of talons. She actuallyscared the crap out of me. I was afraid to dump her before the final ceremony.More than one corporate war has been started because of this particular series.

My father, Don, walks up behind me and gives me a hearty paton the back. I can feel the satisfaction coming off him in waves. “I didn’tthink this was a good idea. Your mother had to convince me this wouldn’t ruinour corporate image. Playing around in hot tubs is no way to find a wife, Isay. You should have done what your cousins did. You should have bought aconsort at the marketplace. Still, I like Sheila. You did good, son.”

A loud snort comes from the back of the room. I glance upand see the aforementioned twin cousins sitting in the small crowd with theirmarket-bought wife between them. Six months of marriage has only brought thethree of them closer together. Cian, the more sarcastic of the two, watches thescreen raptly. It doesn’t stop him from making his opinion plain.

“I think you’re all crazy,” Cian says, his musical Faeaccent filled with humor. “Do any of you know Dante? Seriously? I bet you all athousand gold that he dumps them both.”

“Shut up, you bastard,” Beckett Finn says, slapping at hisbrother playfully. “You don’t have a thousand gold.”

“He won’t need it. Let him make the bet,” Meg Finnpronounces, her eyes narrowing on Dante. “He dumps them both.”

On the screen, a second helicopter is setting down on thetop floor of one of the most luxurious high-rises in Manhattan. I was happy theproducers of the DL chose to film the end in New York rather than my ownhometown of Dallas. Romantic music plays. Sheila, a consort from the Faeryplane with an amazing backstory to go along with her sweet good looks, gets outof the helicopter. Her face beams as she looks up at me.

I have to give it to her, she’s an excellent actress.