by A. M Martin
I pause at the edge of the living room. My eyes lock onto Kayden and Dean. They're standing in the middle of the room looking down at the center table where a black box with white tissue paper sits.
I bite my lip moving further into the room and see Nick, Cam, and Aden up against the back wall. Their gazes on the two males growling in the middle of the room.
I look back at my guys. Dean's eyes are glowing a bright copper with his lengthened teeth bared at the glossy box. Kayden’s eyes just flash. On and off. Like he's trying to reign in his wolf. Green to yellow. It’s a little freaky when he does that.
"Um, guys everything okay?" I ask, moving in behind the couch.
"No," Kayden mutters.
"Hell no." Dean snarls snapping his head up at me, "You are not wearing that." He bites out each word.
I shuffle backward confused, "What's wrong with what I'm wearing?"
"Not that," Kayden mumbles again still looking into the box.
"That!" Dean snarls pointing a finger at the box.
Alrighty.
I walk slowly around the couch and come to a stop in front of the stand table peering into the box. They've got me terrified of a box. I snort reaching down to pick up the deep red lace. It’s so dark it almost looks black in certain spots.
My eyes widen. I bite the inside of my cheek.
"It isn't even proper clothing," Dean growls with narrowed eyes at the red lace dress.
"It's scraps of fabric." Kayden snarls.
“Mm,” I mumble. They got that right.
I take my wide eyes away from the boys looking at the dress in my hands.
It's long really long, the sleeves are elbow length and the top is cut in a V. I turn my head, is that the front or the back? But that’s not the worst of it. The whole thing is nothing, but a big piece of red lace made into a dress, with pieces missing. Don't get me wrong is actually a gorgeous gown letting 98% of my skin showing through the sheer material.
They both snarl at the dress and I slowly set it down on top of the table beside the box and, smile a little watching the boys follow the dress with glowing eyes. The way they are acting you’d think the dress could attack us.
"There's a card," I mumble reaching into the box pulling at the black glossy card from the folds of the white tissue paper. I flip it open. In bold red writing I read out loud,
'Miss Avery. Seeing that this is a formal dinner we thought to send you this lovely masterpiece considering the company you are keeping. We can't wait to see you tonight in this one of a kind Hemmingtion Dress.,Looking forward, The Council'
Dean growls and Kayden snarls jerking the card out of my hand and ripping it into tiny little pieces.
I smirk, "Feel better?"
He snarls at me.
"They sent you a Hemmingtion." Cam gasps. His wide eyes moving to pick up the dress.
"And?" I move back leaning on Dean, his arms wrapping around my waist. His growls turning into a low purr.
Cam looks at me his eyebrows raised, "It's a Hemmingtion. It's a twenty-thousand-dollar dress."
My eyes widen in shock looking at the red lace Cam holds like a baby. Who would spend that kind of money on scraps of lace?
"It's trash." Kayden growls, walking up to my side locking our fingers together.
Their possessiveness is rolling off them in ripples. It's making my body heated. Why do I find it so damn sexy?
"We can make this work," Cam says, his eyes sparkling.
"She's not wearing that," Dean growls his chest vibrating against my back.
"No, listen. This is A Hemmington. It deserves to be worn. A slip you can wear a black or white slip underneath it." Cam says jumping on his toes.
I look at the dress. It is really beautiful.
"I don't have a slip."
"Not a problem. I'll run into town and get one." Cam squeals, already moving towards the door with a grumpy Aden behind him.
"Hey, get an all-white and black suit with red ties for Dean and Kayden." I smile even bigger seeing a smirk forming on Cam's face.
He nods, the door closing with a bang.
"Your still not wearing it," Kayden says pulling me to the couch. Dean follows behind. His hand now clutching my side.
"Why not?"
Kayden sits down pulling me on his lap. Dean sits beside him putting my legs across his lap.
"Because," Kayden mutters pushing his face into my hair, breathing deep.
"It won't be that bad with a slip underneath it," I mumble watching Deans fingers slide up and down my leg. Inducing hot shivers through my body.
Kayden growls, kissing my neck.
"Why the suits?" Dean asks, his fingers making lazy strokes up my thigh.
"So, we match," I say huskily. Kayden hums and Dean smiles.
"They won't like that love." Dean murmurs. His eyes darkening.
"They don't have to like it. They just need to know it." I snap thinking about the Council. Pompous assholes. Who are they to think they can boss me around?
Dean’s hand glides up to my inner thigh making me gasp. I close my eyes savoring the heat from his palm and fingers as his hand glides back down and round my knee and back up. I melt more into Kayden enjoying the feeling of my mates. A nip at my neck has me moaning and pushing closer to Kayden.
"I'm still here guys," Nick grumbles seated at the end of the sectional. His eyes close.
"Sorry," I mumble. My face turning bright red.
Dean and Kayden laugh, and I turn my head towards Kayden’s chest. My embarrassment obvious from my red face but I can’t seem to pull myself from my mates or the comfort they bring me.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
"Sorry,” Avery mumbles her face bright red.
The boy made her shameful. Dean’s eyes narrow on the second's brother, a warning in his copper eyes then looks back to Avery smiling softly. This girl melts his cold heart.
Dean squeezes her thigh getting Avery's attention. Those winter ice eyes look at him with all the trust in the world.
"You know, what you're playing with will piss off the Council." Dean purrs, leaning into Avery.
Her eyes seem to light up from the inside like she has a wolf peeking out. Dean's own eyes glow in response. A pleasure filled growl vibrating his chest.
"They pissed me off." Avery snarls nodding her small head.
She squeals jerking around towards Kayden.
"Did you just bite me?" Avery screeches and Dean laughs at the outrage in her voice.
"Maybe?" Kayden says sheepishly.
"You know, biting could feel rather good if it's done right,” Dean whispers against the back of Avery's neck, having moved closer to the pair.
He smiles as her body stiffens.
"Guys! I’m still here." Nick groans.
Dean chuckles at Avery's red face. The scent of her lust and embarrassment in his nose.
"You know brother, you should go to the meet and greet tonight,” Kayden says, his fingers tapping on the arm of the couch.
A sour look comes over Nick's face.
"What’s that?" Avery asks looking at each of them.
"It's for the un-bond or unmated wolves to get out and meet others from different packs,” Nick mutters.
"That’s a good thing, right?" Avery asks with a tilt of her head, confusion set in her eyes.
Dean bites down on his plump lips. Damn, she is so wolf-like sometimes.
"Usually." Kayden laughs at the grimace on his brother's face.
Dean leans in pecking, Avery on the cheek, “They’re back."
A smile lights up Avery's face. Dean's heart double times it.
Cam rushes through the door with a bag clutched in his hand. "I've got it. Let’s go see what a twenty-thousand-dollar dress looks like." He squeals rushing towards Avery.
Cam snatches her hand pulling her up from the couch and down the hallway.
"I don't like this,” Kayden growls eyes still looking toward the direction Avery and Cam went.
"Yea
h, me either,” Dean mumbles standing up.
"That's why I got three extra suits,” Aden growls coming through the door with five suit bags.
"That was thoughtful?" Kayden says uncertainty.
"What do you mean?" Aden grumbles setting the bags down.
There's an uneasy silence in the room.
Aden looks around. His storm grey eyes narrowing, “What?"
"We all know you aren’t too fond of Avery." Dean drawls out, his own eyes flaring. His wolf peeking out.
Aden stiffens his grey eyes glowing turning darker, looking like storm clouds and a verge of a thundering boom.
Dean straightens up as he feels Aden's wolf come to the surface.
"It's not that I'm not fond of her. She just reminded me a lot of Anna when she first came here. No one seemed to notice but me." Aden snarls his eyes really lighting up now, taking on the yellow sheen of his wolf.
Dean backs down a little feeling the other wolf's turmoil. "Who’s Anna?"
"My sister,” Aden mumbles looking through the tags on the suit.
Dean cocks an eyebrow at Kayden who shakes his head.
"Oh, my damn."
Dean jerks towards Nick at the breathless sound of his voice. Seeing the direction Nick's looking in Dean twists around.
He swallows hard. His heart starts to thunder in his chest.
The red lace clings to Avery like a second skin. It leaves nothing to the imagination. Her brown hair is swept up on top of her head showing her tags off proudly and the heels. Damn those red heels is a wet dream. Hell, she's a man's wet dream.
"She can’t wear that." Kayden gasps frozen still. His breathing hard.
Dean's not too far behind him. All the blood is rushing down below.
"What. Why not?" Cam whines, "She has a slip under it."
"Yeah, the same color of her skin." Nick chokes out.
Dean turns around lightning fast and snarls at the boy.
Nick's hands go up in the air. "I won't be the only one looking on,” Nick mumbles looking down at the floor showing Dean his dominance over him.
Dean snarls one more time and turns back to his mate. His mate.
He glides forward. Watching as Avery shifts and wrings her hands together.
Dean takes one of those hands and slowly brings it up to his lips. He kisses the top, with a little nibble he mummers, “You are breathtaking my love."
"It’s not too much?" Avery asks in a small voice. A light pink highlighting her cheekbones.
"Never,” Kayden says, stepping forward.
"Really?"
"Definitely love."
They move in closer to Avery. One on either side. Green and Gold glows across her face as their wolves come to the surface.
"Hey!"
Dean leans in rubbing his nose up the column of her neck. Sucking in her winter scent that does nothing to help his already strung tight body.
"Hey!" Cam yells again.
"We’re going to be late." He grumbles handing Dean then Kayden a suit bag.
Dean looks one last time at Avery and strolls down the hall.
Yes, heads are gonna roll tonight. Be it the Councils or just some stupid pup who doesn’t know his place.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
I stand here staring down the hall. My foot tapping the red heels Cam pushed me into and is sure to land me on my butt sooner or later.
What's taking them so long? I chew on the inside of my jaw. Waiting and watching. My ears straining to hear any kind of noise coming from the bedroom.
My heart flutters in my chest. My arms cross and uncross. My legs shift. These ridiculous heels already squeezing my feet. Torture devices are what they should be called.
My breath catches when the bedroom door opens. My pulse speeds up from excitement.
Kayden is the first one through and I swallow hard.
He's dressed in a black button-down with a suit jacket. Black slacks and... my head turns to the side, combat boots? I shake my head and look up, a red tie the same color as my dress hangs around his neck undone.
He stops before me and looks down at me with a devilish smile on his lips, “What do you think?"
I mumble my words or is that a moan? I'm not sure. My throat is dry and my pulse pounding in my neck. My knees wobble.
His hand moves to my face his thumb grazing my lips and I lean against the wall for support.
My chest raises and falling in fast pants. Dear lord I don't think I can do this. Sit through this stupid dinner with him looking like that. My thighs rub together as a tingle ignites my core.
Kayden’s eyes glow lightly, “You do like?" He purrs. And I swear I almost com-bust.
He leans down slowly and pulls my bottom lip into his mouth and sucks it softly. A gasp fly's from me and into him.
He pulls away, winks and walks into the living room.
I take a step in his direction when the click of the door has my head whipping around.
I'm rubber. Good lord.
Dean prowls down the hall. That smirk on his plump lips. Combat boots, dark washed jeans, a tight silky long sleeve black shirt with a black vest over it. Doing nothing to hide his shapely muscles. A red silk napkin tucked into the pocket of his vest. The whole outfit has his white hair and golden eyes standing out.
"Are you feeling how I, and Kayden felt love?" Dean murmurs above my lips.
Yes. I believe I am. I can now understand their reaction to this dress.
"Can we just stay here,” I whisper my eyes latched onto those lips.
I lean in ready to capture them with mine when he laughs softly walking away.
Ah. I'm going to die. It's a very real possibility. Die from the need of those hands, those lips to touch every inch of my skin.
The stomping of feet has me standing up straight and waving my hands in front of my face. Do you think they will see the flush under my skin?
Aden, Cam and Nick walk into the hallway all wearing the same suits. Dark grey with a white shirt.
I cock an eyebrow.
Cam squeals, “We’re going to look so damn good."
Nick smile and Aden of course just frowns. Party popper.
"Come on let’s do this." Nick smiles walking out the front door followed by the rest of us. I’m scared shitless, but I put on a brave face and walk out the door, closing it softly behind me.
Yes, let's do this. I can do this.
✽ ✽ ✽
"Is this normal?" I whisper out of the corner of my mouth. My pulse pounding in my ears.
I feel like I have to be quiet. That we all have to be. If we're too loud our voices will shatter the silence and something terrible will happen.
Cam shoots me a nervous small frown from across the dark oak table we are seated at.
The car ride here was short. My nerves were shot to hell the whole time.
A short stout man with balding hair was waiting for us when we entered the Castle. He frowned at the others leading the way to a silver elevator. The ride up had my hands shaking and my mates closing the space between us.
The doors popped open making me gulp as he leads us down a plain white hallway to a shiny set of double doors. He bowed, opening the door and told us to take our seats. That's it.
So here I sit trying not to stain the red lace dress with my nervous sweat.
"It's a power play." Dean drawls relaxed in his seat next to me, elbow propped on the table.
My nose scrunches up at him. A power play. What kind of nonsense it that? We already know that they hold all the power here. They're the Council for goodness sake.
A heated hand squeezes my thigh and I look to the left. Kayden smiles softly, "Don't worry so much."
Yeah alright. Don't worry. I don't even think that's possible. I was wanted here for a reason and I doubt it’s a good one at that.
I reach out a shaky hand towards the golden wine glass. I sniff it then take a huge gulp of ice cool water.
"They didn't think you all would come," I mumbled st
aring at the black plate with a small red bowl sitting in front of me, along with silverware wrapped in a bright red napkin.
No, they were not expecting the others considering they're missing their silverware.
"Cam, stop it." I snap out at him from across the table.
His nervous energy is slipping past my shields adding to my own nerves. I start chewing on my lip, my heart beating wildly in my chest. I don’t think I can do this. What would happen if we just left?
A wave of warmth and love blankets me, stopping my shaking foot from beneath the table.
I look at Dean with wide eyes.
"You worry too much love." A sensual smile forms on his plump lips.
"Yeah, I know I just..."
My mouth slams shut as the door we came through slowly opens and Loral struts into the room like a peacock, slimy smile and all. His beady snake eyes zero in on me instantly.
"Ah, Avery my Dear, I knew that dress was made for you." He purrs, stopping at the end of the table.
I frown, "Yes, well it is a beautiful dress." I mumble, my hands twisting in my lap.
"She's wrapped up like my own personal present." Dean smiles cockily at Loral. "A present I get to slowly unwrap tonight." He purrs, his golden gaze locked onto Loral’s strained smile.
Loral's beady eyes flashes, "I see you brought your guard dogs."
My spine straightens as Loral starts walking slowly around the table passing by me. I feel a light graze along my hair, that has me shivering with a sickness and leaning forward.
"Don't touch her." Kayden snarls out, halfway out of his seat.
"Hmm, Sorry Dear. A slip of my hand." Loral smiles from the seat on the right of the empty one at the head of the table.
I stare at the small red bowl in front of me. I wish we didn't have to do this. That we could have just ignored this stupid dinner. Ignored this stupid Selection altogether. Why are we needed here? What is the point in all of this?
A warm hand slips into my clammy one. Kayden squeezes it softly lacing his strong fingers with mine.
Dean leans up, propping his chin on his hand. His lips pull up to the side. "Will the others be joining us?"
Loral pulls his eyes from my neck, from my tags that seem to glow underneath the lighting.
