“Sorry,” I mutter.
The deeper into the shop I go, the higher the hair on the back of my neck rises. Even my wolf perks up, scanning the area for potential threats. Witches are known to be fickle, less trustworthy than even some fae.
The wooden floor, which is probably as old as the owner, creaks under the weight of my steps. The patchouli aroma, mixed with the smell of something akin to decaying leaves, has my nose wrinkling. My attention is so focused on the woman that I barely manage to duck my head under ropes of snakeskin dangling from the ceiling, along with different dried herbs and flowers.
Ah, that’s what’s dying.
I reach the counter and put down an envelope of cash. Without looking at me, she grabs it and counts the money. Once she’s satisfied, she reaches down and places a small green glass bottle in front of me.
I pick up the bottle and unscrew the top. I inhale and instantly regret it.
Ew, gross!
My stomach tightens then begins to churn. How am I supposed to wear this? Moreover, how am I going to keep from throwing up? The point of this ointment is to mask my scent so I can’t be tracked. There’s no way they won’t track this stench.
“Umm, excuse me? Are there instructions for applying this?”
The old lady scoffs. “Look, pup, I run a busy shop. Take your stuff and leave.”
Busy? I’m the only one here.
“I’m sorry—I don’t want to cause any trouble. I just want to make sure I use this correctly. Please.”
Her scowl deepens, followed by an exaggerated eye roll and sigh. She grumbles under her breath about shifters and their lack of wherewithal. I choose to ignore her attitude; I need her help.
“Listen well, because I won’t repeat myself. Place a small amount behind your ears, both wrists, and ankles. Now, begone.”
Without another word, I exit as quickly as possible. I had more questions, but it was obvious I’d get no more answers out of that woman. Oh well, I’m out of time. I just hope this scent masker works.
Rhayven
In front of the Alpha’s house once again, I park the car, glancing at the time on the stereo. Though the party is only a few hours away, I feel like there’s so much left to take care of. For the first time in a long time, little sparks of happiness flicker inside of me. It’s almost over.
I head straight to my room, locking the door as soon as I’m safely inside. With my hand still on the knob, I rest my head on the door, blowing out my cheeks. I listen for any movement, specifically Bryce. I can pick out the sound of his steps; it’s a sound that haunts me in my dreams. When I’m met with silence, I pry myself away and pace over to my desk.
Opening my laptop, I erase everything I can, including search histories. I do the same thing to my cell phone—I delete everything within reason. My goal is to make him think I escaped on a whim, not planned it out for months. The more I can prevent him from digging, the better my chances are at getting away unscathed.
“And . . . done.”
Those two things were the last on my checklist. I’m officially ready to leave. I note the time on my phone and head to the bathroom for a quick shower. The people coming to do my hair and makeup will be here in an hour.
I strip and step into the shower, letting the hot water soothe the ache in my shoulders. This has been the longest year of my life, but I’ve survived. I should be jumping for joy. Instead, uncertainty sits like dead weight in my stomach.
I’ve never had to survive on my own before.
Can this escape plan really work?
I lean against the glass wall and close my eyes, wishing I had a magic ball that could show me how my life will turn out. Am I truly making the right decision? It feels right in my gut, but doubt and insecurity are weaving their way into my mind like uninvited guests. My throat constricts and prickles of pain have my brows pulling down. I fight the burn of tears behind my eyes.
Times like these are when I miss my parents the most. I could really use their words of encouragement, the safety of their arms wrapping around me. There’s not a day that goes by where I don’t think of them. Sometimes, I lay in bed at night and wonder how my life would’ve turned out had they lived.
Would I have gone to college?
What would my future mate look like?
How many pups would I have?
A flash of light brown eyes with a smile that always made me melt comes to mind. I haven’t seen Kylan since that night a year ago. I have no idea where he is or if he’s even alive. Tears fall as the floodgate holding back my memories opens, filling my head with bittersweet images.
My legs give, and I slide down the wall. The holes I’ve stitched up in my heart begin to fray. My chest caves in on itself as each sob pours out. I bury my face in my palms to cover my wails. It’s been months since I last cried over that night. I try not to think about it for this very reason: the memories only make me feel worse. There are so many things I could’ve done differently, but I’ll never get the chance to fix my mistakes.
As my sobs slow, I realize I’ve lingered under the water longer than I should have. Standing up, I finish showering and dry off. A knock on the door has me pausing with my arms in the air, about to pull a shirt on. I listen and catch female voices quietly chatting on the other side. Opening the door, I find Essara and two other women smiling at me.
“Hey.” I step to the side so they can enter my room.
“Rhayven, this is Catalina and Veronica,” Essara introduces.
“Hello.” I reach out and shake their hands.
“Hey, nice to meet you,” they say in unison.
Catalina is short with brown eyes. Her hair is styled in a beautiful waterfall braid that wraps around to the back of her head. Veronica is sporting winged liner and smoked-out purple and pink eyeshadow that make her hazel eyes pop. It’s clear who’s going to be doing what on me.
“May I see the dress you picked?” Essara asks.
“Sure.” I open the closet and take it out of the bag for them to see.
“Oh wow, this is beautiful,” Veronica gasps as Catalina nods.
“You’re going to look stunning in it,” Essara affirms.
I smile at Essara, who has a massive grin on her face. My heart squeezes, knowing this will be the last day I spend with her.
“Okay, I’ll leave you ladies alone. If you need anything, you know where to find me. Remember, guests will be arriving around 7:00 PM. You need to be ready no later than 7:45.”
“We’ll make sure she’s ready in time. Don’t you worry about a thing,” Veronica assures her. Essara nods, shutting the door behind her.
“Okay, where do you want me to sit?”
“In front of the vanity will be fine,” Catalina says, carrying her tote bag over and setting it on the vanity. She pulls out an array of items, plugging in a flat iron before gesturing for me to take a seat.
“Have you thought about how you want your hair to look?”
I fidget with my fingers. “Not really. You make the call based on the dress.”
Catalina plays with my hair for a moment, looking lost in thought. “Okay, I think an updo would suit you well. How do you feel about that?”
“Sounds perfect.”
“Awesome. Look straight ahead. Veronica, put some music on. Rhayven, do you have a preference?”
“No, anything is fine.”
Veronica pipes in. “I gotcha.”
Catalina gets started on my hair, and soon a familiar guitar rift drifts out of a speaker. I instantly recognize the band.
“Good song. I love The Word Alive.”
Veronica smiles. “They are one of my faves. I try to see them every time they come to the area.”
We fall into a comfortable conversation and I’m less stressed than I expected. It’s been a long time since I’ve hung out with other females like this. It’s nice—refreshing, even.
“All done.”
Catalina steps to the side and my mouth drops. The style fits me
perfectly: a braided and twisted faux hawk.
“I love it. Thank you so much.”
“I’m glad you like it. I had a feeling this was more you.” She chuckles and winks. “Alright, V, you’re up.”
“Ready?” Veronica asks, coming over.
“Yep.”
I close my eyes, and Veronica gets to work.
“So Rhayven, we heard about your mating announcement tonight. I bet you're excited, aren’t you?”
My body flinches faster than I can hold it back. I feel her pause with the brush near my eyelid. Great. Now I have to come up with an explanation.
“Umm. . . yeah, it’s just all happening so fast, you know. I think I’m still waiting for the news to sink in.” Heat creeps up my cheeks. “How much time do we have left?” I ask, trying to change the topic.
“It’s 7:15. You have plenty of time to get dressed and make your way down to the party,” Catalina answers.
Veronica continues applying the makeup but now there’s an obvious charge in the air. I break the silence, asking them questions about their pack, and the awkwardness between us eventually dissipates.
“Alright, girl, you ready to take a look?”
“Yes.” I open my eyes and my mouth falls open again.
“Wow,” I gasp.
“You like it?”
The person staring back at me doesn’t look like me at all. My eyes are smoked out and paired with dark red lips. The look makes my violet eyes pop and sparkle. I wish I could be more like the woman staring back at me: strong and confident. Not beat down and hiding secrets.
“Thank you so much. Let me put on my dress so we can see the completed look.”
I grab the dress and head to the bathroom. I slip it on but before I walk back out, I throw a glance in the mirror. Foundation covers the dark circles under my eyes from lack of sleep and stress; blush brightens my cheeks, which are gaunt from irregular eating. What the makeup can’t hide is the pain reflected in my eyes, but I’m getting better at concealing it myself. I’ve done a good job fooling people, pretending that everything is fine even as I slowly waste away.
“Wow, you’re stunning.” Catalina claps her hands when I emerge from the bathroom.
“Thanks. I appreciate everything you guys have done.”
“Girl, you’re going to rock this shit tonight,” Veronica says, giggling with excitement.
“Okay, let’s head out, V. It was nice meeting you, Rhayven. Enjoy your birthday party.”
I hug them both. Catalina picks up her bag, and Veronica follows behind.
Alone in my room once again, I put on the earrings and bracelet, then glance at myself in the mirror one last time.
“It’s almost over,” I whisper.
Rhayven
Coming down the steps, I find Roland standing by the front door. He turns at my approach, his lips pulling into a proud grin.
“You look beautiful.”
A flush infuses my cheeks. “Thank you. What are you doing here?”
“Waiting on you. I wanted to walk you over.”
He pulls me into his arms, and I melt into his hug. Over the years, Roland has become a second father to me. He’s always made sure that I’m taken care of and made me feel like his true daughter.
Stepping out of his embrace, I take a moment to study him. His hair is starting to grey along the sides, and his eyes are just now showing signs of age. He isn’t a large man, like most Alphas, but he keeps himself in shape.
Like Essara, I will miss him terribly. If I were blessed with more mental strength, then I’d consider another way to escape Bryce—one that spared their feelings. But I’m not. The path I’ve chosen is my safest bet; no other path would guarantee my survival. However, when Roland looks at me like he does now—brows furrowed, trying to read all the secrets I’ve buried inside—I want to cave and tell him everything.
“You okay?” He asks.
He’s always been able to tell when I’m lying. Keeping my plan from him has taken more work than I expected. I shift nervously on my feet before replying.
“Yes. Promise.” I smile, hoping my reassurance is believable.
He nods, but I can see that he isn’t convinced. “Alright, let’s get going then.” He extends his elbow, and I link my arm through his.
The party is being held in the large auditorium on the other side of pack land. It’s used for parties or large pack meetings. The family also turns it into a training room for the pack occasionally. The closer we get to the building, the more people I see lined up to get inside. My heart flutters, my hands grow clammy, and my breathing quickens all at once.
Pull it together.
“You sure you’re okay?”
I nod my head. “Yes.” No. “I’m just nervous is all. Sorry.”
He stops and steps in front of me, capturing my full attention. “No need to apologize. I know these kinds of events can be overwhelming. Take as long as you need.”
I give him a small smile, grateful for his sympathy. Closing my eyes, I focus on my breathing, inhaling and exhaling, letting the warm night breeze carry away my worries long enough to make it inside. Screwing up isn’t an option. There’s no margin for error tonight.
I flip my eyes open. “I think I’m ready.”
He doesn’t say another word as we make our way inside. When I step through the doorway, I’m instantly transported to another world. It doesn’t even look like the same building.
Purple and white sheer fabric drapes across the ceiling and along the walls, covering strings of lights that look like stars in the sky. Small flower arrangements adorn the tables, where the color scheme continues with additional pops of yellow.
“This looks like a fantasy,” I gasp, turning to Roland. It really is breathtaking.
He pats my hand. “You’re welcome. Now, let’s get your arrival announced so we can kick this party off!”
I laugh at his enthusiasm while shoving down my nerves once again.
“Alright, ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? The guest of honor has arrived,” the DJ announces.
Like thunder rolling through the sky, loud whoops and cheers blast through the room. No doubt my face has flushed to the shade of a tomato. I hate being the center of attention. All I want to do is crawl under the closest table.
“I’m Eddy, and I’ll be your entertainment tonight. Let’s start the evening off with a special dance. Who would like to take a spin on the floor with the birthday girl?”
A pit in my stomach opens and swallows me whole. I swear my heart has stopped in its tracks. I take a step back while scanning the surrounding area. Is there a place I can hide? This cannot be happening.
“I will.”
Fuck me.
Bryce strolls confidently through the crowd, his head held high. His eyes prove the smirk on his face is anything but genuine. They’re cold and calculating, daring me to give him a reason to punish me.
“You look amazing,” he says when he reaches me, lowering his voice.
His compliment twists my stomach tighter, moving the bile higher in my throat. I look away when his eyes start roaming over my body. Puking may actually be a good move right about now; at least then I wouldn't have to dance with him.
Thankfully, the DJ breaks the awkward moment. “Wonderful!” he cheers.
Bryce grabs my hand and pulls me to the middle of the dance floor. His touch makes my skin crawl, but I stand my ground. My wolf prowls in my head, growling in anger. The deafening combination of her snarls and the cheering and clapping makes me wince in pain.
The music starts and the crowd’s noise dies down. I can feel every pair of eyes in the room staring at us. When he sees that I’m not going to make this easy for him, he pulls me flush to his body. My face remains stoic while his lights up at my resistance. The vomit I’ve been holding in threatens to escape. I swallow hard, forcing it back down.
He brings my hands up to his shoulders, using the opportunity to lean close to my ear
. His breath moves over my skin like a razor blade.
“Keep it up—you know how much it turns me on when you disobey or cause a scene,” he whispers. We move in a circle to the slow beat. I keep my eyes focused on the wall. “Better yet,” he continues, “I’d love nothing more than for you to give me a reason to teach you a lesson.”
A shiver travels down my spine. My wolf batters against my barriers, begging to be free. I draw my lips into a tight smile to maintain the illusion that I’m enjoying myself with this monster. He chuckles, seemingly pleased to know I can’t defend myself at the moment.
“Don’t worry, there’s no need for you to answer. We both know you’ll give me what I want in the end.” He inhales, a low moan following. “Your fear is so. . . mouthwatering.” He pulls me flush against his body, making sure I can feel exactly how excited he is. “Just think, babe: soon you’ll be mine. I’ll get to do what I want, when I want, and how I want to you.”
The song ends and I back away from him—quickly, but not so fast that I draw questioning eyes. Bryce slips his hands into his pockets and holds my gaze as the guests make their way onto the dance floor. I keep inching backward, putting more space between us, until the floor is packed and I’m able to slip away. The revulsion he elicits in me is suffocating; every instinct is screaming in warning, much like my wolf.
I make a beeline for the bathroom, locking myself inside the biggest stall. I lift my trembling hands to my mouth just as the first tear falls. It’s difficult to cry quietly, but over the past year, I’ve become an expert.
I hate this constant fear of the unknown. I hate that he can make me feel this way.
My hatred for him grows with each tear that falls. He doesn’t deserve a single one of them, and I’m so tired of crying them. Whatever’s in store for me once I escape will be a thousand times better than staying here.
It’s got to be, right?
Going over to the sink, I brace myself on the edge and peer at my reflection. Even with all the makeup on, I still don’t recognize the person I used to be. It’s amazing how one evil man has sucked the life out of me—literally.
The Chase Is On (Pack Everhart Book 1) Page 3
