Chloe Jane
This dress feels like it’s sitting too tight on me, but Kim assured me that it’s not. I’ll be meeting my supposed fiance in the next few minutes and for someone who is calm most of the time, I am feeling incredibly nervous.
Not because I’ll be meeting him, but how uneasy I am about the entire thing. I understand why I need to do this and why it’s been decided for me. But it feels like I’m about to be a pawn in something major and I have no idea how to stop it.
I hear my sister’s heart picking up its pace and once again, I wish I could see her. “Are you happy about this, sis?” I ask the question that has been playing on my mind since my father announced this.
She’s sort of been avoiding me, and I know it’s guilt on her part. I doubt she wants this for me, but I’m sure she thinks I’ll be safer in a pack with a strong Alpha as my husband.
Again, I catch a spike of anxiety in her scent, but I know my sister … she won’t be honest about her feelings with me. Taking my hand, she pulls me into an embrace and breathes out a long sigh.
“This man will keep you safer than we ever can, CJ,” she says again, not answering my question. “That’s all we want.”
“Thank you,” I answer as if on cue and even if she could pick up on my apprehension, she’ll never say a word. The urge to ask her why she didn’t marry the Alpha sits on the tip of my tongue, but I’ll never say it.
She breaks off our embrace, then she takes me by the hand and leads me into the dining hall. “Daddy is waiting with Alpha Mason in the dining hall. We’ll have a glass of wine together before dinner,” she says while we slowly walk.
“Alpha Mason,” I repeat his name, realizing that it’s the first time I’m actually hearing it.
No one has given me any details about this man, much less what his name is. All I know is he’s going to be taking over from my father as Sovereign next year and is truly passionate about reinstating that abandoned bill.
I can hear hushed voices just as we walk into the open dining space and three separate heartbeats and scents. One I recognise as my father’s, the other two are unfamiliar to me.
“There she is,” my father says, and I hear the clicking of his shoes as he walks towards me. My sister puts my hand into his and he kisses my cheek. “You look beautiful, honey.”
“Thank you, Daddy,” I say, a small smile tugs at my lips even though I am not particularly in a cheerful mood. That’s the thing with my father, though; I love him more than I care about my self-preservation.
He places his hand on my lower back and turns me to face, who I assume, is Alpha Mason. I hear someone stepping forward and the calming, warm scent of lavender and chamomile totally blindsides me.
“Chloe Jane,” a deep, resonant voice says my name and a shiver shoots up my spine. “As beautiful as your name, I see.”
I know for a fact that I look as confused as I feel. His scent is calming and feels like a lullaby, but his voice…Gods, can a voice have sex appeal? For someone who relies on her sense of smell and hearing, this is quite perplexing. The two different combinations are jumbling up my senses and I have no idea how to feel.
“Chloe, this is Alpha Mason and his Beta,” my father introduces us and places my hand into Alpha Mason’s. Another confusing thing … his hands are incredibly soft, completely not what I expected from an Alpha.
Aren’t they supposed to be tough and battle hardened? I wonder if Alpha Mason had to fight for his title or if it was passed down to him.
I fumble over my words, but eventually get out a hello. He chuckles at my obvious naivety and my father tells us to head to the dining area where we take our seats. For some reason I expect to be seated next to my sister, but that lavender and chamomile scent surprises me yet again.
Sucking in a breath, I can feel him leaning in close. “I hope you don’t mind me sitting here, Chloe Jane,” he says.
A shiver ripples all over my body and I don’t even find it odd that he calls me by my full first name. This man must look incredibly handsome, and for the first time since meeting a stranger, I wish I could actually see him.
As usual, my food is already cut up, so eating is easier for me and I don’t feel like a fool in front of our guests. Throughout the dinner, he asks me questions about myself and actually listens to me when I answer. From his questions, and the ones I ask, I can tell he’s quite intelligent and worldwise.
I can’t help but wonder again why this man wants me as his bride. If it’s just to protect me, what’s in it for him? There was no hint of anything untrustworthy about him and his Beta, either. Gods, this is bothering me so darn much!
After dinner, we have a nightcap and the men head to the parlor while my sister and I stay behind to chat a bit.
“And? How do you find him?” She asks as we have a glass of wine together. “He’s incredibly handsome, by the way!”
I chuckle at my sister’s swooning and take a sip of my wine, swirling the liquid around in the glass. “He seems intelligent and knows what he’s talking about. I can see why Daddy likes him so much,” I admit.
“Is that all?” she asks, seemingly confused. “I mean, I wasn’t sure how I would like him, but…”
Kim’s words get drowned out, because I suddenly hear someone’s heartbeat picking up—my father’s. Pretending to take a sip of my wine, I strain my ears to where he’s meeting with Alpha Mason while promising to apologize for eavesdropping later on.
“...That is the agreement after six months,” my father says, sighing. “No one will dare come after your pack and my daughter once this law comes into effect.”
“Especially not with a heir in her belly, and from what I’ve seen tonight, she will make a splendid bride and mother to my children,” Alpha Mason says, and I have to do everything not to drop the glass I am holding.
“But after six months, if there’s no heir…” Alpha Mason trails off.
“I know,” my father says, swallowing deeply. “That won’t be an issue, trust me.”
Wait, my father said nothing about this marriage needing an heir so soon. Is this the fine print I am unaware of? I need to be pregnant within six months of being married?!
“Excuse me, I’m feeling quite tired,” I say, a loud buzzing sound reverberating in my ears and with my sense of smell, walk towards where I know the front door is. As soon as I close the front door behind me, I run out, but I nearly fall down the front steps.
I knew there was a catch to all of this! I need to be pregnant after six months?! Goodness; I was fine with being married off, but needing to fall pregnant so soon? Was my father going to tell me about this?
Tears slip down my cheeks and I try to wipe them away, but more come. I sniff as I hear them walking and try to compose myself, but then a different scent hits me like a freight train and my back immediately goes ramrod straight.
Smokey cedar, worn leather and expensive whiskey— How can someone smell like all three of these things at once…and why is it causing goosebumps to pucker all over my body? A heartbeat picks up pace and I hear footsteps inching towards me.
“Hello? Is somebody there?” I ask, trying to keep the fear out of my voice, and failing miserably. “I can hear your heartbeat and smell your scent; who are you?!”
Another footstep. “I’m—”
“Ah, you must be Ruin!”
My father’s voice snaps me out of my fear and I look toward where the voice came from. “Ryker said you’d arrive today, but I didn’t expect you so late.”
Wait, my father knows this person? Was he expecting him? I’m about to ask him this when he speaks up and his words shock me to my core.
“I see you’ve met my daughter already; this is Chloe Jane, your charge for the next few months.”
His charge…? My eyes widen when I realize what my father means by that… this person, this man who smells like temptation and sin, is going to be my bodyguard?
Chloe JaneLast night’s bodyguard introduction went as well as you’d expect. From my father introducing me to the man who has the charming name of Ruin, to him grunting in response. My sister led me inside and didn’t even ask why I’d been there in the first place.Now it’s morning and I’m blindly staring up at my ceiling, knowing he’s on the other side of my bedroom door. My father apparently trusts this man for some reason, and since he’s seemingly making decisions for me, there’s not much else I can do. Besides, I got more of an odd feeling from Alpha Mason than … Ruin. Gods, I don’t think I can call him that name. Does he have a normal name, I wonder?My stomach rumbles and I breathe out an annoyed sigh, knowing I’ll need to go out there to eat something. Well, I’ve never been one to back down from a confrontation, so here goes nothing!I get up from the bed and inch forward towards where I know my door is. My hands are shaking so much from nervousness, and that anxiety just incr
RuinI’m pacing the bedroom that will be mine for the next few months, trying to keep my cool and failing miserably. “WHY DIDN’T YOU BLOODY TELL ME?!”I’m on a call with Ryker right now and I don’t give a shit if he is my superior, he knew what he was setting me up for when he sent me here. He knew this woman was my biggest regret and still he sent me here.“Can you calm down so I can speak?” he says in a low voice, quelling my anger with his tone alone. “I told you to keep an open mind, didn’t I?”I scoff. “An open mind? That’s what you call this, mate? You knew what I was walking into and you kept quiet about the entire thing!”“What does it matter whether I told you or not? You would still have had to go on this fucking mission, Ruin,” he says, bordering on a growl, then he sighs. “Listen, I know this is going to be difficult, but it’s only for six months.”I sit down on the bed and pinch the bridge of my nose. “No, it’s more complicated than that,” I say, gritting my teeth. “Turn
Chloe JaneI didn’t think things could get any worse, but now I realize that my sister has been keeping things from me. It’s not only the fact that she kept the baby thing from me, but I could tell there’s more. Kim isn’t being honest about things for some reason, and she’s mad at me for something as well. I wish I could tell what was going on, because now it feels like everyone is lying to me.Well, everyone except Ruin.I don’t know why that even counts. He’s just my bodyguard, paid to look out for me, protect me and keep me alive. Basically a glorified babysitter. No, I can’t depend on him, either. I need to find out what’s going on before I go insane and preferably before I get married.I can hear footsteps approaching my bedroom, one foot slightly dragging and I know it’s my father. Great, Kim must have told him that I knew about the baby thing now he’s coming to explain himself to me. Guess I have to get my nod and smile routine ready.Three knocks. “CJ honey, can I come in?” M
Ruin I have never hated a wolf more than I hate this pompous fuck in front of me. And the only reason is because he’s trying his utmost best to charm the knickers off Chloe Jane and she’s slowly falling for it. In all my years of being reincarnated as a different supernatural creature, I have never felt what I can only guess is jealousy. It’s like a burning furnace right in the middle of my fucking chest, and I wish it would just stop. They’ve been at this damned restaurant for the last few hours, and although Chloe Jane looked hesitant at first, she slowly started to fall for the fucker and his charms. I can’t even say he’s faking it because he honestly seems into her, but I still feel like shit. I’ve been keeping my feelings in check, or at least trying to, but my wolf won’t stop edging me on. /“She’s ours!”/ he growls, baring his teeth. /“How can you stand there and let her be charmed like that!”/ /“Because it’s my job, you stupid piece of shit,”/ I respond back before quietin
Chloe JaneI can’t remember half of what happened on my lunch date with Alpha Mason, only that I acted completely out of character. I giggled at his jokes, swooned when he told me about our future together, and allowed him to kiss me.My first kiss and I can’t recall how it happened. The only thing I can attribute it to is Alpha Mason’s calming scent, but that doesn’t make any sense at all. I’ve never heard of a wolf being able to control another with its scent alone.This is where I wish I could see, so I could research his pack and its previous Alphas. I doubt my father would even tell me anything if I had to ask, and the same goes for Kim. To them, I’m just supposed to be compliant, and I can’t help but be compliant around Alpha Mason.“This is stupid,” I grumble to myself. I’m back out in the back garden again, and I should be enjoying the last few moments of Spring, but I can’t even bring myself to enjoy my favorite season. All I’m sitting with is the worry that when I’m alone w
RuinAs I suspected, I do not like the fucker for a good reason and it’s not just because he’s about my marry my mate.I thought it was odd when Chloe Jane asked if she behaved differently in front of him, and now I know why. He probably comes from a long line of Alpha with manipulation woven into their scents. I would ask Ryker about it, but he’d probably just say it’s none of my business or that he’ll handle it.But if he’s fucking with Chloe Jane, that IS my business. I know I won’t be able to do much, but I have contacts I can make use of without raising suspicions. And that’s exactly what I plan on doing while I’m here. Whatever Mason’s plan is, it involves getting Chloe Jane to be compliant and docile; it already has my back up in so many ways. She is currently getting ready for the day when my cell phone rings and I spy Ryker’s name, but before I can answer, I see her father, Edward, walking toward me. He’s looking stricken, so something tells me this has to do with Ryker cal
Chloe JaneSo, Alpha Mason couldn’t make it this weekend to spend time with me, and I can’t say I’m disappointed. I wouldn’t have been myself around him, anyway, and it would have left me feeling hollow again.Now I’m sitting in the sun room, reading my Braille dark romance novel and wondering what will become of my life now. I have less than six months left of my independence before I’m to be someone’s wife and womb. As much as I want to fight the fact, I can’t. It’s been decided by those more powerful than me, and I can do nothing but go with the current.Sometimes I wish my life was one of these dark romance novels I usually read. One where the morally gray man takes the usually sweet virgin girl away from it all and worships her, while she never has to worry about anyone harming her because he would kill those who even looked her way.But my life is not a dark romance novel, although this marriage arrangement is quite archaic. “Something sad happening in that novel, dove?”I smi
RuinGreat fucking going, Ruin, you gave her a kiss. A bloody forehead kiss! As if my life wasn’t already a tangled mess, now I’ve gone and added another knot to it—a knot named Chloe Jane.I close my eyes, but the image of her, looking up at me with those unseeing eyes, trusting and innocent, haunts me. The last thing she needs is more confusion, more uncertainty. And what do I do? I lay a kiss on her like some bloody love-struck fool. I’m a fucking idiot who needs to keep his emotions on a tighter leash. I’ve never been this reckless before, and Chloe Jane’s vulnerable as it is.It’s been hours since I turned in, but I can’t seem to sleep while replaying the events of this afternoon in my head. I overstepped, there’s no denying that. I’ve been overstepping since the moment I arrived, letting my guard down, letting her in. That needs to stop. I need to stop.There was a time when I didn’t give a fuck about people’s feelings; when I completely gave into who I was without remorse. Tha