BETRAYAL IN SNOW
1378 Words
SLOANE
The lavish Ashford living room didn’t dampen the confusion that blossomed in my chest. If anything, it amplified it.
You don’t belong here. You belong in the woods where your kind are. Camille’s voice echoed at the back of my mind.
I always knew I was different from Isabella, and that had always put me in trouble.
I shifted my gaze, and the confusion flickered away. My lips spread into a smile when I came face to face with Nicolas Carrington.
“Nick!” I squealed, and edged closer to him. I spread my hands to pull him into a hug when he moved backwards.
I searched his face, his expression was inscrutable. “Hi Sloane,” his voice was icy. He pushed his hand into his pocket, his expression stoic. “I—”
A sleek feminine voice sliced through the air, followed by the sound of stilettos clicking against the marble tiles. “Baby!” Isabella said in a crisp tone, flaunting an oval cut diamond ring.
Poison spread through my blood. That was the exact ring I’d picked out on our last date.
She strutted towards us, and locked arms with Nicolas. “Hi sister…” Isabella pouted.
I turned to face Camille, but she rolled her eyes. “Wh-wh-” I stuttered. “What’s going on here? Why are you two holding hands?”
Isabella chuckled softly. “Baby, I think it’s time we tell her,”
Nicolas nodded. “Sloane, you were going to find out about this anyways,” he began. “I’ve never loved you. The only reason I agreed to date you, was because you were a smarty pants, that’s all,”
Isabella groaned. “I hate to admit it, but we both needed someone who could write our project, and help us through law school,” She gestured to me. “Sloane, you outdid yourself. I mean, you’re the reason I placed forty in the bar exams,”
Something painful pinched through my chest.
“Traitor!” A scream sliced through the air, and it took me a few seconds to realize the scream had come from me.
My head spun like it was about to fall off. Nicolas had been my first love. Oh my goodness! I loved him with everything I had. I gave everything I had.
I was waiting for my twenty-first birthday to say ‘Yes’ to him officially. I even took extra jobs so I could buy expensive lingerie for our wedding night. What did I get in return? The cliché script of having an affair with my sister.
My lips trembled. “Everything I ever did for you—”
Nicolas grunted. “I knew you’d play that card,” he sounded annoyed. “Look Sloane, I never asked you to do none of that for me. Everything you did for me, you did out of your own free will,”
“I would have said thank you. But you’re not worth the stress,” Isabella smacked her lips. “Afterall, you should be grateful my father didn’t dump you at the orphanage when he got married to mom,”
My vision blurred with tears. It took every bit of hope in me to turn to face Camille. For once in my life, I craved my mother’s defense. Anything at all she could say to make me feel better would ease the pain splintering through my core.
Camille sighed. “You should be grateful we accommodated you in our home,” She started. “I had no reason to keep a monster in my home, even if she came as my child,”
My world crashed in that instant.
Tears broke out of my eyes like the barricade holding them back wasn’t strong enough. “We need to leave now, before my husband gets back,” She said hastily.
“Mom, you can’t be serious. Don’t tell me you haven’t told your daughter she’s a monster,” Isabella spat. “I used to think werewolves only exist in myths. Never knew they could mate with humans,”
“Enough Isabella,” Camille said, dragging me by the arms. “We need to leave now. You have a flight to catch,”
Werewolves. Mate. Humans.
“Camille, who am I?”
“You find out everything you need to know when you get to Aragon pack,” She said pointedly, as she got into the car. The chauffeur tipped his head in greeting, and offered me a stiff smile. No staff was allowed to treat me like I was special.
“Aragon pack? What’s that even?”
Her lips thinned. “Look, this isn’t a courtroom, and I’m not a suspect,” She snapped.
Silence. I looked out of the windows and took in the primed surroundings. My guts told me I wouldn’t see the chateau in a long time.
“Sloane, I know I made a mistake. You didn’t ask for none of this,” Camille began, as the car drove out of the Ashford chateau.
I tuned her out, and focused on the road and trees that lined the express. It was slowly starting to fill up with snow flakes. Christmas was my favorite time of the year. Because, I got to spend it volunteering at the orphanage.
The carols, skiing, and cutting out snowflakes with the kids were my highlight of the holiday season. Since my family always forgot to make provision for a holiday ticket to spend Christmas at one of Ashford’s resorts, I had to find my own happiness.
I was just like them. Growing up with my mother didn’t change anything.
A firm tap pulled me out of my reverie. “Pay attention to me Sloane, the werewolf world is nothing like our world,” Her eyes gleamed with horror. “It’s dark out there, being half human, and half…a werewolf would put you at risk,”
“Then why are you sending me off there?” I asked, my tone frantic. “Camille, I swear on my life, I will work hard. I would het into Navarro firm, and make you so proud. Don’t send me to Paragon—”
“It’s Aragon, Camille. You should start getting used to where you’re from,” A long pause. “When you clocked eighteen, you were expected to shift into your wolf’s form. You didn’t, and I was glad, at least I get to spend more time with you.”
“Then, I started getting letters, distressed letters, you have to go back to your father, Sloane,” She insisted.
“I don’t even know him,” My time was shaky. “I have never met him before,”
“Heard he’s the Beta in Aragon. Second in command to the Alpha King. I never believed werewolves existed. Till he started sending me pictures last summer,” Camille stated. “I heard Aragon is nothing like the bustling, high rise city of New York. Knowing who you are, you should be able to blend in,”
I clasped my hands. “What if they kill me?”
“Beta Sinclair is too protective of his seed to watch them hurt you,” the car came to a halt in front of the airport. Camille turned to face me, her eyes filled with guilt?
I couldn’t grasp the emotion before she blinked. And, it was gone.
“Take this as your Christmas present. This is your shot at the life you’ve wanted,” She reached for my hands, and gave me a small, frigid pat. “Attorney Sloane Sinclair,”
A lump gathered around my throat. It took every bit of willpower I had to hold back the tears that threatened to spill. “Have you ever loved me…” My eyes stung with unshed tears.
“Isabella sees you as a threat. If you remain in New York she might never hit her goal to become one of New York's prized attorneys. Neither will she stand a chance to be employed in Navarro holdings. So you should leave,”
My throat went parched.
I stepped down from the car, and watched as they drove off. “…Mom,” I managed through the tears that spilled down my cheeks.
- Writer
