Abandoned But Desired By The Lycan Princes

Chapter 3

Odessa's POV

The bright morning light came in through my bedroom curtains, but I had been awake for a while... As I lay there and looked up at the ceiling, I felt better than I had in years. After a split, it shouldn't feel this good. Shouldn't my heart be breaking? Not full? Split up?

My body was calm and my chest felt light.

I picked the right thing to do.

I said in a whisper, "Proud of you, Del." I let the words sink into my skin.

When I thought of Dave's face, I pushed the thought out of my mind quickly. He hadn't really loved me. He wanted a partner, someone who would stand by his side and do what he said without question. A prize. It's helpful. Not a partner. Never the same.

It wasn't me. It was never me.

Let out a deep breath as I rolled out of bed and stretched out my stiff limbs. I could see my unsure and unplanned future ahead of me, but for the first time, that didn't scare me. I wasn't interested in all the facts. I would wait for another door to open since the first one had shut. I would be damn sure it led somewhere safe this time before I stepped through it.

I quickly took a shower and then put on pants and a simple top before going to the kitchen. I cracked a few eggs into a pan, and the smell of them mixed with the strong smell of coffee. My thoughts went to work while I ate. Now that Dave wasn't involved, I could finally go to that training course. I wasn't sure what to do at first because I was afraid of how he'd respond and what the pack would say, but now I wasn't waiting for permission anymore. I never should have needed it in the first place.

I felt something sharp and bitter in my stomach when I thought about it. That was almost the life I was stuck in—a life where people had to agree with even my smallest decisions. It made me want to move and run until my paws hurt, to get away from everything that was holding me back. I didn't have to run, though. Not any longer.

Today was a new day. I was free today.

I was ready to take on the day when I got to La Luna, the small café where I worked. I put my apron around my waist and breathed in the soothing smells of hot coffee and warm pastries. I looked forward to going to work for the first time in a long time. I liked the easy routine of taking orders, cleaning tables, and talking with regulars.

When I walked into the dining room, I did what I always do: I wiped down the tables, straightened the chairs, and made sure everything was where it should be. The comfort of it made me feel grounded and steady.

The smell then hit me.

I stopped breathing. Before I even turned around, my body locked up.

The door was open. Three people walked inside, and their combined weight made the air feel heavy and charged. Mike Blackwood is the leader. Marc Gleiss, who is his tester. Also, Dave.

Their smells were strong, demanding, and easy to spot. And Dave's...

It was easy for me to taste how bitter he was. His rage. His dislike.

When I was done setting the last table, I had to force myself to keep my hands still, even though I wanted to run. But where would I go? You couldn't get away from them.

Mike's lips were stretched out in a slow, deliberate smile, and the light caught on his sharp teeth.

"Morning," he said in a low voice that sounded like silk wrapped around steel.

To keep my shoulders from tensing up, I swallowed and forced my body to stay still. I didn't look Dave in the eye. I didn't have to. It was heavy and pressed against my skin, smelling like something dark and poisonous.

It wasn't right.

There was something coming.

I was pretty sure I wasn't going to like whatever it was.

It was hard for me to swallow, but I kept my voice steady. "Good morning." Could I help you?"

I quickly looked to the back room, where my boss, John, was. They might have come to see him. This might not have been about me at all.

"John is in the back if—"

Mike stopped me with a simple laugh. "Oh, honey, don't worry. "We're not here for him."

It made my stomach hurt.

I fought the urge to move away when Mike took a slow step toward me. They could smell fear. Even though my body told me to run, I had to stand my ground.

He said, "We need you to come with us," as if he were asking me to a quiet lunch. "Don't worry about it."

There's no need to worry.

My body's nerves were all on high alert. That's what people say right before they do something terrible that you'll never get over. Their heavy gazes pushed down on me, taking away any sense of control I still had.

I looked over at Dave as if I knew what to say. Had he really gone this far just because I turned him down? Because I chose my own life over the one he wanted to make me live? The way his lips were tilted in a smug way told me everything I needed to know.

Dave told me in a low voice, as if he wanted me to fight, "Don't try anything." Maybe he thought I would give him a reason to make things worse for me.

My throat got dry. "Where are we going?" I asked finally, but my voice wasn't as loud as I wanted it to be.

Mike kept the same look on his face. "You'll see."

I felt a cold, creeping fear in my bones. Without a reason, the pack wouldn't have come after you in this way.

I was taken outside, where the sun was very bright. It had never felt like the world was so weak. I thought I was free when I woke up just hours ago. I had my whole life ahead of me. I didn't think I'd make it to the end of the day.

They locked me up and squished me between Dave and Marc in the back of the car. Stan, one of his men, drove, and Mike rode in front. The quiet inside the car was crushing, like a vice. The air inside was thick.

A lot of ideas were going through my head, but none of them were good.

The drive wasn't too long. The turns and bends told me exactly where we were going before I even saw the pack house, which was way out in front of me. Where rules were made and sentences were given was where Mike was in charge.

As soon as the car stopped, I took a deep breath in.

Dave pulled me out and led me through the heavy doors with a rough hold. Darkness filled the halls, and the smell of dogs and power filled the air. It didn't give me much time to think before I was pushed into a room that was empty and the door slammed shut behind me.

I spun around, scared and angry at the same time. "Do you mean it?" I didn't mind that my voice was shaking.

Dave's grin was mean and slow. "It looks like it."