The Broken Wolf

(3) Elodie

As someone who had never envisioned having a mate it was much the same as not having one. That is to say two days later and my life has pretty much returned to life as normal. I clean the pack house in the morning serve lunch at midday and dinner at night then make myself scarce the rest of the time. The only actual tangible change has been the outright disappearance of my brother.

Jeremy up and vanished after Selene growled at him about keeping his hands to himself. Ever the dutiful son he’d acquiesced albeit with his own growl at me.

I never understood why he always takes such pleasure in tormenting me, but I learned a long time ago that violent tendencies can never be fully avoided. So I’ve been waiting for his patience to run dry. For him to storm at me and drag me to the training hall for another ‘session’. Its his favorite form of therapy he says.

Its cruelty.

“You take the trash out yet?” Sarah an older wolf who’s always been kind asks as she marches into the kitchen dropping a basket of red soaked meat onto the counter. My stomach grumbles reminding me I haven’t eaten in a day.

“Yes.” I hum. She nods her steely gaze drops to my neck and subconsciously I trace the mark that’s been steadily healing. The skin isn’t as red or raw anymore but it still twinges.

“You heard anything yet?” She asks ever the curious one.

I turn from her facing the sink and the few dishes still left over from lunch earlier. Seeking to distract my hands I pick up the sponge and a plate. “Not yet.”

She hums in response. I hear the question in the silence. This isn’t normal. Usually mates are insatiable seeking out their partner with ferocity. Its unheard of for newly mated wolves to go a full week without seeing one another.

I don’t have the heart to remind her I’m not a normal wolf.

“It’ll all work out.” Sarah says.

I wonder if she’s right or if this is just yet another part of my ill-fated destiny.

#

I was four the first time I stood outside my fathers door. I remember studying the wood with wonder imagining the man inside as a larger than life hero. One who would rescue me from all the evil villains in my life. Reality wrenched her class in me shortly after.

Now, at twenty I don’t study the wood, I know each aging seam like the back of my weathered hand. And there’s no hero behind the door.

A muffled voice calls for me and I step through the doorway holding my breathe.

Father sits at his desk imposing behind his rich oak desk, Selene stands beside him arm resting on the back of his seat eyes narrowing on me as I enter the room.

Blessedly, Jeremy is nowhere to be found.

“As you know your hand was promised to Alpha Madoc of the Forest Hills pack.” Father doesn’t do pleasantries, least of all to me.

He’s quiet for a moment and I realize he expects me to answer, “Yes sir.”

Truth be told while I had my suspicions that my mating had been arranged I’d never known the wolves name. Least of all that he was an Alpha. Madoc was the second in command Forest Hills a fact I only knew because I’d met him at the party a few days ago.

Had he watched from the crowd as my mate claimed me?

My fingers itch to rub the mark again.

“This public claiming has thrown a wrench in our planning which is…displeasing. A pairing with the Forest Hills pack means more access to hunting ground, better resources. Its beneficial for the entire pack,” He adds tone low and even. “Do you understand?”

My throat feels dry suddenly but I nod. “Yes sir.”

“This pup laid claim to you in front of everyone. The Grand Viceroy,” he says the title with a growl taking a moment to steady himself before continuing, “demands the claim be honored. There is nothing we can do.”

Something uncomfortable settles in my chest at Dominic being called a ‘pup’. There was nothing ‘pup’ like about the man I’d met. But I say nothing.

“We have taken care of you all these years? Housed you when your mother abandoned you at our doorstep, fed you, clothed you.”

I fought for scraps at a dinner that had already ended, my clothes were hand me downs from children much younger than me. Even now my feet are tight in the sneakers I wear acquired from the bin we keep for wolves after a run.

All things I don’t say because I don’t have a death wish in spite of it all.

“When that mutt,” I flinch as he growls, “comes to collect you, you will find a way to remove that mark from your neck. One way, or another you will come back here and resume your mating with Alpha Madoc.”

Selene smiles serenely from behind him her eyes shiny as she studies my reaction but I don’t give her one. I could point out the many ways that wouldn’t work. The fact that I’ve never heard of a mate bond being removed besides the one who provided it dying, and that if I fought Alpha Dominic I’d be dead before I could even form a single thought. Or the fact that death sounds better than returning here if I ever do make it out.

I don’t say any of that.

I just nod and say, “Yes, sir.”