The Werewolves of Billings Montana

Chapter 5

The first week of school had passed, and it was now the weekend. It was Saturday, the day, and my fate was decided. I know I sound like I am being dramatic right now. You would be if you were in my shoes. My wolf agreed with me that this was outline. My wolf only wanted to have fun and enjoy being a teen. I did not want to be a bride as soon as I turned eighteen. I sound like I am whining about it. This is all going through my mind as I sit in front of my vanity mirror, putting on makeup. It was something Ava recommended I do.

There was a knock on the door, and I acknowledged, “Come in.”

“Are you ready?” Ian asked poking his head in the room.

“No,” I replied. Looking down at my bathrobe still on, I was in no rush either.

“We only have an hour before we have to leave. So, it best you start to read,” Ian said before shutting the door.

I rolled my eyes.

I picked up the dress that Ava picked out. It was not slutty or preppy. It was a blue cocktail dress. She picked out the heels to match. Was my friend Ava a secret fashion icon and I don’t even know about it?

I was done getting dressed and dolled up. A knock came at my door.

“Come in,” I called out.

Ian stood in the doorway and asked, “Are you ready?”

“I guess,” I answer, grabbing my clutch and leaving my room, following Ian down the hall.

In the car, the ride was silent; neither Ian nor I could say anything to either. The road was also bumpy on the way to Carson’s territory. We got to our destination and realized that the driveway was muddy. This is just great. I hope I don’t slip and ruin my dress. Ian grabbed his boots from the backseat and so did I. We replaced our dress shoes with those damn boots. I felt gross walking in the mud up to the front door. The door opened and a butler greeted them.

“Mr. Carson is expecting you. Please follow me,” The butler instructed.

We took our shoes off and left them by the door. We followed the butler to a dining room. Carson sat at one end of the table in the dining room. He gestured for my brother and me to sit down. We followed suit. Carson did not say anything at first.

“So, shall we begin,” Carson replied.

“I want to wait until I graduate from high school to be married off. I want my brother to keep his pack since he found his mate not long ago. Until then, I also want more freedom,” I demanded laying out my agreement in front of Carson.

“Okay. But I cannot promise more freedom,” Carson replied looking down at his nails. He not paying attention to what was said.

“Are you serious right now?” I retorted, “I will not accept this offer. I demand more freedom until then we are not married yet. So, you cannot say what I can’t do with my free time.”

“Are you sure about that? I can say no to your demands and forcefully marry you right now. Then I will challenge your brother for his title and his pack. I have a few demands as well for you. You will not hang around any boys. That includes my cousin, Eli, or human boys. You will not go anywhere without my permission because I will have my guards tailing you. Have I made myself clear?” Carson demanded.

“I will not agree to do it. You can’t make me follow these measures,” I argued standing up.

“You have to understand, Taylor,” Ian said, trying to get me to see reason.

“No, I will not see reason. Because this wedding arrangement is stupid and sexist, makes females be forced to follow stupid rules based on gender roles from centuries of patriarchal s**t. It needs to change,” I said, interrupting my brother and dramatically walking out of bed.

I walked to the bathroom on the first floor and slid down to the floor. I pulled my knees to my chest and sat there for a while to think about what my life would become if I agreed to this arrangement. I knew right then I needed to find a way out of this arranged marriage. I never wanted to be married out of convenience. I wanted a husband who loved me, not out of force. My thoughts going through my head, not realizing my face was wet with unshed tears. I silently cried until there was a quiet knock on the bathroom door.

“I will be right out,” I said wiping my eyes to conceal any evidence of crying.

I opened the door and Eli was standing outside the door.

“Are you alright?” Eli asked.

“No,” was all I said.

Eli looked around to see if his cousin was close by to talk to me. He obliviously has been warned off of having contact with me. I hope he doesn’t do this when a male comes to speak to me. You would think I could escape from his toxic behavior towards me just not long ago. I clung to Eli.

“The coast is clear. We can talk in my room,” Eli whispered and pulled me up the stairs behind him.

Eli’s room was a typical teenage boy from black to blue. So much wood furniture. I stared at all the posters on his walls. He has all the bands such as Metallica, Van Helen, etc, etc. He motioned for me to sit on the bed.

“Are the walls soundproof?” I asked.

“Yes, one of the perks of having an entire floor to myself. Why were you upset downstairs?” Eli questioned.

“I want out of this marriage arrangement. I hate your cousin for all he stands for. He thinks he can control me and take away my freedom from me. He threatened me. Then you found me in the bathroom. I just probably sound like I am whining right now,” I answered.

“No. You are going to be fine. I will look into a way for you to be free of the marriage your parents placed upon you. I will have to ask the council if there’s a way to annul a marriage contract due to both parties not being happy,” Eli suggests.

I could only nod to his suggestion.

We both sat in silence. Until an angry voice came from the hall.

“What do we have here?” Carson said with angry sarcasm.

“It is not what it looks like. So, can you calm down,” Eli replied.

Ian motioned for me to move quickly behind him.

Carson was shaking enough with anger that he shifted into Eli’s bedroom. Eli backed up towards the desk. He shifted as well and lunged at Carson. Ian and I could hear growls and crashing coming from Eli’s bedroom. I wanted to turn back but Ian tugged on my hand to follow him. We ran from the house, grabbed our boots, and ran to the truck. We did not bother to discuss what had transpired. I knew I would not be able to get the freedom I wanted from the ordeal. I need Eli to find something to get me out of this arrangement and fast.

When we got home, I did not bother talking to Marcus or Ava who sat in the living room waiting for us. I went straight to my room. I quickly changed and curled up in bed to cry. There was a knock on the door. Ava came strolling without me saying anything. She just hugged me.

“It was that bad?” Ava asked.

“Yes.” I sniffled and continued, “He threatened me. So, the arrangement is the same as before. I need to get out of this arrangement. I hope he didn’t kill Eli for just talking to me.”

“Eli should be fine,” Ava replied.

“You don’t understand how jealous male werewolves can be when another male is talking to a claimed female. They can kill the other male wolf for talking to their female,” I explain to Ava. So, she will understand how male werewolves are towards other males.

Ava laughed at me and replied, “That sounds like a lie to me.”

“I saw how my brother looked over at Marcus for just being close to you. I heard my brother start to growl. There is so much you need to learn about pack life.” I sighed and fell back on the pillows.

Ava and I did not say anything else. She left the room and I fell asleep dreaming of Eli again. Then the plan was forming in my mind. Maybe Eli was the answer to my problem. Maybe I should change the arrangement and marry Eli instead. That would be perfect.