Chapter 4 - Aubrey
My head was spinning with the information that Klaus was throwing at me. I couldn’t believe that shifters were real. One moment, I’m listening to them ramble on about marriage, mates, and a pack, and suddenly, I’m watching him shift into this massive wolf.
I wondered how many more there were out there. Had I met people who were shifters before? What other supernaturals had I thought were made up that actually existed? I had so many questions, hundreds of questions for Klaus.
“If you run away again, I’ll find you.”
I soaked in his words, knowing this was another level. I knew Klaus was built like a truck, but learning he could shift into a wolf changed things.
I swallowed and looked away from him. I chewed on my cheek, trying to wrap my head around everything that had happened. I couldn’t even process it all. Marriage. Shifters. Mates.
I felt like I was in over my head. One moment I’m sitting in a hotel trying to map out my next steps, and suddenly I’m here trying to decide my fate.
He took a step closer to me. “If you’re thinking of how to run away again.”
I turned back to him and crossed my arms. “Are you about to say that it’s going to be that much harder?” The idea of giving up one bad situation for another wasn’t my idea of being free. I couldn’t just stop trying because things got more complicated.
He shook his head. “No. I don’t have time to constantly keep my eyes on you and try to keep you here. You were enough of a pain in the ass during the drive. I’m not going to imagine how exhausting it will become after a week.”
I swallowed. “So, you’re saying I’m free to go?”
“No,” he shook his head. “If you try running away again, I’m driving you back to the bar and letting someone else pay for you. I’m not throwing away twenty thousand dollars. If you don’t want to help me, that’s fine. I’m not going to waste a ton of time on you.”
I felt like someone just threw water down my spine. “So, you’re saying I’m a prisoner.”
He shook his head. “No, you’re not a prisoner.”
I ground my teeth together. “I’m not free either. So, sounds to me like I’m a prisoner here, Klaus.”
He ground his teeth together. “I don’t have all day to argue with you about this, Aubrey. If you want to leave, I’ll bring you back. But from how you reacted, I’m a much better pick than anyone else who was there. Or, did you forget the entire trip up here?”
I hadn’t. I kept waiting for something to happen, for him to pull over and hit me, for something to snap, and his calm to dissolve. He was cranky and irritated, but Klaus wasn’t mean. He didn’t even raise his voice. He just stated facts as they were.
I couldn’t help but picture all the things that could go wrong. Mike was always telling me I was lucky. He would tell me that he didn’t force me into darker things that others were into. That he didn’t beat me as badly as he could.
But the idea of being here, being forced into a marriage. That seemed almost worse. That was legally binding. This left a paper trail, and I couldn’t run from that.
I shook my head. “I can’t marry you, Klaus. I don’t even know you.”
Klaus sighed. “It’s just until the pack is healed. Once that’s done, you’ll be free. You won’t have to stay here anymore after that.”
I didn’t believe him. “You’re lying.”
“Why the hell would I lie about that? You think I want this? I have a pack to run, Aubrey. I don’t have time to waste. So, what’s it going to be?”
“You can’t give me time to comprehend this?” I looked around. “Everything you’re throwing at me? You literally pulled me here overnight and expect me to make a decision like that?”
“I don’t have time. Make your decision, Aubrey. You either go inside with me, or I’m driving you back.”
I stood numb. I couldn’t fathom staying here. I didn’t even want to think about what I was getting myself into. But I couldn’t stomach going back even more. I don’t know what deal Mike made, but he wasn’t planning on me staying with whoever purchased me for long.
I was hours away from Mike, and if I wanted my freedom, this was a step in the right direction.
I swallowed and straightened my shoulders. Because in the end, I didn’t have any other options. “Fine,” I said.
“Great,” Klaus said, grabbing my hand. “Let’s get married.”
The ceremony was quick, if you could even call it that.
The members from earlier were council members.
They didn’t introduce themselves. They just stood there while Klaus and I stated our vows.
I could feel their eyes on me as Klaus spoke.
My head was blank. I could hardly think, let alone process what was going on.
“You are now wed,” the priest stated, offering us a tight smile.
I pulled my hands from Klaus and took a slow breath in. Klaus turned to another guy just a step behind him. “Aubrey, this is Cal, my Beta. You saw him earlier today. He will be an extra set of hands you can use.”
Cal offered me a softer smile. Unlike Klaus, Cal seemed more approachable. He had a softness to him. He wasn’t as tall or muscular as Klaus, but he wasn’t someone I’d want to pick a fight with either.
“I threw a party together.”
My eyes widened. “You what?”
“You’re joking,” Klaus added.
Cal shook his head. “I’m not. The council advised it. It’s a way for the pack to get to know Aubrey. I didn’t agree with it, but I wasn’t going to argue with the council. I tried to make it short so you don’t have to stay long.”
“Klaus doesn’t even know me,” I stated. “Why should the pack?”
“Because you’re an extension of him,” Cal added, his eyes softening. “The pack needs to know who you are. You’re new, and everyone is going to be curious. Just stay with Klaus, and you’ll be fine.”
“Right now?” I asked. “You couldn’t plan this for after I get settled? Maybe when I’m not wearing this.” I waved a hand at the outfit, which was still Klaus’s clothes. “I just learned about shifters, not even twenty minutes ago. You expect me to walk into a room filled with them?”
I suddenly felt sick, realizing I had nothing. I had no phone, no ID, no money. I had nothing, and now I was married to someone I didn’t even know.
It suddenly hit me. Just how far down I had fallen. I couldn’t breathe. Suddenly, everything around me felt suffocating.
“It’s what’s best,” Cal added. “Klaus, do you agree?”
I felt tears burning, and I turned. “I need a minute.” My voice cracked as I practically ran out of the room. I didn’t even know where I was going. I just headed down the hallway until I hit a bathroom. I shoved the door open and fell to the ground inside.
Tears broke free, and I placed a hand over my mouth.
I couldn’t stop the sob as everything seemed to come to a halting stop.
All I wanted was freedom and happiness. I wasn’t asking for a big, lavish house or a job that paid me a ton.
I just wanted something so simple, something everyone should have.
There was a knock at the door. “Aubrey,” Klaus’s voice was soft. “We can find you new clothes.”
I heard the door open, and Klaus stepped into the bathroom. It wasn’t a large space, so he took up most of it. He leaned against the door. I expected him to tell me to get up or that I was acting like a child, but he didn’t. He just stood there quietly.
I wiped at my eyes, pulling myself back together. “I just… I needed a minute.” I placed my fingers on my mouth and swallowed. “I know that I’m wasting your time.”
“You’re not,” he offered. “Take all the time you need.”
I stared at the wall, counting the tiles. “I don’t know anyone. I don’t have anything. I don’t even have any clothes that are mine.” I looked at him. “I need clothes that fit me. I can’t meet your pack looking like this.”
He scanned me up and down, but not in a sexual way, but rather like he was measuring me. “I think you are the same size as my assistant. She keeps extra clothes in her desk. You can wear those.”
I took a deep breath and pulled myself off the ground. Klaus left and grabbed me some clothes. I changed into them, feeling a little more normal. I was still nervous, though.
We headed to another building that was just across a strip of grass. Klaus explained that the city hall was split. They had offices and meetings in one, and the other was more of a public open space that anyone could use for social events.
I could hear music playing from inside and loud chatter. My insides were swimming. Cal was walking with us with a skip in his step. “The whole pack sounds like they are inside. Should be a full house.”
Cal opened the glass door, and as we stepped inside, all the heads turned to us. But I could see all the eyes were going straight to me. I felt my stomach bottom out, and I tried to smile.
I could feel the energy as everyone went quiet, people’s expressions quickly changing. I gripped the sleeve of my shirt, tugging at the fabric.
Klaus placed his hand on my back. “Hello, everyone. This is Aubrey. My mate.”
I swallowed and tried to smile once more.
“She will be joining the pack starting today. I want everyone to treat her with respect and compassion.” Klaus pulled me inside, where he took my hand. I followed in step with him as he walked.
As we moved around the space, I didn’t feel like I belonged. I could see the eyes staring at me. People were narrowing their eyes like they were trying to figure me out.
Klaus was at least right by my side the entire time. He introduced me to people and offered me water when we stopped by the food. But the whispering grew the longer we walked around.
“That’s who he’s mated to?”
“Is this some kind of joke?”
“There must be some kind of mistake here. Look at him and then look at her.”
I sipped on the water I had, trying to keep my hands busy. I glanced at Klaus as he nodded his head at someone he was talking to.
“Klaus, are you sure that this was the right decision?”
My head snapped at the man’s words. Klaus gave the man a nod. “I have it all under control.”