Chapter 2
Wren
“Are you okay?” Kimberly whispers to me as I exit my room seven and a half minutes later. I didn’t have time to shower, but I did wash all the paint off my face and hands.
The high necked, sleeveless black dress Freida left in my closet is tasteful, if not a little stiff. My hair, now pulled into a slicked-back bun, is giving me a headache, but all I have to do is get through one dinner.
One dinner with Pack Caruso, and then I’m gone.
With Teddy.
Who apparently thinks I’m beautiful.
I have to squash my smile down so I don’t give anything away. My fingers twitch, and I try to resist the urge to touch my lips just to make sure I didn’t imagine the whole thing.
“I’m fine,” I whisper back, walking down the hall and to the grand staircase that leads to the foyer. “Just got caught up with…some things.”
Some things. Meaning: my life will never be the same and I’m so fucking happy I could combust right here and now.
Kimberly nods, but doesn’t answer. My parents are not keen on me befriending “the help”.
“Wren.” Mother is waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs. “Good, you look presentable, though I do wish you would have tried a little harder with your makeup. You’re the face of a company now.”
All those happy feelings I had just a moment ago? Gone.
My eyes dart to the ground, my instincts screaming at me to make myself as small as possible. “I apologize, Mother. Should I go fix it?”
“No, no, it’s too late for that now. Come,” she loops her arm through mine a bit forcefully, and marches us towards the dining room, “and wipe that fucking terrified look off your face.”
I stumble briefly, but right myself quickly. “Sorry, Mother.”
Forcing my expression to look as relaxed as possible, I nod at Gregory, who opens the dining room door for us. He gives me a polite smile, and nods his head. “Mrs. and Miss Messina.”
Mother’s head doesn’t even turn in his direction. Instead, her attention is fixed on the large dining table, placed centrally in the room. Three large, imposing men sit opposite of my father, a glass of whisky in each of their hands.
Fighting the chill that wants to take over my body at the sight, I paste a demure smile on my face.
Pack Caruso.
I’m not sure what the fuck they’re even doing here, considering I haven’t laid eyes on them since the night of my party when they tried to make me dance with them for half the night, despite my protests.
“Wren.” Father’s stern voice commands my attention, and years of conditioning has my head snapping in his direction. “Don’t be rude. Greet Pack Caruso.”
My mouth starts to drop open. I hadn’t even had time to look at anyone properly, let alone greet them, but arguing is useless. Instead, I nod my head again. “Pack Caruso. It’s a pleasure to see you again.”
“Good manners,” Kellan, the head alpha, comments as he takes a sip of his drink. “Even if she did need to be reminded.”
Mother’s grip on my arm tightens painfully as Father’s jaw ticks.
My head starts to go fuzzy as something dark grows in the pit of my stomach. This…this isn’t going how first pack-dates normally go.
“Yes, well, it’s no secret that we’ve had our share of problems with her.”
Jasper, one of the other alphas, smirks as his disgusting gaze rakes over me. “We don’t mind…refining her etiquette. I have a few ideas.”
I’m sorry…what?
Father’s lips lift in a snarl, and for a moment, stupidly, I think he might defend me. Or at least his parenting skills. But…that’s not what’s happening.
“I don’t need to know the details,” he snaps. “Just…tell me you brought what we agreed on.”
Mother’s nails dig into my arm as the third alpha, Victor, reaches into a bag and pulls out a few stacks of cash.
What…what is happening?
“Mother?” My voice is weak as it wavers, my eyes following the stack of bills as Father grabs it and counts out the money.
“Shut up,” she hisses. “You’ve ruined everything else, do not ruin this for us.”
I…I’ve ruined everything else?
“You have no one to blame but yourself, Wren.” Father’s voice is hard as he places one stack down and starts counting the other. “If you would have settled with one of the packs we tried to have you court, it wouldn’t have come to this.”
A cold sweat starts to take over as I blink rapidly. “What…what is this?”
“I thought you said she was smart,” Jasper frowns at Father.
“I don’t believe I ever said such a thing.
” Father smirks, placing the final stack on the table and crossing his arms before turning to me.
“You belong to Pack Caruso now. They’ve been offering to buy you for the last year, but we thought we’d be kind and try to let you pick a different, equally advantageous pack.
You’ve run out of time. A packless omega cannot be the face of Nest Luxe. ”
“No,” I shake my head, my heart pounding in my ears. My voice sounds like it’s coming from outside my body as I stare at Father, tears welling in my eyes. “No, that’s not right—you can’t sell me. It’s illegal—”
“When have I operated within the confines of the law? Are you really so stupid that you forgot what our family business truly entails?” Father chuckles, shaking his head.
“You belong to them now, whether you like it or not. Except, of course, once a month when you make your contractual appearances at each Nest Luxe for their grand re-openings.”
“And any photoshoots we set up,” Mother adds.
They…they’re going to sell me, but still expect me to be their cash cow for their farce of a nesting store? “Father, please—”
Mother releases me as Kellan comes around the table and grips my chin in his hand. His smoky scent is tinged with the bitterness of impatience I’ve come to associate with my father. “Ah, come on now, Pigeon. We won’t bite. Not yet anyway.”
Before I know what’s happening, I’m wrenching myself away from him, stumbling to the floor.
“Really, Wren!” Mother exclaims, crossing her arms as I look up, tears falling down my cheeks. “You’re so dramatic.”
I was so close. I was so, so close.
Teddy.
What will I do about Teddy?
“Father,” I beg, turning back to the one man who could call this entire thing off he wanted to. “Please, I’ll try harder. I’ll take things more seriously. I promise.”
“Your promises mean nothing to me, child,” Father practically spits.
After being ignored my entire life, after only being made worthy of attention once I presented, after everything they’ve put me through…my promises mean nothing? Rage boils up inside me like nothing I’ve ever known.
I’m his daughter. How could he do this to me?
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them, fueled by years of biting my tongue. “Grandfather would be ashamed of you.”
“My father is dead,” he snaps at me, standing abruptly from his seat before taking a step towards me.
But now that the defiance has let itself loose, I can’t look away from his stare, even as I sit on the floor.
“And he was a coward. Soft. The only good thing he ever did was decline the position as head of the family after his brother died, leaving it to me. So you better think twice before running your mouth, you useless whore.”
There’s nothing but hatred in his eyes, and as he approaches, I feel like maybe I’ve finally done it. Maybe I’ve pushed him over the edge once and for all.
But then Kellan makes the slightest motion to move in front of me, and Father stops in his tracks. Did…did Kellan just save me?
“She’s not yours to discipline anymore, remember?” He nods to the pile of cash on the table that Father had abandoned.
Right. I’m no longer property of the Messina Family.
Father sneers at me once before turning on his heel and returning to the table. “She isn’t worth it anyway. Our business is done here. Get her out of my sight.”
He sits down at the table, staring at the wood like it might make the situation play out faster.
And again, I’m helpless.
“Please,” I say weakly, looking between my parents and the pack who’s come to take me away. My eyes settle on the alpha in front of me. “Please don’t do this. I’ll never love you. I can’t.”
Kellan drops to a crouch in front of me, looking into my eyes with a smirk.
“Love?” He lets out a cruel chuckle. “We don’t want your love, Pigeon.
” The pit in my stomach grows. His expression loses all humor as he stands, looking down at me.
“Now, we’re leaving here and taking you with us.
The question is—are we going to do this the easy way? Or the hard way?”
Fuck.
“I…” Looking down, I wring my hands. “Can I please just have one more night in my own bed?” I sniff, glancing back up at him. All I need is one more night, and Teddy will come for me.
“No can do.” Kellan looks at me with what almost seems like pity. “Jasper and I are going out of town in a few days, and we need to make sure you’re familiar with your duties before we go.”
My…duties?
My chest constricts. Father won’t look at me, and Mother sneers down at me like I chose one day to designate as an omega and fuck up my entire life. Like this whole situation is my doing.
Like I asked for them to treat me as a second-class citizen despite the fact they’re the ones who brought me into the world, and they’re the ones using my designation as a bank card.
I might as well leave with a little bit of dignity.
Sniffing, I stand, and brush off my dress.
“Might I at least pack a few things?” My voice barely wavers.
Kellan nods once, his jaw tight, and Father barks out, “Freida! Escort Wren to grab her things.”
Freida, the older, vaguely maternal woman who has always shown me kindness, gives me a worried look as she gently cups my elbow.
She tries to make light conversation as she helps me up the stairs, my legs still weak from the ordeal in the dining room, but I can’t answer her.
Not when I’m trying my best to figure out how the hell to give Teddy a warning that I won’t be around anymore.