4. Hettie
Chapter 4
Hettie
G rass barrels across the room, making himself known in the most Grass-like fashion possible. The oversized dog knocks into a chair, tipping it over, and races past me to launch himself at Rip.
Oh my god, I think he’s going to maul my not-quite-yet husband. “Grass!” I don’t give a shit if Grass hurts Rip, but I don’t want this man hurting the only family I have left.
Rip catches him before they topple over, and, much to my dismay, Grass’s dramatic leap into Rip’s arms wasn’t to maul him to death. No, the big baby licks his face, wagging his tail like he does when I offer him an extra treat before bed.
This is twice now that Grass excitedly greeted a stranger. So much for my big protector. “You’re a damn teddy bear,” I sigh.
To further prove my point, Grass nuzzles his head against Rip.
Great.
Well, at least one of us is happy .
“That’s Grass, Hettie’s dog companion,” Thorne speaks up from behind Rip.
“Grass?” He narrows his eyes. “Why would you name your dog Grass?”
I don’t appreciate the judgment I hear in his tone, and I glare. “Because he likes to roll around in grass.”
“I see. How…creative,” Rip says dismissively. He turns away from me—my damn dog still in his arms. Even from behind, Rip is an intimidating figure. His tight shirt stretches obscenely over his muscles, giving a show of each dip and curve of his body.
I’m unable to control my gaze as it goes straight down to his perfectly rounded ass. I’ve never considered myself an ass girl, but seeing Rip’s has me all but salivating. Rip is what wet dreams are made of.
Too bad he has the personality of a rusty nail.
“I’m going to go show Hettie to our room,” Rip says to Thorne and the woman next to Thorne. No one said anything about sharing a fucking room.
“I would rather go to Thorne’s room,” I mumble under my breath, but before I can say any more, Rip whirls back around, finally letting Grass go.
He closes the distance between us, and I have to tilt my head up to see him properly. His nostrils flare, brown eyes narrowing. There’s a slight red flush to his bronze-colored skin, hinting at his barely contained anger.
“Let’s make one thing very clear, human . You are mine. Whether or not you like it, you belong to me. And no Luna of mine will ever speak of another man’s room. Not unless you wish to face the consequences.”
Anger coils low in my belly, twisting and churning until nothing but bitterness is left. “I’m yours?” My voice comes out barely above a whisper, soft but not weak .
Many men in my life have thought they owned me. My body. My soul. My heart. Every piece of me has been wrongfully claimed by men who saw me as nothing more than an object. A pretty thing to have on their arm for the night. Coming to Mescos isn’t just a fresh start for my family, but it’s a fresh start for me too. Rip will not take that away from me.
“I belong to nobody. Even when I become your wife, I don’t fucking belong to you. Do you understand me?” I’m chest to chest with Rip, and our size difference has never been more obvious.
If Rip wants to overpower me, there is nothing I can do to stop it. Not only is he the biggest man I’ve ever seen, but, according to what Ender said, he’s also a fucking wolf. I’m just a woman with too much baggage and a loud mouth that has gotten me into many compromising positions.
I half expect him to show his dominance. Men with power don’t like to be challenged and are all too willing to put a person in their place; doesn’t matter if they are “loved” ones or not. Keeping the power in front of an audience is always most important.
Rip leans closer. So close I can smell his piney scent, reminding me of the trees in my front yard during autumn. My body tenses, waiting for him to react.
“Hettie.” I can’t decipher his tone. He’s not smiling, and yet he sounds amused, which is…not what I’m expecting.
Then he lifts his hand. Flashes of callused hands, drunken nights, and police sirens replay in my mind. My traitorous body flinches, and Rip stills next to me. The room falls into silence; I’m not sure I’m breathing.
After a tense moment, Rip growls, “Why did you flinch?”
Nervous laughter builds inside me, threatening to burst free, but I tamp it down. I don’t answer because I’m not quick enough to come up with a lie. Some secrets are better locked away.
The woman who walked in with Rip steps forward. “Rip, you have a meeting to go to, remember? Let me show Hettie around, okay?”
For a moment, I think Rip will argue. He continues to stare at me as if he can dig inside my soul and extract all my secrets. The thought is terrifying. Finally, he drags his gaze away and nods once.
“Keep her safe,” he barks and stomps out of the room, taking the heavy tension with him.
Thorne smiles at me once, bowing slightly, and follows Rip out. He casts one lingering glance over his shoulder to the other woman in the room.
My first meeting with my future husband didn’t go well, but I had very little hope it would. After all, this marriage provides us both with something we want. This isn’t a love match, but I don’t regret leaving my family for this, knowing they are finally going to be free of burdens.
Free of me.
“I’m Tallie,” the woman next to me says. She’s a pretty girl, with the most beautiful curly hair that hangs down to the center of her back. Her kind golden eyes are inviting, and I instantly like her.
“Rip is my cousin. He can be…difficult at times.” I can’t hide my scoff. Her red lips pull up into a bright smile. “Okay, maybe a lot of the time, but he’s honestly not so bad. I promise he has a big heart.”
“I’ll take your word for it.” Though I don’t get my hopes up that the big bad wolf is actually gentle and loving.
“So, would you like a tour around Lycan Forest? Or, if you’re tired from your travels, I can show you to your room now, and we can do the tour tomorrow,” Tallie offers.
I can’t sleep even if I want to. My brain is too wired, with far too many questions begging for answers. What is this place? Are they really wolves? What is my purpose here? What does it mean to marry the King Alpha? The contract wasn’t specific, and speaking to Ender is as easy as speaking to a brick wall, so questions are impossible with him.
Ender wasn’t very forthcoming with information. The contract was thorough, but it did little to ease my nerves about this unfamiliar world. My place is to marry the King Alpha and help save his kingdom from outside threats.
No idea what said threats are or how I—a fuck-up from Grym Hollow—can help anyone, but Ender stressed that I’m the only one who could.
I don’t believe Tallie has the answers, but maybe she can give me some insight into this strange new world. I’d rather not be locked away in some bedroom, waiting for my fate to be sealed.
“I would love a tour. I’ll follow your lead,” I say.
“This is our main shopping center in town.” Tallie gestures to the stores, all clustered together in a semicircle. More cabins line the cobblestone path leading to the town’s center with small signs I recognize. Seamstress. Café. Grocers. Medicines.
If I didn’t walk through a portal this morning, I wouldn’t ever think I left Grym Hollow .
“It’s not usually this busy. We just have more people here than normal. Many of these people had cabins in different parts of Lycan Forest, but many have moved closer for safety reasons,” she explains, justifying the hordes of people coming in and out of stores. Multiple times I had to step out of the way to avoid getting run over by someone not paying attention to where they’re going.
“Why are there more people here? Is something going on?” My curiosity gets the best of me.
Tallie stiffens next to me. She seems to mull over my words, like she’s not sure the best way to answer. “I can’t say much…” she trails off. “Rip will kill me if I do. But I will say that things here aren’t good. We are facing new enemies and conflicts we’ve never encountered before. That’s why you are here. To help us.”
I’m taken aback by her answer. “Me?” I laugh, but it sounds more panicked than anything. “How the hell am I supposed to help you?” I couldn’t help anyone back in Grym Hollow until I left, and I doubt I’ll be much help here with literal wolves and monsters.
Tallie just shrugs. “Ender said you would. He was right when King Malix asked for assistance and brought Rose to him. Now he’s brought you to us, which means things will get better.”
I’m not sure if she says that last part for her benefit or my own. Before I can dive deeper into that, Tallie takes my hand. “Let’s keep going. There’s a lot more to see.” She pulls me into a busy shopping district.
Many people walk in groups. There’s very little laughter, just tense whispers and the occasional shout. Many of the shoppers look over their shoulders as if waiting for something to pop out unexpectedly. There’s an undercurrent of fear here that I can’t shake .
If Tallie notices, she doesn’t comment.
“This is shift-change time for the wolves. Morning workers are being replaced by the night workers. That’s why you see so much activity right now. Everyone here has a job, usually one they pick for themselves, and they’re required to report to their duty when they are able,” Tallie says, smiling at an elderly couple walking by her.
Since the start of the tour, I’ve seen many people of all ages come up and speak to Tallie. Maybe it’s because she’s the cousin to the King Alpha, but I think she’s the type of person others are drawn to because of her friendly disposition. She takes an interest in people, asking them about important happenings in their lives. It appears effortless for her, and I envy her ability to connect with people. It’s not something that comes easily to me.
“Why do you call them wolves?” I ask, since this isn’t the first time she’s referred to her people as such.
“Because that’s what we are,” she says simply. “Our wolves are our natural form. Who we identify as. These human-like bodies we have are useful in many situations, so that’s why you’ll see most of us walking around in this form when we’re in town.”
“So, if you wanted to change into a wolf right now…you could? Does it hurt?” I try to wrap my head around it.
“It hurt the first few times I shifted, but you kinda get used to the pain. Do you want to see?” Tallie grins, all too happy to magically turn into a wolf for my benefit.
“Uhm, maybe next time.” I’ve reached my limit on what I can handle today. The woman in front of me turning into a wolf might just push me over the edge.
Sensing my discomfort, Grass nuzzles my leg. He has stuck by my side since leaving the packhouse, and, despite my cautious attitude toward my new home, Grass is having the time of his life. He loves all the open areas to run. Everyone we pass stares at me with curiosity, but their face transforms to one of wonder when they see Grass next to me.
And apparently everyone is his best friend now because he hasn’t growled or barked at anyone. He’s gone up to people without fear and instantly rolled over to show his belly. I’m certain Grass has never had this many belly rubs in his life, and he’s absolutely loving it.
“Totally understandable. I imagine this is a lot to take in.” Tallie reaches out to squeeze my shoulder. Her touch is gentle, making me think of a friend’s concern. Maybe Tallie and I could be friends. She’d be my first real one.
“It is.” I nod. “Everything is new and overwhelming. Plus, I’m not used to so many people staring at me.”
Not even trying to hide their stares, either. It’s full-on stop and stare. Even when I catch them, they continue to take me in.
“Ah, yeah, it must be strange. People here aren’t used to seeing a human. They know very little about the situation, except that you were brought here for Alpha Rip. You’re the talk of the town. But don’t worry. Everyone’s been instructed to leave you alone and let you get acclimated before they bombard you with questions. Rip didn’t want this to be any harder on you than it already has to be.”
That is…strangely sweet of him. Maybe he has a sliver of a heart.
The sun is quickly setting, and a new chill stings my skin. I shiver, not prepared for cold weather.
Tallie notices. “Let me show you to your room, so you can get settled tonight.” She loops her arm through mine, and I let her lead me back to the packhouse.
“Do you live here too?” I ask .
“No, but I do have a room here if I wanted. I live back in one of the residential areas with my mate.”
“You have a mate?”
Tallie is beautiful, but the smile she gives me at the mention of her mate magnifies her beauty tenfold. “I do. You met him, actually. My mate is Thorne.”
My jaw drops. “Thorne is your mate? Damn, he’s hot.” I laugh, then remember I said I wanted to go to his room earlier. “Sorry for what I said?—”
Tallie waves off my apology. “No apologies necessary. Rip deserved that for being a jerk. Just don’t cast him aside yet. I promise, once he cares about you, he will stop at nothing to make sure you are happy and safe.”
Not sure I believe that, I nod at Tallie anyway. She is his cousin, after all, and probably sees a side of Rip that not a lot of other people see. I know very little about him, other than our first impression wasn’t great. I have a hard time believing it will get better.
Once inside the packhouse, Tallie leads me up a grand staircase, making me feel like Cinderella. At the top of the stairs, she pulls me to the left, after explaining the right is for guests, and all the rooms are full because of the influx of people in town. “You and Rip are the only ones down this hall. The first door will lead you inside. I’ll make sure someone comes by soon and drops off dinner and something for Grass. Do you need anything from me?”
I smile and shake my head, ready for alone time. “I think I’ll be fine.”
“Good. Well, if you need me, just stop someone in the hall, and they’ll come find me,” she promises. Doesn’t sound like the most effective method, but I nod anyway. “I’ll come by in the morning.”
Tallie finally lets go of my arm and offers me one last smile. “I’m excited to have you here in Lycan Forest. I think you’ll be good for Rip.”
With that, she turns back the way we came, leaving me alone with Grass and my muddled thoughts.