Chapter 0003

*Rose*

Whatever I’ve run into, it’s solid as a rock and jars me backward, almost making me fall flat onto the stone floor of the castle.

But at the last moment, as I am tumbling backward, a hand stretches out and grabs my arm, keeping me from toppling over and pulling me back to my feet.

With tears still in my eyes, it’s hard for me to see what’s happening. I wipe them away with my free hand and look up into a pair of blue eyes so intense, I think I might have wandered into another realm. I’ve never seen a shifter with eyes like his before.

“Are you all right?” he says, but he’s not the one who is holding on to me. Next to him is another man with rich chocolate-brown eyes and a concerned look on his handsome face. His fingers are wrapped around my upper arm, and his other hand is extended, in case he should need to help me find my footing again, I assume.

I’m fine now, though. Just shocked. “Y-yes,” I manage to eke out, looking from one of them to the other. Never have I ever seen even one man this handsome before, and now I’m staring at two of them.

The one with the blue eyes is a bit taller than the other, with sandy blond hair and an intense stare. They are both muscle-bound, but I would say he’s a little leaner than the other one. My brown-eyed rescuer has dark hair, a closely trimmed beard, and mustache. He is a little shorter than the other man, but his shoulders are wider.

Both of them are made of pure muscle and dressed like royalty in nice suit pants and white-button down shirts. The blond has on a matching black jacket. Their suits probably cost more than my house.

“Sorry,” the one I’ve run into, the one with blue eyes, says.

“It’s okay,” I say back to him. He’s clearly a man of few words. He seems nice, though. I am surprised at how nice people are here–for the most part. Not everyone, though.

They are nicer than my parents… so far.

“Do you need help with something?” the other one asks. He gives me a polite smile, and for a moment, I think he might be checking me out. His eyes drop down to my chest and then lower, making it to the floor before they slowly filter back up.

“Uh… I’m looking for the… medical examination room,” I stammer as he finally releases my arm. My bicep suddenly feels cold without his warm fingers there, and I can feel little pulses of electricity leftover from his touch.

“Down there,” blue eyes says, pointing over his shoulder. So I haven’t gone far enough.

“Thank you,” I manage to say. I want to speak more, but I can’t get any more words out.

“You look upset,” the dark-haired one notices. “Is something troubling you, miss?”

He’s so polite, it takes me by surprise. Even though my father is an Alpha, I’m not used to being treated like I matter. “Oh, uh, I’m fine,” I admit. “Just… nervous, I guess.”

“You here for the position?” the blond asks.

He doesn’t have to specify which position. We all know what he’s referring to. I nod my head.

“Cool,” the other one says. My eyes go to his face, and he is grinning at me. It is a lopsided grin that might look creepy on some guys, but when it is someone so attractive wearing that expression, it is endearing.

I want to ask him what he means by that. Why is it cool? Why does he care why I am here? He looks like he must be someone important, but I don’t dare try to guess who. He could be a Beta or one of the king’s advisors for all I know.

“I apologize for running into you, sir,” I say to the man who has likely left an imprint of his pec on my forehead.

He snickers. “No problem. It’s Mark.”

“Mark?” I repeat, like my mouth has never formed those sounds in one string before.

“That’s right. That’s my name.” He is still smiling at me, but it seems like something I’ve said or done has amused him.

“And I’m Tristan,” the other one says.

“Hi.” That’s all I’m capable of speaking. I feel lightheaded, either by their handsomeness or because I’d hit my head moments before. I can’t tell. Maybe both.

They exchange amused expressions before Tristan asks me, “What is your name, sweetie?”

Sweetie? I don’t think anyone has ever called me that before. It sounds nice when he says it, though. “Uh….” My name won’t come out of my mouth. It’s as if I don’t have one.

“You do have a name don’t you?” Tristan asks me, and they both chuckle again.

“Yes,” I finally get out. “It’s Rose. I’m Rose.” I can feel my face turning the same shade as my dress. How can I not remember my own stupid name? My father’s right. I am an idiot.

“That’s a beautiful name,” Tristan says. “Like a flower.”

I arch an eyebrow. It’s exactly like that, but I’ll take the compliment. “Thank you, sir.”

His smile widens. “And you’re so polite, too. Well, Rose, we won’t keep you. I’m sure you’re in a rush to get this examination over. But it sure was nice to meet you.”

I nod. “You as well.” I look from one of them to the other. Mark nods at me, too, like he agrees.

Still feeling flushed, I step around them and continue on my way, but I only make it a few steps down the hallway before I’m compelled to turn and look back over my shoulder at them.

They haven’t moved, and they are both staring at me. Tristan waves. I don’t lift my hand, though. I’m so embarrassed at being caught peeking….

I turn around again and rush off, hoping my face isn’t as red as it feels. My cheeks are scorching.

As I walk, I ponder who those two gentlemen might be. They were so handsome and well-bred. I have to wonder. Is it possible they might’ve been two of the Alphas?

“Surely not,” I mutter to myself. Alphas wouldn’t want to have anything to do with someone like me. The fact that they seemed to think I was attractive is astonishing to say the least. None of the boys back home ever looked at me twice. But then… I was the Alpha's daughter, and they probably feared my father.

I arrive at the examination room and pause outside, taking a deep breath.

I don’t want to go in. The idea of some stranger probing my body, touching me in places I’ve never even touched myself… it’s horrifying.

For once in my life, home seems like a better place than where I am.

I look around. Is there any place for me to run to? Maybe I could hide and then just hop back on the train when it leaves the castle.

But no… I have no choice but to move forward. My parents are expecting this of me, and even if I don’t feel that I owe them anything after the way they’ve treated me, I’ve agreed to do this for my pack. I just don’t understand why it is always me who has to take on these horrible situations for them.

For my pack’s sake. That’s at least enough to keep me motioning through the steps.

Somehow, I manage to get my feet moving forward again, and I walk through the doors, into the examination room where everything is white, sterile, and smells like bleach.

All thoughts of the two handsome gentlemen are brushed aside, and all I can think about is how badly I want to get out of here. I don’t want to go home, back to my awful parents, but I do want to leave.

The thought of running away comes to my mind again. Would living on the streets be so bad compared to living with my parents? Somehow, I doubt it.

But I can’t get away now… so I have to continue.

A woman dressed in a nurse’s uniform comes out from behind a desk. “Ah, there you are!” she says, pursing her lips at me. “We’ve been waiting for nearly ten minutes.”

“I-I’m sorry,” I stammer. So much for everyone here being nice.

“Did you get lost, dear?” she asks, and when she says “dear” it does not sound like a term of endearment.

I nod. “Yes, sorry,” I mutter.

She shakes her head at me. “It’s really not that difficult. Just down the hall from the king’s office.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I stutter.

She shakes her head at me. “Rose Forrest?”

I nod again. It’s better than having to speak since my words have been failing me today.

“Very well. Go into examination room two, strip down, and put on a gown. Your doctor will be in shortly.”

Again, I find my eyes fixated and my feet unable to move. I am staring at her like she’s just told me to cut my own head off with a butter knife.

“Well?” she demands. “Are you stupid or hard of hearing?” she asks, reaching out and grabbing my shoulder and giving me a shove.

On my wobbly heels, I am not prepared for this, and I careen forward, almost face-planting on the stone floor. Somehow, I manage to catch myself on the wall before I fall and knock my teeth out.

She grumbles, “May as well take that one off of the list.” Then, raising her voice she yells, “Go!”

I figure out how to get my feet untangled and moving again, making my way down the hallway. I can’t remember which room she said to go into, though, so I head for the first one and hope that’s right.

Forget what I said before about doing this for my pack! It’s terrible here, besides Mark and Tristan of course, but surely, they don’t have a big part in all this.

I have never been happy living at home with my parents. They are always so mean to me, and they make me feel like I can’t do anything right, but at this moment, more than anything in the world–I just want to leave here, even if it means I have to go back to them.

I’d even go back to the sewage treatment center if I had to.

I close the curtain and spy the gown on the table. With a deep breath, I reach around and unzip my dress.

The torment is just beginning.