SEVEN: BOUND BY HIS DESIRES

ELIZABETH MILKHART

The shrill sound of an alarm bell tearing through the quiet air of my room made me groan, throwing my hands painfully over my ears to shut out the awful noise.

“Come on up girls! Today is the day you all learn how to be dutiful surrogates to this pack! Out of bed now!” The head maid’s manly voice bled through the corridor walls and my heart skipped a beat when I heard her heavy knuckles bash angrily against my door.

Shit.

I stumbled out of bed with bleary eyes, splashing water on my face and cursing the dark circles under my startling green eyes in the mirror.

I hadn't been sleeping well since I came to Blackwood and I found myself longing for the small, rundown comfort of my old slum house instead. The wild curls of my red hair were braided into a ponytail by one of the quiet maids who never replied to anything I said and I was out of my quarters before I knew it.

“Just this way, Miss.” The girl breathed, pointing me at an open courtyard where all the surrogates sat in an awkward circle with the head maid standing over them, pausing mid-sentence when I walked in.

Great. I was late again. The tense silence only made me squirm even more as I perched on the stone chairs, waiting patiently for the head maid who cleared her throat before continuing on.

“Rule number four, Blackwood Castle! Every royal surrogate maiden must not attempt to meet with the Alpha or royal without the council’s permission or outside of her time.” She screamed, her eyes drifting to me in a way that made my breath catch in my throat.

“The punishment for this treason is execution at the gallows. Be warned.” Madam Burter deadpanned and the silence that followed made my blood run cold.

I knew some of the surrogates harbored fantasies about the mysterious Alpha, but it was hard not to. He looked like a Greek god would if Greek gods were damned near seven feet tall with bright gray eyes and wolf-cut black hair.

His clean-shaven jaw always seemed to be permanently tense, although it was hard to imagine him being relaxed when he wielded the most powerful wolf pack in all of Stone County.

I wondered what his large hands would feel like on my skin, how it would feel being cradled against his expansive chest and hearing his gravelly voice against my ear.

I shook my head, shuddering. I couldn't lose focus…not like this. Not when Ma was counting on me back home to save us from being thrown out into the streets.

“Excuse me, Miss Burter? His Highness has demanded the presence of one of the surrogates by the gardens tonight. We’re here to prepare her,” A startled-looking maid with thin blonde hair and a friendly open face whispered and a hushed murmur rose between the women.

“Yes?” Sarah Sossen answered, standing proudly and whipping her long blonde hair behind her shoulders as the women watched her in awe.

My heart sank a little. Of course, he would pick the most stunning woman in the group, what the hell had I been thinking?

“I'm afraid not Miss Sossen, it's Miss Elizabeth Milkhart he wants to see,” The maid coughed awkwardly and I almost choked on my tongue.

Tension sparked in the air like a live wire when I rose slowly to my feet, shaking in every limb.

“W-what?” I wheezed, unable to believe my ears and knowing from the surprised looks on everyone’s faces that they couldn't believe it either.

“Why the hell would he want to see HER?” One of the women snarled, throwing me a scorching look that made me curl in on myself, keeping my eyes trained solely on the floor.

“Tell us wench! Have you been going behind our backs to tempt the Alpha?” One of the taller wolves snapped, shoving me hard enough that pain exploded in my chest and I stumbled back, stunned.

“I dare say she has! Didn't you see the way she stormed into the dinner party yesterday? What a slut! Have some respect for your Luna!” Sarah Sossen spat coldly and I wrinkled my lips until it was a straight, firm line.

I turned to Madam Burter for help, feeling pain twist at my heart when the woman pretended not to have seen anything and glanced away instead.

I was very well aware that I could die here as the wolves circled me, kicking at my body until I struggled to my feet, panting heavily.

The metallic tinge of blood filled my mouth before the head maid finally cut in, clapping at the women to move away.

“That's enough now ladies, you don't want to be leaving any marks His Highness can find when she goes in to him. It's against the rules.” The cryptic air surrounded the woman’s words made my blood run cold and I had the feeling she had watched one too many fights before.

A whimper escaped my throat when the woman with the flame tattoo on her collarbone strode toward me, yanking my hair hard enough that I shrieked. Her grip was unnaturally strong and my fists pounding on her chest did nothing.

I blinked back tears, swallowing painfully and feeling the crease in my back as her spiteful words filled my ear.

“You better watch your back human. You’ve got more enemies here than you do friends.” The blonde woman hissed at me, her shoulder digging into mine as she shoved past me and I glanced up to see the heavy-set headmaid watching us tensely.

Adrenaline spiked in my body as goosebumps trailed over my skin.

Alpha Ezra Blackwood wanted to see me?…ME?! Why the hell would he want to do that?!

“It’s got to be some sort of mistake!” I rasped weakly, And yet…i couldn't shake the thrill that had run through my body last night when our eyes met in the garden.

The way his piercing gray eyes bored into mine like he was a skull pirate.

“Are you coming then?” The head maid, Madam Burter growled, and I nodded, swallowing the bitter lump in the back of my throat and following quickly behind her, all the while, aware of the women’s jealous glares burning holes in the back of my head.

Sarah Sossen was right. I had to find a way to get out of Blackwood and Stone County before it was too late. My life just might very well depend on it.