Aurora
When I walked downstairs, I was greeted by my father still at the great dining room table finishing his breakfast. He had a big smile and seemed too happy. Everything felt wrong.
“My little princess, today you are a woman. You and your friends will spend the day at the spa before coming home and dressing for your party.”
“Father, that sounds delightful. You know how my friends are like my sisters. Will you tell me any more about tonight’s surprise?” I kept my voice light and feigned excitement. He didn’t need to know that I was dreading whatever was going to happen.
He chuckled, “Now Aurora, it wouldn’t be a surprise if I told you. Trust me, I don’t think you’ll see it coming.” Well, that was a scary notion. “You enjoy yourself today. I have things that need attending. I won’t see you until this evening. But before I go, I have a present for you.” He smiled as he got up and grabbed a black velvet box from the buffet table against the wall. Handing the package to me, he said, “Open.”
To my surprise, a dainty silver, sparkling diamond tiara was nestled in the middle of the box.
“Father, this is too much.”
“Of course not. This is a big day, and you are my little princess, after all. It belonged to your mother, and I want you to wear it tonight. Tell the stylist uses it to make you sparkle like a little queen.” He took a lock of my hair between his fingers. “Yes, tell her to leave your hair down, but sweep part of it away from your face. You are beautiful, and it should show.”
“I really don’t know what to say.” That was the truth.
“Say thank you, and remember your father knows what is best.”
I bowed my head a little trying to hide the panic that was coursing through me, “Thank you, father.” He patted me on the head like I was a good pet. He’s never given me such an expensive present or ordered me on how to do my hair. That was a little too controlling even for him.
“Very well,” he looked at his watch, “I must get going. Until tonight.” He excused himself from the table to go off and do goddess knew what as I pushed the remainder of my breakfast around my plate.
“Don’t tell me, you no longer like my cooking?” Melly came in with a smile.
“No one can top your cooking, and you know that.” I took a bite to prove it. “That’s why I look forward to the rare occasions you cook.”
“I just saw your father head down to his car.” That was nice to know we were the only two in the house. “You look so sad, Aurora,” she paused. She was kind and caring, but she knew that information could be dangerous. I could tell she was considering her wording carefully. “After you leave for your party tonight and I pack, I’ll be leaving too. Your father has generously granted me a vacation to visit my family. So I won’t be back when he gets home tonight.” That wasn’t surprising since she usually had a couple of weeks off during the year.
I felt like a jerk. I’d never asked Melly anything about herself. She had spent the last six years quietly in the background. “Where is your family from?”
“Outside Illyria. I was very fortunate to get this job and able to send things home.”
“Do you miss them?”
“Yes, and no. As I’m sure you are aware, that family can be a little demanding and ask too many questions.” I nodded. “Mine means well,” she continued, “but they are ready for me to settle and marry.”
“Good grief, you’re not that old.”
“I’m nearly thirty. They want grandchildren,” she was very matter of fact.
“You won’t be thirty for another two years, so don’t round up.” I giggled. She was fresh out of college when she came to work for us, which never made sense. “And we can have children much later than humans. So what is the rush?”
Her phone buzzed. She looked down, irritated and disappointed. “I’m afraid your car is here, and you are expected to be on time for your appointments.”
I opened the box holding the tiara, “Did you see my present? I’ve been instructed to wear it tonight and look like a little princess. “Between us, I hate my dress and wish he wasn’t paying so much attention to me by throwing me a party.”
“Between us, I do too.” She took my plate away and sighed. I grabbed the box and my purse before heading to the elevator. I sent a group text to my friends, so they were all waiting for me on their perspective floors.
They seemed cheerful and excited about the new facials and makeovers. Along with pampering and massages, we would also be beautified before we got home. That way, we’d only have to put on our dresses. Getting into my pink poofy tulle nightmare would take Melly forever to button. It might be a beautiful dress with all the delicate satin roses that were hand-stitched covering both hems. But to me, it was another thing that proved what little control I had over my life. Hell, even tonight, I couldn’t control the moon and my shift. I wondered where my father planned for us to run tonight because I doubt we would be home by midnight?
The day passed by in a blink. I was plucked, poked, prodded, and waxed. The massage was great, but everything else kind of hurt. When the esthetician said, it was time to drop my panties, I was horrified. “Why?” I asked.
“It’s time for your Brazillian Wax,” she laughed, and I nearly fell over.
“You’ve got to be kidding me. I’ve never had anything waxed except my brows?”
She tapped on her Ipad, “No, it says it right here that you are to get the entire removal treatment. But lucky for our kind, we don’t need the twenty-four hours to recover, only about two,” she waggled her eyebrows at me. “It won’t hurt that bad.” Not all employees here were wolves, but I suppose I was glad this particular one was, “Besides, you might as well get used to it. All of our males prefer us smooth.”
“What? We are wolves. Naturally covered with hair. Besides, I don’t even have a boyfriend. My father won’t let one near me. So that doesn’t even matter.”
The woman was in her fifties and began to laugh. “Oh honey, you should know as well as I do. Fathers don’t see everything their daughters do.” She laughed some more, “I would love to see a male try control a wolf in heat.”
“Trust me, my father has most certainly controlled every single one of my heats.”
She looked horrified, “How?”
“With meticulous planning.” I’m sure I looked as miserable as I sounded.
“No offense, but Miss Howard, your father sounds like a downright…”
“I’m not Miss Jenny Howard,” I cut her off before she could say more. She looked at me strangely, pointing to her tablet, “That’s my alias. I’m Aurora Crane.”
Her face went white. “I meant no disrespect, Miss Crane. I beg that you please don’t take offense or tell your father. I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay. You thought I was just another young girl out for a day of fun. I liked it. No one ever just talks to me like that. Thank you. And your secret is safe. I just ask that you don’t tell any of the others who I am. I would really like a normal day of being a teen.”
“Yes, Miss, I can do that. Thank you. I promise to be as gentle as possible.” She was quiet the rest of the time. The humans who worked on me the rest of the day were a little more chatty than the silent wolves. My friends tried to reassure me that we would have fun, and they kept my mimosa glass full. It took a lot to get a wolf drunk, so there were no worries on that front. The day quickly turned to evening as Torie, the stylist, finished securing my tiara and fluffing my hair.
“You do look like a queen.” She smiled at me in the mirror. She was right. I looked downright regal and a good ten years older. “I must say this is some of my best work.”
“Thank you, I know my father will be thoroughly pleased.” She slightly frowned at my statement. Oh shit, I said the wrong thing, “You did a beautiful job. I love it.” That seemed to soothe her. All of my friends were finishing up at the same time. They were lovely and not so done up. I was a little envious of their lack of frills. They all fawned over me and tried to keep up the act that we were all happy and excited. No matter what they said or how they smiled, I knew they were just as worried as I was.
AuroraWhen I arrived home, I had forty-five minutes to get dressed. Melly met me at the door, “It took me nearly twenty minutes to undo that dress. Better hurry if we are going to get it on in time.” She looked unhappy, but I don’t believe it was with me.We rushed into my room, which looked and smelled different. It was nothing but cleaning products sitting on my now bare dresser, table, and desk. “Hurry, and strip.” I looked at Melly as she motioned for me to move faster. When I was down to my bra and panties, she handed me two new garments that had been sitting on my bed. Both were white silk with lace. She turned to give me a moment of privacy to put on my barely-there panties. The bra was really a bustier. “Here, let me help you with that.” She fastened the hooks before grabbing my blush pink shoes. “These first, and then the monster of a dress,” she kneeled so I could step into my outrageously high heels. She
Aurora I was surprised when I made it down to the entry to see my father, my friends, and Mrs. Drake standing next to one of two limos. All but my father looked pale and sick. He smiled brightly at me. “My beautiful daughter. It is time. Tonight you will prove your worth and honor your family. You will honor your people.” He began to place the crystal keys over our necks. They guaranteed safe passage. The elite were the few that wore their keys en route to the Wonderland anymore since most didn’t fear for their safety as we did. We would leave them there before we departed the palace. All other guests would receive theirs upon entry. “Oh, please don’t do whatever it is. I’ve been a good daughter. Please don’t
Sawyer It was nearly eight when Aurora and her friends arrived, and I saw them through the upstairs window. Despite her smile, tension radiated through her body. She knew. My family came an hour ago. We circulated among the guests who had been ordered to arrive by seven. Everyone seemed to be in shock that the Hawthornes were there to celebrate Aurora Crane. We receded to our private wing before the birthday girl arrived. The spacious hotel rooms made Wonderland very accommodating for its guests. Everyone seemed uncomfortable. Aurora fiddled with her key as two of her friends helped carry her dress out of the limo. I knew she hated it, but she did look beautiful. I touched my suited shoulder in remembrance of the early hours I spent with her. The mark was nearly healed when I dressed, but it didn’t matter. I knew it was there.
Aurora“Those bastards plan to marry you off, have you and Archer consummate the union, and then let your wolf run in the hope of a quicker conception. They have the whole thing planned down to the second. Unbelievable.” Sawyer was barely containing his wolf.“I don’t want his child. I don’t want him.” I gave in to tears as I threw my arms around him. My friends rushed to where we were.“Oh, my,” I heard one of them squeak out. “Aurora, what are you doing?” Mona seemed horrified. We were looking around, “I’m don’t even want to know how this happened, but we need to get out of sight. I’m sure someone will come to check on us so quickly to the rooms.”“This is a bit of a complication,” Mrs. Drake said with a tiny smile. “Hurry up, children.”I couldn’t walk. Sawyer picked me up and carried me to the bridal suite where a high collare
Aurora Sawyer stared at me like he wasn’t sure if he should fall at my feet and worship me or have me committed. “I need to be flustered and delirious. And that’s exactly what you made me feel. This time, you bite me. You claim my flesh and let me feel the burn.” Holding up the white dress, I smiled. “This ridiculous thing covers every inch of my skin. No one will see the mark until Archer pries this dress off me. Then I’m going to fight him. He won’t expect it.” “He gets sloppy when he rages. I hate putting you in this position. When he smells your arousal, he will barely be able to hold it together.” “It’s going to happen whether we like it or not, please, give me what I need. They will expect your scent around me since you’ve been my guard tonight, so they won’t pay close attention as to where it is.” I gave a wicked smile that I didn’t know I was capable of. “I can’t deny you, my princess.” “Thank the goddess.” In a blink, h
Sawyer Winnowing had never been that instinctual. I was surprised. I only wished I could take us far away. I was trying to calculate where we could go and how far I could carry her in the back of my mind. At most, if I could get us out of the hotel and into the truck, I stashed by the highway, but she’d have to take over. I don’t know how long I’d be out carrying her with me. It seems we both can do a little faerie magic, but it shouldn’t be possible. I dressed in the shadows as I stood in the entryway outside the girls’ new room. I was solid by the time my father and brother came walking by. Not even stopping to talk, father yelled, “Is it true?” before they marched into Aurora’s room.&n
Aurora Sawyer was silent as he kept his eyes on me. I swear I could hear him in my mind. It was nothing but affirmations of his love and praise. He also cursed himself for being useless. He hated feeling powerless, and it was a new sensation for him. Me, I’d spent most of my life in fear and taking orders. I put on a brave face as Archer took me into the room. I couldn’t stop the shiver of fear. My body was screaming for the man on the other side of the door and was repulsed at the one standing in front of me. “Alright, Wife, let’s get this taken care of.” “Aurora.” “What did you say?” his eyes went cold. &nbs
Prologue I never expected to have my brother's blood all over my hands. I knew he was evil. I knew he was a cruel deviant. I just never expected to find myself coated in his blood, looking into the eyes of his frightened and traumatized widow. "What do we do with the body?" she frantically asked. She was in shock, but that didn't make her stupid. This woman was incredible even in one of the lowest moments of her young life. Dressed in a white negligee that was stained red. I checked her over for injuries. I could see the handprint swelling on her cheek, the red chaffed skin around her wrists where he had tied her up, and the torn fabric where the monster tried to get between her legs. But there was no blood on her thighs from being forced, and I was