Mask
We walk side by side down the stairs. Our gowns trail behind us as we face today and what it’ll bring. I push the thought of Shane to the back of my mind. If I focus on him today I’ll cry and lose my composure. I need to wear another mask today. One of indifference and obedience. Two guards lead the way in front of us and two more follow close behind. The handmaiden wasn’t dismissed. She follows the guards behind us with her head bowed low. Today is a busy day and Ava insisted that we keep her by us. We’ll need help from someone who isn’t a man.
When we reach the bottom, Ava takes a step closer and links her arm with mine. When I look at her she doesn’t return my gaze. She takes another step and pulls me along with her. It annoys me but I don’t let my mask slip. I keep my mask in place and follow her to the front of the packhouse. We’re to wait here until our father and his Beta show up. The guests will be arriving soon and breakfast isn’t on the schedule for today. The heat from the sun glares down on us and I’m already ready for this day to end.
My father, his beta, and his gamma show up and stand a few feet in front of us. Ava and I stand here as decoration. The Alphas that are coming will look upon us and compliment my father on how beautiful we are. We’ll bow to him and his wife and smile at his children before they are assigned a guard. We repeat this process over and over again until every alpha of importance is greeted.
The last one to show up is Ethan. We stand and wait as the sweat begins to slowly slide down the side of my face. I wipe it away and glance at Ava. She stares out towards the road the guests come in through. She stares hopefully and I know she’s waiting for him. I shake my head. I don’t feel bad for her, if anything, it’s disgust. She’s pathetic. As if sensing my thoughts, she turns to look at me.
When she sees the look on my face she turns from me and lifts her chin like she’s got something to be high and mighty about. When his carriage starts to pull up I want to roll my eyes. He’s chosen the largest, most grand one to arrive in. I don’t know how I’m going to stomach being near him. I don’t know if we’re going to leave tonight or if he’s going to let me have a few more days here. I can’t help but hope he’ll stay the rest of the weekend.
His carriage and his men come to a stop in front of the packhouse. One of his guards runs to open the door and out steps Ethan. Slowly he makes his way down until his feet are on solid ground. His eyes search and find me right away. He doesn’t even hesitate as his eyes roam over my sister. She’s nothing to him as his gaze locks on me. The corner of his lip twitches and there’s a flicker of darkness in his gaze. I see it before it’s gone.
“Greetings, Alpha Ethan,” Eduard said.
“Greetings, Alpha Eduard,” Ethan said.
“How was the trip?” Eduard asked.
“It was long but worth it. My Luna is as beautiful as ever,” Ethan said. He walks around my father and stops in front of me and Ava. He still hasn’t looked at her and I can feel her gaze on me. “Good afternoon, My Queen,” Ethan said. He reached out but I didn’t wait for him to offer me his hand. I dropped low in a curtsy, bowing low and lowering my chin. I wait a few seconds before I straighten my back.
“Good afternoon, Alpha Ethan,” I said. My sister copies me but still Ethan doesn’t look at her. My father starts to assign a guard to him but Ethan waves the man away.
“That isn’t necessary. Tonight we become family. I don’t need one of your men tailing me, do I?” Ethan asked. My father stares at him and a smile spreads across his lips. It makes me uneasy seeing their exchange.
“Of course,” Eduard said. He waves the guard away and he back away until he disappears. “Feel free to roam around the pack territory. We are family.” Ethan takes a step toward me but father is by his side in a flash. “I would suggest waiting until the celebration. She has a few things to do and get ready before tonight.”
“Mmm, I was hoping to spend the day with my bride, but I can wait a few more hours,” Ethan said.
His gaze trailed down my body and I didn’t miss the hunger in his eyes. It caused a shiver to run down my spine. Ethan reached for my hand and this time I couldn’t shy away from it. His touch felt wrong and I screamed internally for him to get away from me. Ethan lowered his head and pressed his lips to the back of my hand.
“Tonight,” he promised.
“Tonight,” I whispered hoarsely.
As soon as he dropped my hand, he turned on his heel and walked off. My father and his men walked away from us. I was ready to move on to the next thing on the list. My sister was in front of me, anger in her eyes.
“Don’t take all day. We have things to do. Can you be any Goddess-damned slower?” Ava shrieked.
I didn’t have to ask her what crawled up her ass and died. I already knew what happened. I already knew what soured her mood. She was angry, bitter, and jealous. Why? Because of Ethan and the lack of interest he showed her. He didn’t even look her away and I could feel the venom in her words. I should be angry at her tone of voice but I couldn’t help but smile. Seeing her mask slip was priceless.
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