The alarm on her phone woke Vivian the next morning. Rolling onto her stomach, she reached to the floor and fumbled blindly for her phone. Sunlight streamed in through the windows, flickering across the floor and wall as it filtered in through the swaying tree branches.
In the winter months, she shut the heavy curtains to help block out the frigid chill, but in the warmer months, she left them open.
Finding the phone, she shut off the alarm and shifted to her back before lifting the screen to scroll through any messages. It was unlikely she’d find any, as the signal was weak here, but the odd time, they came through.
She dropped it to her chest and took a moment to stretch. She wanted to linger in bed, to sleep and read and enjoy a slow morning, but she knew what would happen if she wasn’t back at the house soon, especially if her father was in a mood.
So, she dragged herself out of the bed, changed, and left her beloved treehouse behind.
Thinking back to the night before, Vivian cringed as she remembered Benjamin’s sexual threats and the heat of his body as it pushed against her.
Yuck.
Then Hara intervening. Double yuck.
Benjamin was a bully, but Hara was a serpent. And you never knew when they would strike. Any friend of her brother’s was not a friend of hers.
If either of them went to her father to request a mating, what would he say?
Maybe she should tell her father about Benjamin’s unwanted advances. Though she knew her father would probably blame her for what had happened.
At least the evening had ended happily, time spent with Rafe plus a wine buzz.
Her childhood crush had caused them problems in the past, but she was a grownup now, and knew better. Though she’d dreamed of a mating between them, she understood how doomed that would have been. He could never love her.
He was hot, she could admit that, even without blushing these days. All his friends were hot. But it was the way he made her feel. Safe and cherished. Like she was important enough to care about.
Last night, though, whatever smell he’d carried with him to the tree fort had left her unsettled. She’d been aroused and confused and didn’t know what to make of the sensations. Could it be that he really was her fated mate, and now she was old enough to realize?
She didn’t want that to be the case.
It could be another shifter. As he’d said, there were plenty arriving for the Curusm. If he was there for the Curusm, what did that say about him? Was he an omega? Was he someone who enjoyed the idea of chasing and claiming a mate?
That wasn’t something she’d ever really wanted for herself.
Clearing the last of the trees, and approaching the buildings that made up the heart of the town, Vivian headed toward the bakery. A few chocolate donuts might help if her father was hungover. Often that could placate Norman Conners’ sour moods.
While she waited in line at the shop, she glanced around, discreetly sniffing the air, attempting to get another sniff of whatever had triggered that response in her last night.
Maybe it was childish and silly to think that she’d just happen upon her mate, that they might reach for the same cup of coffee, smile at one another and just fall in love.
Sighing, she stepped up to the counter. Apparently, the romantic in her still had a pulse. Funny, she’d thought that part of her had been destroyed long ago.
“What can I get you?”
“Half a dozen chocolate donuts, please.”
The cashier winced. “Sorry, we’re all sold out.”
She gasped. “Sold out?”
The man shrugged. “Sorry. Thatcher took most of our first batches this morning.”
She stared blankly for a moment.
“He’s having a morning meeting.”
Dread crept over her. Shoot.
Rudely, she abandoned the cashier and flew out the door. She had to get home.
In the center of town stood an old clock tower. She glanced toward it and breathed a little easier. There was still time. Stopping quickly at the deli, she grabbed two breakfast wraps. After shoving one into her bag, she sprinted the rest of the way home.
The flowers lining the interlocking pathway bent and swayed as she ran up to the door. Keeping her backpack on, she eased her shoes off at the front door, carefully putting them on the tray before peering into the living room.
Her dad was there, passed out on the couch.
He was pack beta, and if he didn’t make it to the meeting on time, he’d be furious.
At fifty-two years old, should he be his own keeper? Set his own alarms? Know his own schedule?
Yes.
Was he going to? No.
And she would pay the price.
Bracing herself, she sank to her knees on the carpet next to him, and gently touched his shoulder. “Dad?”
He didn’t move.
“Dad?”
A snore was her only answer.
She shook a little harder. “Daddy?”
One blood-shot eye opened.
Groaning, he lifted his head off the couch, glared at her, and rolled toward the back of the sofa, waving her away.
“Come on, Dad. It’s time to get up.”
“Fuck off.”
Taking a calming breath, she steadied herself. “You’re going to be late for the meeting.”
God, she hoped there really was a meeting.
“It’s Sunday,” he growled. A second later, he sat bolt upright. “Isn’t it? Isn’t it?”
She scrambled backward. “No, it’s Monday. He’s having a meeting this morning, isn’t he?”
He squinted and scratched at his groin. “Fuck, he is. What time is it?” His head swung back and forth, looking for a clock.
“Twenty to eight,” she said with a wince. It was enough time for him to get to the lodge, but not enough time to battle the hangover, or even have a shower.
“Eight o’clock! Why didn’t you fucking wake me?”
Because you’re a fully grown adult, she bit back the response. A comment like that would have her wearing cover-up for sure. Not bothering to explain, she partially unwrapped the egg and sausage burrito and passed it toward him. “I grabbed you breakfast, though.”
Grumbling, he yanked on his jeans from the pile on the floor, snatched the wrap, and took a big bite.
Less than a minute later, he’d laced up his boots and slammed the front door on his way out.
She sat there, on her knees, on the floor and tried not to crumble.
Deciding to go to her room, have her breakfast and then watch some mind-numbing television, she pushed up from the carpet. An upstairs door opened and closed, making her freeze.
Wondering if it was her mom or brother, or worse, one of her brother’s lazy-good-for-nothing friends, she peered around the wall into the front hall.
Her brother, Felix, came down the stairs, bare chested, with bare feet yawning as he walked. “What’s all the yelling and slamming about?”
“Dad was running late this morning.”
“Huh.” He eyed her. “You make coffee yet?”
“No.” Sighing, she trotted toward the kitchen.
He sniffed the air. “What’s that smell?”
She didn’t look him in the eyes. “I grabbed Dad a breakfast burrito.”
“Awesome. Did you get one for me?”
“No.”
“Yeah, you did.” Playfully, he shoved at her shoulder.
“No, I didn’t.”
She filled the carafe and locked it in place before grabbing the coffee pot and filling it at the sink. While occupied with the water, Felix unzipped her backpack and started rummaging. With her hands occupied, all she could do was shout, “Hey!”
But of course, that didn’t stop him. He had the burrito in his hand and unwrapped, before she could shut off the water. Gritting her teeth, she continued with her task, avoiding looking at her brother while he leaned against the counter, eating her breakfast.
“You know, Vee,” he said with his mouth full. “I’ve been thinking. You should mate Ben.”
Vivian froze. “Why?”
She looked back at her brother as he took another big bite, bits of sausage and egg falling to the floor. “Because…” he swallowed. “Ben likes you. He’s a good catch.”
Attempting not to shiver, she slapped the lid shut on the coffeemaker. “I’ll pass, thanks.”
Her brother came closer, nudging her with his shoulder. “Look, pretty soon Dad is going to mate you off. Wouldn’t you rather it be with someone like Ben, instead of one of Dad’s friends? Or do you want to run in the Curusm? Dad’s been talking about that a lot lately. I didn’t think you wanted to.” He shrugged. “Ben is a beta, a solid choice. He likes you. He’s always talking about you.”
As the water ran through the coffee grinds, she looked at her brother. “I’d rather eat dirt than spend my life tied to that cretin.”
Felix’s eyebrows rose. “You serious?”
“I don’t like Benjamin. He’s constantly trying to touch me, and I don’t like how he talks to me.”
“That’s just because he likes you.”
“That doesn’t make it right. I’ve told him to stop.”
“He didn’t hear you,” he said, making excuses, like he always did.
“Yes, he did. He laughs when I tell him to stop.”
“He does not.”
Vivian walked toward the sink, stopping to pick up the sausage and egg to toss them out. “I don’t want to get stuck with your friend, who is going to treat me like garbage, and then go out to Thatcher’s parties and sleep with other women.”
Felix balled up the wrapper. “I’m trying to help you. Ben is a great guy. He’s got a good job. He’s respected in the pack. He’s a powerful shifter with a good standing. Thatcher likes him.”
Vivian rolled her eyes.
“You know Hara wants you, right?”
That got her attention. Looking over, she tried to show no emotion.
“He’s talked to Dad about an arranged mating. More than once.”
“Dad would never.” A familiar fear grabbed hold of her. Maybe this life wouldn’t hand her anything other than shitty men who didn’t care about her wants and needs or desires.
Hell, did she even know what those were anymore?
She tightened the straps on her backpack. Of course she did, but would it matter?
“Hara is sneaky. Don’t underestimate him. Mate with Ben and avoid Hara.”
There had to be another way.
When she didn’t respond, Felix got angrier. “Or don’t. But pretty soon, Dad is going to make good on those threats and mate you off to someone you really don’t want, and then Ben is going to look like a walk in the park compared to what some of them will do.”
“He’s just younger.” She wouldn’t back down. “Sorry, but your friends aren’t any better than his.”
Felix glared. “Fine. But don’t come crying to me when Dad signs you up for the Curusm, or mates you off to one of his friends or hell, maybe even Thatcher.”
When she gasped, he laughed.
“I’m trying to warn you.” On his way out of the kitchen, he tossed the wrapper over his shoulder, leaving it on the white tiles. “I’ll tell Ben you said hi.”
Balling her fists, Vivian fought anger and tears.
Grabbing up the wrapper, she whipped it into the trash before climbing the stairs. She refilled her backpack with fresh clothing before returning to the kitchen to refill her water. Next, she poured coffee into a tumbler.
She wasn’t sure what today held for her, but she sure wasn’t sticking around this house to find out.
Felix joined her in the kitchen to make his own coffee, but this time he didn’t bother speaking to her, which she preferred.
Before she could make it out the door, her mother joined them all in the kitchen, looking tired and worn out. She probably drank too much wine at her sister’s house and was likely hungover. “Where did your father go?”
“Thatcher has a meeting this morning.”
Rubbing her temples, her mother nodded.
Sighing, Vivian set down her bag and tumbler and started making her mother a mug of coffee. When she set it next to where her mother was sitting at the table, she got a quiet, “thank you”.
“You’re welcome.”
By this time, Felix was gone.
“Do you want to come with me to the horticultural meeting today? We’re going to plant that garden. I think Thatcher is sending extra men to help us with the lifting.”
Vivian chuckled to herself. So really, it was just a day for her mother and all her flower buddies to sit in recliners and watch a few young shifters flex and ripple.
Though her mother experienced the same treatment from the men in their household, and frankly the pack, she used her friends as an escape. Vivian thought her mother put up with the continued abuse because of her husband’s role. Pack beta was a coveted position, and with it came certain perks that their family enjoyed.
It wasn’t enough, though, as far as Vivian was concerned. She didn’t want to spend her life being told what to do, but so far, an alternative wasn’t available to her. A future with Rafe would never happen, and while it had been something she’d longed for as a child, she knew what a disaster that would actually be.
A fated mate that could whisk her away from here was what she longed for and wanted, but she might as well be wishing for Prince Charming. And escaping the pack was not an option. Leave her family, her home and for what? Would it really be different in another pack? And what if they came after her for defecting?
“Thanks for the offer, but no. I’ve got plans for today, before we have to start really ramping up for the BBQ this week.”
Her mother took a sip from the mug. “Okay. Enjoy your day.”
“Thanks. You too.”
In short order, she had returned to the deli, got herself another sandwich, this time springing for a side of home fries. Leaving the deli behind, she hiked out to the base. Finding a sunny spot, she sat silently against a hanger and settled in to watch the men perform their training exercises.
They did some laps, some warm-ups, some lifting, and sparing. They laughed and joked with one another.
Then Elliot showed up.
In his pristine uniform of black slacks and a tan pullover T-shirt, he immediately took charge and began shouting at the recruits as they ran drills, climbing different ladders and walls, crawling under wires and bars.
Watching them run and use their muscles looked fun and challenging. Vivian wasn’t sure she could handle the course they ran, but sort of wanted to try. Though, she’d never want to run the course with Elliot observing.
More than once she’d seen an omega burst into tears while Elliot screamed in their face. It had been funny a few times, particularly when it was one of Felix’s friends he was hollering at, but mostly, she didn’t know how the recruits could handle Elliot as their drill sergeant.
Soon they’d start into weapons training, but by then she’d be gone. She didn’t want to spend her day listening to them. Once her breakfast was through, she would run a few errands for the BBQ, and check on the supplies and food orders they were expecting to arrive by Wednesday, then she’d hike up to the waterfall. She’d shift and run. Maybe she’d go for a swim, and lay naked in the sun while she finished her book.
Elliot’s voice drew her attention once more.
He was an alpha, and despite his modern ideals and kind treatment of women, the males in the pack respected him. Just as his father had been respected. He was friends with Rafe, and maybe, if she’d never seen him at work, she’d have considered approaching him as a potential mate. But after watching him with the new recruits and how he treated the male omegas when they failed at the drills, she wasn’t sure she could stomach the idea of talking to him without Rafe nearby, despite Rafe’s assurances that Elliot was really a big softy.
Besides, her father hated Rafe and Elliot and anyone they associated with. She wasn’t sure if it was jealousy or fear, or a mix of both. But Norman Conners would never let her mate a man who thought a woman should be an equal, and not a glorified servant.
Her mother managed this life by utilizing her friends. Maybe Vivian would just have to settle for stolen moments at the waterfall, or in her treehouse. Maybe she’d get through whatever the future held for her if she could keep those safe spaces for herself.
Or maybe she could find another way to save herself from whatever deplorable creature her father insisted she mate.