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Sold to the Alpha

Page 41

by Cara Wylde


  “I should have asked Rosanna or Val to go shopping for me,” she said to herself. “Oh well…”

  Avelyn went back to her suitcase and closed it. For long minutes, she stood like that in front of her bed and her luggage, thinking what a weird sensation it was to pack her things again. Last time she did this, she had been equally scared and excited. She pictured herself back in her old room, at Alma Venus, in front of another suitcase, filled with other things, clothes she hadn’t worn in a while, as she now had so many dresses and shoes that she didn’t have to wear the same thing twice. Back then, she was a young woman with so many dreams and hopes, and with a daring plan that was supposed to give her back her freedom. Now, after just a couple of months, Avelyn was a wife and a future mother. She still had dreams and hopes, but they were completely different from the ones she had when she was still an Alma Venus student. Now, all she wanted was a peaceful life with her beloved husband and their child, be it boy or girl. A few weeks ago, she would have given anything to be able to leave this castle. Maybe, she would have even preferred to go back to Alma Venus if that meant being far away from Max and the demons of his past. But things had changed. Now, Avelyn felt that leaving the Schloss for Alma Venus was like some kind of defeat. The she-wolf who had tried to take her happiness away from her, to make her undesirable to her Alpha, to leave her barren, was driving her out of her own home and forcing her to seek shelter far away from her own clan.

  “Avelyn Blackmane…” she whispered. It felt weird. Her name rolled down her lips in an oddly satisfying way. Yes, she was Avelyn Blackmane, a whole different person from the Avelyn who had left Alma Venus in tears. She was no longer an abandoned child, a naïve girl raised and educated to become a shifter bride. She was going to Alma Venus as the wife of an Alpha werewolf and the mother of an Alpha heir. She couldn’t wait to see Miss Delacroix’s face and lock herself up in her old room with Delyse, Claudia, and Amelia so they could chat until morning. The sound of footsteps approaching the bedroom drew her out of her reverie.

  Max entered the room, closed the door behind him, and pressed his chest against Avelyn’s back before she even had time to turn around.

  “Are you ready?”

  Avelyn leaned back in his embrace, her head resting on his shoulder.

  “Yes, I think I am.”

  Max knew her well enough to realize there was something wrong with her. “What’s wrong, baby? Are you nervous?”

  Avelyn stretched her neck to leave a chaste kiss on his cheek. “A little. It’s just that I never thought I would see Alma Venus again. Do you really think this is a good idea? I mean… I really do want to see Alma Venus because it was my home for so many years and all of the friends I ever had are still there. At least, I hope they’re still there. Is that selfish of me? To wish that Delyse, Claudia, and Amelia haven’t been bought and are waiting for me at the boarding school?”

  “No, I don’t think that’s selfish. It’s only normal to want to see your friends again. And I can assure you that Delyse is still at Alma Venus.”

  “How can you be so sure? Delyse is gorgeous and so intelligent. I wouldn’t be surprised if she found her Prince Charming since I last talked to her.”

  Max smiled, but Avelyn couldn’t see it from her position. He kissed the top of her head. “I don’t know, it’s just a feeling I have. She’ll be there.” He hadn’t told her about the agreement he had with Delyse’s brother, James Harington, as he didn’t want her to worry. Knowing her, Max was sure she would feel guilty for having been chosen by the Alpha werewolf who was supposed to marry her best friend. Avelyn would have only blamed herself for stealing Delyse’s future if she had known Delyse had been unable to find a suitor to please her father. He was sure Delyse would tell Avelyn about the long discussion between him and James, but he also knew the girl would know how to explain everything to Avelyn so that his wife would never feel guilty about anything. Max still had no idea how he would hold his end of the bargain, but he would figure something out. For now, he had to deal with Sabine and her pack, and when this would be over, he had every intention to find Delyse a good husband with the sort of political influence Councilor Harington desired.

  “Okay, Mr. Blackmane. I’ll take your word for it.”

  “Good. Now let me take your suitcase. Caleb and Daniel are waiting for us on the runway.”

  “Wait…” Avelyn turned around and cupped his cheeks in her small palms. She looked him in the eye, and Max knew what she was going to say was very serious. “I just wanted you to know… I am beyond happy that you’re taking me to Alma Venus and I will get to spend a couple of days with my friends, but I can’t wait to come back home when all this is over.”

  Max covered her hands with his own and smiled brightly. “I promise you that by the time you get back home, Schloss Blackmane will be safe for you and our child.”

  ***

  Stepping on the cobblestone alley felt strange to Avelyn. Max was right by her side, his hand placed tenderly on her waist, guiding her towards the entrance. She could hear Caleb and Daniel walk behind them, and she thought of how grateful she was they were all there with her. Her heart was beating wildly in her chest, and the nervousness and anticipation had left her mouth dry. If anyone had told her she would be so anxious to come back to the boarding school, she would have laughed in their face. The imposing building intimidated her even now, and she realized she still felt like the little girl she once was, when she would look up at the tall, majestic architecture and feel small, abandoned, and alone. This was why she was so incredibly grateful that a part of her new family was now here with her. Miss Delacroix and her secretary, Mrs. Jones, were waiting for her on the steps. Delyse and Claudia were behind them, but Avelyn didn’t see Amelia anywhere in sight. However, it wasn’t like she expected to see her, as they had never actually been friends. Avelyn took the last few steps and greeted everyone with a feeble “hello”.

  “Avelyn, it’s so nice to see you again,” said Miss Delacroix with a smile. The headmistress hadn’t changed much, but Avelyn was sure she could see a few new wrinkles around her eyes. “Mr. Blackmane, welcome!”

  “Miss Delacroix, thank you so much for having us and for accepting to accommodate Avelyn for a couple of days.”

  “It is my pleasure, so don’t even mention it. Actually, it’s the entire school’s pleasure. Avelyn’s friends and former colleagues could hardly wait to see her.”

  Delyse and Claudia couldn’t agree more, as they had been bouncing on their feet since Avelyn had walked through the tall iron gates of Alma Venus. They had greeted her with slight nods and enthusiastic smiles, but hadn’t dared to say anything before Miss Delacroix finished with the usual pleasantries.

  “You see, it’s very rare that a former student visits the boarding school after having been sold and having become the wife of a shape-shifter. Actually, I’m not sure it has ever happened before, although I might be wrong.”

  “Of course,” said Max, “I know the rules of the boarding schools are very strict, and I want to let you know how much this means to us. Given the current situation, my wife can’t stay at Castle Blackmane, and I truly think Alma Venus is the safest place she can be right now. I promise you my wolves and I are doing the best we can to solve this unfortunate situation as soon as possible, and with as little consequences as possible.”

  Miss Delacroix nodded her head in approval, then her gaze went to Avelyn’s round belly, and everyone who was close enough noticed the gleam of hope and happiness in her gray eyes. Avelyn saw it, and something akin to pride grew in her chest.

  “Don’t worry, Mr. Blackmane, we will take good care of your wife. Now, please come in. You must be hungry…”

  “Oh no, thank you. I would only like to make sure Avelyn is comfortable, then I will leave you with Caleb and Daniel, my two Deltas, who will make sure the boarding school is well guarded.”

  They entered the large hall, and Avelyn breathed in the familiar scent of wooden furniture and wa
xed floorboards. This place brought back so many memories, and Avelyn had to admit that most of them were pleasant. For the first time, she realized that Alma Venus instilled in her completely different feelings than it did before she became Mrs. Blackmane, and these feelings confused her. She didn’t see the school as a prison anymore, and it wasn’t because she was now free from it, but because it was the place where she had spent her childhood, a childhood which she now realized hadn’t been so bad after all. Yes, the politics of Alma Venus might have been a bit wrong and twisted, but the education and upbringing she had received here did lead to her finding the man of her dreams. She let herself fall two steps behind Max, and she soon felt Delyse’s small, cold hand sneaking into her own. She turned around and smiled at her friend.

  “I’m so glad to see you,” she said, squeezing the petite blonde’s hand. Claudia caught up with them, and Avelyn took her hand too. “Where is Amelia? Don’t tell me she is in the bedroom, sulking.”

  “It’s a long story,” answered Delyse. “Let’s save it for later, when it’s just the three of us.”

  “The three of us?” Avelyn’s eyebrows rose in confusion. “Are you saying that…” She didn’t get to finish her sentence, as she almost bumped into Max’s wide, strong back. This drew her attention back to what he was discussing with Miss Delacroix.

  “All right,” said the headmistress. “Then, I will let you and Avelyn go up to her old dorm. Avelyn, I hope you’ll be comfortable sharing the same room with your former colleagues. I’m sorry, but we don’t have single rooms, as the boarding school is what it is.”

  “No problem,” said Avelyn. “I’m very glad I’ll get to spend some time with my friends. Thank you so much for doing this, Miss Delacroix.”

  The headmistress only smiled and motioned for Claudia and Delyse to lead the way up the stairs. Then, she showed Daniel and Caleb into her office, as they were supposed to wait for Max to get back downstairs and discuss the last details of their plan. The girls didn’t wait for a second invitation, and ran up the stairs, leaving a smiling Max behind. Miss Delacroix shook her head and smiled apologetically, as if to say that girls would always be girls regardless of their age or social status. Her reaction made Max laugh wholeheartedly. He took Avelyn’s suitcase from Daniel, then followed his wife and her friends, not before telling the others he would be back shortly.

  Avelyn’s old bedroom was cozy and well lit, with tall windows that let the sun in. Max stopped on the threshold and waited for the girls to notice him. Avelyn had already plopped on her old bed, and she was telling Delyse and Claudia how small it was compared to her new one. The girls laughed knowingly, but stopped when Max cleared his throat to get their attention. They got the message and left them alone, telling Avelyn to find them in the cafeteria later. Max carried the suitcase to Avelyn’s bed and sat down beside her.

  “You seem very happy. I like that.”

  “Of course I’m happy! I’m back with my friends, even if it’s just for a couple of days.”

  “I think I was a bit afraid you wouldn’t want to come here. You have so many memories here, and probably not all of them are nice. I would’ve never put you in this uncomfortable situation if I had any other choice, trust me.”

  “This is not uncomfortable in the least.” Avelyn turned to face him and she placed her hands on his shoulders. She loved the heat his body gave off, the way it traveled up her arms, raising goosebumps in its wake, then settling inside her chest, reminding her how much she loved him. Sometimes, she loved him so much that it hurt. It occupied her mind and made it impossible for her to focus on anything other than his eyes, his lips, the pure, physical strength of his body. She stretched her neck to leave a tender kiss on his lips.

  “To tell you the truth, I was a bit afraid myself. I could barely imagine what coming back here would feel like. A couple of times, in the airplane, the anxiety almost made me faint. But I’m glad you took me back to Alma Venus. I think I missed it. Not only Delyse, Claudia, Amelia… Well, I’m not sure where Amelia is, but we’ll find her…” She laughed, even though there was an odd feeling tugging at her heart. “I think I missed the school, the garden, this room… The people here. Even Miss Delacroix… When I saw her waiting for us, I realized I had missed her so much that I could have jumped in her arms then and there.”

  “Oh, I don’t think she would have liked that.” Max drew her into his arms, and Avelyn complied immediately and climbed on his lap. “Well, if you are happy, then I am happy. And the most important thing right now is for you and our son to be safe. I can’t stay long because I have to be back at the Schloss before sunset, but I will talk to Miss Delacroix, the Alma Venus guards, and Caleb and Daniel, and make sure they have everything under control.”

  “I’m sure they do. There’s nothing to worry about. Sabine has no idea where Alma Venus is. Just promise me you will be careful, okay? And come back for me the moment everything settles down.”

  Max squeezed her tightly, and one of his hands went down to caress her belly. He dove down for a deep, passionate kiss, and Avelyn responded greedily by opening her mouth and letting their tongues dance together in a slow, tantalizing rhythm. Her warm, soft body almost drove him insane with lust, but Max knew there was no time for that. He pressed her against his chest and held her like that for long minutes, finding it almost impossible to let go. Since he bought her and made her his bride, they had never been apart, and the sole idea of leaving her here while he returned to Schloss Blackmane sent uncomfortable chills down his spine and almost made him reconsider his plan. He knew he never wanted to be away from her, but only now did he truly feel the impact of his decision. With a mighty effort, he extracted himself from underneath her pleasant weight and stood up.

  “Don’t even think about being worried over this. Sabine might be unpredictable, but her pack is young and inexperienced. There’s no way they can stand a chance against the Crescents and the Moon Children, and I hope the Dark Wolves will also join us tomorrow morning. This whole mess will be over in no time. Until then, have fun with your friends.”

  “About that… I am very surprised that Miss Delacroix accepted to let me stay. Indeed, it is very weird for a boarding school to do something like this, don’t you think?”

  Max smiled and took her chin between his fingers, tipping her head up so he could see her bright, blue eyes. “The headmistress cares about you very much. In fact, if you ask me, she loves all the girls at Alma Venus like her own daughters.”

  Avelyn laughed. “She must have a huge heart, then.”

  “She does.”

  “I made her life a living hell.” Avelyn felt a pang of guilt at this new, unexpected thought. She never believed she would feel the tiniest regret for having yelled at Miss Delacroix, tried to escape Alma Venus three times, and blamed the old lady for all the evil in the world whenever she got the slightest excuse.

  “Of course you did. Like any spoilt young lady.” Max winked, letting her know he was kidding. “But she loves you anyway. If keeping you safe and happy means breaking a couple of rules, she will do it without blinking an eye.”

  Avelyn smiled and dove down to kiss the fingers that had been holding her chin. “Okay, go!”

  “Are you kicking me out, Mrs. Blackmane?”

  “Yes, as a matter of fact I am. I have stuff to do! I must find Delyse, Claudia, and Amelia and tell them everything about Schloss Blackmane and the mating ritual.”

  “Don’t give them too many juicy details.”

  “What are you even thinking? Of course I will! What do you men think women talk about when they’re alone? I’m actually going to start with the juicy details.”

  Max laughed and kissed her forehead, letting his lips linger on her soft skin for a long minute. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.”

  With a last glance, he turned around and headed to the door.

  “And, Max...” Avelyn called after him, her voice filled with emotion, but determined, “Please don�
��t hurt her...”

  CHAPTER THREE

  Burning for Revenge

  “So, where has Amelia’s Prince Charming taken her?” Avelyn, Delyse, and Claudia were sitting on the soft carpet, with a huge tray of chocolate chip cookies and meringues between them. Miss Potts had been extra generous, and they were already almost full without even finishing half of the goodies. After a rich late lunch, the delicious dessert was more than welcome. Avelyn had found out about Amelia’s successful transaction right after Max left and she went down to the cafeteria to join Delyse and Claudia, but then she got sidetracked by their questions about her new home and family, and she didn’t get the chance to ask them for details. Now that they were back in their room and Avelyn had told them all the sweet, romantic details of the mating ritual and about the unexpected telepathic connection between her and Max, she could finally take a break from her story and find out more about Amelia. It seemed she had been bought by a quite influential Inari of the fox-shifter clans.

  “Alaska,” said Delyse simply.

  Avelyn almost choked on her meringue. “Alaska?”

  “Yeah, I know,” explained Claudia, “she wasn’t thrilled either. Hell, I wouldn’t be happy about it, and I don’t even like hot weather that much. But Alaska is going to be one cold place for Amelia.”

 

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