The Highlands Wolves

LAIKA

It had been three days, and I was fucked. I knew it would be difficult, seeing him again, but I didn’t expect my wolf to perk up every time he looked my way. My room was my only haven. The only place where I didn’t have to keep up appearances and was allowed to be the miserable version I wanted to be.

No one was making this easier for me. Other people’s happiness felt like a stab to the heart. I couldn’t bear their smiles. I almost wished something bad would happen just so I wasn’t the only one suffering.

I found solace walking the grounds at night. Even when I belonged to the Northern Province, I’d never visited the alpha’s compound. This was a place for the elite, not for someone like me.

The grounds were deserted this time of night, the path illuminated by soft light from the distant buildings. Suddenly, a woman stepped onto the path. Her eyes caught sight of me, and she headed toward me.

“What are you doing walking around this time of night?” she asked.

Her question surprised me.

“Aren’t you doing the same?”

“I’ve lived here for decades, so I know what I’m doing. Do you?” The woman narrowed her eyes and sighed. “Come with me.” She grabbed my hand and pulled me with her.

“Where are we going?” I asked. I should have fought her, fought her pull on my arm. But I didn’t. I couldn’t explain it, but something inside me said to follow her.

“To your room.”

It took me a minute to understand what she said. When I did, I stopped, tugged my hand out of hers, and shook my head in protest. I couldn’t go back to that purgatory, I couldn’t be in that room, alone again.

“Listen, young lady, this is the Northern Province. Walking around here in the middle of the night isn’t safe. Walls may surround us, but it’s not safe, especially for a lady like you.” Her voice was disapproving, her eyes furious.

“I can take care of myself,” I said.

“No, you can’t. Not here. Now, come.” Her warm fingers circled my wrist, and I let her pull me forward.

Without warning, the woman stopped, and I almost collided with her. There was someone in front of her, blocking our path.

“Where are you going, Wendy?” I would have recognized that voice anywhere: Nora Brooks, the devil herself.

“I’m taking this lady to her room,” Wendy answered.

“Ah, Laika,” she said with that voice laced with false sweetness. If only she could just drop the fucking facade and let the world see her for who she really was.

“I will take her,” Nora said.

Wendy’s hand tightened on mine. “The luna said I was to see that she retired to her room safely and report back to her once I finished. I can’t do that if you take her.” Something about the tone of her voice told me that she didn’t trust Nora. Well, that made the two of us.

“Tell her I got it,” Nora said smiling.

“You have a long day scheduled tomorrow and need your rest. You don’t need this extra responsibility. I can handle it.”

Oh my, this woman earned my respect. No one at school had the guts to contradict Nora.

Nora pursed her lips. “I suppose you’re right.” She sounded defeated. But I knew I hadn’t seen the back of her for good.

“I will see you tomorrow morning, Laika.” She glared at me before walking away.

Wendy let out a sigh and started walking, her hand still wrapped around my wrist.

“Don’t trust that woman,” she cautioned as we neared the house where I was staying. If only she knew, she could’ve saved her breath. I knew that woman well enough.

She escorted me to my room. And when I unlocked the door, she followed me inside. “What happened to you? The truth please.”

The concern on her face hurt me. She was acting like she knew me, like she felt my pain.

“I’m fine,” I said.

“That’s not what I asked,” she said, coming closer and cupping my cheek. No one ever touched me like that, with that kind of love, never. “There is a pain inside you. You need to find a way to let it out.”

“Is there a way?”

“Talk to someone. I’m here if you need me.”

“I don’t know you,” I told her.

“I’m Wendy. Let’s start with that,” Wendy said, her warm hand still on my cheek.

I leaned into it, and for the first time in my life, I felt like I belonged.

She removed her hand, drew back, and smiled. Moments later, she bid me goodnight and left.

I was left with so many thoughts after she was gone. Talk to someone? That was a hard no. There was no way I was sharing my past, present, and my agony with anyone. This was my battle, mine alone.

***

Loud banging woke me up the next morning. I climbed out of bed, walking blindly to the door. I caught my toe on the edge of a table and let out a frustrated cry as I opened the door.

Madison beamed at me as Moon Lee recoiled, her face twisted in disgust. I wanted to give her a piece of my mind, but I thought better of it. In my current state, I was bound to say something none of us wanted to hear.

“What?” My husky, dry voice made my tone all the more menacing.

“Why aren’t you ready?” Madison asked.

I looked her over. She was wearing a loose, white blouse, blue jeans, and boots. I remembered that there was a group hike scheduled today.

“I’m not interested,” I said.

“There’s no refusing,” Moon said.

“I’m staying indoors. Goodbye.” I moved to close the door in their faces.

“Father’s orders,” Madison said. “He’ll drag you out himself if I report you.”

“Then be a good girl and don’t tell him.” I made another attempt to close the door.

“It will be fun,” Moon said.

“Says who?” As I zeroed in on her, she shifted on her feet, refusing to look me in the eyes. If this girl was the future luna, we were doomed.

Madison smiled at me. “Alaric planned it. You know him?”

Know him? That man has been my recurring nightmare since we set foot in the Northern Province.

“Yes, I know him.” And because he was the one who planned this, I wasn’t going. Alaric was up to something. I was smart enough to know that after what I did to him, he was going to retaliate, it was only a matter of where and when. There was no way I was walking into a trap.

“So?” Madison asked, her voice hopeful.

“I’m not—”

“Come on,” she interrupted. “Adam is coming too.”

Was that meant to curb my fear? If only she knew what I was up against, she would take me far from here herself.

“Please come,” she said softly, pouting. It was no use hiding in my room all day. I was, after all, in the beast’s territory. Here, he called all the shots. If he wanted me dead, there were a thousand ways for him to accomplish just that.

“Fine,” I said reluctantly.

“Take a shower. We’ll wait,” Madison said, entering my room and making herself comfortable, motioning for Moon to do the same. I didn’t mind Madison in my room, but I couldn’t say the same for Moon. I wished she would leave rather than endure her stolen glances.

I showered and dressed quickly. As we left my room, I made sure I grabbed my phone, a device that I didn’t like using but that could come in handy if the situation warranted it.

There were two limos waiting for us at the entrance to Northern Province’s alpha’s house. They would transport us to the base of the hiking trail.

I rode with Lyall, Moon, Madison, Olivia, Nora, and the devil himself. Nora sat next to him, but there was something off between them. They didn’t touch or talk to each other. Almost like they were strangers.

Lyall and Moon spent the ride kissing and holding hands. The fact that there were spectators didn’t seem to bother them. As the sound of kissing grew louder, I wished I had taken Adam’s offer and rode in the other limo.

“Tone it down!” Alaric boomed.

I didn’t know what to do. Thank him?

“Lyall, you’re being cruel,” Olivia said, sending a glance in my direction.

Understanding dawned on me, and I looked away. It wasn’t their fault.

“It’s fine, Olivia,” I said. No need for the new mates to stop their ministrations because I was present. Hell, what they were doing was the kind of dose of reality I needed to get my stupid brain and emotions to understand that it was over between Lyall and me.

“Cruel?” Alaric asked.

I turned to Olivia so fast, pleading with my eyes for her to stop this. Luckily for me, she was on her phone and didn’t hear Alaric. But sadly, Madison felt the need to clarify everything.

“Lyall was in a relationship with Laika until a week and some days ago because he found his mate. Don’t you think her wounds are still fresh, Lyall?”

An angry growl tore through the air. Its sound resonated deep inside my bones. When I turned, Alaric was shaking, his black eyes focused on Lyall.

“Baby,” Nora began, but her lover wasn’t listening. He was shaking, baring his fangs at Lyall.

I had to give it to Lyall for standing his ground. He placed Moon behind his back and focused on Alaric, who was slowly losing it.

“It’s okay. Calm down,” Nora continued, but Alaric wasn’t listening.

Alaric didn’t have the right to be acting like this. Not like a fucking bonded mate after what he did.

“What’s happening?” Olivia panicked, looking up from her phone.

“Is he offended because you were in a relationship?” Madison asked me, but I just shook my head like I had no clue what was going on.

Luckily, the limo came to a stop and the doors opened. The fresh air drove Alaric out of whatever trance he was in. With an angry glare at Lyall, he scrambled out of the limo, Nora on his tail.