BLACKTHORN GATES

CHAPTER 2

The car slowed, and I saw them through the windshield.

Iron wolves were carved into the enormous stone pillars on either side of the road, their jaws open in silent warning, their hollow eyes pointed toward every vehicle that passed beneath them.

Beyond the gates stood a forest so dense that sunlight barely reached the ground.

I gripped my suitcase handle tighter.

Nine months.

It's temporary.

It's a transaction.

My heart didn't seem to believe any of it.

It hammered against my ribs as the car rolled toward the gates.

"Why are there guards at every checkpoint?" I asked.

We'd already passed three.

The driver didn't look at me.

"Because this is Blackthorn."

"And?"

His eyes flicked briefly toward the rearview mirror.

"Because nobody gets in without permission."

I stared out the window.

The guards wore black uniforms with silver wolf insignias on their chests. Every one of them stood perfectly still as the car approached.

Then the gates opened.

No one touched them.

I felt it before I understood what was happening.

A low vibration moved beneath my skin.

My arms prickled.

The same strange sensation I'd felt when I'd touched Roman Draven's letter.

Then again when I'd signed the contract.

But this was stronger.

Much stronger.

I pressed my hand flat against my thigh.

It's nerves.

That was all.

It had to be.

The car passed through the gates.

The moment we crossed the threshold, the tingling vanished.

I looked back.

The gates were already closing behind us.

For the first time since I'd signed the contract, I wondered whether leaving would be as easy as returning home.

The thought made my stomach twist.

I turned toward the window again.

Blackthorn wasn't a house.

It was a kingdom disguised as one.

The main residence rose from the center of the grounds, dark stone walls stretching several stories high, tall windows reflecting the gray afternoon sky.

There were towers at either end.

Courtyards.

Separate buildings.

Even the road leading to the entrance looked more like something built for an army than a family.

The car finally stopped.

A woman was waiting on the steps.

She was tall and thin, with gray hair pulled into a severe knot at the back of her head. Her black dress was perfectly pressed, and her hands were folded neatly in front of her.

She looked at me as though she'd been expecting me for a very long time.

I stepped out with my suitcase.

"Miss Calloway."

Not a question.

"Yes?"

"I'm Greta. I run this household."

"Hi. Thank you for"

"Follow me."

She turned immediately.

I blinked.

Then hurried after her.

"We don't have much time before the evening schedule begins."

I glanced around as we entered.

The interior was even more intimidating than the outside.

Dark wooden floors.

Stone walls.

Huge paintings of men and women I didn't recognize.

Everywhere I looked, there were wolves.

Carved into pillars.

Painted above fireplaces.

Etched into silver decorations.

I lowered my voice.

"Does this place have anything that isn't a wolf?"

Greta didn't smile.

"Not much."

I almost laughed.

She continued walking.

"You'll take breakfast and dinner in the east dining room. Breakfast is at seven. Dinner is at seven."

"Seven in the morning and seven at night?"

"Correct."

"And lunch?"

"Your schedule will be provided tomorrow."

I frowned.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

She continued as though she hadn't heard the irritation in my voice.

"You do not enter the west wing."

"Why?"

"You do not enter the Alpha's study."

"Why?"

"You do not leave the grounds without an escort."

I stopped walking.

"Do I get a reason for any of that?"

Greta stopped too.

She slowly turned toward me.

"The reason is that this is how things are done here."

"That's not really an answer."

Something sharpened behind her eyes.

"You've been here less than five minutes, Miss Calloway."

"I'm aware."

"Then perhaps you should learn the rules before questioning them."

I folded my arms.

"I'm not trying to cause trouble."

"No?"

"No."

"Good."

She turned away.

"Because people here read silence as arrogance and defiance as a challenge."

I followed her again.

"And what happens when someone challenges the Alpha?"

Greta's footsteps slowed.

Only for a second.

Then she continued.

"You'll find out if you do."

A chill ran down my spine.

"When do I meet him?"

"Tonight, if the Alpha's schedule allows it."

"If?"

"He is a busy man."

"Busy doing what?"

Greta glanced at me.

For a moment, I thought she might answer.

Instead, she said, "You'll find out."

I sighed.

"Everyone here seems to enjoy keeping secrets."

Her expression didn't change.

"Perhaps that's because you're asking questions you aren't ready to have answered."

Before I could respond, she opened a door at the end of the hallway.

"This is your room."

I stepped inside.

And forgot what I was going to say.

The room was enormous.

A bed sat in the center beneath a dark wooden canopy. Tall windows overlooked the forest. A fireplace burned softly against one wall, and beside it stood a small sitting area with two armchairs and a table.

It was more beautiful than anywhere I'd ever slept.

And somehow, that made me more uncomfortable.

Everything looked expensive.

Perfect.

Untouched.

Like nobody actually lived here.

I set my suitcase beside the bed.

"You'll have everything you need."

Greta turned toward the door.

"Dinner is at seven. Someone will collect you."

"Greta?"

She paused.

"What?"

I hesitated.

"What is Roman Draven really like?"

Her expression became unreadable.

"You'll find out."

Then she left.

I stared at the closed door.

"Of course."

I unpacked slowly.

Three shirts.

Two pairs of jeans.

One decent dress.

A pair of shoes.

And a photograph of Toby.

I stared at the picture for a long moment before placing it on the bedside table.

Home suddenly felt very far away.

I wondered what Mom was doing.

Whether she'd eaten.

Whether Toby had asked when I was coming back.

I picked up my phone.

No signal.

I frowned.

I moved toward the window.

Nothing.

No bars.

My chest tightened.

I tried calling Mom anyway.

The call failed.

"Great."

I tossed the phone onto the bed.

I was reaching for my second shirt when I heard voices below.

I froze.

They were coming from the hallway.

I moved toward the door and opened it slightly.

A man's voice drifted upward.

"bringing an outsider into Blackthorn during all of this is reckless."

Another voice answered.

Colder.

Controlled.

"It isn't your decision."

"It's the pack's decision."

"Not when it concerns the Alpha's private arrangement."

"Private?" The man scoffed. "You call this private? If the council discovers what she is"

Silence.

My heart stopped.

What I am?

The second man spoke again.

"The council won't discover anything."

"And if they do?"

"They won't."

"You can't guarantee that."

A pause.

Then came the words that made my stomach drop.

"Not when the wolf senses her."

My breath caught.

The wolf?

I leaned closer.

"What happens when it does?"

Silence.

Longer this time.

Then the colder voice answered.

"We won't have a choice anymore."

My fingers tightened around the door.

A floorboard creaked beneath my foot.

The voices stopped.

Completely.

My blood turned cold.

They had heard me.

I stepped backward.

Footsteps approached the staircase.

Fast.

I rushed into my room and shut the door.

My heart hammered.

A moment later, footsteps passed outside.

Then stopped.

I stood perfectly still.

Someone was on the other side of my door.

I held my breath.

The handle moved.

Once.

Twice.

Then stopped.

A few seconds passed.

The footsteps finally moved away.

I didn't breathe again until they disappeared.

I crossed the room and locked the door.

Why had they been talking about me?

What did they mean by what she is?

And what wolf were they talking about?

Before I could think of an answer, there was a knock.

I nearly jumped.

"Miss Calloway?"

Greta.

I opened the door.

She stood there with the same calm expression as before.

"Change of plans."

"What happened?"

"The Alpha has been delayed."

"Until when?"

"Tomorrow morning."

I stared at her.

"Tomorrow?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

She hesitated.

Just barely.

"Something requires his attention."

"What something?"

Her expression hardened.

"That is not something you need to concern yourself with."

I almost laughed.

"Everything that happens here seems to be something I don't need to concern myself with."

Greta didn't respond.

She turned to leave.

"Greta."

She stopped.

I looked directly at her.

"Why did they choose me?"

For the first time, something flashed across her face.

Not confusion.

Not surprise.

Fear.

It disappeared so quickly that I almost convinced myself I'd imagined it.

"You should ask the Alpha."

Then she walked away.

The door closed.

I stood alone.

The room suddenly felt much smaller.

I returned to the window and looked out at the forest.

The sun had nearly disappeared.

Beyond the glass, the trees moved gently in the evening wind.

Then I heard it.

A howl.

Low.

Distant.

But somehow close enough to make every hair on my arms rise.

My hand went instinctively to my chest.

The strange tingling returned.

Only this time, it wasn't coming from the walls.

It was coming from me.

I stepped away from the window.

Another howl echoed through the forest.

And something inside me answered.

Not with a sound.

With a pulse.

A single powerful beat beneath my skin.

I stared at my hand.

Then at the dark forest beyond the glass.

For the first time, I understood something terrifying.

Maybe I hadn't been brought to Blackthorn simply to carry Roman Draven's child.

Maybe the child wasn't the only reason the Alpha had chosen me.

I sat on the edge of the bed, staring into the darkness.

Nine months.

That was what I'd told myself.

Nine months and I'd go home.

But as another howl rolled through the forest, one thought settled heavily in my mind.

What exactly had I signed myself up for?