A Little Secret

EVE

My body felt completely different as I walked back to the pack house two hours later. The faint ache between my thighs was the evidence of what had just happened in the dark, hidden depths of the woods.

I had expected it to hurt terribly, but it didn't. The stranger had been surprisingly patient at first, burning away the initial seconds of discomfort with an intense heat that consumed me. The pleasure he gave me was so good that I hadn't even had time to dwell on the brief pain.

Yet, as the physical thrill faded, the reality of my life settled back onto my shoulders. I was still going back to a pack house where my betrothed loved my sister, and where my sister smiled at my pain.

As I rounded the final bend toward the main driveway, bright lights blinded me.

Multiple sleek, black SUVs were parked in a neat row outside the front gates. Heavy security guards dressed in dark, unfamiliar uniforms stood at every entrance.

The entire atmosphere of the pack house was tense and chaotic. Someone very important was here.

I hurried up the grand steps, trying to brush the dust off my clothes.

"Lady Eve!"

A domestic staff member rushed toward me, her face pale and breathless.

"Thank goodness you are back. Your father needs you in his study immediately. It is extremely urgent."

"What is going on?" I asked, frowning. "Who owns those cars?"

"Just go, please," she urged softly, looking nervously over her shoulder. "They are waiting for you."

I swallowed the lump in my throat and headed up the stairs. When I reached the long corridor leading to the study, I saw my parents and Leora already inside. The door was wide open.

I stepped into the room, my heart hammering. My father stood behind his large mahogany desk, his face grim. My mother was sitting on the leather couch, gently rubbing Leora’s back. Leora sat with her head down, looking small and fragile.

"You finally decided to show up," my father said coldly, not even looking up to check if I was injured or why I had been out so late.

"Shut the door behind you."

I closed the door, standing near the center of the room. "What is going on? Who are all those guards outside?"

"We have a situation," my father said, leaning his heavy hands against the desk. "Alpha Kolton Rivers of the Hail Pack is here."

A chill ran down my spine. Everyone in the territory knew that name. Kolton Rivers was feared across the regions—a cold, ruthless tyrant who ruled his pack with an iron fist.

"Why is he here?" I asked carefully.

"The Hail Pack is threatening to cut off our border trade and push us into a land dispute," my mother spoke up, her voice sharp.

"The only way to secure a peace treaty is through a political arrangement that will involve a marriage. Alpha Kolton demands an Alpha-line daughter."

I glanced at Leora, then back at my parents. "Then... what does this have to do with me? I am marrying Jon in two weeks."

My father looked me dead in the eye, without an ounce of sympathy.

"The arrangement has changed. You are going to marry Alpha Kolton instead."

The room seemed to spin. I stared at him, unable to process the words.

"What?"

"We cannot send Leora," my mother added quickly, her tone protective as she wrapped an arm around Leora’s shoulders.

"Leora is far too gentle and delicate. She would never survive in the Hail Pack with a man as cold and ruthless as Kolton Rivers. He would destroy her in a day."

"And what about me?" I blurted out, my voice rising in disbelief. "You think I can just be thrown to a tyrant?"

"You are strong, Eve!" my father snapped, slamming his hand down on the desk. "You have trained your whole life to be tough. You are aggressive enough to handle a hard pack. Leora isn't."

"This isn't fair!" I yelled, tears of anger stinging my eyes.

"I have trained my entire life for this pack! I worked every single day to become the next Luna here! I am supposed to marry Jon!"

The moment my voice cracked in anger, Leora let out a loud, pathetic sob. She buried her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking violently as if my raised voice had physically struck her.

"Look at what you are doing to your sister!" my mother scolded instantly, glaring at me with deep disgust.

"She is already terrified! Can you stop being so selfish for once in your life, Eve?"

"I am being selfish?" I whispered, my chest heaving.

"I am the one being traded away like a piece of livestock!"

"That is enough!" my father barked, stepping around his desk.

"You are the eldest, Eve. It is your responsibility to protect this family and this pack. Tradition demands you do your duty, and your duty right now is to marry Alpha Kolton. The decision is final."

I stood there, surrounded by my own family, feeling more alone than I ever had in my entire life.

My mother was whispering sweet words to Leora, holding her close, while my father looked at me like I was nothing more than a tool to solve his political problems. They didn't care about my dreams. They didn't care about my sacrifice.

Slowly, the anger drained out of me, replaced by a hollow, crushing despair. I knew there was no winning this fight. They had already decided my fate before I even walked through the door.

I bowed my head, feeling a warm tear escape my eye and roll down my cheek.

"Fine," I whispered softly. "I'll do it."

Leora immediately stopped sniffing. She stood up from the couch and walked over to me, stepping into my space to wrap her arms around my neck in a tight hug.

"Oh, thank you, Eve," Leora said out loud, her voice loud enough for our parents to hear, sounding relieved and innocent.

"Thank you for being such a good big sister and saving me."

My arms stayed dead at my sides. I couldn't bring myself to hug her back.

Then, Leora leaned her lips right against my ear. Her sweet, gentle hug instantly turned ice-cold as she leaned in and whispered softly into my ear:

"Good thing you agreed on time, big sister... I was starting to think I might finally have to spill your little secret just to get you to cooperate.”