FOUR: TRAPPED IN BLACKWOOD

ELIZABETH MILKHART

I slowly realized that my hands were shaking as I stood before the full-length mirror, trying to ignore the embarrassment that heated my face as the maidservants nicked and tucked at my dress.

Every bone in my body hurt, and not just from the force of the guard’s blow when he knocked me out. It was something deeper, the fear that made my heart pound restlessly in my chest like a freight train.

The room surrounding us was a mess of silk fabrics and pins and rich, beautiful embroidery as the surrogates got ready for the Alpha’s welcoming party.

“Oh my god, I think I'm going to be sick,” I muttered to myself, glancing back at the woman in the mirror to see that I looked terrified, with wide green eyes and curly red hair that fell over bare shoulders in curly waves.

“There we go Miss, you're all done up and ready.” One of the maids, Leila whispered. She was a soft mousy thing with brown hair and a small pleasant face, unlike the others who stared at me with open disgust and fear.

It was the first time I had been around so many wolves and I felt sick to my stomach when my eyes caught the blonde woman’s gaze in the mirror.

Sarah Sossen. Something told me she was going to be a major problem for me in Blackwood Castle. I needed to get out of here as fast as possible!

“Excuse me-” Leila murmured, walking past with her head bowed as Sarah strutted over to me with her posse of women behind her.

Not this again. I drew in a cautious breath as the blonde woman closed the distance between us.

She was exquisitely dressed in a long sapphire green dress that hung open at the sides so that her cleavage bulged obscenely from them.

It was madness. Sexy.

What would the Luna think of her display?

I had to get on Luna Cassandra’s good side if I didn't want to be torn apart by the wolves of this castle.

I didn't stand a chance!

“Well, well well, if it isn't the runaway,” Sarah Sosden drawled and the other two women snickered behind her before she sipped on the wine glass she had in her hand, appearing to look me over.

“Look, I don't want any trouble okay? I want to get out of this damned place as much as you want me to!” I offered, backing up slowly and watching the smirk on the woman’s perfect face disappear.

“Shut the fuck up bitch! We SAW what you did back there! Making Alpha Blackwood come down from his royal chambers all interested in you!” Sarah spat acidly, her almond-shaped blue eyes narrowing with hate.

I stared back dumbly at the woman before snapping my mouth shut. Alpha Blackwood was interested in me?

What was she talking about?

“Oh for fucks sake! Cut the crap would you cunt!” The woman roared suddenly, splashing the red wine she held in her hand all over my white dress do that I stumbled back, stunned.

“What is this? Oh my god! You ruined my dress!” I screeched, feeling something heavy sit in my throat as I desperately tried to scrub off the red that only seemed to spread across the dress.

It was too late to request that a new dress be made for me and I didn't think I could even do that much!

It was my only chance to make a good impression on the Luna and now I was going to show up looking like roadkill!

“There! That should get you out of Blackwood Castle shouldn't it Elizabeth? You're fucking welcome.” Sarah Sossen snapped, flashing me a fake smile before turning around to stride out of the room with all the other female wolves behind her.

I fell to my knees in tears as a bitter weight lodged in my throat. My shoulders shook with every sob until I was spent, gasping dryly, the trail of salty tears on my cheeks hardening until I wiped it away.

“You can't give up now Elizabeth! Look around you! We NEED Alpha Blackwood!” My mother’s stern voice came so suddenly into my head that for a moment, I snapped out of the sad haze, glancing around in surprise.

How long had I been crying? The sky outside had turned a nightly shade of blue and as I moved to stand in the mirror, I made up my mind.

“There's no way I'm letting those bullies take the chance away from me Mother,” I whispered, dabbing the powder back onto my face and stepping hastily into the corridor.

The stain on the dress now looked like an eccentric design, and it made me stand taller, looking every bit like a princess that I was not.

“Excuse me, do you know where the party is?” The servant looked startled that I had spoken to her but I needn't have asked because the tune of a piano floated loudly through the air.

I could see the glare of white lights and hear the sound of people chatting happily up ahead.

Saints help me, this was it.

#

The people at the dinner party were almost too gorgeous to stare at and I tried to bite back the embarrassment that was threatening to overwhelm me.

Everyone was already seated at the huge mahogany table and I felt like an outcast as I slowly inched forward.

“Oh my god,” I whispered to myself, my gaze instantly drawn to the buxom blonde woman at the end of the table who was wearing a small gold crown.

Luna Cassandra! As if called by my thoughts, the woman’s icy hazel eyes found mine, and the music and conversation died almost immediately, as if my presence had soured the good mood.

“Elizabeth Milkhart is it? An honor it is that you’ve finally decided to join our humble feast.” Luna Cassandra hissed in a tone that sounded light and polite, but I knew better.

My back stiffened at the cold, menacing look in her eyes, like a hunter watching its prey.

Any hopes I had of getting on the beautiful woman’s good side were snuffed out as I stood rigidly in the midst of the wolves.

“Y-Your Grace, I-it is I who is honored,” I stammered embarrassingly, trailing off when all the elites at the round table stood suddenly.

“Your Highness! Long live the king Alpha of Stone County!” Their cheers reverberated in my head as I suddenly became aware of a man’s presence behind me.

A-Alpha Blackwood was behind me? My eyes widened and my mouth opened in a silent scream!

I could feel my body shaking from the overwhelming force of his presence, his authority, and the manly earth musk of his scent that sent tingles down to my sex.

“Y-Your Highness, greetings, I...I shouldn't be here-” I stammered, jumping around to see the most gorgeous mountain man I had ever seen staring right back at me.

He had to have been at least seven feet tall! With broad, muscular shoulders and iron-gray eyes only shadowed by the mane of dark hair that fell at the sides of his face.

I was almost certain he could kill a man simply by staring through him!

So HE was the Alpha! His chiseled face did not smile when a crooked smile stretched across my face and I instantly grimaced.

Why had I done that? That was just the way to make him think I was coming on to him!

“Please, sit.” He deadpanned in a voice that brooked no argument before pushing past me to sit at the head of the table, his cologne almost bringing me to my knees.

Was that what the wolves called his scent? It was no wonder all the women threw themselves at him!

I swallowed heavily, shuffling forward and allowing the servant to pull out my seat for me, trying my best not to glance around the table at the wolves who were looking at me hungrily.

It felt like I had just accepted a deal with the devil. What on earth had I gotten myself into?