I never thought I would ever have to blowdry my feet. All this fur was getting to be obnoxious. Right when Collin got back, I was going to have him show me how to shift because I was tired of having to do this every time I took a bath. I rubbed my legs again with a towel. With a sigh, I flopped down on the floor in the bedroom. The rest was going to have to air dry. My back still felt pretty damp, but it wasn't like I could reach it.
There was a knock on the door. I shot up as it opened and panicked when I saw the piles of towels around me. The room was a mess and I was the one responsible for it. I quickly started to gather things up.
Jaze wandered over and put her hand on her hip. "Milo, what are you up?"
"Sorry, ma'am." Lowering my head, I picked up an armful. "I took a shower. I don't know how to shift yet." I shifted my load to keep it from falling.
She laughed. "You poor thing."Jaze picked up the corner of a towel and tossed it to the side. "I'll send someone to clean it up. Right now, I have a surprise for you."
I took that as my cue and dropped the towels by the wall. I moved a couple stray one into the pile.
"Would you like to meet those subs I mentioned?"
"Um..." I swallowed hard. "Collin said he'd—"
"We talked and he said he was fine with it. I told him I'd be with you the entire time."
I couldn't help but smile. It was so exciting. I was going to get to meet other werewolves like me. "Okay. If Collin said it was okay, then I want to meet them."
She led me from the room. The mansion felt rather empty. Then again, it may have alway been this way.
"Um, ma'am?"
"Hmm..." She glanced down at me.
"Where is Miss Arianna?"
"She's still at school."
"Oh, yeah. I guess she usually doesn't come by until later." I hugged my arms around me. My wet fur was causing a chill to run across my skin. "Did she give you the key?"
Jaze nodded. "I asked her where she kept it so I could come and get you." She put her arm around me and pulled me to her side. "This is going to be great for you. It always is nice to be with werewolves who share your rank."
Letting out a deep breath, I went downstairs with her. I stood in the entryway. Jaze kept walking toward the door while I went toward the study.
I pulled back. "Ma'am, I thought they were coming here. I don't know if Collin wants me to leave the house."
"I told him where we were going. Don't worry." She grabbed my hand and gave me a smile. "He was fine with it. I promise."
Bowing my head, I let her take me outside where a black van was waiting. The driver got out and opened the back doors. This wasn't right. Glancing at Jaze, I pulled away.
"Collin was worried someone might see you," said Jaze. "It's so we can keep it a secret that you're leaving the house." She pushed me forward. "You know how he worries."
I faced the dark gray werewolf, holding the door. Scars covered his face and chest. My fur rose up. Shaking my head, I backed up. "I don't want to go, anymore. I want to talk to Collin. I don't think he'll like me leaving the house."
He snatched my wrist and yanked me forward. I yelped and froze as the werewolf bared his teeth at me.
"Get in." He tightened his hold.
Shaking, I did so and crawled to the back wall. I sat down and my tail curled around my leg.
Jaze folded her arms. "I'll contact you after my brother goes through the procedure."
"How the hell are you so sure he's going to agree to it?" He closed one of the doors. "If you weren't paying me to take the pup, I'd tell you to fuck off."
"Does it matter if he does?" she replied. "Sell the omega. I don't care to who. As long as my brother can't get to him, Collin will eventually give up and agree to have his heart stopped. Five seconds is all it takes that rid that boy from my family line for good."
He drummed his claws on the van. "I know your brother's rank. It dangerous for me to be even touching a high dominant's mate without permission. If he comes for the kid and find us, we will throw all the blame on you. You signed the contract. You and your mother will be the one held responsible for all of it. So, for the last time I'm going to ask, are you sure? Because once I shut this door, the omega belongs to me. I better be seeing a big increase showing up in my bank account before I've even leave the drive, as well."
My ears splayed to the side. She was really doing this to me. I let out a shaky breath and hugged my knees to my chest. I was being sold again.
"I'm sure." Jaze moved the man out of the way. "It's for the best," she said to me. "You are my brother's biggest mistake. He may be too stupid to see it, but I'm not going to let my family slip in the ranks." She grabbed the door. "It's nothing personal, Milo. This is just how our world works."
The door clicked shut and I was all alone. The only light in the room was the small amount that slipped in through the henges. I wiped my face as I tried to keep quiet. My hand went to my shoulder and dug under my fur to touch the teeth marks. I knew it was too good to be true. I was worthless as a human why would becoming a werewolf be any better?
***
(Collin)
For the third time, I heard the missed call message. Why wasn't he picking up? I told Milo to please try not to keep me waiting. My nerves were already a mess. I tried again. My leg started to bounce. "Come on Milo, pick up."
Something wasn't right. That boy still struggled to look me in the eyes. He would never ignore my phone call. I checked the time on my phone. It was late enough that it was past dinner. He had to be in the room.
"Collin, we're heading out," called one of my bunkmates.
I waved him off.
"Dude, call your mate later. You're going to get in trouble if you're late."
The message started to play again.
"Collin—"
"Get the hell out!" I stood and barred my teeth. "Now."
The group quickly filed out of the room and closed the door. I rested my head on the bunk bed above mine. Where the hell was he? My chest felt so tight. Why was my mate ignoring me? Was he mad because I told Jaze no? I wanted to be with Milo before he was exposed to werewolves outside the family.
The phone started to buzz. My eyes snapped down to the screen and saw Arianna's name written across it. Thank god, she could go check on Milo for me. I answered.
"Ari, where is Milo? I've tried calling him. He won't pick up."
A sob escaped my sister.
"Ari?"
"Jaze stole the key to your room. She came to the school and told the teacher I took the wrong set of keys by mistake. She went through my locker and took it and my phone. I just got it back from mom. I've been trying to call you, but I couldn't get through."
"Milo," I breathed. "Where is Milo?"
"I don't know," she wept. "I've searched the whole house. I went through the slave house too. I can't find him. None of the slaves know where he is at."
I couldn't breathe. They had done something to him. Closing my eyes, I felt my connection with Milo was still there. He was alive, but my mother and sister had done something.
"Collin? I'm so sorry. I said I'd keep him safe, but I didn't."
"Ari, I'm not mad at you but I need to hang up."
"Okay," she breathed. "Please come home. You can get mom and Jaze to tell you what they did. I'm so scared they did something bad to Milo."
"I have to go." I ended the call. My hands were shaking as I went to my contacts. I pressed on Axil's name.
I hated that bastard but at the moment he was my only hope. If they sent Milo away, Axil would be my best bet in finding my mate.
"Collin," he said happily. "Did you finally give in?"
"Milo is missing." My emotions were starting to build. Panic mixed with anger was making my eyes burn. "Arianna called and he disappeared while she was at school. Jaze stole the key to my room. I need your help."
Axil was silent for a moment. "Do I get what I want in return?"
I laughed at the comment. "If you think I'm going to spend one more day with those bitches, you're insane. My mom and sister made my choice for me. I'm done with them."
"I'm on it."
"Thank you." I clasped my muzzle. "I need you to let me out of my training early. I have to find him and get out of that house."
"As soon as I hang up with you, I'll call it in. I'll send someone to pick you up and bring you to the Capitol."
"Please find him."
"Oh, I will," said the beta. "The quickest way to destroy a dominant is through their mate and now that you're working with me, I'm taking this attack personally."
I laughed to myself and rubbed my forehead. "I guess I don't have anything to worry about, then."
"You still are, though. Nothing can make you stop worrying. That's the one set back to having a mate."
"Tell me about it." I let out a shaky breath, running my hand down my face. "Please just find him."
"Start packing, Collin. I'll see to the rest."