Chapter 4

~ Savannah’s POV ~

Mate! Mate! — my wolf screams.

Calm down, me-wolf! – I scream back internally.

This feels like it! This feels like mate! I swear! — my wolf yells back.

This guy can’t be our mate! You don’t know what you’re talking about, shut up!

Logan seems to notice that my body stiffens at his touch, and his eyes darken as he looks at me. I immediately feel intimidated, so I pull my hand away briskly.

Yes, intimidated, but also… excited?

“Looks like you’re gonna need this if you’re gonna run out somewhere,” Logan bends down to pick up one of my heels and he hands it over to me.

“I-I’m not running off anywhere,” I say, grabbing the shoe back.

I put the shoe back on my foot and look around the floor for the other half. And that’s when I notice Harlan kneeling down in front of me. He has the shoe in his hand, like Prince Charming to Cinderella.

Oh, sweet pineapples. This guy is smooth!

I try my best to look calm as I slip my foot into the shoe. His finger grazes my skin ever so slightly, but it’s enough to send shivers up my body.

Is that electricity I just felt?

“Thank you,” I say politely as Harlan stands back up.

“Psh,” Logan scoffed. “What a move,”

Harlan glares at his brother, and Logan just laughs.

“Anyway, I’m sorry we’re late to the party,” Harlan coughs to ease the tension, “We just came from down south, we had some business to attend to,”

“Stop talking about business, already. We’re at a party, you’re gonna bore the pretty girl to death,” Logan groans jokingly.

“Logan,” Harlan scolds.

“What? It’s true,”

Harlan shakes his head and sighs. He turns his attention back to me and says, “Please forgive my older brother, he’s known to be a little bit... crass,”

Logan scoffs mockingly and says, “Please forgive my little brother, he’s an ass,”

The two brothers exchange a look like they want to punch each other in the face. And somehow, I find the situation amusing. These two grown men are bickering in front of me like a bunch of kindergarteners. A smile creeps up my lips and I let out a small giggle.

“Look at that, she thinks we’re funny,” Logan comments, and I put a hand to cover her mouth, stopping myself.

“Please, laugh away. My brother is ridiculous,” Harlan nods at me and Logan glares at him.

“Miss Savannah, there you are. I’ve been looking everywhere,” Kathy pops up suddenly, causing the three of us to turn around. “Alpha Hanson and his family from the Black Onyx Pack have arrived and they’re looking forward to meeting you,”

“I’ll be right there, Kathy,” I nod at the maid and she quickly scurries off. Something about the way the Kaiser brothers are staring at her is frightening her.

“You invited the Carsons? Man, they’re a bunch of jackasses,” Logan sneers.

“Dammit, Logan! You and your mouth. Why did I bring you here again?” Harlan sighs in exasperation, then he turns to me and says “And this is him sober. Imagine him drunk,”

“I’m a lot more fun when I’m drunk, trust me,” Logan links an arm around his brother’s neck and Harlan gives him a bored stare.

“So, uh…” I speak up timidly, “I guess I should take you to the party. Follow me,”

Turning to my heels, I lead the guys toward the dining room. There goes my plan of escaping, I sigh to myself. And as I’m making my way back, I can’t help but feel like I’m being watched. The Kaiser brothers have their gaze on my back the entire time and it’s making me somewhat uncomfortable.

Are they looking at my ass?

Not wanting to entertain that thought, I turn around instinctively and say, “So, here we are, please help yourselves to some dinner and champagne,”

I was about to leave them before they can say anything else, but suddenly, Logan stands in my way, stopping me. “And where are you going?” he asks.

“…To greet the other guests,”

“But we are your guests,” he argues.

I can’t help but gulp. Logan is very forward and I’m not used to that kind of treatment.

“Logan, why are you giving her such a hard time?” Harlan scolds his brother.

“I’m not, I’m actually doing you a favor,” Logan doesn’t take his eyes off of me.

“What favor?” I ask.

“If you’re talking to us, you don’t have to talk to all these other people,” Logan gestures to the sea of guys waiting to talk to her next. “I’m saving you from a whole bunch of boring ass conversations,”

As much as I hate to admit it, the man is right. Looking around the room, I can see all these guys that are eyeing me like a pariah. None of them dare to come near me though, at least not now that they see me talking to the Kaiser brothers. They probably rather wait than interject.

I think it’s important to mention that there is something frightening about the way the brothers stare down at everyone in the room. None of them dare to look back. And we’re talking about a room full of Alphas here.

“Well, thank you, I guess. You’re like a modern day knight in shining armor,” I stifle a laugh. I meant to say it sarcastically, but Logan isn’t fazed.

He cocks his head to the side and smirks sinisterly, saying, “Hm, you’re feisty. I like you,”

I do not expect that at all. Something about the way he says it, my heart flatlines for a beat. Quickly, I throw my gaze away to keep my composure, hoping he didn’t see my cheeks blushing bright pink.

“So, uh, can I get you guys anything to drink?” I mutter, changing the subject.

“We’re fine, thank you,” Harlan replies, smiling that megawatt smile.

What is in that smile? He just looks so captivating.

“Hey, Harlan, doesn’t this party seem a little bit off to you?” Logan says to his brother.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, where are all the girls?”

“You didn’t read the invite, did you?” Harlan asks back.

“That what I have you for,”

Harlan shakes his head and answers, “Logan, this is pretty much Savannah’s coming out party into high society. She’s here to be introduced to… her suitors,”

“Oh, so they’re auctioning you off?” Logan turns to me. Totally unapologetic.

“Logan,” Harlan hisses, worried that I might be offended.

“Don’t worry, he’s right,” I admit, “I am the auctioned horse,”

I take another look around the room and shake my head in disbelief. I find my father’s methods to be absolutely degrading and humiliating. But I am powerless compared to him, the almighty Alpha William Wilcox. So, what’s a girl in my position to do? Nothing. Absolutely nothing.

“So, any of these gentlemen here caught your eye?” Harlan asks as he follows my stare.

I shake my head in response. “None of them,”

“Well, you have better taste than I thought,” Logan interjects.

“Look at you talking about taste,” Harlan scoffs mockingly before turning to me, whispering, “This one’s sleeping with everything and everyone that walks,”

“Hey, it’s not my fault they can’t get enough,” Logan laughs playfully. “And says the guy who’s dating the Beta’s daughter for five years but has no intention of marrying her. If we’re airing out dirty laundry here, I gotta say, I think you’re the one who’s playing dirty, not me,”

“Alright, that’s enough,” Harlan shuts him down.

“I mean, sure, the girl looks like a Victoria’s Secret model, but why string the poor girl along?” Logan continues shamelessly, completely unfazed. “I don’t know what’s worse, you for stringing her along, or her for believing in all your bullshit,”

“Stop it. Stop talking about Tessa like that,” Harlan says sternly.

“Whatever, lover boy,” Logan taunts. “At least I’m playing fair,”

As the two brothers glare at each other, I’m taking note of this conversation. There are a lot of things to be learned from this exchange. So far, I know that Harlan is dating a Victoria’s Secret Model girl, their Beta’s daughter, named Tessa, and Logan is just an absolute player.

“How about you? Are you more into quality or quantity?” Logan turns to me suddenly, breaking off my train of thought.

“A what?” I gape.

But before the brothers can answer, a skinny guy with jet black hair and glasses approaches the three of us. He is a nervous wreck. He’s been wanting to talk to me all night long, but he never gets a chance to. I was always surrounded by other guys, so he probably thinks that this is his last chance. It’s now or never.

“H-hi, Savannah? My name’s Steven Jones, from the Gold Sun Pack…” his voice is shaky as he lends out his hand, “I was hoping we can get a chance to talk…”

This guy looks young and most likely new to this scene because he didn’t realize he was interrupting the Kaiser brothers. Had he known, maybe he wouldn’t have done that.

“She’s talking to us, dumbass, are you blind?” Logan growls, stepping right in between me and poor Steven. Soon enough, Harlan steps in too.

Logan and Harlan stand tall, strategically covering me from any unwanted attention from outside our little circle. Logan glares menacingly at Steven and Harlan cocks his head to the side, waiting for Steven to make a move.

“Well… I just… I’m sorry,” Steven stammers.

“Go be sorry somewhere else,” Harlan’s voice drops an octave lower than usual. Even I got scared of him.

“…S, sorry,” Steven backs away quickly. Within seconds, he is already out of sight, scurrying away like a little pup.

Aw, poor guy. But dang, that was handy.

The brothers then turn back around to face me. Logan throws another glare at the sea of guys as if it is a warning not to come anywhere near.

“Can I ask you two a question?” I ask.

“Shoot,” Harlan replies.

“You already have a girlfriend,” I say to Harlan, “And I don’t think you’re interested in any kind of commitment, especially marriage,” I say to Logan. “So, why are you two here?”

The brothers exchange a look. Harlan then turns to me and says, “I hope this doesn’t offend you, but we’re only here on our parent’s order,”

“And what makes you think I have no interest in marrying you?” Logan interjects, raising his eyebrow challengingly.

“Oh, I don’t know, all that talk about playing fair and quantity?” I say with a bored stare. “And the first thing you said when you got here was, ‘where are all the girls’,” I add, mimicking him mockingly.

“Well, shit,” Logan stifles a laugh. “You’re a fucking genius, aren’t you?”

“Honestly, you’re just incredibly easy to read,” I retort back.

“Woah, nice one,” Harlan beams and puts his hands up to high five me. Smiling together, I high five him in response. Meanwhile, Logan rolls his eyes in annoyance.

Huh. This is kinda fun.

I’m starting to feel a lot more relaxed around the Kaiser brothers now, they’re not as intimidating as I thought they’d be. And who knows, maybe we can actually be friends?

“Okay, now I really like you,” Logan says tauntingly.

“Whatever,” I roll my eyes and laugh.

For the next few minutes, I find myself enjoying the company of the Kaiser brothers. It doesn’t seem like the brothers are going anywhere, so some of the guests even decide to go home because they know they probably won’t get a chance to talk to me after this.

“Hey, can I be totally honest with you?” Logan says suddenly.

“Like you haven’t been already?” I reply.

“Ha,” he laughs. “No offense, princess, you’re a lot of fun, but your party kinda sucks,”

“I know. Trust me, I don’t wanna be here either,” I shrug.

“Well, is there somewhere else we can go?” Harlan asks.

“Yeah, let’s get outta here,” Logan agrees.

“Like, where?” I look at them in confusion.

“Out there maybe?” Logan nods toward the woods.

The three of us turn our heads to the big window overlooking the woods. We do have a big backyard connected to our home, and there’s also a beautiful lake in the middle of the woods. It’s a great place to hunt or to clear one’s head. I actually haven’t been there in a while. I’m not allowed to venture too deep into the woods on my own without any other guards.

“Are you talking about the lake?” I ask them.

The two brothers don’t answer me in words, but their gorgeous smiles give it away.

• • • • • To Be Continued - - - - -