CH 3

Jessica Jess pulled her hair up and back so she could sit and do her make-up. She wasn’t concerned about the twins coming back to this room; they wouldn’t, would shower in the mud room and dress down there, have breakfast in the dining hall and head off to university. She’d been a year ahead of them degree wise, and was now finished her three-year degree while they still had two years of theirs to go. She was out there working for the pack in the human world, had been for six months now, opted for that herself. Though she’d also chosen a human company, not one of the pack’s companies. There had been three she-wolves working there until recently, due to her working there. The actual Alpha, Hector, had been concerned she’d get snatched by some rogue if there wasn’t a warrior presence around her, seeing as she was Luna Ranked. Not that either of her Mate’s thought that, she’d heard them actually laugh at their father. “Come on dad, she’s wolf-less and fat, worthless to anyone but Gregory and I.” Marcus had snorted, he’d thought it was the funniest thing he’d ever heard. His father had not thought it was so funny, and had punched his own son for the disrespectful comment. She’d said nothing at all, didn’t really say much to anyone, spoke when spoken too and that was pretty much it, still appeared polite and respectful, though none had ever seen her smile since being marked and mated. She’d not gotten a Luna Ceremony. Marcus and Gregory had stated when she can lose 40 pounds and look nice in a dress, we’ll do that. There was a pack tradition here that they were to have their photo taken with her at the Luna Ceremony, and it was to be displayed on the first-floor hall for all guests to see who the Alpha and Beta and their Luna were, or Heirs and their Luna were. She’d not objected even though their own mother had. Jess had just put her hand on Stephanie’s arm. “I’m okay with that,” she’d stated simply. She didn’t want photos of her and them together, for anyone to see. She didn’t even have pictures of them on her phone, and she knew damned well they didn’t have any of her on theirs. Today she was aiming to leave this pack, without seeing them at all. That way, if years down the track they did see her, they wouldn’t recognize her. Or be completely knocked for six at scenting their own venom in her and not understanding how that came about. Her make-up done, she sat and brushed out her hair. It was long now and though she normally allowed for it to always look a little messy and wore it in a ponytail, it was looped through to show only half its actual length. Today she would leave it out in full. Alpha Rydge had provided her with hair products and taken her to a salon to have a hairdresser show her the best way to wear her hair for her facial features. Today she straightened her long hair and then sat and curled the ends the way she’d been shown to, and ran her hands through it several times until they were all large waves that fell about her, and then stood looking at herself. She was wearing watermelon-colored lipstick, a very soft pink eyeshadow and black mascara and eyeliner that framed her dark grey eyes. She walked from the bathroom and pulled out the dress bag that had been hung in her part of the wardrobe. Inside was a fitted black halter-neck pencil skirt dress that had a white trim, and was suited for the office, just in case anyone stopped her and asked her why she was dressed like that. Alpha Rydge had bought into the auction house that she worked in, and set out changing the uniforms as well, so that she could wear this dress and do herself up just to leave this pack in style. Today this pack was going to see her for who she really was and be completely shocked by it. But it would also be the last time they saw her too. She slipped on sheer black thigh-high stockings and then pulled that dress on and zipped it up, slipped on a pair of black heels and stood in front of the mirror and looked at herself. Everything she was wearing, including the make-up, was all supplied by Rydge, right down to the fancy black lace underwear that was under the dress. She looked at her watch as she slipped it on. It was also new and given to her by Rydge as well. There was a tracker installed in it so that he knew where she was at all times. The man was going all out to have her brought to his pack and steal her away from another pack. She knew he wasn’t from around here either. He was from San Diego whereas she was from Seattle. Their meeting had been by pure chance, but seemed to be in her favor. It was almost time to leave. It didn’t really matter if she left early, the plan wasn’t going to be set into motion until lunchtime. He’d also managed to only have one of those she-wolves at the auction house today with her. Though in a different section, and her new uniform though was still as nice as Jess’, it looked different to hers. It was all white on the top and all black on the bottom. She didn’t pack anything. Rydge had told her to just leave everything behind, she would be provided everything inside his pack. Just to go to work as she normally would, she’d already sent him a copy of her university degree, her birth certificate and driver’s license. He wasn’t looking for her to change her name and become someone else. She’d be dead as far as her pack was concerned come tomorrow morning. His plan was simple enough and logical, though the risk was high. But there was no reward without risk, and she knew that. She was also willing to risk dying to survive. That was worth it in her eyes. She had no one inside this pack that truly loved and cared for her, so what did it matter if she died? None here would care and those two Mates of hers, though they would feel, they would be glad in the end that they didn’t have to live stuck to her; one they disregarded, dismissed and disrespected at every turn. If Selena saw fit to have her die, then so be it. She could hope to be reborn into a better pack, into a better life, and not be mated to two Mates. She took a breath in and nodded to herself. “Let’s go, Jess.” She told herself and headed for the door to the suite. Her hand stilled on the door handle as nervousness hit her. She’d never before set foot out of this room looking anything but dowdy. Her Mates never spent a cent on her because, as far as they were concerned, she wouldn’t suit beautiful clothes. “You’re going to have a better life. Just walk out, get in your car and drive to work like you do every day,” she told herself. She’d not expected to be nervous at all, but she was. She took several deep calming breaths. “No one will recognize you, so no one will stop you,” she reaffirmed to herself and pushed her sunglasses up onto the top of her head. She had her handbag, and an over-the-shoulder satchel, which had all the make-up and hair care products Rydge had given her. Her phone and all the usual suspects were in her handbag, so when they were found, everything of hers would be seen as there and nothing missing. Jess stepped out of the suite and walked down the corridor heading for the elevator. She stood and pressed the button. The twins should have left by now, though she didn’t know their exact schedule. She did know it was a day they would attend their university. The doors slid open, and Beta Graham stepped out, smiled at her briefly, after glancing at her. She greeted him as she would normally do so, “Beta.” And a slight incline of her head, and he stepped out, without she thought even realizing she was his own son’s Mate. She stepped into the elevator the moment he was out, turned and pressed the button for the ground floor and then looked up as his hand snapped out and stopped the doors from closing, and she looked right at him. “Yes Graham?” she asked. His eyes moved over her. “Jessica?” he asked, almost as if he couldn’t believe it. She nodded. “Yes, who else would it be on the Alpha Floor?” she asked, as if not understanding why he didn’t recognize her. “You look very different today, going somewhere special?” Graham asked, getting back into the elevator. “No, just to work. There’s a new owner, and a new dress code. This is my uniform.” She told him simply. “The make-up? I’ve never seen you wear that before. Don’t think Gregory or Marcus have either,” he murmured as he stood staring at her. His eyes were still roaming over her face, “You look absolutely stunning. Like all Luna’s do.” “Hmm, again, work-related. It's as natural as I can get it. Was in fact sent off to learn how to apply it, by the new boss,” she answered. This line of questioning she was all prepared for, in case anyone did stop her. Rydge was dedicated and fully prepped to getting her out and going to his pack. “New boss?” he asked. “Hmm, wants everyone to dress the same and look high end. You can check with the other she-wolves that work there, if they have all got new uniforms and set rules for make-up. Some were over the top and others underdone. Then there was me…” she shrugged as the elevator stopped. “Never wore any and, well, he likes my skills and that I’m reliable. The customers like me because I’m polite and respectful, so I was given lessons as to how to dress and do my hair and make-up over the past few months,” she told him as she stepped out of the elevator. None of it was even a lie, so he’d not pick that up from her if that was what he was looking for. “Be lucky if you make it out of the pack looking like that.” Graham smiled at her. “Why?” she asked as she walked across the foyer. “The twins will be all over you,” he told her. “No, they won’t,” she stated, “They should have already left for uni.” She waved a hand dismissively. He frowned at her dismissive behavior. “They haven’t,” he stated. She frowned at that but didn’t stop walking. “See you later, Beta.” She stated simply and continued on out of the packhouse, pulled her sunglasses on and headed for her car. She was just walking down the stairs when she heard her name called out and recognized Marcus’ voice, her top lip curled up in annoyance for a moment before she sighed to herself and stopped walking. He never called out to her inside this pack, hadn’t had a damned conversation with her in months, and now here today, the day she was ready to walk away, he chose to stop her himself. Though she didn’t think he’d done it off his own bat, no, it was likely Beta Graham had mind-linked to the twins about her. Guess she wasn’t getting out of this pack without issue. Well, her Mate could look at her one last time, and see her for the very first time in the light, that she wasn’t that fat, frumpy Mate he hated so much, and wouldn’t touch unless the light was off, and he shut all his wolfen senses down, so he didn’t have to see her. Although she was honestly glad for the darkness in that bedroom herself, she’d never had to see either of their faces as they took her either. She was just a Mate he nor his twin took any notice of, not even to know she’d lost all that weight.