Beauty in Winter (Beauty #4)(2)

When I look back up at Mr. Blackden, I watch as he grabs the papers from me, sliding them back into the folder.

“You smell fertile. Mr. Gold is going to be very pleased.”

I glance at the folder he has in his hand and wrinkle my brow in confusion. I have no idea what he’s talking about, but his words and the look on his face make me think that maybe I should have read that contract…





Chapter 2





Reid





I pace the length of my office, talking on the phone. It’s my lawyer, Ron Blackden, but he also happens to be my friend.

“You did what?” I growl, and feel the anger rise up my neck.

The blood that pumps in my veins is alpha. At least, it’s supposed to be. I’m the first-born son of our former pack alpha, so I was destined to lead us.

Until I was cursed.

When shifters come of age, their inner wolf takes over and they learn to shift. Right at the time in my life when that should have happened, my father was killed by a man in the woods, and I went after him to avenge his death. I went to seek revenge before my body was ready, but I could feel the alpha trying to push through. I was young and stupid. The pack council members warned me not to, but I couldn’t be stopped. The pack and I followed him, and when we caught the man who had killed my father, he cast a curse on me.

I was the only male there who was still in human form. I didn’t know what happened at the time. One moment I was trying to hunt down my father’s killer and the next I was waking up surrounded by the pack.

At first I thought everything was okay. I didn’t feel any different, but people backed away from me. When I looked in the mirror I saw that my face had taken on some of the traits of a wolf. Our kind don’t look like animals unless they’re fully shifted, so it was unheard of for someone to retain their wolf features while in their human form. My hair had grown out black and shaggy, and a dark beard had formed. My canine teeth had lengthened a little, and my eyes had turned a nearly solid black. I looked menacing and not quite human.

Everyone thought it would pass when I learned how to shift, but the more time went on, the more I realized I was stuck this way. Forever in between and never able to lead my people. How could I be an alpha and be unable to shift? It was impossible.

So I locked myself away and shut out the pack. My father was gone, and I didn’t have any brothers or sisters. My mother never took to me after I was born, so when my father died, she left to find another mate.

Mate. That’s a word I hate thinking. I watched as everyone around me paired off. Years went by and I had to witness the joining of wolves. The sight made me cold and bitter inside, knowing that I’d never be able to have that. The curse prevented me from ever being able to have one. And how could a mate want me like this? Never human, never animal, unable to lead his own pack.

I’m neither a man nor a wolf, and I’m damned to hell for what I’ve become. I’ve made do with it and lived my life — half a life — but one phone call and all that I’ve locked away has been threatened.

“I’ve hired someone to come stay with you and help around the house.” Ron’s voice breaks through my thoughts.

“No. The answer is no.” I grind my teeth, thinking about how he keeps trying to meddle in my life.

“It’s already done, Reid. There’s no undoing it. She’s signed a contract, and I think this will be good for you.”

“She? You’re sending a woman?” I nearly shout into the phone.

“Calm down. She needed a job, and your estate acquired something she’s looking to get back.”

“Give it back and send her away.”

He sighs on the phone like I’m being an asshole, which I probably am. “It’s not that simple.” There’s a pause, and then I hear him rustle some papers. “Take her on for a night and see if the arrangement works. If not, then maybe we can redistribute her to another pack family. Either way, it’s my job as financier of your assets to look out for you. What she wants is very valuable, and she is required to compensate you for it in some way.”

I hear the sound of a small hand knocking on the door. I’m on the other side of the castle, but my hearing is heightened. I look out the window and see it’s dark and snowing. I can’t let a woman stay out in that.

I grind my teeth again before giving in. “Fine. One night,” I say before ending the call and tossing the cell on my desk.

Storming down the hallway, I make my way to the front door and open it wide while staying hidden behind it. I’ve gotten good at hiding my face and keeping it in shadows so I don’t scare people.

I wait a moment, and she speaks.

“Hello?”

“Come in,” I say, and step out just a little from behind the door, remaining mostly hidden.

“I’m Fiona Lamb. Mr. Blackden sent me.” Her voice is soft and melodic.

I peer around the door, keeping my chin down, and look at her. I’m frozen in place as I see the most beautiful woman I’ve ever laid eyes on.

Her dark honey-brown hair falls in waves down her back, She pulls off a raincoat to reveal she’s wearing a white cotton dress tied with a yellow ribbon that makes her look so innocent and sweet. She looks around, trying to see where I am, shaking out her raincoat.