In the end, I didn’t manage to eat a single bite of my food. All throughout breakfast, I could feel everyone’s eyes at me at some point, even when the overnight watch came in to grab some food before they retreated to their rooms to sleep.

“At least you look hot,” Valorie whispered across the table. They’d managed to sneak highlighter onto my face when I wasn’t looking, and I was self-conscious. The wolves in our pack knew I never wore makeup and knew why I suddenly was. I wanted to rub my cheeks clean of the powdery stuff.

“I don’t think that’s going to guarantee that everything will go smoothly,” I whispered back.

“It can help,” Asa disagreed. I shot her a withering look, and she raised one shoulder at me before downing the rest of her coffee.

A sudden hand on my shoulder made me jump. Was I really that distracted that anyone could sneak up on me like that?

I turned, finding my father standing behind me. I offered a weak smile, setting down my cup of tea so he couldn’t see my hands shaking. I was feeling too many conflicting emotions, from frustration to nervousness. It must have been apparent in my expression, because he squeezed my shoulder once.

“They’re here,” he said quietly.

“Already?” Panic was beginning to settle in my stomach, a fluttering, flighty feeling.

He nodded somberly. “Come, let’s go greet them.”

I was grateful he didn’t say something like let’s go meet your future husband because I would have vomited right then and there.

I followed him in a daze to the front of the compound, where the ceilings were tall and decorated with shining chandeliers that cast a warm glow on the smooth stones.

Maddock was already waiting in the grand entryway, fresh bouquets of flowers on top of the pillars on either side of the hallway. I glimpsed several black and gray SUVs parked in the circular drive. The door was already open to welcome our guests; I could even hear the bubbling of the fountain out front over the shuffling of bodies as duffles were unloaded and tossed onto the ground.

I swallowed down my nausea, and allowed myself ten seconds to lock away my raging emotions and don a cool, collected mask.

One.

I took a deep breathe in through my nose.

Two.

I held it in, closing my eyes.

Three.

Breathe out.

Four.

Breathe in. Remind myself that it could be worse.

Five.

Hold. I was doing this for my pack.

Six.

Breathe out. For my friends, who always supported me.

Seven.

Breathe in. For my father, who could not bear to lose me.

Eight.

Hold. Collect all my emotions into a tidy, neat package.

Nine.

Breathe out. Let my emotions flow out of me with my breathing.

Ten.

Breathe in. Mask on. Eyes open.

I tugged the corners of my lips up ever so slightly as the wolves began filing in, the ones bringing up the rear carrying several duffle bags each. In front was an older wolf, and just from looking at him, I could tell this was the alpha of the Blood Moon pack, Tobias. He radiated a calm confidence, not appearing to be bothered to be in another pack’s territory because it was also his territory.

Behind him stood two other wolves that were obviously his sons. They each shared a smattering of features with their father, and something eased in my chest. At least I wouldn’t have to worry about not being physically attracted to my future husband; no matter which brother it ended up being, both were handsome and strong-looking. Sexy as Asa would shamelessly say.

Niether of them paid me any attention as they greeted Maddock one at a time, and then my father. Standing to my father’s side, slightly behind him, should have been enough of an indicator of who I was. I was offered no greeting and was glad I hadn’t immediately been able to move my legs to force myself forward to greet them.

“We were not expecting you this early; I’m glad that your travels were uneventful,” Maddock said after a moment’s pause. He turned slightly and held out an arm towards me. “Elisandra here would have been dressed more appropriately to greet her future father-in-law.”

My eyes darted down to my clothes, wondering what the problem with my outfit was. Sure, it wasn’t anything fancy, nor was it super feminine like a dress, but I thought the jeans and shirt were nice enough. The makeup and jewelry Asa and Valorie had wrestled me into was a nice touch, I had to admit. I clasped my hands behind my back, fidgeting with the rings on my fingers, and raised my chin. I didn’t dare say a word or meet my alpha’s eyes.

Tobias dismissed Maddock’s concerns with a wave of his hand. I relaxed imperceptibly, still twirling the rings behind my back. Tobias walked over to me, extending his hand. I reached mine out to shake it, but he brought it up and kissed the back of my hand instead. A cool tingle traveled up my arm at the contact, a tangible feeling of a strong alpha.

“Pleasure to meet you, Elisandra,” Tobias said smoothly with a smile. It wasn’t hard to smile back.

“The pleasure is mine,” I managed. My brain fumbled for something else to say, but he dropped my hand and gestured for his sons to step closer. They both looked utterly perplexed.

“I owe you an apology, Elisandra. I did not yet speak to my sons about the alliance your alpha and I agreed upon. Jonah.” He gestured to the man on his right. “And Noah.” He turned, gesturing to the man on his left.

“Nice to meet you both,” I said. Noah just dipped his head towards me, and Jonah didn’t acknowledge me at all.

“My sons,” Tobias said, turning to face them. “It is time for us to solidify our alliances. One of you will marry Elisandra here. Both of you should get to know her over the next two weeks.” Tobias turned back to face me. “I know that arranged marriages are often not ideal, but I do hope you’ll find a happy match with one of my sons.”

I blinked. I hadn’t expected to have any semblance of a choice, yet…here one was.

Small mercies.

But neither of the brothers looked particularly thrilled. In fact, Jonah looked downright murderous, and Noah seemed perplexed.

My father broke the awkward, tense silence. “Eliza, why don’t you show our guests to their rooms?”

“I’d like to get straight to business with you both, if you don’t mind,” said Tobias, as if either my alpha or my father could deny him.

“Of course,” Maddock answered.

“If you’ll follow me?” It came out as a question, and I chided myself and cleared my throat.

There were multiple wings that branched off from the main hall, forming a figure eight with two inner courtyards, and I led the five wolves to the grand staircase and up to the second floor. There were three floors in total, and my own rooms were one floor above the guest suites.

I wasn’t sure what to say. Should I tell them about the history of our compound? Ask them how their trip over was? Share something about myself in the hopes of having something in common with them?

No. Those were all terrible ideas. I would hate having to listen to mindless prattling if I were in their shoes.

A third of the way down the hall, I stopped, opening a heavy wooden door on the left-hand side, opposite the towering windows on the right.

“Our guest suites each have two separate bedrooms with a connecting bathroom and common seating and dining area,” I said, stepping inside and opening both bedroom doors. “If you’d like to use the fireplace, we can send up some wood for you.” The two wolves who I had not been introduced to each nodded their thanks, taking a duffle bag each into the bedrooms. Noah and Jonah waited quietly outside, and I quickly left the two strange wolves to their own devices to show the brothers to their rooms.

I didn’t bother to repeat myself, as I’m sure they heard me. I opened the door to their suite. “Would you like anything to eat or drink?” I offered, stepping aside as they brought their bags in from the hall.

“We already ate,” came Jonah’s gruff reply. His voice was deep, a little gravelly, similar to his father’s. He immediately retreated into his room and shut the door behind him.

“You’ll have to forgive us,” Noah said from the doorway to his room. His tone was lighter, friendlier. My eyes met his blue ones. “We’re a little…”

“Shocked?” I offered. “Blindsided?”

One of the corners of his mouth turned up. “Those would be appropriate terms.”

“That was me yesterday,” I admitted. “And today, to be honest.”

He tilted his head, confused. “You didn’t agree to this?”

“Isn’t that how an arranged marriage works?” I countered.

Noah was silent, regarding me as though actually looking at me for the first time. It was unnerving.

“I’ll leave you to get settled,” I said finally. “I’ll be back up here just before lunch to show you to the dining hall, or I can have lunch brought up to you.”

Noah waved a hand, the gesture identical to his father’s mannerisms. “There’s no need for special treatment. We’d rather get the lay of the land, so to speak, sooner rather than later. But thank you, for the offer,” he tacked on.

“Of course. I’ll…see you later, then.”

I closed the door behind me and took a deep, steadying breath.

This was going to be impossible.