Chapter 13 A Taste of Pack
❀ Maeve ❀
I hated men’s gazes. Those unsolicited, leering looks.
Short, appreciative gazes were fine, but the leering made my skin crawl.
A small crowd of men with nothing better to do hung around the junction, catcalling the women boarding the bus to IronWolf.
The driver of the rickety diesel bus stood sentry at the designated spot, collecting fares.
“Ten gold for transport. Look here, such an exquisite little band of females, huh? Blackbridge ain’t so bad, is it?”
My heart slammed in my chest.
Throughout the walk from home to District 2, I’d given zero thought to how I’d pay for the journey to IronWolf territory.
I hoped Mother at least remembered to plant some coin in this heavy basket!
An anxious swipe of my hand along the edge met something hard. I grabbed the object and pulled.
Mother’s purse.
No.
The purse was as heavy with coin as my heart was with dread.
This was everything. She gave me everything she had.
The sun had almost set. There was no way I’d be able to run back home to return the bulk of the money, admonish her, and run back.
I’d be late for the ceremony.
Tears welled as I was jostled closer in the line.
The driver, sweaty, oil-smeared and, of course, leering, held out a hand.
He whistled as I counted out ten coins from the purse.
“I should make you pay more just for being so pretty, cub. What’s your name?”
“It’s nothing,” I rasped, shoving the coins into his palm.
I made to walk past him. He grabbed my arm.
“You best be respectful, girl. More of you come back than leave. And I’ll be right here waiting for ya.”
I shrugged off his hold, making sure to elbow him as I passed.
He chuckled behind me. “Feisty.”
I gagged upon entering the bus, more like a large rectangle with rusted bars and iron plates for sides.
It reeked of overused oil and wet fur.
The seats, ripped in multiple places, some nothing more than exposed metal, looked toxic to the touch.
I walked down the middle, past more girls who held onto baskets like me.
No one was stupid enough to dress for the journey. We were nothing but rogues seeking a sliver of a better life.
And like the driver had said, more than half of us would return this same night.
Not me.
Mate or not, I wouldn’t doom my mother and myself to this hellhole.
IronWolf Pack was a tight-knit, well-secured, and prosperous city that would have us, whether by hook or by crook.
Just as I turned to claim a seat, a caramel-skinned foot slammed harshly on it.
“What are you doing here, runt?”
Snickers.
“Same as you. Now please, let me be and mind your own business.”
Carmella barked a laugh. She rose from her seat.
“You know, when I first saw you attempt the training and hope for more than you’re worth, I pitied you. Now you’re just getting on my nerves.”
“Why though? It’s not like I can snatch your mate. We’re not going there to fight over males but to see if there’s a bond to exploit.”
She stalked closer. “Maybe. But it riles me to see you think you’re anything other than a fucking runt that belongs in this trash heap.”
I stood my ground.
Even the Moon Goddess couldn’t make me abandon this quest.
“Now be a good girl, and leave.”
How lucky could Carmella be? If I had my wolf, I wouldn’t be using words with her. I’d let my claws fly.
“I paid for passage. I deserve everything I seek. Move, Carmella.”
“Or what, runt?”
We were nose to nose now. Her icy blue eyes crackled gold, her shift imminent. She’d wreck this bus if she shifted.
She’d wreck me.
I led with a shoulder to push past her.
She struck me hard in the chest.
Breath rushed out of me.
I was airborne for seconds, then crashed against the driver’s console with an ugly sound.
I blinked color from my eyes.
Pain flared.
I gritted my teeth against the burning bruises along my thighs and arms.
“Hey!” A voice boomed. “There’ll be no catfighting in this bus. You want to play? Get. Out!”
Tears prickled my eyes from both the pain and the humiliation. If I only had my wolf!
And I wasn’t even healing fast enough.
“You mind?” The driver snarled down at me.
Vision blurry, I gathered my basket, stuffed my dress and items back in, and rose to my feet.
A seat a few rows from Carmella was empty. A brown-haired girl I recognized as Elara was already seated on the inside. She said nothing but didn’t prevent me from sitting.
I blinked the tears away. It wouldn’t do to show weakness. To feed Carmela’s victory. I wiped the oil off my bruises with the bunched end of my dress, once more wishing I had my wolf.
Hopefully, if I found my mate, I would.
Then I’d never be in this position again.
The seats rattled when the engine came on.
Soon, the space smelled like burnt metal and suffering as the bus began its roll to IronWolf Pack.
“You know, she’s just jealous.”
“I don’t see why,” I mumbled without turning.
“Everyone does, except you.”
“Say that’s true. Why would she be? Again, it’s not like I can interrupt a bond with her fated mate. We each have our own.”
“Yes. But think about what happens to the bulk of those who don’t find a mate. That’s when the real competition starts.”
My brows drew together. “I don’t follow.”
“You’re not the only one with the goal of never returning. There’ll be as many unmated males as there’ll be females. We’ll compete to get the attention of a male who’ll want to keep us, bonded or not.”
My eyes widened.
That was certainly an option. But…
“Why would they choose us over their own unmated females then?”
“Us rogues, we’re like forbidden candy. If you’re interesting enough, someone will pick you.”
“But for how long? What stops them from taking advantage of us and sending us right back after?”
“That’s where your cunning comes in.” She purred. “Are you clever, Maeve?”
“I can be.”
She scoffed. “Not good enough.”
“I am.”
“Let’s hope so.”
With that, she trained her gaze ahead, leaving me to my thoughts.
I would never resign myself to whoring in IronWolf, it just wasn’t a good plan. I could still get banished or arrested, and I doubted those eager men would stand up for a disposable rogue.
No. I had to do better than that.
My stomach rumbled.
I cringed.
No one commented. Everyone was deep in thought for the future.
Another short search revealed the rations Mother had packed for my trip.
Jellied blood pudding with chunks of fruit to keep my anemia in check.
I sucked one down greedily, then squeezed the empty bag against the edge of the basket.
The groans and clatter of our metal box lulled me into a fitful sleep.
❀ ❀ ❀ ❀ ❀
Bang! Bang! Bang!
I woke with a jolt.
“Get off! Last stop.”
The burly driver stomped through the middle of the seats. He struck the metal bars along the roof with a heavy fist.
Amidst murmurs and chitters of excitement, a busful of young women alighted.
IronWolf territory.
My tensed muscles relaxed at the serene view.
The air smelled undeniably cleaner, the woods thick and green.
Oil lamps lit up the path ahead, and I could hear the din of activity just over the hedges.
The thud of boots turned my attention to a small party of IronWolf soldiers.
They approached without weapons, gazes sweeping over our bodies appreciatively, protruded fangs glinting in their grins.
I turned at the ripping sound of fabric by my side.
Elara had deepened the neckline of her dress.
“Go big, or go home.” She winked, moving to the front of our group.
The soldiers boxed us in. Our handsome, but surly, escorts to the Matrons.
My stomach knotted. My heart hammered in my ears.
This was the moment everything would change.
Here goes everything.