C18 Cinderella among the wolves

The night air hung heavy around me as I crouched behind the guesthouse, the coolness of the ground seeping through my clothes. My heart raced as I kept my eyes fixed on the limousines slowly rolling down the long driveway. The alphas were taking their elite entourage for a night out in London, leaving the house vulnerable for a while.

I watched as the convoy’s brake lights disappeared into the distance. Beowulf had been with Frida, and what was left of his loyal followers, but Alpha Gundahar had left without Dolph, the ever-present shadow at his side. I couldn’t help but wonder how he was holding up.

“Ayla?”

I spun around, my pulse quickening at the sound of a familiar voice. There, standing in the shadows, was Phina, her figure barely distinguishable in her dark clothes.

“What are you doing here?” I whispered urgently, startled but not angry.

Her lips quivered, though her eyes were fierce with determination. “I saw you sneaking out. You look like a cat burglar. Someone has to keep an eye on things.”

I sighed, the breath escaping from me more sharply than I intended. I ran a hand through my hair. “Phina, I told you—”

“I’m not going back,” she interrupted, her voice resolute, and her lips curled into an exaggerated scowl, though I could see the flicker of fear hiding beneath it.

My shoulders slumped. I could have argued, but I knew it was pointless. She was stubborn, and right now, I needed her help. “Fine,” I said, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Stay here. Keep an eye out for anyone coming toward the lodge. If you see anything suspicious, make a noise.”

Phina’s face broke into a grin. She cupped her hands around her mouth and hooted loudly, the sound echoing in the stillness of the night.

“Yes, exactly like that,” I replied with a smile, relieved that she understood.

“I’ve got your back, Ayla.” Her voice was unwavering.

I felt a rush of gratitude, mixed with guilt. I didn’t want to put her in danger, but I didn’t have a choice. “Remember, don’t come inside no matter what. If anything goes wrong, I’m counting on you to help me get out.”

Her gaze hardened, filled with determination. “I won’t let you down. You have my word.”

I stared at her a moment longer than I meant to, trying to hide the worry creeping into my chest. She was so young, so innocent. I just hoped my decision to involve her wasn’t a mistake. When she gave me a quick salute, I nodded and turned away, refocusing on the task ahead.

The alpha’s lodge loomed in front of me. The sprawling timber house was massive, designed like a ski lodge with large windows that overlooked the guesthouse and the dark lawn. It was eerily quiet, and the lights were all off, which was good—no one would be watching.

I gave her one last look, ensuring she stayed at her post, before I started jogging toward the lodge, keeping low and using the shadows for cover. The map I’d drawn by hand was clutched tightly in my fingers, my mind running through Mum’s instructions.

The servant’s side entrance was my only real chance of getting in unnoticed. I reached it quickly and pushed against the wards, feeling a brief tug of resistance before they gave way, allowing me inside. By now, all the Neutrals and omegas had retired for the night, leaving the house silent and empty.

Moonlight filtered through the tall windows, casting long shadows across the hallway. The walls were lined with mounted animal heads, their glass eyes staring down at me, lifeless. A shiver crawled up my spine as I wondered if they had once been shifters—victims of the alpha’s cruelty.

I moved silently, my footsteps muffled on the hardwood floor as I climbed the stairs. The familiar creak of the steps made my stomach turn. Mum had mixed a potion to mask my scent, but it didn’t make me feel any safer. I longed for some kind of invisibility cloak, anything to shield me from the eyes that might be lurking in the shadows.

Suddenly, a hoot echoed through the still night air, and I froze in my tracks, heart leaping into my throat. Was that Phina? Or had I misjudged the time and someone was approaching?

I swallowed hard, anxiety rippling through me. I glanced down at the map again, my mind running over Mum’s directions. The alpha’s lodge had only been a place of punishment for me in the past—each visit a reminder of my failures, my mistakes, and my unfortunate encounters with Frida and the others in Beowulf’s pack.

I pushed myself up the stairs, my legs burning with every step. I couldn’t afford to waste time; they’d burn me if I didn’t get to my talisman first. The thought of my body being turned to ash, never to rise again, made my heart race even faster. I needed that talisman, the one thing that could possibly tip the scales in my favor, and I needed it now.

The door to the room was unlocked, and I let out a small, relieved breath. For once, things were going my way. I shoved it open, stepping into a room that felt wrong. The walls were painted a soft, nauseating shade of pink, and the air reeked of cheap rose-scented perfume. It felt like a place that belonged to someone who only cared about appearances, not reality. Not the kind of space I belonged in.

I scanned the room, my heart thudding in my chest as I searched for the talisman. According to the map Mum had given me, it should be by one of the windows. My eyes darted around until I saw it—there, on the ledge, catching the faint moonlight. I quickly snatched it up, letting the leather thong slip around my neck.

Just as I started to breathe a little easier, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching in the hall. My stomach dropped. There was no time to waste. Should I hide in the bathroom? Or the closet?

The door creaked open, and I immediately dove under the bed, pressing myself flat against the cool floorboards. My heart was pounding so loudly, I could almost hear it in my ears. Every muscle in my body screamed for escape.

Frida’s voice echoed through the room, grating and insistent. “Wolfie, I’ve been looking forward to Gymkhana for weeks. You know I can’t stand missing out on good food.”

Beowulf’s voice came next, deep and dismissive. “You didn’t have to follow me like a lost cub.”

I stayed frozen, holding my breath, praying they wouldn’t find me. I could hear Beowulf drop his jacket carelessly on the floor near the bed.

“But we’re a couple,” Frida whined, her tone almost too saccharine for my liking.

I curled myself tighter under the bed, my fists clenching so hard my nails bit into my palms. The thought of them together, of how they'd brought me to this point, made every part of me ache with rage. Beowulf’s betrayal, Frida’s snide comments—it was all too much. They had condemned me to death and worse. My wolf was gone, trapped by a god who had no intention of being merciful.

If I had my wolf, I would tear them apart, burn their world down. But right now, I had to stay still, stay quiet. Every second felt like an eternity.

Frida stepped back, her voice all sweet and needy. “We’ve been together for years, Wolfie. You’ve even given me this room. What’s the harm? I don’t have a mate, and neither do you.”

The words struck me hard. My mate... My wolf... Gone. The connection we shared shattered when Beowulf had stood by, letting them sacrifice my wolf in exchange for my death. I felt nothing for him now. He wasn’t my alpha anymore. He was a coward, a traitor. Nothing more.

I waited, tense and aching to lunge at them, but I forced myself to stay still, to listen. What else would they say? Would Beowulf acknowledge what he’d done?

He grunted as he slouched into an armchair, clearly uncomfortable in the fine clothes that didn’t suit him. “Put that mouth to use,” he growled.

Frida didn’t miss a beat. She immediately knelt between his legs, practically panting with excitement. The sound made me sick. I wanted to scream, to claw at the floor, to do anything to drown out the noise.

But I was trapped, forced to listen as they carried on, oblivious to the fact that I was lying here, barely keeping it together. Would I really have to stay here all night, hidden beneath the bed, listening to them? The idea made my stomach churn.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to steady my breath, but my mind kept racing, replaying the scene over and over again—Frida and Beowulf, careless in their selfishness, while my world had come crashing down around me.