Page 15 of Saved By the Wolf

Becca knew I could never say no to a masquerade ball, not after that night we’d found her mom’s mask in the back of her closet when we were teenagers. That night had been the first of many where we’d pretended to attend one. It was unreal to think we were now going to a real one! I told myself firmly that I was going to have fun tonight, no matter what happened.

“Are you ready?” Becca asked.

“I’ll just be a second. You go down first.”

Halfway to the door, she turned back to look at me. “You okay?”

“Yes, I’m fine!” I said with a laugh. “I just want to take one last, long look at myself in the mirror.”

She smiled. “You’re too funny. Okay, don’t be long; I hear doors opening. That might be Luc coming to get you.”

Why did she have to say that? The prickling in my fingers got worse then. I leaned against the wall of my room and breathed in and out like Robin had shown me. Everything was going to be fine. We were just going as friends. Nothing had to happen. There were no expectations. I was going to get my life back and enjoy living again; I just needed to keep repeating this to myself for the rest of the night until I made it back to my room. I sighed. Even I knew that was a ridiculous thing to think and do.

I took one more breath to slow my heartbeat down and reminded myself Becca had gone to a lot of trouble to get this invitation, not to mention the dress and mask. I needed to go down and meet her; I couldn’t leave her waiting.

Somehow, I made it into the hallway, and when I turned to lock the door, I heard a few clicks behind me. I turned to see a couple of doors opening. Out stepped two men, built just as big as Luc. Where did these men come from? Behind them came a few more men, and I started to get a little nervous. I could stand up for myself, but not against these burly men. Their muscles were like rock, and there were many of them.

I hadn’t seen them before and wondered if they lived here or had just moved in. I’d been so deep into my new routine I hadn’t noticed. Maybe this wasn’t the best place for me to live. Maybe I had settled for it too quickly and should have kept looking. But it had felt so right!

My heart started beating fast, and I suddenly froze, standing there in the hallway.

“Hi, you must be Jill,” one of the men said. He held out his hand, but I couldn’t move to accept it.

The second guy said, “We’re Luc’s brothers, Jacob and Bruno. These are our friends. We come and stay every once in a while.”

So they did live here at times. But they reminded me too much of Rich’s men. I could feel goosebumps arising on my arms, and I held my hands together to keep them from shaking. This wasn’t going well.

At that moment I heard another door open, and Luc came walking out . . . not dressed for a masquerade ball. At least, torn jeans and what looked like a white undershirt weren’t what I would qualify as masquerade ball material.

A surge of disappointment washed over me, followed by a strange mix of relief and desire, but most of all, confusion. How could one person cause me to feel so much in one instant? I felt like a fool thinking he’d come with me. What was I thinking? I started walking down the hall, ignoring the men who had just introduced themselves and trying my best not to look at Luc as I stared straight ahead at the elevator doors, willing them to open before I got there.

“You look beautiful.”

His voice stopped me. I turned to look at him and almost lost my resolve. His eyes were dark as they roamed my body from head to toe. He was leaning against the doorframe, looking as if he needed it for support.

“Thanks,” I said quietly.

“I can’t go tonight. I have my brothers here,” he said, gesturing toward the men who I knew were staring at us intensely. “Brandon told me he didn’t mind escorting you on my behalf.”

“I see.” So I was just baggage to be bounced around for people to take care of? Okay.

“That’s not what—”

“No, it’s okay, I get it. Well, have a good night.” I turned to leave before I said something stupid. Thank goodness the elevator doors opened then.

Another man walked out to receive greetings from the men behind me, but I didn’t care. The only face I saw was Luc’s as he stared back at me as the elevator doors slowly closed.

Jill

“What took you so long?”Becca asked as I walked toward the car.

“Oh, you know, bumping into Luc’s family and friends, all who remind me of Rich and his goons. And then there’s Luc—he’s not coming. Did you know that?”

“Yeah, he said he was busy,” Brandon said from the other side of the car, looking annoyed. “But it’s his loss. I get two beautiful women on my arms tonight.”

“You sure do,” Becca giggled.

I stared at her in disbelief. Becca and giggling were not two things I would have ever put together. I looked at Brandon, then back at Becca and just smiled.