Chapter 2 The Fragile Cargo Leaves

Sienna

“All set!” I handed my duffel bag to Dante who was standing right by my bedroom door.

I had been sweating and struggling just to drag the stupid thing across my carpet three seconds ago, but he picked it up with one hand like it was empty.

Must be nice. Men and their annoying, effortless wolf strength.

“Sebastian’s waiting downstairs.”

I nodded and gave my four other, very large, luggages to the maids.

And before anyone judged me, I would like to point out that four was actually very reasonable.

We walked side by side toward the private elevator. I stepped inside the mirrored doors and slammed my finger against the button for the basement garage.

Honestly, as I watched the floor numbers start dropping, I didn't feel a single trace of sadness or home-sickness. I was way too excited for my own good, which probably made me sound like a terrible person considering I was being exiled from my own family home.

“Take care, Sienna.”

“Yes, yes. You should worry about yourself for once, Dante,” I said, turning my head to look at him sideways. “I heard from some of our packmates that Mom and Dad arranged a marriage for you?”

I watched the muscle in his jaw clenching tight.

“How come I had to hear about my own brother's engagement from random pack gossip first?”

As far as I know, Dante had a lover—someone our vacationing parents absolutely despised. So, true to Montclair fashion, they just picked out a respectable pack heiress and arranged a marriage to force him into line.

“Because you’re way too busy partying to pay attention to anything,” Dante replied flatly, not even bothering to look at me.

I blew out a sharp breath, rolling my eyes.

Every single conversation we had lately descended into him throwing my social life in my face. But what else was I supposed to do in Clairelle? It wasn't like anyone ever gave me a real responsibility to do anyway.

Dante cleared his throat, clearly wanting to drop his own mess. “Although I guess I know where you get it from. Julian and Theo need to get their lives straight, as well.”

Julian and Theo, my other two older brothers. They were probably passed out in some luxury hotel penthouse right now. Or tangled up in bed with some girl whose name they didn't even bother to learn.

I shot him a quick, mischievous wink. “See? You’re all the moral support I’ll ever need.”

“Get your life straight, Sienna,” he said, his tone dropping into that suffocating Alpha register as the elevator slowed down.

Ding.

I pouted as he stepped out onto the underground garage first. He really didn't need to keep repeating it every five minutes.

I got it, okay? I was the piece of trash sister who brought zero pride to the Montclair name. There wasn't much I could do about it now anyway.

“Are you ready?” Sev asked, standing right by the open trunk of his car as we walked up to him.

The second his deep voice hit my ears, all the ugly annoyance at my brother completely melted away. I instantly softened my face, giving Sev a little nod.

Dante and the maids started tossing my luggage into the back of Sev’s black car. Between my clothes, designer shoes, and massive skincare collection, my stuff completely swallowed up every inch of space, including the backseat.

Sev walked around the side and opened the passenger door for me.

My chest felt stupidly warm, a fluttery panic rising in my throat just watching him move. He was such a gentleman, and the respectful way he spoke was just the cherry on top.

“Thank you, Sev.” I whispered softly, keeping my voice gentle as I slid into the leather seat.

He gave me a handsome smile before patting Dante on the shoulder and walking around to the driver’s side.

I quickly rolled down my window and leaned my arms over the frame to look back up at my brother.

“Don’t miss me too much, okay?”

Dante raised an eyebrow, a suspicious, irritating grin spreading across his face. “Don’t give up and beg to come home in just a matter of three days, okay?”

I frowned, my eyes narrowing at him. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You’ll see.” He just gave me a lazy wave of his hand.

I stared at him, confusion knotting up my stomach. I had never actually set foot inside Lupine Regalia before. What was he implying?

Before I could overthink, I caught a shadow moving in my side vision. Sev was leaning over from the driver's seat, his broad body suddenly hovering right over mine.

“Your seatbelt, Sien.”

My mind went entirely blank, my eyes wide as his massive chest practically brushed against mine. The clean, intoxicating smell of him rolled off his clothes, instantly clouding my head.

His muscular arm reached right past my waist, grabbing the strap and clicking it into the buckle beside my hip before he pulled back into his seat.

I gripped the strap with shaking fingers, my cheeks burning so hot I was terrified I looked like I would pass as a tomato.

“You... you could have just told me to put it on,” I squeaked out in a tiny voice, still trembling from the sudden proximity.

A slow, boyish grin touched the corners of his mouth. “Right.”

He gave Dante one last nod through the glass before shifting the car into gear and driving out of the dark garage.

As we hit the main highway, a heavy silence swallowed the inside of the car.

I sat there rigidly, pressing my back against the seat, terrified that with his hearing he could listen to my heart hammering like crazy inside my chest. Being stuck in this enclosed space with him... smelling his scent, watching his large hands grip the steering wheel... it was starting to become way too much for my poor heart to bear.

Before I completely embarrassed myself by hyperventilating, I cleared my throat to break the quiet.

“So... what’s your pack actually like, Sev?”

Sev kept his gray eyes glued to the road, a hint of quiet amusement lacing his tone. “And here I thought you weren’t the least bit interested in my territory.”

“I am!” I blurted out a little too fast.

He chuckled softly. “If I detail every single aspect now, where would the surprise be?”

“But...” I bit my lower lip, digging my teeth into the skin as I stared at his side profile. What was with all this frustrating mystery today?

I unbuckled my posture a bit, leaning over the center console toward him. “How long is the drive, at least?”

“Six hours, maximum,” he answered smoothly, switching lanes. “But, I have no intention of speeding, so we are likely looking at eight.”

“Why not?” I asked, tilting my head.

Sev glanced over at me for a quick second, his gray eyes softening into something so warm and sweet. His smile widened just a little.

“You are sitting right beside me, Sien. I can hardly afford to be reckless with such fragile cargo, can I, princess?”