Chapter 13 Sage The woman in the driver's seat glares at me like I'm the dirt on her fancy shoes . I don't know her but I can't help but sulk over her judgmental sneer . I'd actually hoped things could be different in Alaric's pack , that people wouldn't treat me like an outcast . Apparently that was too much to wish for . " Eris , what are you doing here ? I thought Garrett was meeting me . " Alaric's tone is borderline frosty , showing no particular emotion toward the woman . Which oddly makes me feel a bit better . I'm not sure why I care . Between her snooty attitude and his bossy personality , they probably deserve each other . " I volunteered , " She beams at him , batting her eyelashes . " There's been more reports of attacks and disappearances while you were gone . Garrett was busy training a new group of warriors and was happy to let me come instead . " I could swear I hear him mumble something along the lines of " going to murder him " as he climbs into the backseat but I can't be sure . He reaches over to buckle me in and I feel myself blush at the caring act . He's about to fasten his own seatbelt when Eris interrupts him . " Oh , Ric ! Don't you want to ride up here with me ? I know how much you hate riding in the back . I'm sure , " She trails off , at a loss for my name . um , " Eris , this is Sage . She's my guest and I expect her to be treated as such . Sage this is Eris . Her father's pack territory border's mine which leads me to wonder why she isn't there instead of here . " I stifle a laugh at the way he grinds out the last part . " Nice to meet you , Eris . " I smile goodnaturedly despite the urge to scowl . " Of course it is , " she flashes me a fake smile in return then quickly dismisses me . " Anyway , Ric , I'm sure she wouldn't want you to be uncomfortable riding back there just for her sake , would you , Sage ? " " Um , no , of course not . " I say softly , still trying to decipher the dynamic between them and again , wondering why I care . " I'm good where I am , Eris . Just drive , please . " It's not a bark , but it's close . She huffs unhappily but does as she's told . His refusal to join her in the front seat doesn't stop her from talking his ear off , though . I couldn't get a word in edgewise if I wanted to , which I don't , so I tune her out . The drive is long which leaves me plenty of time to contemplate all the changes life has thrown at me lately . I didn't think I could hurt any worse than I did every day with the way I was treated in Blackthorn pack . But I couldn't have been more wrong . I have to brush the tears from my cheek when I think about what Cassius did to me . And don't get me wrong , I'm grateful to Alaric for saving me . But he hurt me too . His refusal to confide in me makes me feel betrayed and taken advantage of . So why do I hate Eris blatantly flirting with him in front of me ? I swear if she calls him Ric in that sickly sweet tone one more time , I might vomit on this high - end upholstery . It reminds me of the way Daphne panted after ... him . That must be why . Just like Daphne , this woman is too inconsiderate and self - absorbed to ever be in a position of power over anyone , let alone a Queen . But if he can't see that for himself , that's not my problem . Chapter 13 +25 BONUS It's not like I had much of a choice at the time , but once again , my fate was decided for me . Alaric didn't even ask me if I wanted to live in his pack . I wish I could just start over somewhere no one knows me and no one has ever hurt me . I guess a girl like me doesn't have a lot of options . So I'll try to give it some time . But I'm not sure the royal pack is a place I can stay . I try not to examine too closely the pang in my chest at the thought of leaving my handsome stranger behind . I'm staring out the window , watching the scenery pass by and trying not to feel sorry for myself , when Alaric leans over me with his massive body , stealing all my attention . " Do you see those turrets peeking over the trees in the distance ? " He tilts my chin up slightly and my eyes follow his pointed finger , nodding when I spot them . " That's my house . " He announces proudly . " Alaric , that's not a house . That's a castle ! " I gape at him . www " Well . I am a king . " He grins broadly . " But it's just home to me . " " That's right , he is a king . So don't you think you should address him as such . ' Your Majesty ' would be more appropriate . " Eris offers ever so helpfully . " You don't . " I blurt out without thinking . Ech , what is wrong with me ? I shouldn't be letting this woman get under my skin . She's just another mean girl and challenging them has never brought me anything but trouble . " Alaric and I are ... close . Aren't we , Alaric ? " she exudes confidence when she says it and I feel an absurd stab of jealousy . Other than the fact that he saved my life twice , for which I'm grateful , we're nothing to each other . Not even friends really . What does it matter how " close " they are ? It's not like I want him for myself . Do I ? " Enough , Eris ! Sage can address me however she likes . " He rolls his eyes at her . Eris opens her mouth , presumably to argue her point . But she doesn't get the chance as we pull up to his house / castle where a beautiful girl with a heart - shaped face and large honey - brown eyes , stands practically bouncing on her toes , an infectious smile stretching from cheek to cheek . She has long chestnut colored hair that falls over her shoulders in waves and she's tall and slender . She's gorgeous but she doesn't make my jealousy spike like Eris does . Which maybe has something to do with the way she's leaning into the muscular blond man standing next to her and he's looking at her like she hung the moon . They're definitely together . " Great . The fucking welcoming committee . " Alaric mutters while helping me from the car . " I'm sorry for what's about to happen , Sage . " " Wh- , what ? " I ask as he leads me up the steps where the couple is waiting . But I've barely got the question past my lips when the waiting girl launches herself at me and nearly tackles me to the ground .