Chapter 3 A New Pairing List

Void’s fingers tightened around mine, and he pulled me out towards the door. I turned to Bonnie, my eyes wide, and she immediately gestured for me to go, her expression so filled with relief and happiness that I couldn't ever bring myself to doubt it.

The door closed behind us, and we went down the stairs, Void’s hand still clasped tightly around mine, like if he let me go, even for a moment, I would shrink back into the insecurities in my head.

The crowd downstairs had dispersed, but a few still lingered around, checking names. Jamie was still by the board, hands on Clara's waist. She was facing him, her hands looped around his neck.

I turned away, my chest heaving with a fresh wave of pain. How could Jamie do this to me?

The chatter quieted as Void walked past, all of them bowing to pay respects. He barely paid it all any attention as we walked out of the packhouse.

His car, a sleek, state of the art sports car, was parked in front of the pack house, and he opened the door and turned to me.

"Shall we, bestie?"

I smiled for the first time all day. "Thank you, Void. Really."

He gave a slow nod. "Let's go."

I got into the car and watched as he walked around and got into the driver's seat. I lifted my gaze to the rear view mirror, and Clara and Janie were standing by the door.

Clara had her hands folded in front of her, her eyes thin with disdain. Jamie's expression was neutral, like he couldn't care less what I did or what happened to me.

The realization felt like a gunshot straight through my heart, and I looked away as the car started and pulled away, leaving their reflection behind us.

The head office for pack affairs was a large, sterile space, with a large desk backing floor to ceiling windows that offered a full view of the pack beneath.

The man, a beady eyed man with glasses resting on the edge of his nose and the scent of his wolf filling the entire space, rose in respect as Void walked in without bothering to knock or announce his presence.

"Alpha heir," the man said, ushering Void to a seat, his gaze falling away from me like I was invisible. "What brings you here? You could have sent for me and I would have come."

"Sit, Storm," Void said, pulling out the chair.

I hesitated for a long moment, before I walked forward and took the seat. The man looked at me, then looked back at Void.

"I will prepare a seat for you, Alpha heir."

"You do not need to," Void said, then straightened. "I want to participate in the auditions for the grand rink."

The man raised a brow, his lips parting, but no words came out of them. He cleared his throat, then leaned forward.

"I don't think I understand. You are practically the owner of the grand rink. Why would you need to audition?"

Void nodded. "I have only ever skated solo. I want to challenge myself with a partner. And I do not just want to do it leisurely qhen I know I will excel. I want to audition with the normal wolves my age. I want to audition and I want to win."

"We can make you win, Alpha heir..."

"You know that is not what I mean. I know the pairing list is out, but I am sure there is something you can do for me."

He swallowrd hard. "Do you... have a partner in mind?"

Void’s hand slowly came to rest on my shoulder. "She is right here with me."

The man almost laughed, but schooled his expression into neutrality. I felt the weight of his gaze settle on me, and once more, my chest tightened over my heart.

"Alpha heir, omegas are..."

"I do not remember asking for opinions. I want to dance with her."

The man leaned away. "I will have to consult the alpha. I could do it for you, but I am worried about the appearances of the royal alpha family if its only heir was to stoop so low as to dance with the commoners in an attempt to audition for the grand rink."

I closed my eyes. Commoners. Stoop so low. Like I was just dirt.

"You can talk to my father. But I will let you know that I do not appreciate the way you just spoke about my friend. After you talk to my father and he tells you to do what I ask, you might have to apologize, or the task I asked you to do would be the last you perform in this office."

The man straightened. "I apologise, Alpha..."

"I am not the one you insulted."

The man looked at me, and for a long minute he said nothing. I almost thought he would back out and lose his job.

"I apologize..." he said, pinching his nose. "For my manners."

I squeezed Void’s hand over my shoulder. "Its... okay. Could you please... grant us this one favour?"

The man gave a small sigh and picked up his phone. His eyes never left mine as he placed a call, then waited for it to ring.

"The alpha secretary, here."

"It is Jonas," the man said. "I have an inquiry regarding the alpha heir."

There was a small pause on the line before a gruff voice came on. The voice carried the same authority that Void’s smoother, more melodic one did, and I knew it was the alpha. My back immediately straightened.

"What inquiry do you have?"

"Greetings, Alpha. The alpha heir..."

"Do what he wants," the alpha said. "He isn't harming anyone and he will still be the face of the ice ceremoney in four months. I might argue that he would look more relatable to the pack."

The man nodded. "Done, Alphs. I will immediately put out a new priority list."

The line immediately went dead. The man looked up, then gave Void a small smile.

"The new list will be out in an hour. Can I have your name, miss?"

"Yvonne," I said, my voice low, disbelieving. "Yvonne Scott."

"Noted."