A/N:  For this Interlude, we hear it from Ruth's pov.

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Taking a turn about the room, I blew out a long slow breath at being forced to spend my birthday in a room full of people I barely knew.

Yes, today, I turned eighteen, and right now inside our home, the Lannister mansion, was buzzing with music and the sounds of chatter and laughter from visiting pack members who'd been invited to tonight's special occasion.

I was puzzled as to what the special occasion was?

It definitely wasn't to celebrate my coming of age since my father only raised an eyebrow at breakfast, having forgotten it again, and my half-sister gave her usual nonchalant shrug.

Despite that, it had my heart and mind racing, hoping something was about to change for me.

Something huge. Something that all of us shifters waited for.

Fate.

But whilst waiting for fate to toss her hat in the ring, that left tonight's over the top event.  I'd even tried cleverly extracting the information from Charles DuPonte, an odd shifter who had been staying with us for the better part of a month now; on business for the council, but he'd done nothing but look down his snooty nose at me and brushed me aside in favour of talking to my half-sister.  Clearly he lacked taste.

But earlier, just after lunch, our father had said he would be making a special announcement tonight and then turned to me and said I had to make sure I dressed elegantly for the momentous moment

... whatever that was?

The occasion called for it, something fitting for a person of my standing,

And now looking down at the cocktail dress. Quite frankly, I felt awkward, not to mention uncomfortable.

Couture, my half-sister had said in a stupid posh accent.

And, yes, it was truly beautiful. Layers of silk painted my body in red and black, but it exposed much more skin that I was used to. I couldn't walk past a person without a set of eyes taking a second glance.

But sadly, I'd had little say in the matter.

"Don't worry, father. I'll make sure she looks perfect." My half sister had offered, her full lips curving up into a sly smile before turning that fake sweetness on me. But you only had to read her pretty brown eyes to see her true thoughts.

She hated me.

Why?

Because I was the unforgivable mistake. 

Our father, mourning the loss of his mate, had taken my mother to his bed, and I was the product of their one night of passion.

Phantom pains tightened across my chest.

My mother.

I pressed a hand to my chest, hoping to ease it. However, even after all this time, it didn't lessen the pain. She'd died during child-birth, and out of duty—or guilt, my father took me into his care and claimed me as his own blood.

Elaine, his daughter by his late-mate and wife, had been barely a year old herself. Nonetheless as soon as she was old enough to talk, she made damn sure everyone knew I was the mistake. The outcast.   

I stopped looking to my father to help or any kind of affection years ago.  Although I couldn't say he was unkind to me either, but all his attention went into indulging his first born.

I often wondered if it might have been different if I'd been a boy?

Although I told no one this. One night, under the influence of alcohol, namely scotch. My father confessed that my mother had been his true fated mate. But sadly, in our world, many shifters could not lay claim to their true mates. Within the old families. They chose mates depending on rank and standing within those families.

Blood lines were more important than fate they'd preached.

I sighed. Personally I tried my best to get along with Elaine, but in the end I'd given up and turned to avoiding her as much as it would allow.

But tonight, that would be impossible.

So with my champagne glass in my hand, untouched, I walked around the enormous room. Alpha's, Beta's and other ranks inclined their heads as I ambled past.

I would have slipped out if not for my father disappearing into a side room with all the council members including Xavier Stone whose eyes had lingered on me longer than what would be considered appropriate before the double doors shut on their private discussions leaving me with a flush to my cheeks and peaked curiosity.

But that one look of longing had also sent my heart into a tailspin and now time was ticking by at a snails-pace and with each minute I became restless, anxiously worrying my lip with my teeth until I almost drew blood.

What was taking them so long?

A sudden rush of air had me stopping and spinning around. The double door opened and relief filled me as out poured the small gathering of council members.

Scanning over heads, I only searched for one face. Xavier's.

And there he was and my heart took flight again.

His eyes found and captured mine at the same time.

A slight flick of his head was his signal to meet him in our usual spot.

As a server walked past me, I set the champagne flute down and weaved through our guests to exit onto the courtyard, that being quickest route.

Outside, the balmy early evening breeze swirled around the courtyard and caressed my exposed limbs. About to make my way to the Avery, Elaine and a woman I didn't recognise planted themselves in front of me.

"This is my—" she paused, making an ugh sound in the back of her throat. "—Half-sister."

Elaine gave a graceful flick of her finger toward the stranger. "This is Cassandra MacAlty. From the Glenvale pack, Sussex."

I extended my hand. "Hello. I'm Ruth." Cassandra had the exact same look plastered on her face that Elaine had mastered over the years. And the offer of my hand almost offended her as I jerked it back, remembering who I was.

"Charmed," she finally said with a dainty incline of her head.

I inclined my head too, reminding myself to cooley smile—polite, yet aloof. "Nice to meet you."

Cassandra squinted. "Oh. I know you." She pressed a finger over her pretty pink lip-glossed lips. "Aren't you the half-breed?"

A sharp pang of humiliation crushed my spirits. I shouldn't be ashamed of who I was, but it was still there.

My dear half-sister answered for me. "Yes. More witch—" Elaine spat out the word like it had sullied her mouth. "—than wolf."

It was true, my mother had been a witch. A powerful one or so I'd been told.

But I was a wolf too, although she was much smaller and weaker than what was considered acceptable for a Lannister.

Cassandra stared at me like I was some kind of puzzle. "Does that mean you don't have a mate?"

I did. Not that I'd told anyone.

Elaine snidely smiled. "It doesn't matter if she did. No wolf would want her. Who wants a half-breed?" She waved her hand over me. "My father took pity on her when her tramp of a mother died giving birth to it."

Ignoring her usual nasty retort, Dread twisted my insides, and my heart panicked against my ribs. I'd known since I was sixteen who my mate was.

Xavier Stone.

You weren't supposed to know until you turned eighteen, but I put it down to the witch in me. And Xavier, already being older, said he knew the second his eyes set on me.

But his family, the oldest of the twelve, headed up the council and ran Wolfe Industries. And Xavier was next in line to run Wolfe. But he'd promised me he would make changes. He would claim me as his mate. I just had to be patient.

Elaine strutted around me and stopped at my back, leaning in to whisper. "The only thing you and I share in common is our lack of choice and freedom."

What?

She continued. "I will run, Wolfe, with your precious Xavier."

She knew? How?

I spun around. "You're going to be his—" I swallowed, unable to say, mate.

"Surprise!" she half shrugged. "Yes. We are to be mated. Father is announcing the union tonight." Her smile widened. "What? You honestly thought the announcement would be about you?"

Her shrill laughter was cold and cruel.

My mouth went dry, and the words rasped from me. "You're going to be his mate?" I had to say it out loud to understand it.

She scoffed. "Trust me. Not by choice." Cocking her head to the side. "But the look on your face lessens the blow."

My cheeks drained of colour and I stood there limp, almost mute.

"Even if he had free will?" She laughed again as Cassandra joined in with her chorus of giggles. "You are as stupid as you are ugly. He would never lay claim to you."

My cheeks went from pale to flaming hot with humiliation.

Why was she so cruel?

And yet my voice was paralysed as I darted a fretful glance toward the pathway leading to the Avery.

He would be waiting for me.

Was he going to tell me I had to be patient?  Ask me to wait for him and give him more time?

"Xavier is a catch though," said Cassandra, and my eyes travelled back to them.

"Hmm, maybe, but he's no Charles."

Was she talking about Charles DuPonte? Advisor to the council?

"Ugh." starter Cassandra, waving her hand flippantly. "I was hoping to bed Xavier before he was mated."

"Oh. You still can. No skin off my nose," said Elaine, her eyes locked on mine, waiting for me to break down in front of her.

Which was pretty close now as I blinked back the pooling tears.

Cassandra laughed. "You don't sound too thrilled by this turn of events, Elaine?"

Elaine's nose scrunched up. "No. But I will do my duty."

"You mean produce the next generation of Stones'? An heir to the Wolfe empire?"

"No. Never. I won't carry his pups, so he will be sorely disappointed."

Cassandra sucked in a gasp. "What? You can't avoid it. They don't allow birth control once you are mated.

"There are other ways to handle an unwanted pregnancy."

Even Cassandra double blinked, shocked by what Elaine was alluding to. "You would abort the pregnancy?"

The air left my lungs in a painful burst. "You wouldn't!" finally finding my voice.

Cassandra clutched at her chest. "Goddess. This is like a terrible movie. How tragic," she added dramatically, with my heartless bitch of a half-sister humming in agreement.

Elaine lifted her hand, peering down at her perfectly manicured nails. "If I have to endure living with you and him, then yes I will and you can't stop me."

Did she just say I was to going to live with with her—them?

Her eyes lifted to trap mine, where she read my confusion.

Leaning forward, she pursed her mouth petulantly. "Oh." She flicked her long dark wavy hair from her shoulder. "Xavier's one demand." A weighted pause followed whilst she faked a sad pout  "—He insisted you live with us. Like a servant, a maid." She threw her head back and laughed.

Unease slunk through me. No. He wouldn't do that. Not to me.

Surely this couldn't be my fate?

And it took a moment for it all to sink in before a storm-surge of feelings—too much, too fast stabbed me right in the heart.

But Elaine wasn't done as her head lowered. Her eyes sharper. "You will forever pick up after me, watching him and me together, knowing you will never have him."  

My half-sister did little to hide her smugness.  "Ain't fate a bitch!"

I shifted slightly, feeling a little lightheaded and empty hearted.

But no matter what cruel fate awaited me, if she thought I would allow her to abort their future pups. Hurt Xavier in a way no person should have to suffer.

Then she was wrong. I would stop her. Even it meant selling my soul to the underworld.