The Utah leader settles back in his chair, forcing a cocky smirk onto his face. But we all know who won that posturing match.
I can’t help thinking Juliet would like Isolde. I’m sure Courtney would have loved to see a fight.
When the turn comes to me, I lean forward and project my voice to fill the room.
“My brother plans to join with a mate. A human woman named Zoey Gunner. My mother, Rebecca Gunner, was unhappyabout the union and committed crimes against the woman. As punishment, she has been exiled from Pine Falls territory for no shorter than a year.”
There are murmurs around the table. It’s a rare thing for a pack leader to punish a member of their own family.
“However, I still maintain my commitment of pack protection. If Rebecca is harmed by another wolf, it will be seen as an attack on Pine Falls. She is also free to align with a new pack if that is her choice.”
I list off less provocative news about other matings and pack interactions and deaths. Once I have nothing else to report, I go quiet and nod for the next pack to speak their piece. The sharing of news goes on for some time. Many packs are larger than the Pine Falls pack and therefore have more to report.
When that segment of the meeting is complete, the floor opens for all other discussions. Some packs air grievances or share information that might pertain to the safety of all present. A handful of packs approaches matings as chances to build alliances and use this time to announce young single wolves looking for partners. Ever since I gained pack leader status as an unmated male, I’ve had to deal with significant looks sent my way when the topic of matchmaking comes up.
Avoiding those searching eyes now, I let my gaze travel around the table. Across the way, I realize someone is staring at me. One of the seconds, standing just behind the chair of his leader, has his eyes locked on me.
The intensity of his focus breaks the moment my gaze meets his. He tilts his head toward the speaker, seeming to listen to the man, but for some reason, I feel like his focus is still on me.
When the clock tells us it is six in the evening, the Rosebud pack leader calls a pause to the meeting. Now is when individual leaders will have one-on-one interactions. This is the time thattrue movement is made. Announcements of items discussed will happen tomorrow morning.
Standing from my chair, I twist side to side, cracking my back. Alistar appears, pushing open another set of metal doors and filling the room with delicious smells. Dinner is served.
Just as Courtney and I are about to join the stream of wolves walking toward the next room, I’m waylaid by an unknown wolf.
“Hey, Roderick Jameson, right? From Pine Falls?” He steps up to me, but not close enough to fully invade my personal space.
It’s the beta I caught staring at me earlier. He’s a big man, though not as large as me and a few inches shorter. Dirty-blond hair falls in a styled mess over his forehead, and he has a set of striking blue eyes. He’s got that all-American look going on.
My silent nod is the only response I offer.
The wolf gives a grin that most people would be charmed by. But he has nothing on Warner, so I’m not moved.
“I wanted to introduce myself because”—he lowers his voice with a glance around the room—“a couple of years ago, a member of my pack left to join yours. His name is Thad Flannery.”
Again, I nod, wondering if I’m going to have to get violent with this man. If he starts talking shit about my pack member, I will.
But he looks up at me with a questioning tilt to his brows. “I just wanted to know, how’s he doing?”
For a moment, I don’t speak, thinking over the question. And the beta’s purpose for asking it.
“Fine,” I say. “Better.”
His grin goes wide, and the wolf appears relieved. “Good. That’s great to hear.” Again, the stranger lowers his voice, and I realize the furtive glance he’s throwing out is aimed at Mick, the leader of the Bear Valley, Utah, pack. “He didn’t have an easytime with us, I’m sorry to say. But I always counted him as a friend.”
“Good to know he had one,” I respond.
“Is that something your pack does a lot? Take in strays?”
If his tone were slightly different, I’d think the man was insulting my pack. But he only seems curious. Maybe Bear Valley will soon have another deserter.
“Sometimes.”
The wolf breathes in deep, as if bracing himself for his next words. But he only nods and says, “Good of you all to do.”
He turns to stride into the dining hall.
“Your name?” I ask, wanting to know who is interested in my people.
