Page 7 of Crew

But more than that, he wondered if he was making the right choice for his people.

He certainly hoped so.

Zara wasn’t allowed to go to the meeting with the other herd. She’d been relegated to staying with the vehicles and watching them, told she wasn’t part of the hierarchy of the herd and didn’t need to be introduced to anyone.

She wanted to tell Colton to fuck all the way off, but instead she just smiled and kept her mouth shut. She could tell Colton was on edge—hell, all the herd was. She wasn’t sure what was going on exactly, except that Colton’s cousin was part of the herd in New Jersey and his alpha had said he’d meet to discuss giving them a place to stay.

There was a strange vibe in the air from the other herd members. They were animated in a feral way, almost like they were plotting something and she wasn’t privy to what it was.

She rubbed her chest as she stood outside of the car she’d been in with Weston. The part of her that was a stallion, even though she couldn’t shift, was sure acting up and had been since they’d crossed the state line into New Jersey. It was hot as hell and she was tired from the long drive, but she was also feeling oddly optimistic about the whole thing.

Coming to New Jersey seemed like it was going to be a good idea.

Her herd walked back to the vehicles, Colton looking smug.

She was tempted to ask him how things went, but she decided to continue to keep her thoughts to herself. Waiting until she was in the car with Weston again, she asked how the meeting had gone.

“Good, they’re going to let us stay in a barn in their territory for a week.”

“What’s supposed to happen in a week?”

He hesitated, then said, “We’re going to find a place for our herd to claim as territory. New Jersey is pretty big and we have funds to purchase land. Their alpha, Crew, said he had some ideas for where we could go, so we’ll use the week to explore and see what we can find.”

There was something about his tone. She couldn’t quite place it.

Disingenuous, almost.

She was nervous, but she couldn’t really explain that either.

They entered the town of Little River, following Avi and his people. The herd was small by general standards—eight including two mated couples—but her herd certainly couldn’t talk now since they only had six and no mated couples.

She momentarily shuddered, thinking Colton might try to force her to mate one of her herd members. She wasn’t attracted to any of them, least of all Colton, who was such an enormous jackass. But he was her alpha, and if she walked away from the herd, she’d be all alone.

Hell, she didn’t even have control of her own money. Everything she’d ever made selling preserves, tonics, and dried herbs and flowers had gone into the herd’s general fund. If she needed money to buy something, she had to make a request.

They followed the lead vehicle to a farm, which had a huge farmhouse and several barns, split-rail fencing, and a large garden fenced with wire mesh to keep out the animals that liked to nibble on plants.

Their vehicles parked in front of a bar, and the male she vaguely remembered as Avi walked over to greet them.

She brushed her hands on her shorts and shook his hand. “It’s nice to see you again, Avi.”

“You too, Zara. Let me show you all the barn. Sorry it’s so rustic, but there is a studio apartment so you can have some privacy.”

Colton let out a low growl. “I’ll be taking the apartment.”

Avi’s brows rose. “I assumed you’d let the only female have the space. For privacy, of course.”

“I’m the alpha.”

Zara was embarrassed. Colton could have been a gentleman in the moment, but he had to show his whole ass. Not that she was surprised.

Damn, she needed a change of some kind.

Something.

Rubbing her fingers over her heart, she let her gaze roam and then smiled at Avi. “I’ll be fine wherever.”

She grabbed her bag from the backseat and followed Avi into the barn with the others. There were cots set up in the open area, and a set of wooden stairs led to the aforementioned apartment, where the only bathroom was located. Colton begrudgingly agreed to let everyone use the bathroom, but made it clear the apartment itself was for him to utilize.

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