Page 19 of Alpha Queen
They walked down the hallway toward the grand entrance, and again, it had the same glass windows on either side of the front door as the estate did. The idea that the house had been an exact duplicate of Ares and Apollo's home gave her a strange feeling, as well as a glimpse into Titan's mother's mental state and why Titan had never been able to let go of the past. How could you when you lived in a house whose construction reminded you every single day of where you weren't?
Several men stood around talking and smoking. A large gravel driveway stretched as far as she could see down to a thick tree line, which cut the house off from any street.
When they rounded a monumental staircase, Titan turned left, and they walked to double French doors that led into a grand library or something. All around, men and a few women read or talked on their phones, but every single one stopped when she entered with Titan. They all bowed their heads as her gaze traced over them to see if she recognized anyone. She didn't. Their scents washed over her, reminding her of her old pack. For a moment, a sense of longing rushed through her at the nostalgia the scents brought. But then she remembered what had forced her to leave that pack, and her gut clenched.
"This is my Luna, River Whitetail," Titan announced.
They bowed their heads until River grew uncomfortable.
"Tell them to stop," she said.
Titan looked at her. "You tell them. They're your pack, too."
River's gut clenched, but he was right. As High Luna and mate to Ares and Apollo, they were her people.
"That's enough," she commanded.
They lifted their heads to look at her, and she felt like she should say something profound, but the only thing she could think to say was, "Thank you for your welcome."
The wolves didn't move.
"Please go back to what you were doing."
Slowly, they returned to what they'd been doing before she entered, even though they still stole glances at her.
"This is the den," said Titan. "As you can see, we have a great many books as well as computers and anything else wolves might need."
River nodded, and Titan ushered her forward. Computers. Many computers. And every wolf had a cellphone. She cataloged the information for future use.
As she wove between couches, chairs, and tables, she didn't miss the fact that the wolves would lift their heads to sniff her as she passed.
She wondered what they smelled. Or if they smelled nothing like others on suppressors. Suppressors... most of the rogues in the house were on suppressors, she realized. Did that mean only the ones who left used suppressors? Because the ones who had attacked in New York, the woods, and at the ceremony had all been on suppressors.
At the far end of the library, Titan opened double doors into what she could only call a gamer's room. Giant screens, luxury gaming chairs, headsets, speakers, you name it, all lined the room. Several males sat on a comfortable-looking leather couch playing a racing game on the biggest TV screen she'd ever seen. She couldn't imagine the price tag on all the equipment. But more than that… it all seemed so normal. Like a group of roommates living together and sharing the expenses of a large house. As if they hadn't gone out and slaughtered people a week ago. As if they weren't plotting to overthrow kings. Just… stupid twenty-somethings having a beer and gaming all day.
Titan watched her as she inspected the room. One of the males spotted them and hit the one next to him. Suddenly, the group all dropped their controllers, took off their headphones, and bowed to her.
"Luna," they all said.
River looked at them for a moment and recognized two of them. They'd been in the tunnel with Titan. They'd attacked the Alphas.
Her wolf snarled.
She took half a step forward, her teeth bared, but Titan moved in her way.
"Move." She shoved at him, but damn if he wasn't as hard and big as her mates.
"River-"
She shoved his torso again. "They attacked my ceremony."
He nodded. "They did."
"They deserve to pay for it."
He cocked an eyebrow and made a gesture with his hand, and the TV turned off.
"Jameson, come here."
