Page 6 of To Keep A Wolf
That’s a problem for future Mac.
Now, they barely look at me as they grunt a hello to their new alpha. Moving past them, Jadick sweeps me from guest to guest, introducing me or reminding me who these people are. Most aren’t friendly to me, their keen stares mostly sizing me up to see what kind of ally I will be for them. They’re not here because they love Jadick or the idea of his rule. Dripping in jewels or other shows of money, I get the feeling this particular crowd is here for one thing: power.
“It’s nice to see someone from the bottom rise to the top,” says the mayor, a round-waisted man with bald spots and a bad comb-over. His suit looks expensive as does his diamond pinky ring. “So inspiring,” he tells me.
I bite back an angry retort, very aware of Jadick’s expectations of me.
Instead, I fake smile and let Jadick lead me away from the asshole. Tonight is about sticking it out. Not sticking my heel in the mayor’s throat.
In a glittery black dress, Marilyn stands in the far corner with a small entourage of guards backing her. The men flanking her are covertly dressed in suits, but it’s clear they’re here to make sure she doesn’t say or do anything that contradicts the “reunited mother-son story” vibe. We swoop in for a quick hello where Jadick practically glows when Marilyn tells him he looks nice (in a bored tone). I roll my eyes at the starved look he wears in her presence and am too happy to move on when he pulls me away.
Still, the guests are mostly a blur of small-town politicians and founding families. Not a single person here seems interested in changing the direction Jadick has us headed. In fact, the only other face I see here that doesn’t disgust me is Grey.
His presence here tonight surprises me, and the fact that he’s posted at the doorway and dressed as a Clemons guard is even more shocking. Even after staying behind to guard Tripp on Jadick’s orders, I had come to consider him an ally of sorts during our time in Green Hills. But his being here tonight means he’s clearly pledged himself to Jadick.
He stands near an emergency exit halfway between the foyer and the hall where we’ll all sit down for dinner and listen to Jadick give a speech about the future.
Tonight, Grey wears a black uniform slightly nicer than the usual tactical-wear. But his blank, impenetrable expression is stoic as ever. Looking at him now, you’d never know all we’ve been through together. Including the fact that he killed someone for me.
I glance behind me to see Jadick locked in conversation with a man he called Bordeaux who is apparently the new decorator for the alpha house. Words like “ambiance of power” and “masculine tones” reach my ears, and I roll my eyes.
Using the distraction, I make my way toward Grey, stopping far enough away to keep from being obvious. I can feel his eyes find me, but when I look over, he’s staring blankly at the far wall. Still, now that I have his attention, I’m not sure what to say.
He’s always been loyal to Levi, and that probably means he hates me more than ever.
I finally settle on, “Hi.”
Unsurprisingly, he doesn’t answer.
“Have you seen him?” I ask.
Still nothing.
“Because I remember asking you to look after him, and we both know you’ll probably do a better job than I can.” My expectations for a response are dropping fast, but I push on. “Anyway, I hope he hasn’t been as sick as me. I hope he’s okay. I hope…”
I hope way too much, obviously.
My eyes catch on Jadick, who’s shooting me glances now.
I have literal seconds left.
“Anyway, tell him…”
I have nothing to say that will fix this.
“Never mind,” I mutter and start to move away.
Grey steps forward, almost in my path. His hand brushes mine, and he steps back again. Something crisp pokes my skin, sharp edges, thin layers—I look down and see a small slip of paper. Curling my fist around it, I run my hand through my hair and tuck the scrap into the front of my dress as deftly as possible.
Then Jadick is coming toward me, and I freeze, waiting to see if he noticed my movement. He only gives me a sharp look that melts away as he grabs my arm and turns to the small crowd beginning to fill in around us.
“Don’t wander,” he says against my ear.
I don’t bother to reply.
Everyone else makes their way to a table and begins to settle in for dinner.
“Come, darling,” Jadick says, taking my hand and leading me toward the front of the room. “The alpha sits at the front.”
