Page 7 of To Keep A Wolf
I don’t look back at Grey again.
When we’re seated, dinner is brought out in courses. The meal is extravagant. Escargot. Scallops in wine sauce. Japanese Kobe steak. A display of power, I realize, as the guests toss compliments at Jadick. Through it all, a live string quartet plays classical melodies and tasteful cover songs.
It’s a complete show.
Or the warm-up to one, anyway. Jadick is clearly the main event.
When the last dessert—a molten chocolate lava cake that I have to admit is divine—has been cleared away, Jadick pats his mouth with his napkin and then pushes to his feet. He bends down and presses a kiss to my cheek then makes his way to the stage. I don’t miss that he chose the same cheek he slapped earlier. And I have no doubt he didn’t miss that detail either. But he has the attention of the crowd now, and murmurs reach me about how sweet we are together.
My dinner threatens to come up.
I swallow hard and focus on the fantasy of Jadick tripping up the stairs onto the stage. No such luck. He strides to the podium, centering himself in front of the microphone. Then, he waits for silence. And damn if he doesn’t get it.
His minions hush as we all wait for him to speak.
“Good evening, and thank you for coming.” Jadick beams out at the room, and I tuck my fists into my lap. “This night is first and foremost a celebration. Taking my rightful place as your alpha has easily been the most rewarding experience of my life.”
Gross.
“You’re all here, not only to witness the start of a new era for our pack but to be part of it. A leader is only as strong as its people and I can see your strength as I look out at you tonight. Unfortunately, not everyone in this town shares your support. Since the first Black Moon wolf was made, we have been divided and weakened by the call of fate against our own hearts. For generations, finding our strength in rejection has been our pack’s burden to bear. It is the biggest threat to our way of life, to our future.”
I have to work hard to keep from rolling my eyes. He’s the only threat against our pack now. The obviousness of his hypocrisy might be funny if it weren’t so dangerous. Worse, the rest of the room is listening to what he’s saying. Agreeing instead of calling him out.
“But no more,” Jadick’s voice booms loudly enough that I startle. He’s on a roll now, his eyes alight with whatever evil point he’s building toward. “We bow to no one and nothing, including the hands of fate. As your alpha, I am committed to clearing a path toward a future of strength and power—and, above all, choice.”
A few cheers go up. Surprise surprise, the sycophants like that idea.
“My father believed in the strength of our pack. The power of choice and free will, especially when it comes to choosing our mates. And I believe we can achieve that strength without rejection.”
My head snaps up at that.
The others look at each other in confusion.
His words are a contradiction to what he said on the steps of the alpha house just days ago. And I can’t figure out where it’s going. But then his next words confirm he’s not somehow veering toward peace. If anything, he’s careening farther and farther away from it.
“When I am finished, we will no longer have a mate to reject. Fate will not rule us like some imposing god. It will be your choice, always. Alliances will make us strong, not weak. And we will never be swayed by our baser instincts again.”
Cheers—louder this time than before.
They don’t understand, but they don’t care. They want the power and strength he’s promised them. His pretty words are eerily close to what I want to hear, but I know better than to trust him.
Jadick has something up his sleeve.
Before I can decide what it is, he’s motioning for me to join him. I blink, only to realize the guests are clapping anew and Jadick is looking at me expectantly.
Shit.
I stand and make my way to the stage where Jadick pulls me in close to his side. The guests cheer for us—for him. He answers them by leaning in and kissing me. It’s chaste, but I nearly lose it and punch him.
The crowd goes wild.
He turns back to them, soaking up their adulation.
“We look forward to seeing you all at the wedding,” Jadick calls, and then he’s pulling me off the stage and into the wings where Gregario ushers us out a side door to the waiting car.
My attempts to get Jadick’s attention go unanswered until we’re closed inside the car.
“What?” he demands when the door closes.
