Page 36 of Claimed By the Wolf
“You should try to make nice with the Willow Grove members, too,” I mumble, turning away to find the Alpha, blinking away the tears burning behind my eyes.
“Right.” Connor’s tone is thick with disbelief.
Emeric has disappeared through the front hallways, and I make my way through the guests, trying desperately to keep the pleasant smile on my face as his pack members offer me curious looks.
Some stop to speak with me, and I respond, introducing myself.
“Are you moving onto the ranch soon?” one brunette asks slyly.
She looks at me like she knows something I don’t know, but around here, that wouldn’t be hard, would it?
“Hopefully,” I manage to gag out.
A knowing leer curls around her lips. “What’s the hold-up?” she drawls. “Is Emeric keeping you out?”
My eyes narrow. What does she know about it?
A strong arm takes hold of me and leads me away before I can answer, and I find myself at Emeric’s side.
Party-goers clear the path as we walk, and he finally stops in the hallway, beneath a portrait of one of his ancestors, a former Alpha I don’t recognize. The other couples in the corridor discreetly move away to give us privacy, but I wish they would stay.
I don’t want to be alone with Emeric. I’m not ready for what comes next.
I slump back against the wall as his arm extends over my head, his huge frame towering over me. He’s just as big as Nox, but he intimidates me. There’s no sense of security, no warmth in his stare. He brings his mouth inches from mine, and I close my eyes.
This is my duty, my oath to the pack. Their safety and security are in my hands.
Here we go…
“Where is Nox?”
The point-blank question takes me aback, and my eyes fly open.
Blinking, I respond, “I don’t know.”
“You don’t know?” he repeats.
He doesn’t believe me.
I tilt my head to the side. “No, really. I’m not really privy to the Alpha’s business. I mean, my brother is the Beta, but I don’t spend much time with them at the packhouse. I guess I go to parties, and I hang out with them, but I don’t know about security details or plans or anything…” I trail off and bite my lower lip sheepishly.
I’m babbling in my nervousness, but it’s all true. I’ve always stayed out of pack politics.
Until now.
His verdant eyes lighten with my response, and he releases my arm, stepping back to look at me as if seeing me for the first time. His gaze rakes over my short ivory sundress, lingering over the swell of my cleavage and skipping along my free-flowing hair until his eyes rest on my face.
But I’m not reading any real desire there, even if he does show a modicum of interest. He finds me attractive, but he’s not sold on the idea of me.
“What was that female saying to you just now?”
The conversation shift again confuses me. “Who?”
“The one you were just talking to when I took you away. Alessa.”
“Oh, is that her name? We didn’t really talk,” I answer nervously. “She asked when I was moving in here, and I said?—”
“You know what?” he cuts me off. “It’s okay.”
