Page 7 of Claimed By the Wolf
I laugh humorlessly. “Oh yeah?” I ask sarcastically. “Where was this support yesterday? I didn’t hear you utter a single objection.”
He grimaces. “It goes without saying.”
“No, it doesn’t. You heard Nox. It wasn’t a request.”
“You know how he is,” Brax mutters. “There’s a certain persona he has to put on as Alpha. But if you really don’t want to do it, he’ll figure something else out.”
I grit my teeth. He’s probably right. If I put up a big enough fight about it, Nox will find another solution. He’s not going to handcuff me, and if what they’re saying about Emeric is true, the Willow Grove Alpha isn’t going to want an unwilling mate either.
But if not me, then who? If no one from our pack does it, what will that mean for our pack? The whole point of this union is to give us stability. And I don’t want to disappoint Nox, even if he doesn’t want me and never will. I have to stop thinking like a child if I don’t want to be looked at like one.
I need to put aside my personal feelings and do what’s right for the greater good. This is bigger than me, and I need to remember that. It’s not like I have anything going on here, anyway. It’s not like I’m dating anyone. I’m just sharing a house with my oversexed brother, who has a new female over every night of the week.
Maybe this change will do us all some good. At least if Nox is out of sight, I won’t have irrational thoughts about him.
Still, I’m nervous about this Alpha, especially given the history between our packs. The feud started twenty years ago when wildfires destroyed the old boundary markers between our territories. Since then, both packs have claimed the same border areas, leading to constant accusations of trespassing and territorial violations.
With this mating, both packs are willing to call the land in question neutral ground.
I’ve seen Emeric from a distance, and he’s handsome, I’ll give him that. But beyond that, I don’t know much about him. Even an online search didn’t tell me much, except what I already heard in passing. There are some friends I could reach out to with connections to Willow Grove.
The twins have cousins in the pack. But I don’t want to invite more questions, especially not from Sierra and Sienna, who can’t be trusted to keep their mouths shut.
Not when I don’t know what’s going to happen.
For all I know, Emeric might reject me, and then I’ll just come home completely humiliated.
The thought gives me a modicum of hope, though.
“I’m doing it.” But it’s more for my benefit than Brax’s. “I’m going to meet Emeric.”
Relief sweeps over my brother’s face. “I’ll make this up to you.”
I hear the regret in his tone. He’s carried a lot on his shoulders since our parents died, and I know I should be grateful for all he’s done over the years, but it’s hard when I look at my ultimate fate.
Have they been planning this for years? I can’t help but question all his moves now.
“There’s nothing to make up, Brax. I’m a grown-up. I can make my own choices,” I say stiffly, even though I don’t mean it.
I turn, walk down the hallway to my room, and close the door.
Then I open my small closet and dig through the potential outfits for the meeting with Emeric. I'd better make a good first impression, or Nox will assume I sabotaged the whole thing deliberately.
And maybe he deserves that. But I put that thought aside.
I feel Nox watching me, but I don’t give him the satisfaction of meeting his eyes. I wish he’d stop staring at me and keep his eyes on the road. My nerves are too shot, and I’m afraid I might back out under the slightest provocation.
Brax hadn’t been allowed to come. Nox wouldn’t let him.
Only Nox and his top enforcers were allowed to attend, because the Alpha feared my brother’s emotional influence would complicate the negotiations.
“He’s your Beta!” I complained when Nox told me. “The only person in the pack who has more power is you!”
“He’s not coming,” Nox insisted. “I’ll be there.”
I suppose it’s basically the same thing. They had both sold me out.
“You okay over there?” Nox asks, willing me to look at him.
