Page 8 of Claimed By the Wolf
“Yep.”
He continues to drive, a fact I find curious. He has another car following us and two bikes flanking us toward Willow Grove territory, but we’re alone in this vehicle, without a driver. I wonder if it’s because he wants me alone, to give me last-minute instructions. Or orders.
So far, he hasn’t said much, but those startling azure eyes keep peering at me when he takes his eyes off the road.
“Why do you keep looking at me?” I finally ask in exasperation. “If you have something to say, please just say it.”
He chuckles. “You look nice.”
I roll my eyes. “Gee, thanks,” I retort sarcastically. “You sure do know how to make a lioness feel special.”
His grin broadens, his blue irises sparkling. “You lookverynice?”
I can’t help but snort now, a genuine smile touching my lips despite the circumstances.
He might be the Alpha now, but he’s still the same guy who holed himself up in Brax’s room during high school and played video games until three a.m., the same jerk who drank the last of the orange juice. When he shifts into his ruthless Alpha mode, I can barely recognize the person who used to joke around with my brother.
I flick my eyes back out the window toward the passing Texan landscape, trying to ignore the increased pounding of my heart.
Inherently, I know we’re approaching Emeric’s house, even though I’ve never been there.
My brother told me it was a sprawling ranch, extending almost fifty acres.
We’re not meeting at the packhouse this first time. I’m not “inner circle” enough for that yet. I guess I can mate with the Alpha, but not know where his packhouse is.
I don’t let the bitter, intrusive thoughts overcome me. This is how things are done, and the sooner I get on board, the better. I don’t need my brother or Nox to remind me that fighting isn’t going to benefit anyone.
“Are you sure you can do this, Brynn?” His voice brings me back into the car and out of my head.
I resist the urge to tell him to turn the car around, just for his reaction alone.
But truthfully, I really do want him to turn the car around and take me home, to the sanctuary of my house. Or better still, to last week, when I had been naïve to the scheming behind my back.
“Nox, you need to stop asking me,” I snap irritably, and he stiffens in the driver’s seat, his foot inadvertently hitting the gas.
He slows. “We’re still your pack,” he tells me gruffly. “Me, your brother, all of us. That doesn’t change, even if you become Emeric’s Luna.”
Even if?He believes there’s a chance I won’t become Emeric’s Luna?
His doubt gives me more energy, but I don’t say anything as Emeric’s ranch house appears over a slight hill.
Admittedly, it takes my breath away. It reminds me of Nox’s place, and I wonder if all the Alphas have estates like this. It makes sense. It fits their power and status, even if they live alone. He undoubtedly has a house crawling with staff and pack members by his side day and night.
A pair of alpacas raise their heads as our entourage slides up the winding driveway toward the front door. Already, there are bodies lined up in anticipation in front of the stone-faced entranceway. My heart crashes down to my toes as I see how they’re looking at me.
None of them looks happy to see us. I fall back against the leather of the seat and suck in a breath, closing my eyes.
I’ve got this. I can do this.
“We’re here,” Nox tells me unnecessarily, stopping the SUV a few feet from the waiting pack.
They can’t see inside the tinted vehicle, and he makes no move to exit.
I peek my eyes open, and he turns and looks at me, his face etched with worry. “Brynn.”
“I’m ready.” My statement sounds far more confident than I feel, staring into the depths of his vibrant eyes. My pulse goes haywire again, and I purse my lips as his broad shoulders move to open the door.
He stalks away from the vehicle and disappears, leaving me alone inside. Desperately, I look around. In the distance, I see the Alphas talking. Nox gestures back toward the vehicle where I remain, and Emeric barely looks, the disinterest on his face obvious.
