Page 5 of Craved By the Werewolf
We were halfway through reviewing the eastern perimeter when the conference room door opened. The scent of pressed wool and council chambers drifted in, followed by Liam Beaumont. He looked like a diplomat, spoke like one too. Which meantwhatever he was about to say was probably going to make my life harder.
"Thorne," he said with a small nod to me, another to Raina. His gaze skated over the maps on the table like he was making note of classified intel. "Quick item from the Council."
Raina muttered, "Here we go," without looking up from her tablet.
From across the room, Jax's head popped up from behind his computer monitor like a pup sensing prey, his eyes wide with surprise. "Wait, did Liam just voluntarily walk into a room full of wolves without bringing snacks?"
I narrowed my eyes at Jax, my jaw tightening just enough to send the message without words. The young wolf's eager smile faltered under my stare, a flash of submission crossing his features before he slowly sank back behind his monitor.
"Behave," I growled under my breath, the word barely audible but carrying enough weight that every wolf in the room felt it ripple through the air. My fingers tensed against the table's edge, claws threatening to emerge as my dominance naturally asserted itself.
The scent of Jax's embarrassment mingled with the already-tense atmosphere, and I inhaled deeply, letting my chest expand before focusing my attention back on our unwanted weekly visitor. Liam stood there, unfazed by the pack dynamics playing out before him. A reminder of the world we had to navigate beyond our den.
Liam clasped his hands in front of him. "As you know, community relations are... delicate this year. The Council feels that House Party should be more than an event—it should be avisible symbol of unity. And to that end, there will be a... change in the way it's presented."
"Change how?"
"You will be joining Vala Nightingale on stage as her co-host."
The words landed like a rock dropped into still water. No one breathed. Then Kai grinned like a wolf who'd found an unattended steak.
"The Vala Nightingale?" he said. "My cousin never misses her show. Says she could talk a basilisk off a windowsill with that voice."
I didn't look up fast enough to hide the way her name surprised me. My wolf reacted instantly—alert, aware, spine prickling like the sound had teeth.
"She's always hosted House Party by herself," I said slowly, as if making sure Liam hadn't confused his notes. "You're telling me I'm going to share her mic this year?"
"That's exactly what I'm telling you." Liam's tone was smooth, like he thought if he said it politely enough I wouldn't bite. "We know security has always been your domain. But the Council feels the event will benefit from seeing you on stage—visible, approachable, working in partnership with someone the whole community already trusts."
Raina's lips twitched. "Approachable."
Kai leaned back, clearly enjoying this far too much. "This is gonna be good."
"It will be a distraction," I said flatly. "My job is to keep that crowd safe, not swap banter into a microphone."
"Which is precisely why it will work," Liam countered. "She handles the crowd energy. You reinforce the safety measures in real time. You're not replacing her—you're complementing her."
I didn't like the phrasing. Complementing her implied a level of coordination I hadn't signed up for. Still, it meant swallowing personal preference for the good of the pack and the community. And the Council wasn't asking. They never did.
"Fine," I said.
"Excellent. I'll inform the station manager—you'll be there tonight for the first promo."
I lifted my head. "First promo?"
"Yes," he said, adjusting his collar. "We took the liberty of arranging some on-air spots to... introduce the new pairing. Short, conversational, reassuring." He cleared his throat.
Across the table, Raina's grin sharpened. "Conversational."
I ignored her, gathering the maps. My wolf wasn't ignoring anything—my heart rate quickened with irritation, a sense of frustration prickling beneath my skin. Promo spots? Plural? The implications rippled through me—time away from actual security planning. My jaw clenched as I stacked the perimeter diagrams with more force than necessary.
"Anything else you'd like to add, Liam?"
The words barely left my lips before a growl tore from deep within my chest, vibrating through the room with such intensity that Liam's perfectly combed hair ruffled in the sound wave. His scent spiked with a hint of fear as he instinctively stepped back, papers clutched to his chest like a shield.
"I—I think that covers everything for now," he stammered, trying to maintain his composure while subtly attempting to smooth his disheveled appearance.
My wolf was satisfaction at his discomfort. Good. Let him feel a fraction of the irritation coursing through my veins at this unwelcome arrangement.
