Page 52 of Wild Wolf
If she didn’t speak out and address this, she remained guilty as Nolan. How could he know her wishes if she didn’t voicethem?
“Anyone else have anything to say before we adjourn to the dining hall and toast Karen and Mike’s news?” Nolanasked.
Now or never. Jordan stood. “Ido.”
Nolan’s expression remained guarded. “I recognize you,Jordan.”
She looked around. “First, I apologize for being late. I had to fix my hair. Got it right tangled and messy and I looked worse than a wolf tangling with aporcupine.”
Smiles broke out and a few chuckles. Good. Nolan’s broad shoulders relaxed alittle.
“Second, I want to thank y’all for attending our wedding. It was real good to see you all again, and have you there on our specialday.”
More smiles andnods.
“Third,” she looked directly at Nolan. “Now that I’m Nolan’s mate and the alpha female, I believe my place isn’t in the audience, but at his side during meetings. On the dais. What do you say, mate ofmine?”
A few gasps and shocked looks. Nolan’s hand tightened on the gavel. “Females have never been allowed on the dais during meetings, unless they are on the committees. The alpha female’s place is in the audience amongst the pack, not uphere.”
“Why?” she blurtedout.
“It’s tradition.” His knuckles turned white as he nearly cracked thegavel.
“Simply because it’s a tradition isn’t an excuse.” Jordan folded her arms across her chest. “Invite me up to join you on thedais.”
Everyone stared at her, and thenNolan.
His jaw tightened. “Sit down,Jordan.”
She stared athim.
He growled. “Sit.Now.”
Jordan sat. The crowd murmured, looking at Nolan with respect. Jordan’s stomach roiled with anger and embarrassment as Erica and Shirl glanced her way andsmirked.
“If there’s no further new business, we’re adjourned.” Nolan slammed the gavel on the podium, and everyone got up toleave.
Pushing her way out of the crowd, she headed for the door, wishing she had never agreed to return to the Mitchellpack.
And Nolan, who honored his relationship with the past more than he honoredher.
The needsof the pack must come before his ownneeds.
Including his need for his mate. Nolan hated this, but as alpha, he had littlechoice.
Pack first, was the family saying. And now Jordan was angry with him overit.
She hadn’t shown up at the congratulatory toast for the newly pregnant couple. When he went upstairs to find her, she told him she was tired and wanted to rest. Not hungry. Jordan, for the first time since her arrival, turned away fromhim.
He’d had to go downstairs and make excuses for her. Nolan was more worried about Jordan slipping away, growing disenchanted with packlife.
Leaving.
He tried one more time at dinner, hoping to coax her downstairs. But Jordan pretended to be asleep as he entered thebedroom.
Pausing with his hand on the light switch, he spoke quietly. “If you get hungry later, I’ll have a tray brought to ourroom.”
He went into the dining hall, but had little appetite. Spotting Sam in the corner by himself, he walked to histable.
