Page 51 of Wild Wolf
“Nolan, you need to decide about the monthly run beneath the moon next week,” Sam told him. “The pack is worried about leaving the little ones behind and guarding the lodge. I can arrange for security, but you’d better reassure them and calm themdown.”
“I’ll call a meeting.” Nolan withdrew his cell phone. “In one hour. In the basement. Let’s go over the security details now and prepareassignments.”
He glanced at her, expression apologetic. “Sorry. I have to handlethis.”
“Of course,” she saidpolitely.
Jordan climbed out of the truck, slamming the door behind her. Pack first,always.
Would she always come in second in his life? And what would he say when he found out she refused to run with the pack beneath themoon?
Jordan arrived two minutes late.She slipped into the room in the basement set up as a meeting space, careful to close the door quietly behind her. Nolan didn’t tolerate lateness, but it was the first official meeting since her arrival, and she’d spent an extra five minutes fussing over herhair.
Standing at the back, she spied the dais where Nolan stood to conduct business. Sam sat at a table next to the podium, along with a few other Lupines she recognized as being senior packmembers.
There were two empty seats in the middle of a crowded row, but she stood near the door, hoping Nolan would see her and invite her to join them on the dais. He was her mate. Maybe his father hadn’t given Nolan’s mother a place of honor to show the pack they were equals, but times were differentnow.
Weren’tthey?
She waited for Nolan to call onher.
A minute passed, and he didnot.
Nolan drummed his fingers on the podium. “If everyone will be seated, we’ll get started. Jordan, find an emptychair.”
She forced a smile as people turned to look at her. Inside, she died. Jordan squeezed past three young, smirking men to get to the empty seat, nearly tripping over someone’s big clodhopper shoes. Someonetittered.
Never had she felt more alienated than she did now. It was as if she wereinvisible.
The polite fuss everyone made at the wedding had vanished. The pack regarded her with caution, most of them giving her covert gazes andfrowns.
Then she saw Shirl and Erica and knew why. Her former friends were talking behind her back. That little scene on the pathway hadn’thelped.
Reading from a clipboard, Nolan began the meeting, giving out assignments for the upcoming run beneath the moon. Her stiffness increased as she realized he mentioned hername.
“As tradition dictates, Jordan and I will lead the hunt in fivedays.”
All heads turned to stare ather.
Her smile slipped. Damn, this was so not the attention she wanted. Shifting into wolf in front of the pack? All those times when she’d had trouble came tomind.
Would they laugh at her, or dismiss her when she couldn’t shapeshift into awolf?
Without missing a beat, he pressed on, lowering the clipboard. “Now for announcements. Anyone have anything to tell thepack?”
A blonde Lupine and a dark-haired man stood. Jordan vaguely remembered her. Karen, who was two years older thanJordan.
“I recognize you, Karen. And Mike. Yes?” Nolansaid.
Karen waved and blushed. “I, I mean, Mike and me, have an announcement. I’mpregnant.”
Cries of delight followed, along with hearty congratulations from Nolan, who invited them up to the dais. He hugged Karen, and clapped Mike on theback.
Everyoneapplauded.
Seeing her mate’s easy grin and the fuss made over the happy couple made Jordan feel lonelier thanever.
You pay more attention to your people than you do to me. Would it have been so terrible to call out my name, have me join you upthere?
