Page 28 of The Mating Need
Chapter 6
Troy was eatingdinner with the pack. Outdoors. It looked like a fine feast. Her stomach grumbled, reminding her she’d yet to dinetoday.
Somehow this food smelled tastier. A slight wind blew the scents in her direction, the steak and grilled meat cutting through the smells of forest, river water and assortedLupines.
Tents peppered the riverbank. A wood deck at the river’s edge held several tables, all filled with Lupines sitting and eating what looked like a fine feast. Two Lupines hovered over a brick barbecue pit. The smell of grilled steak and chicken made hersalivate.
Jenny felt longing as she studied the Lupines at the tables, laughing and socializing. Sure, she understood Troy’s need for pack. Lupines were social creatures and needed pack. But these Lupines dined ashumans.
For some reason, she found the sight not only nostalgic, but oddly alluring. Red candles glowed on each table. The sharp blue sky above had softened with twilight. Shadows dappled the nearby pine forest and rock cliffs, and birds chattered and sang nearby. The wood deck set with several tables, offering a splendid view, blended in with the naturalsetting.
Voices were loud to be heard above the river’s roar several feet away. Forks and knives clinked against china, and once in a while she heard a loud childish protest, “ButMOM!”
These Lupines could easily pass for human, and yet the sight did not repulse her as it had in thepast.
It’s Troy. He’s there and he’s the only Lupine you trust. Not theothers.
Except that wasn’t true. Troy sat at the same table as the pack alpha she’d seen earlier in the woods, and at the table’s far end she spotted Samantha with a handsome, dark-haired male. Must be her mate, for Hunter sat in a high chair betweenthem.
Troy helped to serve slices of rare beef from a round platter. A female sat next to him – with short brown hair, a wide smile and prettyfeatures.
Each time Troy said something, she laughed, a gurgling laugh that drew attention herway.
A low growl rose in Jenny’s throat. She pawed the ground. Stay away from mymale.
But she had no real claim on Troy. Not yet. They were friends. Nothingmore.
Had they been mates, she would have rights. Jenny pawed at the ground again. Dirt flew. Yeah, she’d have rights and would show her rights with herclaws.
Though the trees hid her presence, Lupines had a keen sense of smell. No one had it more than Troy, who turned and stared at her hidingspot.
“Jenny hon, come on out and join us. It’s all right,” he said in a deep, soothingvoice.
Unable to resist the allure of his voice, she stepped out from behind the tree. All talk ceased, and everyone turned to look. The heavy weight of all those eyes centered on her. Glad she was in wolf form, Jenny studied them as intently as they studiedher.
The bearded male she’d seen in the forest, Aiden, stood up. He gestured to the tables. “Hello Jenny. Troy told me about you. Please join us. We’d be happy to have you dine with us and there’s plenty of food. I’m Aiden, the alpha. My mate Nia, over there isJackson…”
He rattled off names. Her ears pricked. She remained silent and still.Observing.
“Come on and join us.” Darius waved a fork. “Always room for one more. Besides, Sam wants to thank you again for what you did for ourHunter.”
“Please,” Sam added. “It’s the least we can do foryou.”
Jenny glanced at Troy, who nodded. “They’re a good group. Get to know them. I promise I won’t let anything happen toyou.”
Troy held fast to his promises. She could trust him, even if she couldn’t trust theseothers.
Fornow.
The alpha gave her a friendly smile as she loped over to Troy, her ears pricked. As wolf she felt more in common with theseLupines.
It was in human skin she feared. Human skin made her powers rumble like volcanic lava beneath amountain.
Troy looked at the woman sitting next to him. “Zoe, can you make a place forJenny?”
Zoe left her chair. Troy patted the empty chair. He pulled it out and Jenny jumped into it, tail wagging. She licked hisface.
Aiden cleared his throat. “We have rules. No wolfskin at the dinnertable.”
