Page 69 of Unbreakable Bond
Chapter 27
Zoey feltevery eye in the room turn to her as she walked into the pack lodge. It had been happening her entire life. Ever since she became friends with Michael and began to hang around the pack. Ever since the entire town seemed to figure out that she had feelings for their Pack Alpha that she could do nothing about. They’d been looking at her for years with a mix of pity and suspicion but notanymore.
Today, well today they were looking at her with wide, shocked eyes and she knew why. This was the first time she’d ever been invited to a pack meeting, impromptu or not. This meant she was one of them. But as big as that news was, walking in on the arm of Rafe Hudson was the reason they were allstaring.
He’d only been back a few days. Everyone knew about the fight between him and Michael. They knew he’d claimed her as his mate. And they were staring because for the first time in as long as they’d known her she wasn’t at Michael’s side. Everything had changed and this, walking into the pack headquarters with Rafe at her side, it cemented their bond in a way that she hadn’t even realized theyneeded.
Not just for her either. It also confirmed Rafe’s standing in the pack. This wasn’t an open meeting. This was for pack higher ups. Michael and his closest circle of advisors and enforcers. Rafe being invited here confirmed that he and Michael were on good terms. There wasn’t going to be an Alpha battle to run thepack.
Rafe was a Hudson. He was Moirae. He was an Alpha. But he wasn’t going to fight his brother for the pack, which meant there was no need for discourse or mistrust. He could be welcomed back into the fold now. And Michael’s smile when he saw them come in together only confirmedit.
Zoey smiled back at him, as much out of habit as out of love. Not the same kind of love she’d had for him before. Not even close. There were no sparks there between her and Michael. Not anymore. Maybe there never had been. Certainly not like the sparks she felt with Rafe. Because as much as she had felt like she and Michael were meant to be, fate had knownbetter.
It was Rafe. It had always been Rafe. They were perfect for each other and she only hoped that someday, maybe even soon, Michael would find the woman that made him whole too. The woman that made him happy. The way that Rafe made her so, sohappy.
Her mate, possessive bastard that he was, took one look at the room full of strong, shifter males and tucked her into his side. A low growl bubbled in his throat and she hid a smile against his shoulder. It was crazy but she loved him for his insane urge to keep her for himself, so much so that even having other males look at her annoyed him. She wasn’t a big fan of the few women in the room that looked him up and down either so she wound herself around her big, strong, gorgeous mate and let out a hum of content when he squeezed herclose.
She loved him. He had been right. It was fast and crazy but she loved him. She was a wolf now and all of her emotions were heightened. She felt everything more strongly than she ever had before, as if the blinders had come off when she’d become a shifter. She loved him with her whole heart and soul, couldn’t imagine wanting anyone else or how she’d managed to go so long withouthim.
Fate had a plan all along. Rafe was right for her in ways that Michael hadn’t been, she’d just been too blinded by her devotion to him to see it. Rafe needed her. She was the only one that could put his broken pieces back together. Just like he was the only one that could keep up with her without suffocating her, could support her without her having to take a backseat. He didn’t want her to stand behind him. He wanted her right there at hisside.
“Rafe. Zoey. Glad you could join us.” Michael gave them a nod before motioning to the others, “I’m sure you don’t needintroductions.”
There were a couple of smirks and snorts but everyone nodded. One or two people greeted them with smiles and welcomes. Darius never flinched from his position on Michael’s right side. His eyes slid over them but kept going, as if he were searching for threats within the safest space on packterritory.
Zoey didn’t understand it. They’d been attacked last night but that had been outdoors and during the full moon. Nobody was stupid enough to lay siege to the Moirae pack lodge during broad daylight. But when Michael spoke again she immediately understood the tension radiating off of the bigenforcer.
“As I mentioned before, I’ve invited a friend to join us today to discuss last night’s attack. Some of you already know him but for those of you that don’t, meet Leo DeLuca, rightful heir of the Crescentpack.”
A big, dark haired man stood up and went to join Michael at the front. He had dark features. Dark skin and dark hair trimmed short to his scalp. dark eyes that looked bottomless beneath long lashes. He was handsome, more than handsome really, though he didn’t compare to Rafe in her opinion. She knew the females must go nuts for him with those looks and the Alpha vibes he radiated. But he looked tired, a little too thin and haggard, as if he hadn’t gotten a good nights sleep in weeks, maybe evenyears.
She wanted to hug him but she figured that would cause more problems for all ofthem.
Zoey glanced at her mate when she felt him tense beside her but when she looked up she stopped breathing. Rafe was… smiling. Jesus Christ, her ovaries nearly exploded at the sight. Rafe was sexy when he was being broody and overprotective. Smiling? He was downright irresistible. He grinned as he watched his brother and his friend clap hands and hugbriefly.
“Did you know about this?” Shewhispered.
Rafe gave a quick nod, “Michael told me he’d asked Leo to come. I didn’t know he’d agreed but I’m not surprised. His family, his pack, is indanger.”
Zoey hugged her mate tighter as she remembered what she’d overheard during his conversation withMichael.
The Crescent wolves were their neighboring pack. The DeLuca’s had run it for generations. Leo was the eldest son and an Alpha heir but his father had been challenged by a crazy out of control lunatic wolf. His father had been murdered and his sisters had been taken hostage. He needed help to regain his pack and he’d come to the Moirae pack hoping to getit.
It didn’t take her long after putting that together to realize why Leo DeLuca was herenow.
“The Crescents were behind the attack on our pack last night.” Michael announced and then held up a hand when several of the wolves in the room began to snarl in Leo’s direction, “This wasn’t his doing. We’ve all heard the rumors. We know that we’ve received members of the Crescent pack that defected after a new Alpha took charge. Leo’s here because he needs help reclaiming his pack before the bastard that killed his father does any moredamage.”
“Why did he come after us?” One of the other enforcers spoke up from across theroom.
“I don’t know.” Leo admitted when everyone looked to him, “Maybe because he’s power hungry and he wants more than just the Crescent land or he found out somehow that I’d asked Rafe to get the Moirae pack involved, to have my back when I challengehim.”
“So you brought this on us.” Another spoke up and Rafe growled besideher.
“Easy.” She squeezed his hand reassuringly but she couldn’t help a growl of herown.
She understood why her mate was upset and she agreed with him completely. Leo had come to them for help. He hadn’t come here to be further attacked for something that wasn’t his fault. He was only trying to save hisfamily.
“Leo didn’t bring this fight to our door. It would have come sooner or later. An Alpha like this one, he wants power and he’s willing to go to any lengths to get it.” Michael spoke up, “I don’t know why he came after me in particular but I do know that we’re not going to let this stand. We’ve always had a peaceful relationship with the Crescent pack but we’re aligning ourselves with DeLuca now. If you have a problem with that, speaknow.”
