Page 6

VIOLET

The dining area’s seats weren’t terribly comfy. I wiggled on the hard surface. With as much padding as my butt had, I expected it to help me out. The line at the spread of dinner food set out buffet-style slowly moved along as I drummed my fingers next to my food. There weren’t many people in here yet, but with each dish they brought out, more of the pack filed into the rugged cafeteria-esque set up.

Maggie jostled my elbow with hers, and her plate clattered on the wooden surface of the table.

“What do you keep looking for?”

“The Alpha.” I choked on the last syllable and rounded my eyes at her. I hadn’t meant to spit it out like that. The question had taken me off guard. Usually, the only one that tried to speak with me was my creep of an ex-Alpha, and being as abrupt and honest as possible seemed to repel him.

My stomach churned from discomfort. At least I no longer had to deal with the weirdo with wandering hands.

Her eyebrows winged up and then she burst into laughter.

“Honest much?”

I wrinkled my nose. I’d said what I’d said and it wasn’t like I could take it back. “Do you not fear him? He’s my brother and he scares the shit out of me. You should have heard how he laid into me for leaving you in his office alone. He didn’t even let me get a word in edgewise.” There was no doubt the male was scary, but there was a certain allure to him. My hand itched to touch the aggressive curve of his jaw. I liked the grumpy look of him.

“Hello, earth to Violet.”

I jerked upright, like a pole had been shoved down my spine. Talking to a female my age shouldn’t be this hard.

I picked up my fork and shoveled some pesto farfalle noodles into my mouth. Pretty good. Honestly a surprise since I tended to like my food a little more on the spicy side.

Maggie dug into her food. I should pick her brain while I had her here. At the very least, it was a distraction from seeking out the Alpha.

“How does Beaumont Pack function? Will I be assigned work?”

“When you called, you mentioned you wanted to work at the distillery, right?” I nodded. It would build up my skills. Learning everything I could was tantamount since I hadn’t been able to do anything in Elton Pack. “That means you’ll only be assigned a light duty on pack lands. Savannah will contact you—do you have a phone?”

“Um, not anymore.” My cheeks warmed. I’d had to leave the old device behind in case he tried to track me from it. Maggie frowned.

“I’ll talk to Graham about ordering you one.”

“No need,” I said rushed, and the words almost blended into mush. She pulled her phone out, a fancy model, and her fingers whipped over the screen in double time.

“I’m messaging Savannah about the situation.” Her eyes flicked up to me. “I will be showing you the ropes. Graham asked me to train you. I actually prefer to work here, so you’re taking my job as his assistant. AKA gopher.” She made a face. I choked on my next swallow, my eyes watering. “Involves too many calls.” She shivered.

Goddess, working with him? Would it seem too ungrateful to ask to switch when I’d just gotten here. I bit the inside of my cheek.

Maybe by being around him, I’d be able to get over the attraction.

“There’s something I have to tell you.” Her hazel eyes, the same color as her hot brother’s, scanned my face. Her lips pursed. “Bad news for you.” She looked almost pitying. I did not want to be pitied. I straightened my shoulders. “Graham is?—”

The chatter in the dining room tapered off, and the male werewolf causing havoc in my gut strode in. His presence seemed to suck all the oxygen out of the air. Goddess, he was unfairly hot. Yet, he’d brushed me off. Sure, he was older, an Alpha, and intimidating, but I could handle him.

He swept his gaze over the space like a lord observing his subjects and settled on me. His scowl deepened. The slightly thinner upper lip would feel perfect on mine.

My face warmed and I’d fan myself it wouldn’t have made me obvious. Years of repressed hormones narrowed in on this male. I shifted in my seat, crossing my ankles.

Though he was standing far away from me, I felt in tune with his body. He could tell I was attracted to him. It’d been painfully obvious in his office, and I wasn’t crazy, I felt the interest reciprocated despite his aggression. If Maggie was his sibling, he couldn’t be that bad. Maybe we could see where this went?—

A woman entered behind him. No, she’d been next to him, I just didn’t notice because his presence sucked every bit of my attention. She hooked her hand around his forearm, her head tilted up, and she studied the area in a similar sweep like him. Regal, commanding, dominant, shifted .

My heart sank.

“Do you have another sister?” I choked out. Please be a family member .

Maggie sighed.

“No. I was trying to tell you before they came in so you didn’t look like someone smashed your dreams?—”

“He’s mated,” I whispered. Suffocating shame slammed into me. I’d come onto a mated male. The food I’d swallowed felt like a ball in the pit of my stomach. Had he told her about my stupidity? Oh Goddess, no. The sickness in my belly expanded.

Alpha Graham’s gaze dropped to my lips. He speared his fingers through his dark hair, forcing the strands to slick back. How could he look even angrier? There was no way he heard our whispers with the chatter echoing off the walls.

“Not yet.”

This was it, I’d ruined my only shot at getting myself and my new life together.

“He’s taking a chosen mate.” I was going to faint. “In a few weeks. You came just in time for the ceremony.”

“You have to be kidding me.” It was official, my luck was crap. The Moon Goddess definitely had something against me. How could I be lusting over a mated male? After my experience with my last Luna, this was like driving a spike into the already open wound. Was I hyperventilating? I pressed my hand to my chest. My heart pounded under my palm like crazy.

“Drop your eyes,” she hissed. I quickly did as she ordered. “Fuck, too late, here he comes. Word of advice, don’t argue, it just pisses him off more.”

I didn’t think I could argue. Not with the humongous knot in my throat. I’d felt up a male who had a female. No wonder he seemed so pissed. The attraction I sensed from him was just me. How embarrassing of me. Was it too late to sneak away? They were getting closer and closer; his gaze focused on us. It’s too late. I licked my dry lips. The room seemed to undulate.

“Violet.” His voice rumbled and reached inside, soothing the nausea. The woman’s grip became tighter, and she angled to the side, pressing her breasts against his arm. The sickness returned with a vengeance.

I stood so quickly, my move snagged the chair, and it thumped against the side of my knee.

Alpha stiffened and I kneaded my throbbing leg, using it as an excuse not to look at him. Not now, after discovering I’d felt him up while he was with someone. Self-directed disgust didn’t help the sick feeling in my stomach abate.

“And who is this?” the female on his arm said, her head cocked. I carefully scooted the chair back with my nose scrunched, trying not to let the rise of nausea take me out.

“He said her name already, Hester,” Maggie mumbled. “She’s the new addition to the pack.”

My gaze snagged on her thumb caressing his forearm. The thick, muscled forearm?—

“I have to go,” I said rushed, and collected my plate.

“I’m not done speaking to you,” Hester frowned. I froze, looking up at her. She matched his beauty. Not frumpy, not dressed in oversized clothes. Her golden hair seemed to shimmer under the lights embedded in the ceiling. Wildness exuded from her and her words held a slight bite. Her wolf didn’t like me it seemed. Probably sensing my hussy-esque thoughts toward her male.

“I’ll be right back,” I mumbled, keeping my eyes down. I stepped forward, well away from their direction, but she stepped in my path. Sweat beaded at my temples. I needed to go.

“You can’t?—"

I bent in half and vomited all over her tennis shoes.

She screamed but stayed in place with noodles adorning her white shoes. I really should have chewed more . . .

“I-I.” I shut up and pressed my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide on hers. She looked livid. She was about to lunge to snap my neck. This was so bad, and it didn’t help that the pack watched. I whirled, about to take off at a sprint, but she grabbed the back of my shirt. The collar banded around my throat. I gasped and stumbled back.

“You vomited all over me!”

I clasped my palm over my mouth.

“I didn’t mean to,” I said muffled and clamped my lips tight as another wave of sickness fluttered around my senses. Could the earth open up and swallow me whole? That would be great right about now, Moon Goddess.

“Clean them off.” She grabbed my arm with more force than necessary. I winced.

Graham gripped her wrist, and she yelped, letting me go.

“You are not Luna yet. You have no right to make demands of my pack.” Without looking at me, he barked, “Leave.”

I shot toward the door at the order, biting back tears as I fled the scene. I dropped my gaze. Too many eyes studied me. I’d given everyone a show.

I kept my head down all the way to my bedroom, zeroed in on brushing my teeth and taking a shower.

* * *

“Stop hiding in there,” Maggie called. Her voice was muffled, but easy to make out. I approached the door and pressed my palm against the surface. I thumped my forehead on the wood with a groan.

“It’s really not that bad.” Yet, there was laughter in her voice.

“I vomited on the future Luna and hit on the Alpha. How is that not bad?” I mumbled. ‘Hit on’ was a stretch. More like, I’d made my interest in him painfully obvious.

“You hit on Graham?” she gasped. I yanked open the door.

“Shhhhh.” I looked down the hall toward his bedroom.

“Okay, maybe it was that bad.”

“Is this you helping?” I raised an eyebrow.

“You didn’t finish eating. You want some spaghetti?”

“I hate you,” I mumbled, rubbing my face with my palm. She giggled.

“After you left, Hester took off in a huff. She’ll probably sulk in her room the rest of the week.” I winced. She took my arm and pulled me into the hallway. I barely managed to close my door as I stumbled after her. She turned the sharp corner, and I avoided looking at the Alpha’s office door. “You did everyone a favor. She’s one of those sneaky mean girls.”

“And that means?”

“She’s only nice when she wants something.” She leaned closer as we exited the house and stepped onto the porch. “And I think she’s trying to screw our Beta.”

“But she’s going to mate your brother.” I couldn’t comprehend how she could want anyone else when the perfect specimen was within grasp.

“She wants both,” she shrugged.

“You have an active imagination.” The deep rumble came from behind us.

Maggie stiffened and her fear was obvious. I slowly turned to look over at the familiar voice. The male from the woods leaned against the porch railing, watching us with his head cocked. He crossed his arms, his tattoos flexing. I barely kept myself from plugging my nose; the scent of alcohol came off him in waves.

He shoved away from where he leaned, approaching with loud, thumping steps. His sneer was directed at Maggie.

“Nothing better to do than to speak about your future Luna?” The cold, cruel look in his gaze sent shivers down my back, and it had everything to do with how he touched me. Flutters bloomed in my stomach. He was undeniably attractive. I swayed toward him but quickly snapped out of it. These urges were madness. I’d believed Alpha Elton had ruined me because I hated touching anyone. Maybe now that there was distance between me and that awful pack, I didn’t feel like I was in survival mode every single moment of the day.

Maggie trembled at my side, her breaths coming in short puffs. She was scared of this oaf. Terrified even. Now that he stood so close while the sun was out, I could see the tattoo design. Trees stretched upwards, the smooth dark fine lines painting a night scene of the forest.

“What are you scowling at, Darling?” He tapped my jaw, his fingertips lingering. His eyes were glazed and the whites tinted red.

“You stink.”

Maggie gasped.

He grinned, but it was more of a baring of his teeth. He pinched my jaw between his pointer and thumb fingers. The stiff grip was momentary and hard enough to serve as a warning. He lifted the beer bottle dangling in his other hand and took a swig. His gaze didn’t move from mine. Then without saying anything, he let me go and entered the house.

“You have guts, I would not have spoken to any Alpha like that. But that one? Even less so.”

Her words took a moment to process through my panic.

“I’m sorry, what? He’s an Alpha?” I choked out. That was impossible. I’d sensed his dominance, but an Alpha?

“Whitlock. Alpha to the pack bordering ours.” No wonder she was horrified by how I spoke to him. “He’s Hester’s brother.”

I only gawked at her.

“Graham’s taking her as his mate to end the feuding between our packs.” She angled her head opposite to the house. “Come on, I’ll show you around.”

I trailed after her, trying to wrap my head around the discoveries. Graham was mating her for a reason. Maybe his attraction wasn’t my imagination. If it was more of an arrangement, it didn’t feel as dirty to want him. I sighed. Or I was trying to justify myself.

“Violet? Earth to Vi.” Maggie poked my arm. “Alpha Whitlock isn’t good. As hot as he is, stay away from him. The stories I’ve heard about that male are frightening.” She shivered.

Not that I’d want to be with him or him with me. After all, I’d seen his texts and I had no interest in drama. Keeping my head down and staying out of the way had worked fantastically for me.

“They’re mating to stop all the fighting? Why not just agree not to kill each other?”

“An agreement isn’t strong enough. They hate each other’s guts, and there have been too many pack deaths, on both sides. They would have already gone for each other’s throats if they weren’t so well matched.” She licked her lips, and frowned. I barely stopped myself from asking why they hated each other but since she hadn’t offered the information, I kept my mouth shut.

“Then why now if this has been going on for a while?”

“Two of our pups got into it at the bordering of our land, they both died.” She took a breath. “Elder wolves bargained for an agreement.”

“Oh.” What else could I say?

We walked in silence. I took in pack homes lining both sides of the cobbled streets. Pups played and romped around, carefree.

I’d been here mere days, and I could see the difference in leading styles between the Elton and Beaumont alphas.

As much as Maggie griped about him, it was clear he had every pack member’s respect.

And he was taking a chosen instead of waiting to find his true mate or someone he loves. Although a true mate was incredibly rare these days as more and more lost access to their wolves.

It seemed like such a waste not to try though.

“By the way, Savannah will meet with you after I show you around the company tomorrow to discuss pack tasks . . .” She continued telling me about the acreage and benefits of Beaumont Pack. Almost like she was trying to sell it to me, but there was no need. This pack was a haven. Did they know how good they had it?

My only hang up was that female, Hester, becoming my Luna. Everything inside me recoiled, but I didn’t have the luxury of leaving.