Page 14 of Claimed by the Wolf (Wild Fated Shifters #1)

brYNN

P ositioned between Brax and Connor, I’m marched like a prisoner up the interlocking driveway toward the stone-faced entrance of Emeric’s sprawling ranch home.

For the third time, I look behind me. Dozens of vehicles line the area, a combination of motorcycles and expensive sports cars, SUVs, and sedans.

Some of them I recognize from Ember Hollow, our pack members emerging from the interior to join the party with us, but none of them are the faces I want.

My brother nudges me onward gently.

“Come on,” he growls. “Keep going.”

I smooth my sweating palms over the short pleats of my dress and bow my head as I struggle to compose myself. I’m surprised my knees aren’t visibly shaking when I look down.

Hints of music drift out from inside the glass doors, the atmosphere much lighter here tonight than it had been the last time, but I can’t enjoy the savory smells of delicious barbecue filling the air, or the peppy country twang piping out from the speakers.

All I can think about is where this night is going to lead. My packed bags are in the back of Brax’s car, ready to be moved into the house on Emeric’s command.

I stop again and stare imploringly at my brother.

He glowers at me. “Brynn…”

“Where’s Nox?” I whisper before we’re in earshot of the Willow Grove members, lining the doorway in anticipation of our arrival.

I haven’t seen Emeric yet, but I’m sure he’s close by.

Connor scowls at my question. “You would be smart to put the right Alpha in your mind tonight,” he hisses. “Unless you want to get us all killed.”

I tense and swallow. “I will. I’m sorry.”

Brax ushers me forward. He didn’t answer my question, and now I’m more on edge than ever.

The shifters at the door step aside to let us pass, but they don’t offer much of a greeting.

“Not exactly a warm welcome,” Connor mutters as we enter the foyer.

The music levels increase inside, and the room is filled with well-dressed shifters. Nervously, I wring my hands and look around for Nox again, but my eyes land squarely on Emeric’s.

His emerald stare bores into mine across the entranceway, and I gasp aloud, the look catching me off guard. A bemused smirk touches his lips, and he ambles toward us.

Gulping back the rock of stress in my throat, I force a smile. “Hello, Alpha,” I choke out. “Thank you for having us.”

He barely acknowledges me again as he sets his sights on my brother. “Where is your Alpha?” he asks.

He really doesn’t like me. Why doesn’t he put us all out of our misery and end this charade for us?

“He should be along soon.” Brax’s evasiveness makes me stiffen, hearing the lie in my brother’s tone. “He got caught up in an emergency.”

Oh, no! He’s not coming!

The reality hits me like ice water to the face, and I have to turn away before Emeric can read my expression. Why hadn’t they forewarned me?

“Nothing serious, I hope.” He doesn’t sound like he cares much.

He’s studying me with renewed interest, and the expression on his face worries me. Has he changed his mind about wanting a mate? Or can he sense something different about me now?

“We hope not,” Connor declares, confirming my suspicions. “But pack business can be delicate, as you know, Alpha.”

“Don’t I know it.” He stares at me for a long moment. “Why don’t you mingle? There’s plenty to eat and drink. Let’s get better acquainted with one another.”

My breath catches, and I wait for him to steer me away, but to my surprise, he simply wanders off, leaving me with Connor and Brax.

I will never understand this Alpha, but maybe that’s a good thing if it means he keeps his distance. At least for now.

“Go with him!” Connor hisses at me.

“He’s not coming?” I snap back, ignoring his instruction. “Nox isn’t coming tonight?”

Connor snorts at me. “Are you crazy? How would that work? Of course not. You two can never be in the same place together again.”

The statement is a punch to my gut, and Brax reads my look clearly, his expression softening sympathetically.

“He’s working on breaking the bond right now,” he whispers. “But this isn’t the place to be discussing it. Connor’s right. Go with Emeric. Try to get to know him.”

My stomach churns at the notion, but I don’t object. This is what I’m here for. But can’t they understand how difficult it is for me when my real mate is sucking every last grain of desire from my soul?

“You should try to make nice with the Willow Grove members, too,” I mumble, turning away to find the Alpha, blinking away the tears burning behind my eyes.

“Right.” Connor’s tone is thick with disbelief.

Emeric has disappeared through the front hallways, and I make my way through the guests, trying desperately to keep the pleasant smile on my face as his pack members offer me curious looks.

Some stop to speak with me, and I respond, introducing myself.

“Are you moving onto the ranch soon?” one brunette asks slyly.

She looks at me like she knows something I don’t know, but around here, that wouldn’t be hard, would it?

“Hopefully,” I manage to gag out.

A knowing leer curls around her lips. “What’s the hold-up?” she drawls. “Is Emeric keeping you out?”

My eyes narrow. What does she know about it?

A strong arm takes hold of me and leads me away before I can answer, and I find myself at Emeric’s side.

Party-goers clear the path as we walk, and he finally stops in the hallway, beneath a portrait of one of his ancestors, a former Alpha I don’t recognize. The other couples in the corridor discreetly move away to give us privacy, but I wish they would stay.

I don’t want to be alone with Emeric. I’m not ready for what comes next.

I slump back against the wall as his arm extends over my head, his huge frame towering over me. He’s just as big as Nox, but he intimidates me. There’s no sense of security, no warmth in his stare. He brings his mouth inches from mine, and I close my eyes.

This is my duty, my oath to the pack. Their safety and security are in my hands.

Here we go…

“Where is Nox?”

The point-blank question takes me aback, and my eyes fly open.

Blinking, I respond, “I don’t know.”

“You don’t know?” he repeats.

He doesn’t believe me.

I tilt my head to the side. “No, really. I’m not really privy to the Alpha’s business.

I mean, my brother is the Beta, but I don’t spend much time with them at the packhouse.

I guess I go to parties, and I hang out with them, but I don’t know about security details or plans or anything…

” I trail off and bite my lower lip sheepishly.

I’m babbling in my nervousness, but it’s all true. I’ve always stayed out of pack politics.

Until now.

His verdant eyes lighten with my response, and he releases my arm, stepping back to look at me as if seeing me for the first time. His gaze rakes over my short ivory sundress, lingering over the swell of my cleavage and skipping along my free-flowing hair until his eyes rest on my face.

But I’m not reading any real desire there, even if he does show a modicum of interest. He finds me attractive, but he’s not sold on the idea of me.

“What was that female saying to you just now?”

The conversation shift again confuses me. “Who?”

“The one you were just talking to when I took you away. Alessa.”

“Oh, is that her name? We didn’t really talk,” I answer nervously. “She asked when I was moving in here, and I said?—”

“You know what?” he cuts me off. “It’s okay.”

I clamp my mouth closed to stop my incessant rambling. I’m making an awful impression.

“What do you know about me?” he asks, dropping his arm to his side.

I exhale, realizing he’s not going to kiss me, after all. Not yet.

“Not much,” I confess. “You’ve been Alpha of Willow Grove for five years, and your pack seems to like you.” I offer him a tentative smile. “Other than that, I’m afraid I don’t know much else, but I’m hoping to change that.”

It’s so hard to sound coy and convincing when all I can think about is Nox and where he is tonight.

To my amazement, he chuckles. “Depends on who you ask regarding my pack.” His face relaxes.

I don’t know what to make of that.

“You’ll stay tonight,” he tells me, turning back down the hall. “I’ll have your belongings sent for.”

“What?”

Oh. He does like me.

Emeric stops and glances back at me. “What?”

I collect myself quickly and hurry toward him. “I just meant… I mean, we haven’t really spent any time together. I’m a little surprised you want me to stay.”

His eyes narrow slightly. “The point of you staying here is so that we can get to know each other. Right?”

Blood drains out of my face, and I swallow thickly. “Yep—yes,” I stammer. “Uh, I’m looking forward to it, Alpha.”

“Are you?”

I nod quickly, but I can’t look him in the eye and lie. My heart screams out for Nox, begging him to put a stop to this.

“Thank you, Alpha.”

“Just call me Emeric,” he growls. “We’re basically mates, aren’t we?”

He doesn’t bother waiting for a reply as he saunters down the hall toward the main foyer to rejoin the party.

So that’s it now. It’s official.

The wrong Alpha will be my future mate.