Page 5 of Noah (Pecan Pines #4)

Chapter 5

Jackson

“Cooper, while I understand that your predecessor’s actions were no fault of yours, you can’t simply expect any of us to trust you without question,” the alpha of one of the larger packs began, his voice heavy with skepticism.

A murmur of agreement rippled through the room, other alphas nodding or crossing their arms in a show of doubt. It wasn’t surprising.

Ryder, the previous alpha of the Pecan Pines Pack, had ruled with a brutal, isolating hand. Trust wasn’t going to be given easily.

“I get it,” another alpha chimed in. “We’ve all heard about the changes you’re trying to make, but words are just words, Cooper. What assurance do we have that you can lead differently?”

Cooper, standing at the head of the table, didn’t flinch. He met each gaze with calm confidence, his hands resting lightly on the back of his chair.

“I understand your concerns,” Cooper said, his voice steady, “but actions speak louder than words. Over the past few months, I’ve worked to dismantle Ryder’s harmful policies and open our pack to stronger alliances. The fact that we’re hosting this summit should show you that we’re serious about change.”

The room was tense, a palpable undercurrent of skepticism lingering in the air. Still, Cooper remained composed, his eyes scanning the room, gauging the mood.

“I’m not asking for blind trust. I’m asking for the opportunity to prove Pecan Pines is moving in a new direction,” Cooper added.

Another alpha leaned forward, his brow furrowed. “And how do you propose we verify that? You have to understand, Cooper, we can’t afford to be naive.”

Cooper nodded, his lips curving into a slight, understanding smile. “I propose we strengthen our communication. More frequent inter-pack gatherings, transparency in our dealings, and an open invitation for any of you to visit our territory unannounced. You’ll see for yourselves that Pecan Pines is not the same pack it was under Ryder.”

His diplomacy was impressive. Despite the alphas’ reservations, Cooper managed to keep the conversation on course, steering it back to the potential for unity rather than division.

I found myself nodding in approval. This was the kind of leadership that could mend the rifts between packs. I should have been fully present, soaking in the political maneuvering.

But my mind was elsewhere. On one particular wolf. Noah.

His scent lingered in my senses, warm and familiar, a comforting tether that pulled my thoughts away from the meeting.

It wasn’t just the way he smelled, though—that earthy, calming scent that felt like home. It was everything about him.

The way his green eyes lit up when he smiled, the softness in his voice, the way he didn’t seem to mind when I ruffled his hair. That easy, boyish grin had always undone me.

My wolf stirred restlessly, the memories only fueling the yearning that had been quietly building since I first laid eyes on him again.

It had been years—too many years—since we’d last seen each other.

Back then, we were just boys, our lives stretching out before us with endless possibilities. But responsibilities had a way of stealing time.

My duties to my pack, the weight of expectations—it had all consumed me.

And in the midst of it, I’d let time slip away. I hadn’t reached out. I hadn’t followed up on the connection that had sparked between us all those years ago.

Not because I didn’t care, but because I had convinced myself that I couldn’t afford distractions.

The pack needed me. My family needed me. And so, I’d buried those feelings, chalking them up to youthful infatuation, a fleeting fancy that would fade with time.

But it hadn’t faded. If anything, seeing Noah again now, it felt like no time had passed at all.

My wolf’s desire was difficult to suppress, a primal need to be near him, to touch him, to claim him as mine.

I struggled to reign in those instincts, urging myself to calm down, to focus on the pressing matters at hand. This summit was important.

Our packs were on the verge of conflict, and the stakes were high.

I needed to be present, sharp, vigilant.

Yet, Noah’s presence was a distraction I couldn’t shake. I remembered how he used to look at me, with a mix of admiration and something more.

Regret gnawed at me. I should have reached out. I should have found a way to keep in touch, to bridge the distance that had grown between us.

But I hadn’t, and now, standing on the precipice of something new, I wondered if it was too late to fix that. Could I rebuild what had been left to fade?

Could I rekindle the warmth that had once been so effortless between us?

My heart ached with the possibility, the hope that maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance. Noah’s smile was still the same, still warm, still inviting.

If I could just get through this summit, if I could navigate the treacherous waters of pack politics and come out the other side, maybe then I could find a way to set things right.

To tell Noah what I hadn’t had the courage to say back then.

Beside me, Hudson sat rigid, his energy barely contained. His fingers tapped impatiently against the table, his jaw tight.

I knew the mistake Cooper had made the other day still irked him—when Cooper shook my hand and mistook me for the next alpha in line.

It had been an honest mistake, but Hudson didn’t take it kindly.

I could feel the weight of my brother’s simmering frustration.

But for now, I had to focus. I had to ensure that this summit didn’t end in chaos. I had to protect my pack, and in doing so, protect Noah and his.

If I could do that, maybe there would be time later to explore what still lingered between us. Maybe there was a way to make up for lost time, to reignite the flame that had never truly gone out.

“Here, here,” a familiar mocking voice called out from the opposite end of the table, pulling me out of my thoughts.

My gaze snapped to Adrian, smugly seated with his second and third flanking him.

He leaned back in his chair, his expression oozing self-satisfaction. He met my stare evenly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

Hudson must have seen him too, because I heard him gritting his teeth beside me.

Both of us were undoubtedly thinking about the two Thornbane wolves who had strolled into our roadhouse the night before, attempting to provoke us.

I debated pulling Cooper aside, warning him that Adrian and his pack might be planning to stir trouble.

It wasn’t like me to concern myself with another pack’s internal affairs, especially one I didn’t know well. But Noah was part of this pack. My wolf reasoned, Noah belongs here . And he was right.

I didn’t want anything bad happening to Noah or his pack. The thought of him being caught in the crossfire made my chest tighten with a protective instinct I hadn’t expected.

Cooper continued to handle the alphas with a grace that kept the peace, but I couldn’t shake the sense of looming conflict.

Adrian thrived on chaos, and I had no doubt he was already calculating his next move.

I thought the meeting would never end, but it finally did.

The room, which had been filled with tense debates and quiet power plays, now buzzed with the relaxed chatter of wolves getting ready to unwind.

I stifled a yawn, my shoulders aching from sitting so long.

Cooper, ever the gracious host, invited everyone to dinner in the pack dining hall, mentioning the caterer was from a family that owned the best BBQ roadhouse in town.

That announcement had most of the wolves practically salivating.

Cooper’s ease and confidence had already won over half the alphas in the room—a trait I couldn’t help but envy.

As I made my way to the dining hall, weaving through clusters of wolves talking in hushed tones, Hudson caught up to me and grabbed my arm, his grip firm.

“Where were you during that meeting?” Hudson demanded, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Seated next to you,” I replied, deadpan, though I knew he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Don’t play dumb. Your mind was elsewhere. Twice, Dad paused, expecting you to back him up or elaborate, but you were lost in your own world,” Hudson argued, sounding frustrated.

“Aren’t you always telling me to back down so you can shine in the limelight?” I countered.

We reached the massive dining hall, the scent of smoked meats and spices filling the air.

The buffet tables were already surrounded by our pack mates, Mason and Beck among them, blending effortlessly with wolves from other packs.

Hudson muttered something under his breath before stalking off, clearly tired of my company.

I was about to grab a plate, my stomach growling in anticipation, but then my gaze landed on one particular wolf—Noah.

His golden hair caught the light, his green eyes bright as he chatted with two of his pack mates who were just finishing their meals. They bid him goodbye, leaving him alone at the table.

A perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation.

I started toward him, weaving through the crowd, but from the corner of my eye, I saw another wolf moving in the same direction. Adrian.

My jaw clenched, anger bubbling to the surface as I quickened my pace, determined to reach Noah first.

“Hey, can I join you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual as I reached his table.

Noah looked up, a smile spreading across his face. It was polite, almost practiced. It lacked the warmth I remembered. “Jackson. How did the meeting go?”

I hesitated for a moment, thrown by the shift in his tone. Was something wrong?

The thought lingered for a beat before I shoved it aside. He was probably just tired—everyone was stretched thin with the summit.

I slid into the seat opposite him, feeling a rush of warmth at his easy demeanor.

“It went relatively well. Cooper seems like a solid alpha,” I commented.

Before Noah could respond, Adrian arrived, his usual smirk plastered on his face.

“Noah, it’s been a while,” he said, his voice oozing arrogance.

“Adrian,” Noah acknowledged, blinking as he took in the other wolf’s presence. His polite tone didn’t mask the slight edge of discomfort.

Adrian pulled out a chair and sat down, flashing me a smug grin. My hands curled into fists under the table, my protective instincts flaring.

I dragged my chair closer to Noah, as if to shield him from Adrian’s presence. Adrian mirrored the action, his mocking smile never faltering.

The tension at the table ratcheted up, thick and suffocating. Noah looked a little put out, glancing between the two of us. Honestly, I couldn’t blame him.

This wasn’t how I’d envisioned our reunion.

“We were just talking about how the meeting went,” I said, trying to steer the conversation back on track. “Cooper seems like a good alpha.”

Adrian snorted. “Good? Let’s hope he’s more than that. We all know what happened with the last one.”

Noah’s gaze flicked to Adrian, his expression neutral but his body language stiff. “Cooper is a strong leader. He’s already made positive changes.”

We continued chatting, but Adrian’s constant interjections grated on my nerves. I wanted it to be just Noah and me, our conversation flowing naturally like it used to.

Instead, Adrian kept butting in, his every word a challenge.

“Anyway,” Adrian drawled, leaning back and draping an arm over the back of Noah’s chair, “I was wondering if you could show me around town. We could get reacquainted.”

That did not sit well with my wolf. My anger simmered just beneath the surface, ready to boil over. I opened my mouth, ready to tell Adrian off, but Noah stood up, cutting me off.

“Sorry, but I’m a little busy helping out with the summit. Everyone in my pack is,” Noah said, his tone firm yet polite.

Adrian frowned, his gaze lingering on Noah in a way that made my skin crawl. But to Noah’s credit, he stood his ground, unaffected by Adrian’s intensity.

Griffin, Noah’s brother, called out his name from across the room, drawing his attention.

“It was good seeing you, Jackson. Adrian,” Noah said, then walked away, leaving us at the table.

“Little Noah’s all grown up,” Adrian drawled once Noah was out of earshot, his eyes gleaming with something dark and possessive.

I leaned in, my voice low and deadly. “Stay away from him.”

Adrian’s smirk widened. “I don’t think I can do that. I think he’ll make a fine mate for an alpha, don’t you?”

It took every ounce of self-control to stand up and walk away.

My wolf snarled within me, furious at the thought of Adrian anywhere near Noah. But I knew one thing for certain—I wasn’t going to let Adrian get his claws into him.