Page 30 of The Mating Quest

“…while my team and I are here finding the talisman. As such a few ground rules. I respect Aiden’s leadership of this pack and being his guest, but everyone on my team is under my protection and in my pack and as such, they do not answer toyou.”

He gave Aiden a level look across the room. “If that is not acceptable to Aiden, we willleave.”

Tristan sat at a table with several other Lupines, who looked at him, not Aiden. The wizard looked impartial as he looked atAiden.

Aiden rubbed his beard, nodded at Tristan, who nodded back as if they shared some oddcommunication.

“You and all your team are welcome here, Powers. As one alpha to another, I assure you that none of my pack will touch any of your people.” His dark gaze swept over the room. “Understood?”

Her gaze swung back to Tristan, as did everyone else’s. Everyone who had seen what happened outside, and she doubted anyone missed it. Tristan stood, nodded at Aiden again and simplyvanished.

Convenient. She wished she could do the same as they resumed their seats. Those at their table politely excused themselves, saying they were finished, bid Ethan good-night. They did not extend the same courtesy toher.

The food tasted like cardboard as she ate, but Ethan was right. She needed to keep up her energy. Starving herself would serve no purpose. The sooner they were out of here, thebetter.

She managed to finish her dinner. Dessert, forget it. Ilana looked around, realized the dining hall was empty. Aiden and Nia came over, cleared theirplates.

“You running with us tonight?” Aiden asked after they returned to theirtable.

Running? Puzzled, she looked at Ethan. He pointed upward. “Fullmoon.”

Oh. She felt stupid. Of course. The pack always ran together on the full moon. She knew this from all her years ofwandering.

Ethan looked at her. Ilana moistened her lips. “I wanted to see Tate before crashing. He’s been having troublesleeping.”

Ava came over with Ranger. They looked happy, absorbed in eachother.

“We thought we’d stop by and visit the children before we run. Ranger’s nephew wanted to meet me,” Ava explained, her eyesshining.

“Why don’t we all go?” Nia suggested. “I want to say good-night to ourdaughter.”

As they walked over, Ilana dragging behind, Nia dropped back and explained to her that on the full moon nights, the children had a sleepover separately so the parents could run as wolves without worrying about theiroffspring.

In the playroom, Tristan sat in a beanbag reading a story to his twins and a small group of children their age. Tate was in the far corner, absorbed in his building blocks. Ilana went over to him, worried about hisisolation.

Why don’t you join them in the reading circle? I bet it’s a good story, she asked Tatetelepathically.

He looked up with solemn eyes.They don’t likeme.

Give them achance.

I’m different, like you. Pack don’t likedifferent.

Doesn’t, she corrected automatically.Do you want me to read you astory?

I guess. Can’t sleep on nights like this when the pack runs. My parents died on a full moon. I’m afraid something is going to getme.

You have the big fairies to protectyou.

I guess. But they don’t understand me the way youdo.

Maybe you can stay in my room so you feelsafe.

His dark eyes brightened.CouldI?

“What’s going on here?” Ethan asked, squattingdown.

Suddenly she realized Tristan had stopped reading. The only ones left were Tristan’s twins, his mate Nikita, Nia, Aiden and their daughter. Peyton, the Mitchell’s daughter, had dark hair and was about four, same as Tristan and Nikita’stwins.