Chapter 13

SAMANTHA

After my conversation with Stephen, I returned to the pack house with a renewed sense of purpose. I’d been called to take charge, so it was best for everyone that I take the role seriously.

I was so lost in thought as I pushed through the door that I ran straight into a woman carrying a basket. Its contents went flying as they skittered across the floor.

“Oh my Goddess! I’m so sorry,” she exclaimed. When she looked up and saw me, she bowed her head. “Alpha Paulson! My apologies, I was running around without watching where I was going.”

I took in the woman’s appearance.

Tall and slender, maybe five-ten, with shiny blonde hair that fell almost to her waist in soft curls, and almond-shaped, topaz-colored eyes. Full pink lips rested below a pert nose.

She was beautiful.

“No need to apologize,” I told her. “I wasn’t paying enough attention.”

She smiled warmly. “I’m Cassandra Stevens.”

We shook hands, and then I bent down to help her pick up her scattered belongings. The papers appeared to detail an event, listing various materials, fabric swatches, and catering menus.

“Are you planning a wedding or something?” I asked.

“Uh, no,” she replied, stumbling over her words. “I’m the head event planner for the pack, and I’ve been working on your alpha ceremony.”

Her lips formed a frown. “The whole ‘challenge thing’ kind of messed up the welcome party I had in mind, so I thought the alpha ceremony should be a bit more special—”

“Wait, there’s going to be an alpha ceremony?” I cut in.

“Oh, yes. At least, I hope so. Typically, the ceremony is when the previous alpha formally hands over the pack to the new alpha.

“Alpha Christian Redding might be…gone, but I thought it would still be a good opportunity for the pack to meet you and celebrate under less violent circumstances.”

Her explanation made sense, and I should’ve been grateful for an event being organized in my honor. But after the past few days, the idea just felt draining.

Still, Emerick had warned me that the alpha role came with its share of public attention, and I appreciated that I’d have a chance to show the pack who I was on a personal level.

“That sounds great,” I lied. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

Her face lit up with a bright smile. “Actually, I’d love to get to know you better. It would help me to set the tone for the ceremony.

“Could we meet up tonight? My husband makes an amazing bruschetta, and I have a wine collection I’ve been dying to dip into.” Her enthusiasm was a bit overwhelming, but she was so warm and inviting.

~Besides,~ I thought, ~it would be nice to make a friend.~

“Sure, that sounds great,” I responded, my smile genuine. “I could use a glass of wine after the last couple of days.”

“Oh, fantastic!” She clasped her hands together under her chin. “Feel free to bring Emerick. I know security is tight. They’ll probably feel better knowing you have some protection. How about at six?”

Perhaps my relationship with Emerick wasn’t as secret as I’d thought.

“We’ll be there,” I assured her.

“Fabulous.” She squeezed my hand. “I have a feeling we’re going to be really good friends.”

Her statement seemed odd, but I returned her smile before she bounced off down the hallway. As I watched her, Jackson turned the corner and approached me.

“Hey, Jackson,” I said.

He nodded at me. “Alpha Paulson.”

“Could you do me a favor?” I asked. “Is there somewhere I can read up on pack law and maybe some history?”

He looked confused. “Um, I can take you to the archives if you’d like?”

“That sounds great.” I took his arm. “Lead the way.”

He stiffened at my touch, and I couldn’t help but smile.

The brothers were so serious and stoic. I knew it was probably part of their job, but I was determined to crack at least one of their stony exteriors.

***

The library was like something straight out of a fairytale.

The two-story-high walls were lined with books, and large stained glass windows depicting wolves cast a rainbow of light onto the wooden tables in its center.

I was completely engrossed in my reading and enjoyed soaking up as much knowledge as possible. Not only did I learn about my pack, but about werewolves in general.

For so long, I’d lived in ignorance of their existence, yet I was learning they had their own history, religions, traditions…

Jackson was a great help, guiding me to the various books I needed whenever I wanted to delve deeper into a subject.

Only one thing could snap me out of my focus…

“Hey, Emerick,” I said, looking up at him as he entered the library. “Did you know our ancestors came over on the Mayflower?

“Apparently, werewolves were being persecuted in Europe and wanted a new start as much as the Pilgrims.”

“Hey,” he said, peering over all the books around me. “I see you’ve kept busy this afternoon.”

“It’s been enlightening. Red Claw’s archives go back over four hundred years, to the pack’s original founding.” I reached for his hand and pulled him in for a kiss without a second thought.

He responded without hesitation, but as we pulled apart, I suddenly felt self-conscious.

We hadn’t defined what we were yet, and I had only been on the pack’s land for a little over a day. Given all the werewolf customs I’d been learning about, I wondered if we needed to be more discreet.

Sensing my discomfort, Emerick gave me a reassuring wink as he put some distance between us and sat down at the table. “Learning our history?” He nodded at the books on the table.

“Just trying to catch up,” I admitted.

“You will,” he assured me confidently. “What’s on the agenda for this evening?”

“Oh, crap,” I exclaimed, remembering my conversation with the event planner. “What time is it?”

Emerick checked his watch. “Just past five. Why?”

“I made plans to have a glass of wine at Cassandra Stevens’s place. Actually, I made plans for ~us~ to go. She says she could use my help with planning the alpha ceremony.”

“When did you meet Cassie Stevens?” He sounded surprised.

“I bumped into her in the hallway,” I confessed, feeling a bit sheepish. “Quite literally.”

He grinned. “And she kindly bullied you into making plans with her immediately? She’s a force to be reckoned with, that one.”

I laughed. “She was so excited! I couldn’t say no.”

“No one ever can.” Emerick shrugged. “She’s actually a great person for you to spend time with if you’re trying to integrate into the pack. She knows everyone and everything that’s going on.”

He leaned in closer and lowered his voice. “There’s a rumor that she’s psychic.”

I ran my tongue along my teeth as I smiled. “And is she?”

“She denies it, but she’s always seemed to, sort of, ~know~ things. If you see her walking with an umbrella on a sunny day, you should get ready for rain.”

I grinned. “Well, maybe tonight will be more interesting than I thought.”

Emerick checked his watch. “We should probably get going if we want to be on time.”

Jackson, Emerick, and I put the books away before the three of us exited the library. Jonathan met us in the hallway, and the brothers discussed security while I messaged Luke to tell him I loved him.

I was ready for us to be under the same roof, but knew I couldn’t risk bringing him until I knew it was safe.

“Ready?” Emerick asked.

“Yeah. I need to grab my things from your office so I can change clothes and freshen up a bit before we go,” I told him.

“I moved your stuff to one of the pack house suites. I figured you wouldn’t want to spend the night in the MedBay again, and your furniture hasn’t arrived at the Alpha’s Residence yet.”

“That makes sense, thanks. I guess I hadn’t really thought about where I would sleep tonight,” I admitted.

“Well, let’s show you to your room then, madam.” He offered his hand with an exaggerated bow.

I rolled my eyes and laughed, taking his hand in mine.

As we walked, I told him about my talk with Stephen. He stayed quiet while I spoke, but I felt him stiffen when I told him what Stephen had said about not trusting Emilia.

“I’m not sure about my options for dealing with Emilia. It’s partly why I was reading about the pack’s history,” I told him. “Back in the day, traitors were beheaded. I can’t order someone’s death.

“More recently, wolves committing crimes against their alpha seem to be punished with banishment, making them rogues.

“From what I gather, Emilia is powerful and well connected across packs. I don’t think sending her away guarantees she won’t plot against us from afar. At least if she’s here, I can monitor her.”

“That’s really good insight,” Emerick said. “Personally, I vote for the beheading.”

I turned to look at his face. Sure, he was joking, but I found no humor in his features.

“You’re not serious?”

“She committed treason and wanted you dead. Had Gregory won the challenge, she would likely have hunted down Luke and Elias as well. So, yeah, I vote for beheading.”

“You don’t know that she wants me dead, Em.”

“Well, funnily enough, Cassie’s husband, Michael, is the head of our Enforcers, the pack’s equivalent to the police. Why don’t you ask him about it tonight?”

We reached a door marked ~Suite 1~, and Emerick scanned the key card in his hand. He held the door open for me, and I passed him, expecting to walk into something like a standard hotel room.

Instead, I was greeted by a cozy apartment. Warm wood floors led the way to a comfortable sitting area before me, while above us were exposed beams and a tongue-and-groove ceiling.

To the right, I spied a kitchen with a large dining room table, and to the left, two doors, which I assumed led to the bedrooms.

All this, together with the large fireplace in the center of the lounge, reminded me of a rustic lodge.

I imagined curling up in front of the flames with a cozy blanket while staring through the floor-to-ceiling windows on either side and through to the view of the forest.

“This is beautiful,” I said.

“It’s pretty sweet, huh? Sarah redid all the rooms a couple of years ago when she became the luna. With Cassie’s help, of course. They were getting pretty dated,” he explained.

I found myself wondering about my cousin and his wife, whom I’d never met.

But if it was strange to be in a suite she had redecorated, I imagined being in the Alpha’s Residence would feel so much weirder. It had been their home—a place they must have made a lot of memories.

I shook myself from my thoughts and checked the time. I would need to hurry so we weren’t late. Grabbing my duffel bag off the dining table, I headed to the bedroom to change.

I put on some lip gloss and added a little mascara that I thought might highlight the green of my eyes.

After changing into jeans, a low-cut sweater that hugged my curves, and some heeled booties, I walked out of the bedroom to meet Emerick.

His gaze raked over me. “You look fantastic.”

I blushed. “Do you think it’s too much? Maybe I should wear something more professional. I’m trying to make a good impression as the new alpha.”

“Absolutely not. This is just a casual get-together anyway,” he said, pulling me against him. His hands fell to my waist, and his eyes traveled to my lips.

“Hey now, none of that,” I said. “We need to get going.”

He grumbled but released me, and when he wasn’t paying attention, I allowed myself a long, slow sigh.

If he’d kissed me when I thought he was going to, I’d have been putty in his hands.