Caleb and Dom are on either side of their mate on the left side of the table with the Alpha mate, Grace, next to Dom. Her small muscles are corded as she eyes me. A knowing smirk pulls at my lips. The little human is balling her fists under the table. It’s difficult not to laugh. I have to remind myself that she knows little of vampires. Whatever small bits of knowledge she’s been given have almost certainly been designed to cause fear. Devin is seated next to her at the head of the table and the other two pack members are on his right.
“Hello.” I greet them all at once, making eye contact with each of them as I take a seat at the opposite end of the table without hesitation. Vince pulls out my chair and scoots it in as I sit before joining me at my right. His affection toward me gives me confidence I wasn’t expecting. I’m growing rather fond of him, far too quickly. So much so that I don’t trust it. I know of mates and werewolves, but this … these feelings are uncontrollable. I don’t care for them.
The large wolf to the right of Devin smiles at me and asks, “Do you know the difference between ooh and aah?” The wolf next to him smacks him in the back of the head.
“Shut it, Lev.” The large wolf chuckles, unaffected by the hit.
“About ten inches,” I answer effortlessly with a straight face. I rather enjoy crude humor. Most of the pack laughs and Lev gapes, though there’s a twinkle of camaraderie in his eyes. It earns him a small smile in return. Grace’s cold gaze narrows and Liz continues to shy away, hiding behind Caleb. I make a mental note to mention a coffee run and a trip to the pharmacy before the conversation is over. They’ll be begging me to come along. A wicked grin curls up my lips.
I’m not the monster here; they’ll learn that. Monsters and evil exist, but that’s not who I am.
“I welcome you to our pack,” Devin begins, although I hear an unspoken but.
“Thank you.”
“Why were you in our territory?” Devin’s baritone voice is even and disrupts my thoughts.
“I respect your straightforwardness.” Meeting his silver eyes with a professional gaze, I begin. “As you know, with the new laws, our food source is now scarce. We’re doing our best to respect the Authority’s wishes, but the blood banks are hardly providing enough to sustain us.”
“Your coven sent you?”
“Yes.”
“Just you?”
“Yes; there are no others. I was hoping to talk after the offering on human territory, for obvious reasons.”
The pack nods in unison at that comment. They wouldn’t dare cause a scene in front of humans. Not when it means facing the consequences of the Authority. “I didn’t anticipate the …” I pause and tap my bloodred fingernails along the table thinking of an acceptable word. “… distractions.”
“What distractions?” Grace speaks up. It seems her curiosity is greater than her fear. There’s hope for us after all.
“Well, you fainting for one.” She pales at the reminder. “And Liz screaming certainly wasn’t conducive to holding a business meeting.” I eye the petite blonde, who has yet to smile. “It seems you’re both much more agreeable today.” There’s only a thin veil of sarcasm over my words. “And then of course … the dogs.”
“Vince has informed us. You have my sincerest gratitude.” I can’t help but to smile at the Alpha’s warmth.
“He’s in the shed.” Vince leans back in his seat. “All set up for questioning.” I eye my pup with envy. He’s laid back and easygoing.
How fate has matched us, I have no idea. I don’t know what he did in some other life to be stuck with a woman like me. Guarded and quite honestly, vengeful. I almost feel sorry for him that I’m the woman who’s meant to love him. I think I’ve long forgotten how to do such a thing.
“What dogs?” A tic in Devin’s jaw spasms at Grace’s question.
“We’ll discuss that matter later.”
The little human’s discontent is palpable. Judging by the bags under her eyes, it doesn’t appear that she’s slept much. Poor thing. Absently, I wonder how she’s taking all of this in. Glancing to Liz, I gather Grace is faring better, seeing as how she’s at least speaking her mind. “I want to know what you’re talking about.” Devin faces his mate with a hard glare, but his voice is soft when he speaks. He gently takes her hands in his. “Later, sweetheart. I will tell you later.”
Her lips purse before she parts them several times without speaking. Finally, she nods her head and repeats, “Later.”
He places their clasped hands on top of the table. “So you came to discuss business matters on behalf of your coven?”