Page 43 of My Shy Alpha
Despite my nerves, I’m ready to conquer everything that’s thrown at me with Noah by my side.
Until we pull up to where the pack holds official meetings - a set of buildings deep in the Greenfield Forest. Unlike the sprawling, wooden cabins of Greenfield’s cozy Lycan town, the Community Center buildings are made of dark brick and cast stone, perfect for the mountainous climate. Canopies blanket them in cool leaves, acting as a second roof. Just the sight of them feels important. Sacred. But in nuanced ways I can’t imagine, never given the chance.
A wave of thoughts barrels down on me like an avalanche – did Mom ever feel like this? When Dad introduced her to the pack, was he oblivious to what it’s like to be an outsider because he’s always belonged somewhere? Did she ever get used to it? Was she accepted eventually, or was she completely ignored by them?
Maybe Amy or Noah’s relatives know more about what happened back then, but I’ll never know how Mom felt in her words.
Yasmine and Dave mutter in the front seat, their profiles lined with the sunset’s pink glow.
Noah steps out of the car the second we park. Everyone piles out after him in a rush, but then they stand there, waiting for us like there’s no true hurry. They peek inside the car, looking at me expectantly like I’m holding the reins.
I bite back a smile. It’s not just Noah - they all act like big puppies.
Noah takes my hands, helping me from the SUV on my wobbly legs. “Are you okay?”
“I’m ready for this. Just shaking off the nerves.”
“Just nerves?” He furrows his brows. “Well, let me know if you feel a little off. I was worried you might feel worse from being on pack territory. I thought your mark would introduce you to the pack bond, but if you couldn’t hear Yas’ ridiculous mindlink just now, you might not be fully admitted into the pack without my mark.”
As I breathe the open air, I swallow hard through my gut’s sudden churning. “Okay, maybe I feel it a bit.”
Noah wraps me into his chest, shielding me from everything but his scent. Releasing a huge sigh, I grip Noah’s jacket and bury my forehead into his wide sternum.
“There you go. Take a deep breath,” Noah whispers. “I’ve got you the whole way through. No one can hurt you.”
I hone in on Noah’s pulsing heartbeat against my forehead. He feels just as anxious as I am, but I can also sense his elation. His wolf is probably rooting for this to go well, just like mine. I want to get through this for both our precious wolves.
As I soak in Noah’s scent, his pheromones act as a soothing blanket. But Noah’s steady demeanor could calm anyone, mate or not. I love that about him.
“Okay, I feel much better now. I can do this.” I smile. But as we approach our friends, I lower into a whisper. “But what did Yasmine mindlink us?”
Yasmine sputters into belly laughter. “He probably called me obnoxious or something, didn’t he? I said–”
Noah groans. “Yas, don’t–”
“I said, he better help you out of the car before I come swoop you off your feet first. It sure got him moving.”
Noah releases an aggrieved sigh, and Yasmine cackles. When Amy and I meet wide eyes, Amy snorts back her laughter.
“You’re lucky I love you, Beta,” Noah grumbles, turning his back to Yasmine.
But the words send a shock through me - not in jealousy, but from hearing “I love you” on his lips for the first time. Noah seems to have noticed; he won’t meet my eyes, tucking his chin to his chest despite his hand clasping mine harder with nerves. Amy and I share a subtle, knowing glance, biting our lips shut when Amy’s wink almost makes me giggle.
We head up the stone steps, our mini pack of Beta wolves in tow. My heart hammers, feeling more important than I’ve ever felt in my life. I’ve never enjoyed too many eyes on me, but because this attention symbolizes love for mine and Noah’s bond, I’m changing my mind. Maybe I can handle becoming Luna someday.
But within twenty minutes of stepping into the pack meeting room, I’m gripping the pleats of my dress. Pheromones stain the air, making my teeth chatter. Angry elders shout at Noah, and Noah’s advisors shout back. All because of me.
I already can’t handle this.
15
Cowering behind Noah’s arm, I cringe at every raging Alpha in Greenfield Pack’s meeting room. It was going okay - until everyone saw my mark on Noah’s neck.
On top of terrifying me, they’re stomping on my heart. Bonding was such a happy moment for Noah and me, but now we’re getting yelled at for it. If this meeting sours our relationship in any way, it’ll sever part of my soul.
“I have no fucking clue what’s happening,” Amy whispers. “These are only the top Elders, and no one’s here from Noah’s generation of advisors except Yasmine. I thought pack meetings were more of an equal debate, not putting our Alpha on blast.”
Regardless of how these pack meetings usually look, the three top Elders have no problem scolding Noah at the top of their lungs as if they’re filling in for Noah’s late father.