Page 64 of Wanted

I sit up and turn to Chance who I expect to be facing the road.

But his eyes are on me. The concentration on his face is apparent. He’s looking at me as if I’m the only thing that exists.

“What did she do?” There’s a strain in his voice.

A wrestling inside of my chest stirs, urging me to reach out to him. I do so and stroke his arm in a soothing manner.

“I apologized, but told her I was so hungry I couldn’t help it. After she told me that was unacceptable behavior, she made an appointment with my doctor the next day. That’s when I started taking the pills.”

Chance’s hands tighten around the steering wheel. He’s clasping it so hard that his knuckles turn red then a shade of almost white.

“Chance?”

The truck comes to a stop before he responds. “We’re here.”

“Wait,” I say as he goes to get out of the truck in front of the alpha’s house. “We’ll talk more once you’ve eaten lunch.”

I want to insist that we talk now, but my stomach rumbles again. I’m so hungry that it’s to the point of pain. I need to eat.

Within minutes I’m seated, once again, at the long wooden table, surrounded by lively pack members who’re coming in and out. However, this time instead of Ms. Elsie placing a full plate in front of me, it’s Chance who does the deed.

A huge bowl of delicious smelling chili with a large slice of cornbread next to it. A slab of butter melts and drizzles down the sides of the cornbread. My mouth waters.

I greedily break off a piece of the cornbread and dip it in the chili before putting it in my mouth.

A moan that I can’t hold back escapes as my eyes close in pure satisfaction. My entire body sighs in relief. The cornbread is moist and its sweetness gives the perfect balance to the savory taste of the chili.

In an instant, I dive in, spooning healthy amounts of chili into my mouth in one go. It’s not until my third bite that I finally realize the room around me has gone silent.

I peek to my left and my right before raising my head all of the way. Embarrassed, I grab the cloth napkin beside my plate and wipe my face. I must look terrible, eating this way.

If she were present my mother would be scolding me until no end. I just know it.

I force myself to sit back in my chair as I slowly look around. To my surprise, however, most of the people in the room aren’t looking at me.

They’re staring at the man seated next to me.

Chance’s eyes are on me. He’s watching me eat, while everyone else is watching him.

“Do you want more?” he asks as if he doesn’t even notice the others in the room.

“I—” I look around before my eyes land on my half-full bowel. “I’m not done with this one yet.”

“There’s an entire pot left once you finish this bowl.”

My eyes bulge. “A pot?”

I wipe my mouth as I look around. They’re still staring.

“Did you notice you’re being watched?” I lean in and ask.

Chance peers around as if noticing his packmates for the first time.

“It’s because our lead beta rarely ever sits and eats with us. Most of the time he stays for five minutes and then he’s out of the door,” a woman, holding a young baby, says with a smile.

“And never does he speak as much,” a man at the far end of the table says with a laugh in his voice.

I look over at Chance whose gaze is still firmly on me. He doesn’t seem fazed at all by the commentary of his packmates.