Page 10 of Luna Trials
Mattox nodded, seeming relieved. “She’s never been seriously into the life. We’ve only met twice so I might be reading too deep into things, but I get the feeling she wants more from me.”
“Do I know her?” I scratched my jaw, feeling the shadow of stubble I needed to shave. Many of my inner circle frequented the clubs. We’d grown up with certain… tastes.
“I don’t think so,” Mattox backtracked. His nervousness was making my wolf growl. “But I’m trying to think of a way to approach the conversation without making her feel pressured to do anything.”
“You can’t demand submission,” I stated firmly, fully aware of the irony of someone in my position speaking that way. But it was a policy I lived by when it came to relations. Alphas either earned dominance or they shouldn’t be in charge.
“I know.” Mattox ran a hand through his hair again as his gaze flicked briefly to the front door.
Attack.The sound of my wolf growling vibrated through my chest as my claws extended and I stalked forward, sending my senses outward.
“What’s going on?” My beast flashed in my eyes as we worked as one to assess the threat. There was noise in the acres surrounding my cabin. An influx of shifters out of breath and sloppy as they ran.
They’re coming.
Mattox immediately bared his neck. “Damn it. I’m sorry. They’re late.”
“Who’s late?” I bit out, pulling my claws back when I sensed my pack gathering outside.
“Surprise?” Mattox smiled.
I inwardly groaned, marching to the front door and throwing it open.
Bursts of confetti flew and champagne corks popped in a disorganized panic as hundreds of my wolf shifters came running through the woods on my property, spilling out of the trees and cheering for me. They surrounded the driveway, climbing up the stone steps and waving homemade farewell signs.
I raised my eyes to the stars in frustration.
The earsplitting squeal of a party blower sounded behind me and I turned, seeing the shit-eating grin on Mattox’s face.
“We weren’t going to send you off without a proper goodbye, boss.”
Remind me again why I made him my second?
*
After swearing up and down that I would at leasttryto enjoy myself and untangling my arms from the group of old dams who wouldn’t let me leave without some heartfelt advice and a few pinches to my cheek, I tossed my house keys to Mattox.
“This place better be clean when I get back,” I warned, eyeing the younger pups as they carried a keg over to the firepit.
“Of course, Alpha.” Mattox caught the keys and hurried along behind me. “Oh, and Jimmy needs you to approve the new power of attorney he’s sending over for the payroll signatures next week.”
“Why would he…” I looked around the party. My wolf shifters used any excuse to gather so I wasn’t getting sentimental about the surprise intrusion to my property. But I just noticed someone was missing.
Someone who had the POA in my name.
“Don’t kill the messenger.” Mattox rocked on his heels as I put the suitcase on the ground.
I opened the back of my Jeep with the key fob, groaning when I saw her suitcases already loaded in the trunk and taking up most of the space. “Fallon, we talked about this.”
My sister rolled her head back on the reclined seat to look at me as the overhead lights flicked on. Her bored expression told me exactly how this conversation would go. “You talked. I didn’t listen.”
I turned to growl at Mattox.
He put his hands in the air. “You can blame the rest of the pack. They’re worried. If you aren’t taking a team with you, at least take Fallon.”
“See? We voted.” The power seat hummed as she pressed the button, slowly moving it into the upright position. My annoying little sister checked her reflection in the visor mirror. “Let’s hit the road. We don’t want to be late for our debut onMating Season.”
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