At the base of the staircase, we were greeted by Gamma Bennet and Delta Danny.
“This way, Alpha Jeremiah,” Bennet said with formal respect, and we followed closely behind.
I wondered if this level of formality was standard or just part of the show for tonight’s guests. The room was packed**people milling everywhere. Rayna had mentioned that a few leaders from packs her brother had taken over were here. I kept hearing about her brother but hadn’t caught a glimpse of him since we arrived.
Despite how involved everyone said he was, he seemed strangely absent when his sister brought her mate home to meet the family. If it were Jeremiah, I was certain he’d have me surrounded by guards and make my mate fight through them just to reach me, even with the mate bond in place.
Oh, great**now Rayna had me thinking about mates as if I actually had one. I mentally smacked myself on the forehead, forcing myself to stop the endless thoughts and focus instead on the breathtaking hall we were walking through. Everything here was dripping with opulence and luxury. Just a glance told me this Alpha spared no expense and expected nothing but the best for himself and his pack.
Each table was covered with thick black cloths, topped with tall vases holding floating candles submerged in clear glass that reflected the flickering light. String lights and delicate fabric draped elegantly from the ceiling, while white and purple flowers adorned every available surface. The decor was ornate and beautiful without ever feeling gaudy.
At least I could say this Alpha took good care of his pack. I hadn’t seen any signs of hardship or neglect among the pack members I’d observed today. To me, that said more about an Alpha’s strength and character than any display of personal wealth. His pack seemed content, healthy, and well-treated. Even his Omegas were kind and respectful, including toward me.
I was looking forward to exploring the pack more over the next few days, eager to get a true sense of the world Rayna came from.
We were guided to seats near the front of the room. Rayna and Jeremiah occupied the head table, which was elevated on a small platform tucked into a corner. Meanwhile, Ben, Jason, Tommy, and I sat alongside Josh, Bennet, and Danny at a lower table positioned just ahead of them. At first glance, the arrangement seemed a bit unusual, but as I glanced around, I realized the layout was quite practical. The tables were spaced to allow easy access to the buffet stations, a spacious dance floor, and ample room for guests to mingle comfortably. Despite the openness, the head table had no space behind it for anyone to loiter, ensuring a clear view of the entire hall. It was a clever setup, balancing social flow and visibility perfectly.
As we chatted pleasantly, I suddenly noticed a strange sensation**a prickling at the back of my neck, as if invisible eyes were fixed on me. My heart rate surged, and an undercurrent of excitement stirred beneath my skin. That familiar tingling traveled down my spine, sharp and insistent. Slowly, I scanned the room, careful not to draw attention or appear paranoid. Still, I felt an instinctive alertness, like a predator was watching me. My breathing quickened, and I forced myself to inhale deeply, then exhale slowly, grounding myself with the calm techniques I’d learned long ago. Around me, Danny was animatedly speaking, waving his hands, while Tommy responded, but their words faded into the background. My mind narrowed, as if tunnel vision had overtaken it, blurring the edges of everything else.
Our position in the corner gave me a perfect vantage point to discreetly observe the guests. I searched each face, looking for the one whose gaze burned into me so intensely. Hundreds of people mingled, clustered in small groups, but none seemed to be watching me**until my eyes reached the main entrance. There, standing tall and commanding, was a man whose green eyes stopped me cold.
I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen anyone so breathtaking. His gaze was both dangerous and magnetic, radiating power without a word. Towering over most of the crowd, he wore a sharply tailored black suit that looked custom-made, hugging every inch of his broad frame. His shirt was a deep blood-red, matching the shade of my lipstick, with the top two buttons undone to reveal a strong, tanned neck corded with muscle.
Hands casually slipped into his pockets, he held my stare for a heartbeat longer before flashing a half-smile and a wink that sent an electric shock right through me**igniting a fire low in my belly. I had to press my thighs together tightly to quell the sudden ache, aware that men like him could probably smell desire from a mile away.
“Seriously?! That’s so not fair.” A voice beside me snapped me back to reality. It took a moment for me to realize someone was speaking directly to me. Blinking a few times, I drew in a deep breath, realizing my body had forgotten to keep breathing while I’d been locked on the stranger. Nope, no fantasies**just a very attractive man across the room.
I turned toward Danny, who looked more than a little annoyed but was trying hard not to show it. Josh and Bennet, sitting nearby, were barely containing their laughter, their faces flushed.
“You guys aren’t helping,” Danny grumbled, shooting me a look. I glanced between the three of them, curious.
“What did I miss?” I asked.
“Nothing much**just an inside joke. And, well, Danny was proven wrong again,” Josh said, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. He didn’t offer any more details, and both he and Bennet burst out laughing at Danny’s expense.
Meanwhile, the newcomer confidently strode across the room toward the head table, barely sparing me a glance. His presence drew attention as he passed, and I tried not to let the sting of his dismissal linger in my chest. Suddenly, it hit me why his eyes felt so familiar**they were the same striking green as Rayna’s. This had to be her brother. Oddly, I realized I didn’t even know his name, though I’d heard people refer to him simply as the Alpha of Dark Moon. Within the pack, he was known as the Alpha or, in Josh’s case, just “boss.”
Heat rose to my cheeks at the thought. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that he was probably used to being ogled. The way he’d half-smiled told me he was no stranger to flirting**and likely had no trouble getting whoever he wanted. I was just another woman in a long line of admirers, and he’d probably figured out I was human and not worth his time.
Why did that thought irritate me so much? Who cared if he wasn’t interested once he realized I wasn’t one of them? I hadn’t planned on anything beyond being polite to Rayna’s brother and the Alpha of the pack.
Still, I couldn’t shake the fluttering in my chest, the pull of those green eyes that seemed to linger in my mind long after he disappeared from view.
Ryker
I linger longer in the stands, my mind fixated on the human warrior Alpha Jeremiah brought along. At first, I assumed her presence was out of pity or some obligatory gesture, but now it’s clear that’s not the case. They’ve been here all day, and I can’t help but feel a twinge of disappointment that I didn’t get to see more of what she can really do. The brief moments I caught were enough to confirm that Danny wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest.
I come to an abrupt halt in the middle of the stand. Where the hell did that thought come from? I’ve never been one to care about watching warriors fight ** I’d rather be in the thick of it with them. Why should I be interested in what a human from another pack is capable of? I have enough on my plate already, no need for distractions in the form of a curvy blonde whose legs look like they’d wrap perfectly around my waist… No! I shake my head sharply, banishing the thought.
I need to get ready. Robin wants this event to feel like a party ** a chance for everyone to relax, have fun, and socialize ** but this is business too. I have to entertain these new arrivals, make sure they’re truly on board with the changes I’m implementing in their packs. Frankly, I don’t care if they agree or not; I’m making these changes regardless. But if they’re on board, the headaches will be far less irritating.
I also need to speak with my sister’s mate. Now that she’s bonded to an Alpha, our packs should form a closer alliance. From what I saw earlier, he doesn’t seem like he’ll be a problem, but I’m not leaving anything to chance. I want my wolf to check him out too, and for that, we need to be in closer proximity. My wolf can sniff out lies and deceit, and I won’t send her into a pack like the one Greta came from ** I’d burn it to the ground first.
Finally, I force myself to move and jog back toward the packhouse. I clear my head, steeling myself for the inevitable flood of flattery and ass-kissing that’s about to come. I have to let it slide. Many of these packs are emerging from dire situations and cling to hero worship that we just have to work through. Others, the leaders especially, think they’ll benefit personally by sucking up. They’ll all learn quickly that I value actions over words. They’ll either rise to the challenge or step aside.
I take the back stairs leading to the end of the hallway nearest my room ** the only way I use to slip away quickly without leaving a scent trail on the main stairs.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.