Chapter 81

Chapter 81

While Vera was gazing in wonder at the brickwork, I proceeded to assist her with her baggage.

"No." The warrior spoke simply as he dragged the cases up the stairs and into the foyer after removing them from the trunk with ease. Vera was staring at the site like she was dreaming, so I had to drag her along.

"The alpha is seated for dinner; I will take you to him." With a groan, the large guy made his way through the pack house.

Like Vera, I was curious about this place because I hadn't actually been given a tour.

With every step I took, Derrick's warrior led us to the enormous dining room, and his aroma grew stronger. Vera and I were standing beneath a massive archway; there were no doors. As I looked at each face, everyone at their tables turned to watch us, and my heart began to race. Vera stepped closer to me, their gazes intense.

I was breathing, but only because of Derrick's fragrance. He was here, observing me, but my eyes were fixed on the layout of the room.

I could tell that the pack members were crammed into the room because they anticipated my arrival. Smaller, circular tables were arranged on either side of the long table that ran the length of the space.

I sensed it when Derrick got up from his chair, the room filling with a collective exhale of strength and authority. The moment I turned to really take him in, my hands shook at my sides.

My muscles tensed momentarily as Derrick stood at the head of the biggest table, his gaze fixed on me.

I started moving toward him without realizing what was occurring, and then my motions stumbled.

In circumstances such as these, the seating arrangement was usually in ascending order. The beta sat to the right of the alpha and the delta to the left of the alpha, each of whom was seated with their respective mates, after the alpha and Luna had taken their places at the head of the table next to each other. Warriors and other pack members typically occupied the remaining tables after that.

I couldn't sit next to him since I hadn't taken on the title of his Luna and hadn't accepted him as my mate. This was the issue with this arrangement.

I looked down and turned to face Vera as I retraced my steps, holding her hand and guiding her to one of the tables at the back of the space. Derrick growled a warning across the room as I sank into my seat, and the whispers between us continued.

The sound made me cringe, and I remained true to my decision despite my wolf's protestations.

Vera replied softly, "I really don't think this is where you're supposed to be sitting," but her words may as well have been shouted across a room full of wolves.

Disregarding her, I gazed at the meal before me, my stomach growling at the deficiency of food I'd eaten all day. It dawned on me that I hadn't eaten anything since throwing up Derrick's pancakes in the morning.

It was improper for me to eat before my alpha took a bite; there was decorum involved in dining with someone who was your superior. I couldn't just pick up a bread roll and devour it. And my partner was a domineering, possessive man who wouldn't let me eat until I was right next to him.

I could feel his insistent presence filling me up more than the food in front of me did, and when I heard him start to move, my heart pounded fiercely in my chest. I could feel him right behind me, and the sound of his footsteps ceased. I felt his hands against the back of my chair, his fingers grazing my hair till his hand was at my throat, but I didn't turn to face him as I waited for his next move. I felt his command press against me and took a deep breath before tilting my head to look at him.

His thumb lightly brushed my jaw, causing my wolf to howl in hunger. My spine stiffened beneath his touch, and his pupils widened at the tiny sound.

"Get up." I whimpered beneath his demand for a moment as his voice grew deeper.

The strength of our mate bond was uniting our emotions, even though I hadn't anticipated him to be angry. After spending hours away, I was finally in the same room as him, and since I had consciously chosen to be by myself, he was bound to be upset.

His fingers tightened around my chin and went up my neck, making me sink deeper into my seat.

"I think it would be better if I stayed here." My choice of words made him grit his teeth, the color in his eyes flickering like a light.

"And what made you come to that conclusion?" I could see his obvious struggle for supremacy between his wolves as his eyes narrowed in opposition to my actions.

"I'm not your Luna." It was only a fact, a basic set of words. The members of his pack let out another collective gasp as they extended across the room.

He leaned close to me.

"Have you forgotten what you promised me this morning?" My heart skipped a beat as he spoke softly. His lips found their way to my throat as his warm breath spread over my face.

I had told him that I had promised to let him mark me on the full moon, but I had forgotten after everything that had transpired today.

"When the full moon comes, you will be my queen." Before picking me up with my chair, he gave his confirmation. I wiggled against him and the wooden frame of my seat, screaming out his name in surprise and utterly unsure of his intentions.

He groaned under my hard touch as my hands gripped the front of his shirt and my nails dug into his flesh.

My body curled into Derrick's, my heart pounding madly with embarrassment at having turned me into a walking billboard for his pack. I did my best not to look them in the eye as he took me to the head of the table, and all these meek wolves had to sit and watch as their leader manhandled his wild partner.