Page 9 of Savage Trap

Link nods, but doesn’t probe through the bond, and I steer Kelly over to the front car. There’s no way in hell he’s going near Trench, either. And I don’t miss the way the beta’s shoulders slump in relief as Cam is the only alpha to slide into the car with us.

“Sorry about that,” I say to Nate once the limo is headed away from the airstrip. “But your uncle needs to watch himself. We’re not here to cause trouble, but we won’t be disrespected, either.”

Nate is sitting opposite the three of us, his back to the privacy screen that cuts him off from the driver. He should be wary about being alone with us, especially after Link’s aggressive display, but he sinks into the seat with a tired little sigh. “He’s not my uncle. I’m adopted. And that was tame for how he usually is.” He taps the leather binder balanced on his lap. “Did you really want to talk about the agenda?”

“Nope.” That’s my dad’s show, thankfully. “But it would be nice if you could tell us a bit about yourself.”

Surprise lights up his eyes again, turning them that soft silver-gray. Like a lot of betas, Nate’s appearance isn’t anything out of the ordinary until you take a closer look. Alphas are impossible to ignore, and omegas are generally attractive, with a scent that’s catnip to other shifters. But I’m betting there’s a lot about Nate Leon that’s worth a second glance. “Me? Okay. I’m twenty-six. I’m the pack’s accountant. I’m a beta. I live in Lincoln Park. And I’m socially awkward, if you can’t tell by the way I just listed off a bunch of facts.”

I smile at the self-deprecating humor, but Link’s voice buzzes through my bond with the other guys.

He’s the pack’s Chief Financial Officer, so either humble or evasive. Birth parents not listed. Based on the accent, he’s originally from somewhere in the South. No mates, not being courted, and there’s a bunch of stuff on his medical records…

I’m all for threat control, but I seriously doubt Nate’s privacy needs to be invaded to keep us safe. That’s enough, Link.

I feel Link retreat and turn my focus back to the beta. “Well, it’s nice to meet you, Nate. So, where is Lincoln Park from here? This is my first time in Chicago, so take into account I have no idea where we are or where anything else is.”

He gives me a small smile, then starts pointing to things out the window. I nod and make all the right noises, but every time he turns his head, I notice the faint bruises on his neck. And I know Cam and Kelly are looking too, because I can feel their anger simmering through our bond.

I don’t like those bruises. That’s Kelly, his hand moving to Cam’s thigh. He was skittish around Trench. We need to find out if there’s a connection.

I’m on it, babe. Cam’s hand comes down to cover Kelly’s and I smile at their easy affection. They’ve known each other since they were teenagers, but they only mated a few months back. Every day since has been making up for lost time, and I’ve been the lucky girl to share their honeymoon period.

Cam’s lips quirk, Kelly’s glance turning sly, and I’m certain they can sense the flush of heat in my belly. You’d think what the guys did to me back on the plane flushed it out of my system, but I’m definitely feeling steamy again. But right as Cam’s smile starts to look a little wolfish, Nate tells us we’ve arrived, and I turn my overheated cheeks away from my mates to peer out the window.

The hotel is a sleek art deco building with a lion emblem carved on the portico and a velvet carpet leading up the marble stairs. It’s totally over-the-top, but I’m getting used to this kind of thing after a few months on the Ferrier Estate. A flock of guys in smart navy uniforms steps forward to open the doors. A second later, Link elbows them out of the way, taking my hand to draw me out of the car. I can sense his anger simmering under the surface and I cock a brow. “Not a relaxing drive?”

“Remind me why I can’t shoot him?”

Now I’m really curious, but Nate is leading us inside, and I try to focus on the massive marble lobby and half a dozen bright-eyed staff smiling at me.

“Welcome to the Leonidas,” the manager says, then gestures behind him to a raised lounge area. “Mr. Leon and the early arrivals are having brunch on the mezzanine if you’d like to join them.”

What I really want to do is decompress with my pack in our suite, but it’s time to put my political face on. Dad was pretty clear he might need me to cover for him at some stage during the week, so we might as well see if I’m up to the job.

I must look nervous, though, because my pack falls into step all around me, their positive energy licking through our bonds. My wolf has been a sated kitten since the plane, but now she brushes against my skin, eager to show my mates a little more gratitude.

Rory clearly picks up on her mood because he murmurs, “Joining the mile high club has made our girl frisky.”

There’s a choking sound at the end of the line and I realize Nate is within hearing distance. But there’s no time to smooth things over as we mount the stairs into the raised area. There are leather club chairs scattered around and a huge window looking out over a leafy green park and soaring high-rises. I count five pack alphas, plus a bunch of security guys, and realize the two alphas at the center of the group are Nate’s family: the White Lion of Boston and his heir.

They’re impossible to miss with their white-gold hair, although Warren’s is liberally sprinkled with gray. Parker, his eldest son, is taller and broader than Nate, but with sharper features and no sign of his cute dimples. I get a friendly but slightly aloof vibe from him as he gives us a polished smile. But all eyes are on the Alpha of Chicago as he welcomes us to his city.

Like most powerful alphas, the air around him seems to be charged with extra static, but when he bows over my hand, his brown eyes are twinkling. “You have made your father the happiest wolf on the east coast, Ms. Ferrier.”

“Ms. Starling-Ferrier,” Nate corrects his father. He puts a tick in his binder, like that’s one job crossed off, and looks around at the circle of men. “It’s how she and her mates should be addressed from here on.”

A stilted silence greets his directive and I bite my tongue, but only because I’m tempted to lean over and tell Nate how adorable he is. Instead, I focus on his father. “Thank you for having us, Alpha Leon. And for lending us Nate for the ride here. He’s already made us feel very welcome.”

There’s a glimmer of surprise in his eyes as he looks at his younger son, but he just gives him a nod and waves at the buffet laid out behind him. “Help yourselves to whatever you like. We’ll leave you to settle in over lunch and then kick things off this afternoon.”

Once my dad arrives, he’ll be driving the agenda, so I murmur something polite and steer the guys towards the food. But before I’ve gone very far, one of the alphas gets to his feet and approaches me. Dad and Link made us study up on each of the attendees, so I immediately recognize the Alpha of Maine. He’s the oldest guy here, and according to the bio I read, one of the oldest wolves still holding the position of a territorial alpha. Maine is home to three large packs, and William McDonald has been their leader for close to fifty years.

I can feel the power of his wolf as he approaches. There’s nothing flashy or threatening about it; it’s more like a heavy blanket falling over my shoulders. A presence I can’t ignore, but it doesn’t feel intimidating. Although, as Link likes to point out, the ones who look and act like teddy bears often have a grizzly lurking inside. But I can feel my wolf relax as the alpha stops a respectful distance away and holds out his hand. My wolf gives me a nudge and I don’t hesitate to take it.

“I’m Bill,” he says to me kindly, his grip firm despite the slight tremor in his hand. “I’ve heard a lot about you, Ms. Starling-Ferrier, and I’ve been very much looking forward to meeting you in person.”

“It’s Elvana,” I tell him. “If we keep throwing double-barrel names around, we’ll never get very far into the agenda.”

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