“Bo, it’s good to see you and your new clan out.” The older woman in a crisp white shirt and black skirt has nothing but smiles for us. But I remember the way she sneered at me in public over the years. Amazing how receptive people are to you once your status changes.
“Thank you, Antoinette. We have a reservation.”
“Yes, the private room in the back has been prepared for you. I can take you back if you’re ready?”
“We are.” Bo wraps his large hand around my side guiding me to our table.
The room is sleek with its wooden walls, large antique gold mirrors hung to make the space feel bigger. A spectacular view shows snowy peaks and color-changing forests.
Bo pulls out my chair at the end of the table. “Sit.”
I sink into the chair and place my hands in my lap, unwilling to give Antoinette gossip. I bite my tongue.
He pushes me in and the others seat themselves. A perky strawberry blonde waitress with brown eyes sashays in and bats her lashes at Bo.
“It’s good to see you again, Bo.”
He peers down his nose and sneers. “Is that right?”
She nods her head like an eager puppy. “I’ll be taking care of you tonight.”
Something tells me she’s already done that. I look away to hide the strange possessive feelings bubbling up inside me.
Her scent is wrong, hidden beneath her core apricot scent. She’s fought with the sickness and run. I almost feel sad for her. There will be no future wolves for her.
I can’t forget this is an arrangement. What we have is transactional, not emotional. Fisting my dress, I ignore her flirting while she tells us about the soups of the day and wines.
“What do you think, Princess?”
“Hmmm?” I turn.
“About our wine for the evening,” Fell fills in the blanks, saving me.
“I’m partial to Rosé’ myself.”
“Those are lower caliber vintages.” She sniffs, tilting her head in a condescending manner.
“They’re what my mate wants,” Bo snaps. “Are you trying to tell her what she can and can’t have Alessa?”
“I. N-no.” She shakes her head, sending her light red hair flying around her slender oval-shaped face.
Bo frowns. “Good, because I’d hate to request a new server.”
Her jaw drops. Fell squeezes my hand. “Order the Rosé”
I hide my smirk behind the rim of my glass. Five minutes of uncomfortable order-taking later, we’re alone in the room again.
Bo leans into Kirk, “Kirk. When the appetizers come, slip out the side door.”
Is that why he booked this room?”
“It’s nice to be out and about again, isn’t it? I’m not used to living so far away from town.” Bo covers our tracks for those who are listening flawlessly.
Cadoc chuckles. “It came in handy this week, though, didn’t it?”
His words are for the pack listening in, but it still irritates me. The pack’s value system is old and outdated. Women are so much more than cattle to be bred. Childbearing and supporting alphas is the one thing the Alpha pushes as some sort of sacred duty.
They’ve forgotten that women were a vital part of our ancestor’s society. We worked beside the men and fought for our people and our land when needed.