Page 8 of Resurgence of the Pack

‘I killed the last person who said that to me,’ the assassin grumped, but nevertheless he hugged me back.

‘Come on, let’s get you all inside,’ I said.

‘If it pleases you, my Queen,’ said Jacob diffidently, ‘Alfred and I will remain to keep watch on the roof.’ He gestured to the dark-skinned seraph to his left.

‘Doesn’t Alfred want something to eat and drink?’ I asked dubiously. Presumably he’d travelled from Caernarfon so he must have wanted some refreshment.

Alfred smiled and flashed his gleaming white teeth. ‘I’m fine, my Queen, but I thank you for your hospitality. I will stand guard with my brother. We have much to discuss.’

‘I’m Sara,’ the female introduced herself. ‘And this is Mack and Robin.’

‘My honour to meet you all. Please, come on in.’ I turned to my wolves. ‘You can go for a run if you like, or you can shift back. As you prefer.’

The wolves yipped amongst themselves before shifting back into butt-naked humans. Tarquin and Wakefield made the same call and I carefully focused my gaze higher. ‘Lovely to meet you, by the way,’ I said to them.

Wakefield grinned. ‘You appear to have us at a disadvantage, Your Majesty.’

I smirked back. ‘I do, don’t I?’ I swept down the stairs in front of them with Greg by my side. ‘Sort them out with clothes,’ I murmured.

‘Got it.’

‘I’ll take the seraph to my office then join you in a minute in the pack common room.’

Greg grinned. ‘Letting Thomas Elliott cool his heels?’

‘He wasn’t invited,’ I complained. ‘And I noticed he didn’t come and help when I called.’ I paused. ‘Has he given an explanation for his presence?’

Greg’s expression soured. ‘He says that you have not yet announced a mate. The full moon rises soon and he wishes to press his suit.’

‘Bugger.’ That was probably the one reason he could give that would tie my hands: I couldn’t get rid of him until I’d announced the name of my mate. I slid a sidewaysglance at Greg but now wasn’t the time to talk about it. We had visitors, and plenty of them, and my focus had to be on ascertaining who was friend and who was foe. Easy.

Xander caught up with me, ‘Shall I prepare tea for you and your guests?’

‘Thank you Xander.’ I shot him a warm smile. ‘That would be excellent.’

He ducked his head and all but ran away, eager to assist and serve.

I swanned into my office whilst Greg outfitted the others with spare pack clothes – our laundry bill was wince-inducing. I contemplated the best way forward: I could meet the alphas in my private lounge or I could call them one by one into my office.

One by one,Esme suggested.Wakefield first.

Why him first?

His pack is the largest.

Then Elliott, then Tarquin?

That would be proper,she said slowly.But we wish to signal to Elliott that he is not our preferred mate without causing insult. Make him the last.

Greg knocked once and came in. ‘How do you want to play this?’

I grimaced. ‘We don’t have a lot of time. I want to go with Grandy to his duel, but I’ll still try and meetthem one on one. We can talk more openly then. Can you get me Wakefield first?’

‘He has brought two wolves with him. Do you want them to attend as well?’

I blinked. ‘Two? I told each alpha that they could bring their beta.’

Greg nodded. ‘When he brought two wolves, I did some digging. His official beta is Joseph Snow and his third is a woman called Rae Donnovan. He has brought them both.’

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