Page 54 of The Gamma's Second Chance

Prescott gapes at her and then stares imploringly at Wes, who stands with his arms crossed and a proud smile on his face as Haven slides into her role as our luna with ease.

But my eyes move to Cassandra on the other side of the table, where she takes a subtle step back and out of the direct line of sight of the other alphas and their lunas. She focuses on Haven, and even from across the room, I catch a glimpse of the silver stardust swirling in her gorgeous green eyes as she absorbs Haven’s aura. The swirls are slower this time, though, resembling the trickle of a lazy stream instead of the frothing, bubbling surface of a hot spring.

I smile to myself as I watch her in her element, relaxed, unstressed, and unfazed by the power she draws into herself from Haven. She blossoms and brightens with each second that passes and each ounce of starlight she absorbs, like a flower basking in the warm spring sun. Our eyes meet, and she gives me a brief smile before turning her attention to Haven again to continue her work.

Prescott huffs and taps the table with his hand. “Wesley—”

“Alpha Kenway-Stone,” Haven says, her chin lifting higher as she corrects Prescott once more, and I have to stifle a laugh when he flinches.

Goddess, I love when Luna Haven steps up and puts those who underestimate her in their place. I love seeing their reactions when this petite, unassuming human luna handles herself like a she-wolf who trained her whole life to be a pack leader.

Prescott continues to flounder, and Haven turns her attention to the others. “We should get started. There is much to do, and only about an hour before I need to eat again.” She rubs hergrowing belly, and the other two lunas laugh and nod knowingly. “Now…”

She settles into her seat, and Wesley sits next to her, clasping her hand in his as she talks, taking charge of the meeting since she’s rendered Prescott speechless for the moment. Her aura dissipates as the conversation flows, and Cassandra floats around the table, her movements seeming aimless to an outsider. But I catch the fire in her stare as she makes eye contact with me, her intent clear as she crosses the room to my side.

She passes in front of me, and I curl my hand around her forearm, stopping her from going too far and leaning in to whisper to her. “Are you all right?”

“Of course,” she replies, her body swaying closer to mine to minimize the distance. “I have a better understanding of it now.”

I shake my head once. “You seemed upset when Alpha Walden mentioned your parents.”

Her eyes widen in understanding, and she gives me a soft, sad smile. “I miss them.”

“You’re homesick?”

“No.” She shakes her head and covers my hand with hers. “But it’s been a while since I’ve spoken with them. That’s all.”

I scan her shining green eyes, my hand tightening on her arm and my thumb caressing her skin, and I nod. “You can call them later? When we get home?”

Her smile brightens. “I would like that very much.”

I slide my hand down her arm, and she moves away to stand next to me, her hand slipping through my fingers as slowly as possible, our fingertips parting at the last possible second. But even without her touching me, there is a connection tying me to her. It’s unexplainable and intangible, but it grows with each day that passes.

The meeting continues, but I’m barely listening, hyperaware of the tiny distance between Cassandra and me, the microscopic space between our hands that I could easily close by reaching over. I hate how far apart we are, but this meeting is not the place for affectionate displays.

Thankfully, the meeting doesn’t take too long, and I breathe an almost audible sigh of relief when Prescott says, “There is one last matter that needs attention.”

The others glance at him, and Cassandra and I straighten so we’re ready to leave when we’re done.

“We have standard guest rooms lined up for all the attendees, but we’re reserving deluxe suites for all the ranked guests for the event,” Prescott explains. “I already have the requested number of suites for the other packs, but I still need to know yours, Alpha Wesley. Three?” he asks, head swiveling between Wes and Haven, myself, and Cassandra. His eyes linger on her and sweep over her from head to toe, and I see red. “Or maybe two?” he asks, wetting his lips.

“Two suites are all we will need,” Cassandra says before any of us can answer him and before I can launch myself across the room and slice through his slimy face.

She scoots closer to me, her arm sliding under my suit jacket and her hand stroking my chest as she gazes up at me, her lashes fluttering. I react to her without a thought, my arm wrapping around her waist and my hand resting possessively on her hip, dangerously close to her ass.

Screw etiquette.

Even with her blatant shunning of Prescott’s advantage and her obvious show of interest in me, a growl still builds in my chest, and my wolf bares his teeth in my mind. I squeeze her hip and yank her in closer, staring down at the inferno roaring to life in her eyes, an inferno I know mirrors the flames in my veins.

“Is there anything else?” Wesley asks, amusement coloring his voice.

Prescott grunts and tosses his pen on top of his notepad. “No.”

As soon as the word leaves his mouth, I’m out of the room, Cassandra’s hand gripped in mine.“I’ll meet you at the truck,”I mindlink Wesley as I burst through the door, slamming it open so hard it bounces off the wall.

But it doesn’t faze me. I have a one-track mind. I’m a male on a mission.

I beeline for a dark hallway across from the meeting room, and I swing Cassandra around and lift her into my arms, crushing her to the wall as I slam my lips onto hers. Her response is immediate and enthusiastic, her hands clutching at my shirt and tugging me closer, her hips rolling and grinding against my cock. I brace myself on the wall and groan into her mouth, pinning her with my hips as my other hand curls around to her thigh, inching her skirt higher and higher until it pools around her waist and her long legs are displayed for my eyes to feast on and my hands to explore.

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