Page 19 of Noah

My gaze snapped to Adrian, smugly seated with his second and third flanking him.

He leaned back in his chair, his expression oozing self-satisfaction. He met my stare evenly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, as if he knew exactly what he was doing.

Hudson must have seen him too, because I heard him gritting his teeth beside me.

Both of us were undoubtedly thinking about the two Thornbane wolves who had strolled into our roadhouse the night before, attempting to provoke us.

I debated pulling Cooper aside, warning him that Adrian and his pack might be planning to stir trouble.

It wasn’t like me to concern myself with another pack’s internal affairs, especially one I didn’t know well. But Noah was part of this pack. My wolf reasoned,Noah belongs here. And he was right.

I didn’t want anything bad happening to Noah or his pack. The thought of him being caught in the crossfire made my chest tighten with a protective instinct I hadn’t expected.

Cooper continued to handle the alphas with a grace that kept the peace, but I couldn’t shake the sense of looming conflict.

Adrian thrived on chaos, and I had no doubt he was already calculating his next move.

I thought the meeting would never end, but it finally did.

The room, which had been filled with tense debates and quiet power plays, now buzzed with the relaxed chatter of wolves getting ready to unwind.

I stifled a yawn, my shoulders aching from sitting so long.

Cooper, ever the gracious host, invited everyone to dinner in the pack dining hall, mentioning the caterer was from a family that owned the best BBQ roadhouse in town.

That announcement had most of the wolves practically salivating.

Cooper’s ease and confidence had already won over half the alphas in the room—a trait I couldn’t help but envy.

As I made my way to the dining hall, weaving through clusters of wolves talking in hushed tones, Hudson caught up to me and grabbed my arm, his grip firm.

“Where were you during that meeting?” Hudson demanded, his eyes narrowed with suspicion.

“Seated next to you,” I replied, deadpan, though I knew he wasn’t in the mood for jokes.

“Don’t play dumb. Your mind was elsewhere. Twice, Dad paused, expecting you to back him up or elaborate, but you were lost in your own world,” Hudson argued, sounding frustrated.

“Aren’t you always telling me to back down so you can shine in the limelight?” I countered.

We reached the massive dining hall, the scent of smoked meats and spices filling the air.

The buffet tables were already surrounded by our pack mates, Mason and Beck among them, blending effortlessly with wolves from other packs.

Hudson muttered something under his breath before stalking off, clearly tired of my company.

I was about to grab a plate, my stomach growling in anticipation, but then my gaze landed on one particular wolf—Noah.

His golden hair caught the light, his green eyes bright as he chatted with two of his pack mates who were just finishing their meals. They bid him goodbye, leaving him alone at the table.

A perfect opportunity to strike up a conversation.

I started toward him, weaving through the crowd, but from the corner of my eye, I saw another wolf moving in the same direction. Adrian.

My jaw clenched, anger bubbling to the surface as I quickened my pace, determined to reach Noah first.

“Hey, can I join you?” I asked, trying to keep my tone casual as I reached his table.

Noah looked up, a smile spreading across his face. It was polite, almost practiced. It lacked the warmth I remembered. “Jackson. How did the meeting go?”

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