Page 12 of Destined Bear
Either way, it’s nice to know she’s here.
Relishing the cold against my hands, my fangs elongate, ready to protrude from my gums as if they, too, are about to shift around me. But of course, that’s ridiculous. It’s not that kind of meeting. No one here is going to fight me. It only feels that way.
But is it all in my head, the clash between the councilmen’s stares and Emeric’s overbearing presence?
The Alpha stares mercilessly at me, willing me to meet his green eyes, but I refuse. The yearning for him only intensifies. Across the table, the hurt of it aches more than ever before. I thought I’d outrun it in Nottery, far away in no man’s land, but even there, I knew he called out to me.
This was the stupidest idea Emeric has had yet. What the hell am I even doing here?
“How is your mother, Vivienne?” Collessus asks, patting my hand in her motherly way.
I always liked the gazelle shifter. She has always been kind to my mother and me. It’s nice to have a friendly face on the council.
The tension has not lessened since I arrived in Willow Grove, the covert side-eyes from everyone in the pack increasing. I can only imagine what they think about me now, returning after all these years.
“Not well,” I answer truthfully. “There’s no prognosis yet, but I’m bringing in qualified healers to work with her around the clock.”
“We’re all hoping for her speedy recovery.”
The other council members nod in agreement; the compassion they share for my mother is unanimous. It comforts me to know that my abrupt departure hasn’t put a dent in her reputation. Only mine has taken a hit because of my need to leave and spare myself more humiliation.
I manage a taut smile. “So, when do we get started? I’d like to get home to my mother as soon as possible. I’m not entirely sure why I’m here in the first place.”
“You know why you’re here, Vivienne,” Collessus intones sweetly. “Preserving our pack’s traditions is vital, and the mentorship program is how those traditions are passed down to younger generations. When you and your mother left five years ago, the program fell apart. Circe accomplished so much in thefew months she was back, rebuilding what we’d lost. We can’t let it collapse again.”
The other council members nod in consensus.
I smother a groan. “If you survived without her before, why can’t you survive without her now?”
“I don’t need to tell you how important it is to preserve pack history, Vivienne.” Collessus eyes me meaningfully. “We are nothing without our history. It can’t be erased… or run from.”
I suppress a sigh at her directness.
“Viv, things were falling apart without you,” Emeric blurts out, and my eyes clash with his.
My heart skips, and I realize he’s not talking about the council, which I never really was a part of in the first place.
He had called me an advisor when I was his girlfriend, but I never really had any say in pack matters. I guess I’d let myself buy into his smooth talking because I’d been blinded by my love for him.
I won’t make that mistake again.
But had he missed me as much as I missed him? If that were true, why did he try to mate with another female?
Why didn’t he try to find me in Nottery?
Because he’s a stubborn jackass, that’s why.
No. I’m not falling for his heat-of-the-moment sweetness. If I hadn’t come back, he wouldn’t have ever given me a second thought. I won’t fall into this trap.
I say none of these things, but my mind is going a million miles per minute.
Shrugging, I reply, “It seems like you got by just fine while I was gone.”
Emeric’s voice turns hard. “You can’t just come and go when you want. Are you part of Willow Grove, or aren’t you? It doesn’t feel like you’re a part of the pack anymore, like you’re using us when it’s convenient to you, and that’s not how a pack works.”
My eyes widen in disbelief. “Once part of the pack, always part of the pack, unless otherwise instructed. I haven’t done anything to warrant being kicked out.”
“Except for the fact that you left.” One of the council members, Jonus, looks a little too smug when he says this, and I want to punch his bird-like face.
