Page 34 of Wolf Traded
“I can’t talk to you right now. I’m too fucking humiliated and angry to have this conversation. I need some space and maybe a run. Stay here. Don’t leave this room without me. They obviously have a huge issue with you being here and Kyle already hurt you. If he touches you again I will go to war.” I don’t even wait for a response before striding out the door and slamming it behind me. I know she will listen. She doesn’t want war either and she definitely doesn’t want a war to start over her.
I find a quiet lounge area and sit in a brown overstuffed chair to think. My phone buzzes in my pocket and I pull it out already knowing who it is without looking. “Is everything all right?” I ask Angela by way of greeting.
“Yeah the Cubs loved learning to make Molotov cocktails and there was only a little fire damage.” I growl even though I know she is fucking with me. I’m not in the mood. “Um, alpha everything okay?”
The hesitance there unnerves me a bit. She only calls me alpha when she’s worried about something and right now it’s the deteriorating peace talks. “Jara fucked everything up humiliating me in the process,” I grunt.
“What? How? There has to be more to this?” I shake my head at her words because no. It is that simple.
“She spoke out of turn interrupting Kyle and all hell broke loose.” I sigh.
“So, she spoke her mind even though one of those misogynistic assholes didn’t speak to her first. Is that what you’re telling me? And that she just happened to speak at the same time as Alpha Kyle and he is taking it as a personal insult. You fucking alphas.”
“Watch it, Angela.” I bark into the phone.
“You knew Kyle was gunning for you. You should have seen this coming. What did she say that pissed everyone off?”
“We were doing trade negotiations and just like every year I was ignored completely. No one wants to be the pack that uses human technology. Jara said that maybe we should adapt to the times.” I grumble the words because I already know what’s coming. It’s not the fact that she stood up for the way our pack lives it’s that she spoke out of turn. I may not have the same outlook as they do but when it comes to peace talks the women aren’t supposed to speak unless spoken to.
“You’re blaming her for this? When she was clearly defending our way of life? I know you better than that, Archer.”
“You know how the other alphas are. Women should speak only when spoken to. I don’t believe it but that’s the way those meetings usually go. It was chaos and an embarrassment.” I pinch the bridge of my nose looking for patience but finding none.
“Did you tell her this before you got there? Did you explain anything to her at all?” By her tone she already knows the answer to that question so I grunt something unintelligible. “Fuck, Archer. You need to talk to your mate. This is fucking ridiculous.”
The line goes dead and I curse under my breath. Angela is really pissed and she’s not exactly wrong but talking to Jara with all this rage and shame coursing through me is not the greatest idea.
I wander around the hotel lobby until I find the bar. Picking a stool in the corner with my back to the wall I order a scotch. The bar is pretty empty and there are some human sports games on the large TV’s. The lights are dim except for the bright blue glow behind the bar that shows all the different shelves of liquor on it.
I don’t even have my drink yet when a scantily clad human girl walks over to me. “Hi there.” She batts her obviously fake eyelashes at me.
“Not interested.” I grunt. There is nothing about this girl or any other girl that appeals to me. Only Jara. We have to find a way to make this work. I won’t lose her like the others. I refuse to let her go. She is the only one I want.
“Let me buy you a drink.” The girl persists.
“I said I’m not interested. I’m married. Go away.”
“I don’t see a ring.” She grumbles but finally flips her hair and walks away mumbling, “your loss.” No it’s definitely not my loss.
The bartender finally comes back with my drink when someone comes and sits in the chair next to me at first I think it’s another human girl but when I look over it’s Lynn. “Your mate will not be pleased that you’re sitting here talking to me.”
“And why not? You’re a mated male. I just want to congratulate you on the lovely mate you chose. A strong female who isn’t afraid to speak her mind is so refreshing.”
“Tell that to the other alphas,” I grumble still feeling completely humiliated by the whole situation. She made me look weak in their eyes like I couldn’t control my mate.
“The other alphas are set in their ways. I have always admired the Everette pack for your willingness to adapt to the times. Some of the packs are poor and only trade with each other and you all seem to thrive always. It’s the reason so many alphas are jealous of you and your pack. If they just did what you do things would be different for all of us. I think that it’s a mistake not to adapt but my mate does not agree.” She sighs.
“I think if we don’t adapt and the humans start encroaching on our land then the packs are doomed. My pack will survive but will yours?” I ask softly. I don’t want wolves to die out because they refuse to learn but it is an outcome I’m ready for in case the worst happens. If humans find out that we exist it could be catastrophic for us as a species.
“I fear that outcome every day.” The bartender brings her glass of wine and she takes a sip just as a very angry Kyle storms into the bar. His eyes filled with hatred pointed at me. Well shit.
“You. Your mate ruined everything,” he roars.
“Seriously?” Lynn asks rolling her eyes. Shit what is going on with these women today.
“See? Our mates would never have back talked us or flat out ignored us before you brought that stupid rejected skank into our peace talks.” I’m off my stool before he finishes his sentence. My hand wrapped around his throat and lifting him off the ground again.
“Any disrespect you show my mate is also disrespecting me. Now choose your fucking words carefully or I will end you right here and now.” I yell in his face. I’m tired of this shit. I let go of his throat and he stumbles back awkwardly.
