Chapter 9

9

R emy shut the door behind us, closing us into the small office off of the kitchen. There was a large oak desk in the center of the room and a set of French doors matching the ones we had just come through against the far wall, leading outside to what looked like a deck. I didn’t have time to truly appreciate the large picture window with the bench seat under it or the wall of full bookshelves behind the desk.

I turned slowly to him, studying him as he studied me. He leaned back against the glass doors.

“I thought we should talk before everyone got here,” he started, his voice warm and calm.

I liked the sound of it way more than I should. It was strangely soothing my frayed nerves that had been buzzing since he said he wanted to speak to me alone.

“Okay,” I replied softly, waiting for him to continue. I expected to feel more nervous about him closing us into this room away from everyone else, but the panic never welled up. Probably because I knew Larkin and Rhodes were in the other room.

At least, that’s what I told myself.

“My dad called,” he said slowly, moving around me to sit on the bench near the window. “Do you want to sit down?” He motioned to the armchair across from him.

I crossed my arms over my chest and shook my head. “I’m good.” No sense getting too comfortable. I wanted this over with.

He nodded, not offended in the least. “Okay. Like I said, my dad called. He explained about how you left your old pack.”

My blood turned to ice in my veins, my teeth grinding together as my jaw clenched. “What did he say?”

Remy frowned, his brow furrowed as he looked at me. “That you and your mom escaped from your last pack. You haven’t had the easiest time. He asked me to look out for you.”

I shifted on my feet, suddenly embarrassed and frustrated. “I can take care of myself.”

A smile ghosted across his lips. “I’m sure you can.” He stood up and gave me a knowing look. “He told me about your former pack. About you being an omega.” His eyes stayed locked on me, not moving in any direction as he studied me with startling severity.

My hands curled into fists and I could feel every single pounding beat of my heart. I felt heat suffusing my cheeks. My breath came out in ragged pants born of fear and frustration. “Right. So that’s what this is about? Me being an omega?”

He cocked his head to one side, his expression giving nothing away as he waited for me. His eyes slid down the column of my throat, catching the pulse racing there as my anxiety spiked. He missed nothing.

I scoffed, shaking as I took another step away from him. “Forget it. I’ll leave.”

His eyes narrowed. “What—”

I held up a hand, cutting him off. “I get it. Larkin explained how things work here. You’re the alpha of the pack on campus so what you say goes. I didn’t escape that pack,” I spat the word, “to come here and be a whore for this pack. No fucking thank you.”

I barely caught his eyes going wide as I spun to leave. I was too busy mentally ripping myself apart.

How stupid was I to trust these people? Was mom going through the exact same thing back in Washington? I needed to get to her now. Maybe I could get Amanda to drive me—

“Stop!” The command came out hard and firm. I had no choice but to obey.

I hated myself for freezing where I stood, midstride, hand on the doorknob. The instinct to obey an alpha—okay, this alpha—couldn’t be ignored, no matter how pissed off I was.

“Jesus Christ ,” he hissed softly. “That’s not... That’s not what I meant at all.”

Taking a shuddering breath, I turned around and was stunned to see the complete horror on his face. He had no idea what I was talking about. Humiliation flooded me.

Oh, God. What had I done?

The horror etched into his strong features was quickly eclipsed by enough rage that I stepped back.

He exhaled hard and seemed to release the anger in the same breath, his new expression softer and open.

He held up his hands, eyes still on my face as he sensed I was about to lose it. There was a beautiful sadness in his eyes as he realized what I was talking about. “Skye, I didn’t... My dad said they forced you to be an omega without giving you a chance to find your own rank in your pack. He didn’t mention anything about...” He let out another long breath, and I had the distinct impression he was trying to control himself once more.

I squeezed my eyes shut, wanting the floor to open and swallow me whole. “Can we just forget I said anything? I’m sorry—I shouldn’t have insulted you. Shit.” I scrubbed my hands over my face as I felt the hot sting of tears prick the backs of my eyes.

“Hey,” he said. I heard him move towards me and then warm hands were circling my wrists, tugging my hands down gently.

I opened my eyes to see Remy standing in front of me. I had to tilt my head back to look into his eyes, but the kindness I saw there was more than worth it. His thumbs rubbed gentle circles on the insides of my wrists. The small act helped center me and settle my nerves.

“It’s fine,” he said softly, patiently. “Nothing like that will happen here. Ever. You’re safe here, Skye. I just wanted to let you know that, as far as we’re concerned, you decide your place in the Blackwater pack. What you were before doesn’t define you now. I thought you should know that before everyone else showed up.”

I nodded quickly. I blinked furiously but a single tear still escaped, sliding down one cheek slowly.

His eyes followed the path of the tear, his teeth catching his lower lip between his teeth as he seemed to internally struggle with something. “Skye, if you need anything, you can come to me, okay? If you want to talk—”

I stepped back, grateful he let me break his hold. “I don’t. I just wanted to move on.” No way was I going to open up to this guy about the shitshow of Long Mesa. I didn’t want to look back down that road. I wanted to start living.

His dark eyes studied me, seeing way too much for my liking. “All right. But the offer stands.”

I sniffed and wiped my cheek with the back of a trembling hand. “Thanks. But I’m good.”

“Okay,” he relented. He jerked his chin towards the door. “Sounds like everyone’s about here. You need a minute?”

I shook my head quickly. “No. Let’s do this.”

He moved around me and opened one of the doors, waiting for me to leave first before closing the door and following me into the open great room.

“There you are,” an annoyed redhead said from the couch. Larkin sat beside her, Rhodes next to her. More than a dozen other teenage shifters were seated on couches, chairs and on the floor around them.

We had breezed past this room when we went to his study, but I could see now there was a lot of seating and the floor plan was open to the kitchen to allow for people to gather.

The redhead stood and walked over to us. She peered up at me with a frown. Her eyes cut to Remy, narrowed. “What did you say to her? She looks upset.”

Remy rolled his eyes to the ceiling and sighed.

“Nothing,” I answered quickly. “He was actually really... nice.” I was surprised to know I meant it. Remy had actually been more than nice.

“See? I was nice,” he retorted, a corner of his mouth hooking up into a grin.

The girl still didn’t seem impressed. She looked at me again. “He might be ten months older, but I can kick his ass. Alpha or not, he’s still my brother.”

“Brother?” I repeated, looking back and forth between them. They had the same brown eyes and full lips, but that was absolutely where the similarities ended.

She smiled broadly at me. “I’m Katy. The better Holt.”

Remy rolled his eyes again, throwing his head back with a groan. “Are you done yet?”

She clicked her tongue against her teeth. “Depends. Are you done making us wake up early on a freaking Sunday?”

“Sit down, Kit-Kat,” Rhodes called. He dropped his head onto Larkin’s shoulder, eyes closed as he pretended to nap. I caught the blush rising in Larkin’s cheeks while Rhodes seemed completely oblivious to the effect he was having.

“The sooner Remy gets this meeting going, the sooner we can go eat,” Rhodes muttered.

With a sigh, Katy moved back to the couch and sat down. She arched a brow at Remy, prompting him to continue.

Remy snorted and glanced around the room before frowning. “Where’s Sierra? Ainsley?”

A petite girl with elfin features tossed a mane of shiny dark hair over her shoulders. “She said she’ll be here. She had a... late night.” She finished with a smirk as three girls around her giggled. The four of them were the only other females in the room.

Rhodes opened his eyes, all teasing gone. He looked annoyed. “Want me to go find her?”

Remy was shaking his head as the front door opened and a stunning blonde sauntered into the room. Her makeup was perfect, her clothes obviously expensive, hair curled into loose waves, and she was wearing heels.

Unless she knew of a paved path out to the alpha house that I hadn’t seen, she had just walked across campus in a pair of stilettos.

“Nice of you to join us, Sierra,” Remy said dryly, his warm eyes now cold and hard. “Are we keeping you?”

She actually glanced at her watch for a beat and then lifted her head, a seductive smile on her glossy lips. Her blue eyes ran up and down the length of Remy, and I saw Katy glower at her.

“I always have time for you, Rem,” Sierra said sweetly. She crossed the room to the girl who commented on her late night. The girl stood and sat on the floor so Sierra could sit. She perched on the armchair and crossed her legs as she leaned back, looking every inch a queen on her throne.

Standing next to Remy, I could hear the low growl rumble from his throat, expressing his displeasure. A muscle ticked in his clenched jaw.

My left hand raised in his direction, as if to touch him. Like I could comfort him.

With a sharp breath, I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jeans. I rocked back on my heels, wondering if I should sit or stand.

“Okay, we’ll keep this quick,” Remy started. Immediately he had everyone’s attention, even Sierra, I noted with an inward smirk.

He gestured to me. “This is Skye. She and her mom just joined the Blackwater pack, and she’ll be in the senior class. I trust I can count on you all to help her transition to Granite Peak smoothly. If you can help out or show her the ropes, make sure you do. Go ahead and introduce yourselves.”

The shifters went around the room, giving their names and grades. Of the twenty-three of us, eight were seniors including Remy, Rhodes, and Sierra.

I was just praying there wouldn’t be a pop quiz on everyone’s names at the end of the meeting.

After Katy finished out the name game, Remy turned to me. “Anything you wanted to add?”

I forced a smile on my lips, knowing it looked unnatural. “Nice to meet you all.”

Remy nodded. “You can sit down, if you want.”

Larkin and Katy immediately scooted apart so I could sit between them, and I was grateful I didn’t have to go sit on the floor by myself. I noticed that Larkin moved over, but made sure she wasn’t touching Rhodes.

Interesting.

Once seated, I fixed my attention back on Remy, who looked around the room expectantly.

“Any other pack business we need to be aware of? Any issues?” he asked, opening up the floor.

“You mean other than the Norwood pack being dicks?” A male wolf snorted derisively, he was sitting next to a guy who looked identical to him.

Sierra rolled her eyes and huffed. “You’re so sensitive, Kyle. Grow a pair and grow up.”

Kyle and his twin glared at her with flashing eyes. “Maybe if you didn’t act like a bitch in heat every time their alpha was around, you would see all the shit they start.”

Sierra leaned forward, her blue eyes practically glowing. “Maybe you—”

“Enough!” Remy boomed and they both shut up.

Katy leaned over to me. “The Norwood pack hates us, and the feeling is mutual. Well, hates us except for Sierra, but that’s because she’s been banging their alpha for the last month.”

Sierra bristled, clearly hearing Katy. “I spent most of the summer with the Norwood pack. Trace and I have been together since last year.”

“You mean since Remy shot you down for the last time?” Katy said sweetly, arching a brow. “You had to find a new alpha to sink your claws into?”

“I said, enough ,” Remy repeated, glaring at both Sierra and Katy until each looked at the ground.

“Sorry,” Katy muttered, sounding anything but. She folded her arms over her chest, sinking down into the couch.

Remy looked at Kyle. “Has something new happened?”

Kyle shifted, not happy but clearly willing to let the issue die. He traced the edges of one of the hardwood planks he sat on. “No, nothing.” His gaze flickered up and I caught him looking at... Larkin. Her cheeks were tomato red and she looked like she wanted to crawl under the couch.

Remy looked from Kyle to Larkin and then finally to Rhodes. They seemed to have an entire conversation without speaking before Rhodes finally nodded. I noticed him casually rest an arm along the back of the couch. The movement shifted Larkin towards him.

“Anything else?”

Silence reigned in the room.

“Okay,” Remy said. “We’re done. Let’s go eat.”