“It’s a special blend we import from a pack in California. They send us over a case or two every batch.” She continues, giving a long-winded spiel about soil and weather and how everything works together to give a wine a specific flavor.
I nod along, taking a small sip and pretending I can taste the “notes of blackberry” and “the subtlety of the tannins” when I really only taste the slightly fruity bite of alcohol I associate with all wines. Wine is one of those acquired tastes I haven’t ever managed to acquire.
Beside me, Ollie picks at his food and lets out a big yawn, his cheeks going pink at the action. It’s been a long day with a lot of excitement, but it still seems a little early for him to be so sleepy.
What the hell is going on?
Even Earl is looking a little bleary-eyed. In contrast, Wanda and Clay both seem just as alert as when we all sat down.
“What do you think of Rockcastle?” asks Wanda, blinking at me.
“We’re not staying,” I blurt out, my tongue strangely loose.
“Oh no, I would never ask that of you,” says Wanda, hand on her chest. “I was just imagining what it might have been like if you’d grown up here.”
I give her an awkward shrug, unsure what to say to that. If I’d grown up here, I might have turned out a total jackass like Earl and that doesn’t sound appealing to me at all. As nice as it might have been to have the kind of luxuries the Rockcastle Alpha has, money isn’t worth my soul.
And neither is power.
I saw enough of what power does to people in Sweet Water—and what money does to people in Chicago. Rossi, the former Chicago Alpha was a monster in a business suit who participated in a shifter trafficking ring even though his pack was already wealthy and prosperous.
Speaking of money…
“How the hell does your pack afford to keep this place running?” I ask, the question barreling past my lips without thought. I cough and give my head a brisk shake. “Sorry… I, uh, apologize for my rudeness.”
“No worries,” says Wanda, waving her hand dismissively. “That’s something many people are curious about.” She turns to Clay and starts talking to him about the latest pumpkin crop.
As much as I didn’t really mean to ask that question, I can’t help but notice that she very much avoided answering it—and not exactly subtly.
Movement from the corner of my eye catches my attention, and I turn to my mate just as he slumps to the side, his head landing on my shoulder. I barely have time to process the fact that Ollie seems to be fast asleep before Earl faceplants onto the table with a loud bang.
“Finally,” says Wanda. “I was beginning to think he’d never go down.” She turns to me. “How are you feeling, Jonathan?”
“That’s not… not… my name,” I stutter, the words feeling sticky in my mouth.
“That’s okay,” she replies. “You won’t need a name where you’re going.”
“Luke…” Macy pushes to her feet and stumbles to the side a few steps before crumpling to the ground.
I try to get up, but it’s too late. Whatever I was drugged with keeps me in my chair, slowly dragging me into unconsciousness. As the edges of my vision go black, I hear Wanda say, “I’ll get him shifted and secured for transport while you deal with Oliver and the beta.”
Twenty-Six
Ollie
I jolt awake witha gasp and a bolt of pain shoots through my already pounding head. My stomach sloshes uncomfortably and a burp makes its way up my throat, leaving a stale, unpleasant taste in my mouth. Not that my mouth didn’t already taste like something died in there.Yuck.
Sitting up in the bed, I raise a hand to my spinning head as I glance around the room in confusion. How did I get here? And, for that matter, where is “here”?
Slowly my brain pieces together the events of the last few hours.
Our arrival in Rockcastle.
Meeting the Alpha.
The tour.
Sitting down to dinner.
