The buzzer interrupted us as the Celtic Wolves scored again, right before the end of the first period. But my thoughts were consumed by the war that would follow if we lost control of our beasts.
We couldn’t let that happen.
No matter who we had to trust.
CHAPTER 32
EMME
When we ate in the dining room, we used about a fifth of the full table, preferring to remain close together at one end. Tonight, it was maxed out, as multiple alphas filled the chairs.
After their win, Kellan and Finley had raced through press and got home around the time everyone else arrived. Constantine was the only one who’d declined dinner, as he wanted to focus on sorting and cataloguing the items Hunter had brought back. I’d run into him on my way down, and he mentioned an idea of how to track Blaine, which put an extra pep in my step all the way into the dining room.
The first person I greeted was Kassidy, who stood next to Kenzo. After her hug, Kellan’s brothers moved toward me for three brief seconds, before rumbles from my pack had them backing up. Suppressing my smile, I nodded at the few strangers in the room, who felt like powerful alphas. They must be the allies we were attempting to bring into the fold.
On my way to my spot at the table, a familiar face had me grinding to a halt. He’d been sitting so I hadn’t noticed him until I was almost at his side.
My eyes burned as I stared. “Warrick?” His name was a ragged, broken thing on my tongue.
He stood slowly, and I couldn’t see any anger in his serious expression. “Hey, Emme,” he replied, and when he opened his arms to me, I chokedback my sobs.
As he closed me in his embrace, it felt the same as always. Both of us ignored the low rumbles, which sounded far less menacing than those for Tyson and Julien.
My alphas were making an exception for Warrick, and I appreciated it.
“You’re here,” I rasped as I pulled back to see his handsome face. “I wasn’t sure when we’d see you again.”
His eyes were shiny, and there was so much pain in those dark depths that it felt like he’d stabbed me. I wished I could take his hurt away.
“Sorry we haven’t seen you, Em,” he said, his voice as rough as his appearance. “We’ve been healing together, as a pack. Cores wanted me to send her love though, and tell you she’s thankful for your quiet support. Your cookies are healing, my friend.”
My lower lip trembled even as I told myself not to fucking cry—this was not about me.
“I wish there was more I could do, but I wanted you to know I was here.I am here. Supporting from the sidelines.”
He sucked in a ragged breath, rubbing a hand over his face. “It means a lot. We’re lucky to have friends like you and the rest of your pack.”
He leaned forward, as if to hug me again, but Hunter’s hand on his shoulder slowed the move. “Time for dinner,” he said calmly.
There was no obvious warning in the tone, but Warrick smirked anyway. “You’re right, Hunt. Let’s get to business. I need that witch ended.”
When he took his seat again, I raised an eyebrow at my possessive mate. “Subtle,” I murmured, and Hunter shrugged.
“Grieving or not, it goes against every instinct to let another alpha touch what’s mine. He got one hug. That’s the maximum our beasts can handle.”
“Overly generous of us,” Slade noted, overhearing the conversation. That dragon gave no real fucks about Warrick’s grief. He put pack first. Everyone else didn’t even exist.
Hunter pulled my chair out for me, and then slid me in under the table. Kellan was on my right as usual, with Slade, Talon, and Finley across from us. Conversation continued until Florence and Gerald entered the room with massive trays hefted across their shoulders. Thetrays went down the center of the long table, which was already set with plates, cutlery, and glasses.
It was a late dinner, and they’d opted for homemade pizzas, garlic bread, and portioned bowls of pasta. When I saw the meat-filled pizza, and equally meaty pasta, I was happy enough to dance a little in my seat. There was nothing green on this tray, and it was a glorious time to be alive.
Jewels’ bullshit notwithstanding.
Hunter piled up a plate for me, and I put a hundred and ten percent of my focus into inhaling my favorite food groups: carbs, meat, fat, cheese.
Cheese was in a group all on its own. Of course.
When the rest of the table—except my alphas—started to eat, I felt through the bond their desires to ask the entire room to pause so I could eat first. “Don’t you fucking dare,” I mumbled around a bite of bread. “You’re acting insane.”
