To my right stand Mia, Olivia, and Salazar, who has a hand on Olivia’s shoulder. I’m pretty sure Salazar hasn’t let Olivia out of his sight since she came home. Her jaw looks tense. Mia is fidgeting and swaying her shoulders back and forth. She’s nervous too.
She catches my eye and I do my best to give her an encouraging smile. Her best attempt to reciprocate looks like it exhausts her. Her shoulders slump forward.
Jasper is speaking with Tobias and a couple of the gamma officers from our defense force. They must be high ranking because this meeting has been limited to only those with the highest clearance.
I wish Aisha was here, or Katie, or Omar. Hell, I’d even take the bro twins right now.
Jericho’s absence is a shadow hanging over the room.
A click of the door opening turns my attention, and I spin to watch a woman wearing a gray pantsuit and a tight bun move to Jasper, touching his elbow and whispering in his ear.
“Everyone,” Jasper says, his voice deep, authoritative, confident—it sends a shiver down my spine and legs—“he’s here. Please, take your seats.”
We all follow Jasper’s gesture to the table, moving to our spots.
“Hey, you good?” I ask, placing my hands on the back of the leather swivel chair in front of which is a piece of card with my name written on it.
Jasper pulls his chair out with one hand. “I’ll be fine once this is over.” Before I sit he places his free hand on my shoulder. “Thank you for being here.”
“Of course.”
We take our seats at what is ostensibly the head of the table, with the door at our backs and the two walls of windows before us. Salazar sits to Jasper’s left, with Tobias completing our row. Olivia, Mia, and the gammas all sit along the edge to my right, leaving four empty seats on the left side of the table.
For a while we wait, until eventually the door swings open.
Jasper and I jump to our feet as Morven enters. His hair is grayer than I remember. But still full-bodied. He greets us with a respectful nod, Jasper reaching out to shake his hand as I study his piercing blue eyes. This is the man who could help save us or condemn our entire pack. Which course of action will he take?
He’s followed by a man I recognize as Mason’s father and then I almost can’t believe it when ... Mason walks through the door.
He looks a little nervous, his eyes scanning the floor, but when he looks up and finds my face, probably beaming at him, he smiles and straightens his back.
While Jasper greets his father Mason heads for me.
“Do we shake hands?” he asks. “Feels weird.”
“Yeah, that would be weird.”
I pull him in for a quick hug, just in case his father notices and gets any wrong ideas.
“I like your hair.” Mason has dyed his hair pink. “Very cool.”
He wipes a hand across his tight curls. “Small rebellions, right?”
“Amen.”
A fourth man has entered the room. He’s easily the size of a bus, with short-cropped hair and a face that could break glass. He and Mason’s dad are already taking their seats.
“You think there’s a chance this goes well?” I whisper quickly before Mason moves to his seat.
“Pray to the moon gods.”
He gives his best reassuring grin, but it doesn’t do much to stop the hollow, churning sensation in my stomach.
“Dad,” Mia says, full of emotion and heartbreak as she runs to his side of the table. Still standing, Morven takes her into his arms, cradling her head to his chest as she adds, “I’m sorry. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve miss you too,” he says, choking on his own emotions.
Olivia is staring daggers at Morven. She’s definitely not sorry.
