13. Chapter 13
Julia
Wolves.
Dozens of them, surrounding me, watching with unblinking stares that track my every move. The heavy wooden door of the pack house closes behind us with an ominous thud that reverberates through my chest. I feel like I've just stepped into a den of predators.
Technically, that’s exactly what I did.
"Remember," Adrian murmurs close to my ear, his warm breath sending shivers down my spine. "You have as much right to be here as anyone. You're my mate."
I squeeze his hand in mine, finding comfort in the solid contact.
"Easy for you to say. You're not the only rabbit in a room full of wolves."
A smile tugs at his lips.
"You're no rabbit, Julia."
The pack house looms around us, a massive structure of ancient pine logs stacked high into vaulted ceilings.
Wrought iron chandeliers cast warm dancing light across the gathered crowd, highlighting the mixture of curiosity and judgment on their faces.
The air smells of woodsmoke from the enormous stone fireplace, pine, and the distinctive musk that I've come to recognize as werewolf.
The forest-green cocktail dress I borrowed from my wedding emergency kit (because a good planner is always prepared) suddenly feels inadequate, though Adrian's eyes widened appreciatively when I emerged from his bedroom wearing it.
He looks devastatingly handsome in his charcoal suit, the fabric stretched taut across his broad shoulders.
Who knew werewolves liked to dress up so much?
As more eyes turn toward us, my fingers fidget with the fabric of my dress. I'm the only human in a sea of Others.
And everyone knows it.
"Adrian." A tall, silver-haired woman approaches, her movements fluid and purposeful. Meredith Wolfsbane is even more intimidating in her element, dressed in a floor-length silver gown that emphasizes her sculptural curves. Her gray-green eyes, so like Adrian's, flick over me with cool assessment.
"Mother." Adrian's voice carries a warning edge as his hand finds my lower back .
"You're late," she says, her gaze still fixed on me. "The alpha has been waiting."
"We're exactly on time."
“Spoken like a true future alpha,” a deep, masculine voice calls from behind and we all turn to see a tall, broad-shouldered man with salt-and-pepper hair stalk toward us with a deadly grace.
I need no one to tell me who this is. This is Jeremy Wolfsbane, Adrian’s father and the alpha of the Saltford Bay Pack. He is as impressive-looking as his son, with a chiseled jaw and piercing eyes of a vibrant, cold blue.
The alpha stops just beside his mate and wraps a possessive arm around her shoulders. Meredith's mouth curves into something almost resembling a smile as her cold gaze fixes on me.
And just like that, I decide that Adrian is right. I’m not a rabbit in a room full of wolves. I may not have claws or fangs, but I’m not prey, and they’re about to see it.
"Son, I see you brought your human to us."
I feel Adrian tense beside me, but before he can respond, I extend my hand.
"Julia Schroeder," I say, my voice stronger than I feel. "It's a pleasure to formally meet you, Mr. Wolfsbane."
Surprise flickers across his face at my boldness, but he shakes my hand, his grip firm but not harsh.
“Please call me Jeremy.” He inclines his head, the ghost of a smile on his full lips.
“Nice to meet you, Jeremy.”
Then Meredith comes to my side and takes my hand, and I notice her fingers are cool despite the warmth of the room .
"You have spirit, I’ll give you that," she says, something like approval in her tone. "Come, Julia. Let me introduce you to everyone while Adrian speaks with his father."
I glance at Adrian, who looks ready to object.
"Go on," I tell him. "I'll be fine."
His eyes search mine for a moment before he nods.
"I won't be long."
As he walks away, I feel unexpectedly bereft, like I've lost my shield. I straighten my spine and turn back to Meredith, whose expression has shifted to one of assessment.
"It takes courage to mate with a wolf," she remarks, guiding me through the crowd. "And it takes even more courage to be the only human in a room full of wolves."
"I'm honored," I reply, watching the faces around me. Some openly stare, others pretend not to while stealing glances. A group of older wolves huddles near the fireplace, their gray heads bent together as they observe us.
"The Council of Elders," Meredith explains, following my gaze. "They're very traditional in their viewpoints. No alpha in our pack has taken a human mate for generations."
"I didn't know that," I admit, absorbing this new information with a flutter of anxiety.
"Of course not. How could you?" Her tone isn't unkind, merely matter of fact. "Our ways are ancient, our traditions sacred. The mate of an alpha carries heavy responsibilities."
As we move through the room, Meredith introduces me to a blur of faces and names.
Some greet me with genuine warmth, particularly the younger wolves.
Others barely conceal their skepticism. I fall back on my professional skills, remembering names, asking appropriate questions, managing the social dance with practiced ease.
Inside, though, my heart races. This isn't just meeting the parents. This is being evaluated by an entire community that will one day be Adrian's to lead. A community that clearly has expectations about what kind of woman should stand beside him.
After what feels like hours of introductions, Meredith is drawn away by an elderly woman in need of assistance. I take the opportunity to catch my breath, moving to a small table laden with drinks.
"White wine, please," I say to the young man serving beverages.
"Make that a whiskey," a feminine voice cuts in from behind me. "She'll need something stronger to handle what's coming."
I turn to find myself face-to-face with the most beautiful woman I've ever seen.
Tall and athletic, with flowing blond hair and flawless features, she radiates the confidence of someone who knows exactly how stunning she is.
Her golden eyes mark her as wolf, and the predatory smile she offers confirms it.
"I'm Jennifer Fangsworth," she says, extending a manicured hand. "Adrian and I go way back."
My stomach drops as I recognize the name. The wolf who was waiting naked in Adrian's bed. The one his mother wanted him to mate.
"Julia Schroeder," I reply, shaking her hand briefly. "Adrian's mentioned you."
"Has he?" Her smile widens. "That's surprising. Men rarely mention their past lovers to their current… distractions."
The barb finds its mark, but I keep my expression pleasant.
"Good thing Adrian isn’t easily distracted. "
Jennifer takes a step closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. She gives all the outward appearances of being friendly, but I’m not a fool. There’s a mean streak in her eyes as she looks at me. She looks at me like prey.
"You know, I don't see a mate mark on you. Interesting, considering how Adrian's been parading you around as his chosen one, but he didn’t bother giving you a mark."
My hand instinctively goes to my neck, then drops when I realize I've given her exactly the reaction she wanted.
"I suppose Adrian hasn't told you what that means." She takes a delicate sip of her drink. "A true mate bond is sealed with a mark. Without it, you're just temporary. When it’s all said and done, he knows where his best option lies."
Heat rises to my face, but I maintain my composure.
"You and Adrian, you’re like oil and water.” Her eyes narrow slightly. “You don’t mix, no matter how much you try."
"Mixing together?" I can't help the disbelieving laugh that escapes me. It’s bolder and more aggressive than I’ve ever been in my life. But somehow, I don’t care.
That woman is not going to drive me away from Adrian.
"Is that what you think would happen when you waited in his bed, before he sent you away? "
Jennifer's smile falters.
"He told you about that?"
"Of course he did." I take a calculated risk, pressing my advantage. "Mates don’t have secrets from each other."
Something dangerous flashes in her eyes.
"You're deluding yourself if you think this is anything more than curiosity for him. Wolves mate with wolves, Julia. It's nature. It's instinct. When the time comes for him to take a true mate, to give her the mark, he'll choose one of his own kind."
The surrounding conversations go quiet, and I realize we've gathered an audience. Jennifer's eyes flash gold, her posture shifting subtly into something more predatory.
Alarm bells ring somewhere in the back of my mind, but I ignore them.
"You're out of your depth, human," she hisses, all pretense of civility gone. "You don't belong here."
I should back down. I should smile and walk away. Instead, I straighten my spine and step forward.
"Adrian makes his own choices," I say, my voice steady despite my racing heart. "And if you were truly what he wanted, Jennifer, you wouldn't be standing here alone, marking your territory like a junkyard dog."
Gasps ripple through our audience. Jennifer's face contorts with fury, her canines visibly elongating as she takes a step toward me.
"That's enough."
Adrian materializes at my side, his eyes glowing emerald with protective rage. His arm encircles my waist, drawing me against him in a possessive gesture that leaves no room for misinterpretation.
"Jennifer," he acknowledges, his voice a low rumble. "I see you've met Julia."
"Just getting acquainted," Jennifer replies, her composure returning too quickly. "Girl to girl."
"I'm sure." Adrian's grip on me tightens slightly, his fingers spreading on my stomach in a display of intimacy that makes her face turn pale.
"Let me clarify one thing, for everyone's benefit.
" His gaze sweeps the gathered crowd. "Julia is my choice.
How and when we formalize our bond is no one's concern but ours. "
Jennifer's smile turns brittle.
"Of course, Adrian. Far be it from me to question the future alpha's judgment." She steps back, inclining her head slightly. "I look forward to seeing how this all… resolves."
As she walks away, I realize I've been holding my breath. My legs feel wobbly now that the adrenaline is fading.
Adrian guides me to a quiet corner, his expression tight with concern. "Are you alright? What did she say to you?"
"Nothing I couldn't handle." My voice shakes slightly, betraying me. "Though I might have called her a junkyard dog."
A surprised laugh escapes him. "You didn't."
"I did." I close my eyes briefly. "I'm sorry if I embarrassed you."
"Embarrassed me?" He cups my face in his hands. "Julia, you have no idea how proud I am right now. Do you know how many wolves would dare stand up to Jennifer like that? Not many."
"I was terrified," I admit. "But also, I don't know. Angry. Possessive, almost. It surprised me."
Something flickers in his eyes. "Possessive?"
I nod, feeling suddenly vulnerable. "I didn't like her talking about you like you belong to her. Like what's between us doesn't matter."
Adrian's thumb brushes my cheek. "It matters. You matter."
From the main hall, music begins to play, a rich, rhythmic melody that seems to vibrate through the wooden floors.
"Come," he says, taking my hand. "I want to dance with my mate."
He leads me back to the main hall, where space has been cleared for dancing. Couples already move together at the center, their movements fluid and graceful, in sync with the slow rhythm of a country song. Adrian pulls me into his arms, one hand at my waist, the other clasping mine.
"Just follow me," he murmurs close to my ear.
We move in tune to the music, our bodies flush together, so close I could feel his heartbeat against my chest. I'm acutely aware of all the eyes on us, especially Meredith's unwavering gaze from across the room.
But as the music swells, I lose track of our audience.
Adrian's eyes hold mine, intense and warm.
His body moves with mine as if we've danced together a thousand times.
For those moments, nothing exists except the connection between us, the rhythm guiding our steps, the warmth of his hand against my back.
When the music ends, Adrian leads me through glass doors onto a wide porch. The night air is cool against my flushed skin, the stars brilliant above the towering pines.
"What did Jennifer mean about a mate mark?" I ask, unable to hold back the question any longer. “And why didn’t you give me one when we had sex? Is it because I’m only temporary?”
Adrian stills beside me.
"She said that to you?"
I nod, watching his expression carefully.
"She said without it, I'm just temporary."
“She should not have said that.” His jaw tightens. “The mating mark is a bite given during intimate moments that seals the bond between mates. It leaves a scar, visible proof of the connection.”
"And you haven't given me one. "
"No." His eyes find mine in the darkness.
"Julia, once that mark is made, there's no turning back.
I would be connected to you forever and you to me.
I would feel your emotions, and you would feel mine.
My wolf would be linked to you until one of us dies.
If you ever left afterward, it would be torture for both of us. "
My heart pounds against my ribs.
"And you didn't want that with me?"
"I want it more than I've ever wanted anything," he admits, his voice rough. "But I won't trap you. You came to Saltford Bay for a job, not for a lifetime commitment. I will give you that mate mark if and when you truly want it, not before."
I let that sink in and it shatters my heart into a million pieces. This man, this honorable, gentle, and fierce man is better than even my most feverish dreams. He could take whatever he wanted from me, God knows I wouldn’t stop him. But he didn’t. He’s waiting for me to offer.
Before I can respond, his phone buzzes insistently. Frustration crosses his features as he checks the screen.
"Chemko," he says, answering. "This better be important."
I watch his expression shift from annoyance to alert focus as he listens. After a brief exchange, he ends the call and turns to me.
"They found it," he says, his entire face set in predatory lines. "They found the tiara."
And just like that, I forget how to breathe.