Chapter 5 - Riley
I pulled the meeting room door open, and inside I found Troy sitting in a chair waiting.
The other chairs were all empty, which told me he was the first to arrive.
He raised an eyebrow at me, and I rounded the table, pulling out a seat across from him.
I knew to still keep some distance between us and hoped he didn't jump the table.
He smirked. “Smart move putting a table between us.”
“I know you're angry, but it wasn't like I had options.”
He ground his teeth together. “You could have chosen not to drag my sister into this mess after she worked so hard to get out of this place.”
I sat down. “I did what my pack needed, Troy. How can I keep my pack in check if I can't even keep my temper under control?”
“Step down,” he snapped back. “That's what you should have done.”
I leaned back. “Be angry all you want. She made a decision. She didn't have to agree.”
He leaned back in his chair. “As true as that is, I'm still angry. You didn't give my sister a choice. I know that your ass lied to get her here. You used her fear of losing us to get what you wanted. That was an asshole move.”
“I knew she wouldn't come otherwise. And I wasn't wrong. This is affecting everyone, Troy. It's only a matter of time before your parents or you start having issues. It's not just about me.”
I felt my anger flare up. I took a deep breath to calm myself, wondering why my anger hadn't calmed more. The council said once my bond was put into place, my anger and the unsettling in me should be better. But I wasn't sure if it had. I was starting to wonder if they had been wrong.
Before I could say anything, the door opened, and the others started to come in. There was Titus, with dark ginger hair and a dark tan, and Luke, who was tall with black hair.
“Morning, guys.” Titus pulled a chair out and slid into it. “Glad to see you two are still alive.”
I glared at Titus, but Luke smirked. He sat down next to Troy and patted his shoulder. “How are you holding up?”
“Besides that fact, my sister was forced into a marriage? I'm peachy.”
“Can we get started with the meeting?” I asked, eager to get this over with.
“Eager to get home to the wife?” Titus teased.
“I swear to god, Titus. I will punch you.”
“Let's just start,” Troy asked. “We were here to discuss several matters such as the bonding issue.”
The room fell quiet, and I swallowed. We all had been hit hard. Some of us were worse off, depending on the help our packs were able to give. I was grateful that the infirmary I had was equipped with witches and shifters. The women who ran it were quick, and their skills were beautiful to watch.
I didn't know if the others were as lucky.
“We've had more members coming forward who feel their bonding starting to shift between each other. I have married couples that are starting to grow impatient.”
“We all have married couples that are impatient,” Titus said, waving a hand. “We all have unhappy members. The problem is we still don't have an answer.”
“Why did you get married?”
All eyes went to me, and I watched as Troy's narrowed, seeming eager to hear the answer. I was careful about how I spoke because the Council had told me they were seeing it; they were right.
“They explained they found my mate and that maybe it would help keep me calm if I were bonded to her.”
“And what makes them think that would make a difference?”
“Janella is a human. So, the bond is different. You can't tamper with it as much. They said once I was bonded, that whatever was affecting everyone wouldn’t be able to affect me anymore.”
“Your sister isn't a shifter?” Titus and Luke looked at Troy. “How is that?”
I watched Troy grind his teeth together for a moment. I knew it was a sore subject to have to explain that Janella was adopted. It wasn't because he didn't love her, but because he did. It was because he knew how people reacted.
“My parents adopted her when she was little. They were told she was a pup, but that was a lie.”
“Damn!” Titus said. “They sue the agency for lying?”
Troy snarled. “No! Because they love her! We love her no less!”
Titus threw his hands up. “I was just asking. Jesus, are you unable to keep your anger under control now, too?”
I watched Troy look at me. His anger filled his eyes. I knew it wasn't because he didn't have control, but rather he'd been saying this for years. Fighting for people to stop thinking his sister was less.
“Is there a plan to pair us all up?” Luke asked.
I shrugged. “No idea. They don't exactly give me that much information.”
“I wouldn't mind being married,” Titus said, leaning back in his chair with a wicked grin. “Having a woman at my every beck and call. Foot massages and hot meals when I come home.”
“That isn't what a wife is for, Titus.” Troy rolled his eyes at me.
“Every marriage is different.”
“You want a servant, but a marriage is between two people. It's a bonding, and you need to care for it accordingly.”
Everyone continued arguing, but my mind drifted to Janella. I wondered what she was planning to do today. We still spoke as little as possible, and I hardly saw her around the house, even. She was out of the house before I even got up, so I had no idea where she even was.
I tapped my finger on the table, wondering if I should text her. I had her number in my phone, but I hadn't used it yet. I knew she would wonder how I even got it.
I had spotted her around town a few times, my eyes always tracking what she was doing. I felt that tug to be near her, and I was constantly looking for her.
My mind went back to this morning. She was wearing yoga pants as she started cooking some eggs.
I could still picture her ass when she bent over to grab the pan. I could see how perfectly it was formed. I had been tempted to run my hand along her butt just to see how firm it was.
And when she pulled herself up and turned. I could see the strap of her bra and the way her tank top clung to her tightly. I felt a tug to yank her to me and run my hands over her body.
I quickly shook my head, not knowing where that thought came from. I didn't often fantasize about anyone. Yet, Janella seemed to be there more.
I thought of another time she was in the living room. She was bending over, grabbing a blanket out of the blanket basket. I took in her perfectly formed ass and the way her thin legs looked as she leaned over.
Her shorts would hitch up, and I could get a perfect image of what she had underneath them. I wanted to run my hand over her back, run it down her ass, and right between her legs. I imagined what sound would come out of her mouth.
How was she in bed? Was she quiet or was she loud? Did she like it nice and slow, or did she like it a little dirty?
“Riley.”
I blinked, and Dustin raised an eyebrow at me. “Are you listening?”
I cleared my throat and nodded my head. “Yeah, I'm listening.” I waved a hand. “Continue.”
Troy gave me a look, and I ignored him, forcing a tight smile. I had no idea what they were talking about, but I wasn't going to admit that I wasn't listening.
Jesus, get a grip.
My wolf growled, though, with frustration. Since the bonding, I'd been growing hungry for sex. I wish I had been warned about this. The Council should have warned me about any other changes that might happen.
“Onto the next issue,” Titus said.
I left the meeting as soon as we were done and headed outside.
I let the wind hit me, hoping it would swipe all the dirty thoughts away with it.
My mind kept traveling back to Janella, and I couldn't focus. Growing up, I had no idea what was underneath her baggy clothes. But now I did, and I couldn’t seem to stop thinking about it.
I kept thinking of all the positions I wanted to put her in, on her back with her legs spread.
On her knees, with my hand grabbing at her hair, taking her from behind.
I rubbed at my eyes and glanced across the street. My body tensed up, since it seemed the universe had other plans. Across the street was Janella on a park bench. She was sitting with Kyla, another member of the pack.
They were deep in conversation, both laughing. I remembered Kyla and her had been friends, so it didn't surprise me to see them together again. Maybe they kept in touch, or maybe they hadn't.
I watched as Janella spoke, her lips moving quickly. She was wearing red lipstick, and I pictured myself smearing it. The thought of having her on her knees filled my head. I grabbed her throat, tilting her head up.
“Open your mouth.” She did, her red lips opening, and I took in her tongue and ran my thumb over it. She'd moaned, and I could see the way her eyes shifted with need.
“Fuck.” I shook my head and pinched my eyes. Jesus, I was losing it. Where the fuck were these thoughts coming from? I wasn't fifteen.
But I felt my dick jerk at the thought. My body was going against what my mind was saying. I needed to go for a run. I had to get this pent-up energy out.
I watched as they got off the bench and hugged each other. Janella said something, and Kyla nodded eagerly at her. I imagine they agreed to meet up again soon.
I watched as Janella waved and stood there for a moment. I expected her to head in the direction of the house, but she didn't. She turned and headed towards the walking path that surrounded the park.
I turned ready to head home. But my legs froze, and a voice deep down spoke. “What if she was plotting to leave?”
No. Janella wouldn't.
But she would? She talked about wanting to go back home. She had said it over and over that was her plan. What if she was planning to slip away before this was all dealt with? What if she asked Kyla to help her because she didn't want to wait?
My legs started moving after her. I needed to make sure that she wasn't trying to slip away from me. I couldn't let her disappear.