21. Henri
Chapter 21
Henri
The run takes over an hour. It’s a long trek around the property. I know for most wolves, it’s quick, but Deacon and I stay at a comfortable pace, following more of the older wolves and those with children and keeping everyone together. It’s fantastic. Then when we come into the clearing, Deacon knows exactly what to do, which is to go to the assigned ‘human-handler’—someone designated to stop humans from getting too close—for pictures with the press.
In his wolf form, he sits next to The Leviathan and Thalia. I watch them for a little bit but then know it’s better if I have thumbs and am universally understood when directing the media.
Knowing I have to shift back and do so in a space with other shifters brings the heated feeling of self-consciousness. I peek my head into the room, but people and wolves fill the space from wall to wall, leaving me no room to shift back. It’s okay. I can just wait. No one needs me right this second.
“Has anyone seen Henri Greene?”
Of course they do .
Despite being incredibly exposed while standing just outside the door to the changing room, I focus on my human form and work to tuck my wolf away. It feels like I’m in the limbo between forms for forever, but finally I push up into standing on two legs and can duck into the changing room, dodging between families wrangling children into clothes and teenagers horsing around and flirting.
There’s plenty of room in the back corner, where Deacon and I left our things, for me to dress while being out of the way. When I’m finished, ease settles over me with the warming accomplishment, knowing I made the right choice as the changing room hasn’t thinned out at all.
Once I’m out of the changing room and leave behind the joyous laughter and lighthearted fun, I head upstairs, where the difference in the atmosphere inside the house is palpable. Tension fills the air as if one misstep could lead to an eruption, but why?
My wolf raises her hackles, and the hair on the back of my neck stands on end. Head on a swivel, as Cade would say, I’m on edge and looking for the problem to defuse. Someone asked if they had seen me, so it’s clearly something I’ll need to handle. The press and pack members are mingling in the formal dining room, the living room, and out on the large deck.
As I greet people, I keep waiting for more information, but nothing seems to come out of the woodwork. There’s seemingly no rhyme or reason for the unease polluting the energy of the gathering nor any explanation for who was looking for me or why.
“Henri.”
I turn in the direction of my name being snarled.
Nathan is bright red in the face. People, humans and wolves, step away, putting distance between themselves and us .
The anger rolling off him is the source of the problem.
“Nathan, you’re here early.” I step toward him quickly, as if getting to him faster will immediately change his mood. “Let’s go to my office.”
His lip curling in a form of disgust, Nathan shakes his head. The look alone has panic flooding my system, and I’m sure fear is wafting off me. Arms crossed in front of his chest, Nathan holds his head high, glowering down at me.
Trying to comfort him, I put my hand on his forearm.
We were doing so good after I got back from the Wisconsin house. It’s been weeks without incident.
He shrugs me off with a shift of his shoulders. Malice spikes his words. “I can’t believe you.”
“Come on.” I walk past him, beckoning him with a small wave of my hand. It’s a misunderstanding. Surely, he’ll calm down if he gets a minute. “We can go speak in my office about what’s upsetting you.”
“Like that’ll make it better?” Nathan raises his voice.
“Nathan.” I lower my voice, trying to get him to meet my volume, but eyes are finding us in the crowd. “I’m not sure what’s wrong, but we can talk and figure out a way to make it better.”
“Unbelievable.” Nathan scoffs, moving in the opposite direction of my office, toward the front door.
Relieved it’s not toward the back deck the where majority of the media and onlookers are, I follow behind him. But Nathan doesn’t go all the way outside. In the front entryway of the house, he spins to look at me.
“I can’t believe you did that in front of people.” Nathan isn’t shouting, but it’s close, the harsh anger cutting through.
“Nathan, please lower your voice.” My face and neck are heating.
We can’t do this here. Humans attending the event will see this as a tense moment between lovers, but my employers won’t see it so simply. It’s unprofessional at best. But I’m not the reason people are here; it’s not the scandal they’re looking for, nor should it be. I need to get him out of here.
Before Deacon sees.
I grip his forearm and try to pull him back past the wall that blocks some of the main living space from the front entry.
“You fucking shifted, in front of everyone, you let them see...” Nathan is seething. His chest rises and falls in short inhales and slow hissing exhales.
“I’m a wolf, I had to shift. And it’s not like I was mid-yard. It was off to the side, and no one was focused on what I was doing. I was only outside for a few seconds.” My shoulders push upward toward my ears, but a sickly frozen ball of dread settles in my stomach.
“You shouldn’t be shifting at all!” Nathan shouts as we reach the front door. “You’re not fucking one of them, Henri!”
“Nathan.” I reach for the doorknob, trying to usher him outside and hopefully out to his car so we can talk.
“No!” He screams at the top of his lungs and directly into my face.
Tears burn my eyes, and I’m not sure what to do. I can barely breathe. “I—”
“Excuse me.” Cade pulls both of our attention.
He’s dressed in sweats rather than the clothing Lunar New Year would warrant. Someone told him something was going on, and he rushed to get here.
“I’m talking with Henri.” Nathan glares, clearly oblivious to the gravity of who he’s speaking with despite having met Cade before. “It’s got nothing to do with you.”
“Anything that happens on this property is of my direct concern.” Cade’s using his ‘you’re in deep shit’ Alpha voice as he stalks toward Nathan with silent footsteps .
He’s easily six inches taller than Nathan, and while he shares the same leaner athletic build as Deacon rather than the thick, dense muscle like Finn, Cade is an intimidating person.
“I’m having a conversation with my girlfriend.” Nathan turns away from Cade.
The Leviathan rises in Cade’s eyes, and he turns his attention to me. “Henri, please go to your office.”
The word ‘please’ is simply to be polite because Cade’s words hit hard with an Alpha command. My feet move of their own accord, and Cade directs me to the secret closet passageway rather than going back through the main portion of the house.
“Where the fuck are you going?” Nathan snaps at me, and I struggle to keep going, trying to follow Cade’s command. He wraps his hand around my wrist and holds me in place.
“It doesn’t matter where she’s going. You’re leaving, and if Henri would like to leave later, she’s welcome to, but you’ll be leaving now.” Cade growls, laying down the law.
I look behind me as I stand before the door.
“I’m not fucking leaving without her.” Nathan squares up with Cade.
“Nathan, stop. Please.” I draw a deep breath and try not to focus on the ache in my bones from his fingers digging into my arm. “I’ll go with you. Let me grab my purse and keys, and we can go.”
My wolf whines, upset, trying to crawl out of my skin from not following Cade’s orders, her whole being needing to comply.
When I pull my arm away from him, Nathan lets me go. “I’ll be here. Go get your purse.”
I’m through the closet passageway and on the other side when I come face to face with Deacon. My stomach drops seeing him. He steps to the side, allowing me to walk down the hall toward my office. But I don’t make the walk alone.
Deacon speaks in a low volume, low enough to avoid eavesdropping from the wolves in and around the house. “If you go with him, he’s going to hurt you.”
“I’ll be fine. He’s just mad. By the time we get home, we’ll have talked it out and everything will be okay.” My voice is shaking.
Why did he have to be early? I squeeze my eyes shut, glad the hallway is straight and that I only have a few more feet before my office door.
I open my eyes a few steps before my door, and Deacon leans on the wall next to it. A place I’m so used to seeing him, and it’s comforting.
It’ll be fine.
I unlock my door and step inside.
“You shouldn’t go with him, Henri.” Deacon sighs, following me into my office.
“I appreciate your concern—” I immediately go to defend Nathan.
“Henri.” Deacon’s voice is stronger, commanding my attention.
“Nathan just needs a minute to calm down. It’ll be fine.” I can’t spare a glance at him as I quickly load my purse with my laptop, keys, and lunch box, gathering everything I would normally have left for tomorrow.
I’m doing it quickly to appease Nathan, yet I find myself stalling to give Deacon the time to talk.
Deacon shakes his head. “I don’t think it will be.”
His words are overwhelmingly solemn. If I think about them too long, I won’t be able to leave. Finally, I’m able to face Deacon, and the pain in his eyes doesn’t match what I was expecting .
“Henri, I’m worried about you leaving with him.” He steps closer to me and places his hand on my shoulder. “I really don’t want you to go, Hen.”
Picking up my bags, I gesture for Deacon to leave the space.
We lock eyes, standing in the low light of my office, illuminated only by the hallway lights. But Deacon doesn’t say anything else. Instead, following my silent directive, Deacon leaves my office, allowing me to follow behind him and lock the door.
Dread fills me as I walk alone back down the hallway to the entryway.
Deacon doesn’t know him as well as I do. It’s going to be fine.