The Alpha's Temporary Mate (Fated Match)(72)
“We have time,” she said. Time to help him move beyond Lisette and look to the future.
“Time,” he agreed. “Though not at the moment. We’ll miss breakfast if we’re not careful.”
She groaned, dropping her forehead to his chest. “I don’t want to move.”
“Looks like I did something right last night.”
Chloe pushed away from him with a roll of her eyes. “Laugh it up, wolf. I’ll thank you to remember the white flag is hanging in the main hall. Everyone will know I won.”
“I still contest that point,” he said with a chuckle.
Yeah, she decided as she reached for her clothes. They’d both gotten exactly what they needed last night.
Her good mood lasted exactly until she sat down for breakfast with the older wolves. Niall smiled at her presence but the others treated her to stonily silent stares.
Round two, she thought with a sigh, cutting into the pancakes before her.
“The last of the stragglers arrived last night,” Niall said. “Everyone’s accounted for. At least those of the pack who planned on coming. There are still a dozen or so out of state.”
“Good turn out this year,” Kieran replied.
“We have your girl to thank for that. Everyone wanted a look at the witch that finally got you to commit.”
Chloe glanced up from her food. “Please tell me you’re kidding.”
“Nope,” Niall replied. “Highest numbers in five years.” He leaned closer to her and added, “You’ll be happy to know your popularity rose significantly when the others saw that white flag hanging over the stairs this morning.”
“You all wanted to see your alpha lose?”
Niall shook his head. “I think they wanted to see someone unafraid to beat him.”
“We’re still deciding exactly who beat whom,” Kieran put in. “I, for one, am looking forward to a rematch tonight.”
Heat bloomed on her cheeks as she dug her elbow into her lover’s side but that only earned her the chuckles of both men sitting beside her.
“The hunt is scheduled for tonight,” Darrel’s steely voice cut in. “You will be otherwise engaged, Kieran.”
That cut the laughter short.
“Hunt?” Chloe asked quickly, hoping to diffuse the tension. “Sounds like fun.”
Darrel’s eyes flicked to her. “This is one event you will not be participating in, magic or no.”
“Why do you assume—”
Kieran squeezed her hand under the table. “Think, Chloe,” he whispered. “We’re a group of wolves and these woods are full of life. Do you really want to run by my side as I take down a deer?”
“Ah, ick,” she said. “Count me out.”
The look on Darrel’s face made her wish she was far more bloodthirsty than she was.
“What other events do you have planned for the retreat?” she asked. “I’m looking forward to meeting all of the pack.”
Her dining mates exchanged glances at her announcement.
“Why not use this time to relax?” Darrel offered instead. “I’m sure your city life is hectic. Setting up all those dates and what not.”
She narrowed her eyes. “It is,” she agreed. “However, I came to support Kieran and meet those important to him. I’m not going to sit in my cabin and read the days away.”
The man sitting next to Darrel cleared his throat. “I’m sure Darrel meant nothing of the sort,” he said diplomatically. “We’re just trying to think long term. There is no need for you to…tax yourself.”
“Vance,” Kieran growled in warning.
“Why?” Chloe asked. “Because I won’t be around next year so you don’t want to raise your pack’s hopes?”
Vance met her gaze head on, not looking away. “Exactly.”
By her side Kieran tensed. He’d leap to her defense if she let him, but he’d wanted to find a strong fake lover for a reason. Laying a hand on his arm, she turned to face the table. “Let me make something clear,” she said, addressing all the advisors. “I know you don’t like me and I don’t particularly care. Yours is not the opinion that matters. Theirs is.” She gestured to the rest of the room, the wolves happily eating their breakfast and chatting among themselves. “This pack is more than a disapproving group of ten. If Clearwater, as a united front, took issue with a witch being with your alpha, I might give the concerns some credence. All I am hearing right now is a bigoted group of old wolves refusing to step into the twenty-first century. I’m a witch. Big deal. My genes don’t change the way I feel about Kieran, or the fact that I want to be a part of this pack.”