Chapter One
Chloe stepped into the clearing and took a deep breath, trying to slow the hammering of her heart. She gulped past a lump of fear. It wouldn’t do to let her emotions get away from her in this crowd. The Council meeting had lasted most of the day, and now with dusk beginning to fall the celebration would begin. At least a hundred people were milling about, and more were arriving by the second.
The Council of Chiefs had chosen the Panhandle pack to host this year’s meeting, and wouldn’t you know that’s where she’d run after she killed Wyatt? Two chiefs—Jackson and Darius—were being recognized as having survived the trial period, and the whole event had turned into an excuse for one big party.
She looked around, unable to hide her smile of appreciation. The host pack had gone out of its way for this reception. Trees strung with bright white lights surrounded the huge clearing and torches lit the clear areas. Long tables were piled high with food. There was even an open bar. By the time she arrived, the place was packed. She’d considered leaving town while the Council was in session, but she hadn’t seen her parents in months. And in the end, what good would it do? She’d given her word—and that meant Billy would come after her.
She felt eyes on her as she moved through the crowd, and pushed away a surge of panic. There was no danger lurking here. Wyatt was long gone. And she didn’t—wouldn’t—belong to anyone else.
Still, she couldn’t help the knot in her stomach, the pounding that began behind her eyes. There were too many werewolves, pressing too close. They looked at her with curious, speculative gazes, and her skin crawled.
Tears pricked her eyes and she squeezed them shut, willing the moisture away. Her counselor, a werewolf’s mate, had assured her that some day she would feel whole, complete, and strong again. She wasn’t so sure. Six long months had passed and she felt the same as she had the day she’d walked out of Jackson’s house and never looked back. Joanne thought that was part of the problem—she needed to face the place where she’d lost her hope. And she needed to face Billy Cagle. That task seemed impossible. As much as she secretly admitted she longed to see him, she didn’t trust him not to force his claim.
She felt him seconds before she saw him. As she scanned the crowd for her parents, her eyes clashed with his. He held her gaze before slowly nodding and disappearing into the throng. A sudden rush of awareness made her lightheaded. She spun to push her way back to the parking area. It was her first glimpse of him in months, and she had to get out. In her haste, she bumped into a tall, broad back.
“Whoa! Hey, are you okay? Chloe?”
She looked up into Jackson’s concerned face, and smiled weakly.
“Fine. I’m...fine.”
He frowned, obviously not believing her. He took her elbow.
“Come say hello to Summer and meet her cousins. They’re having a regular reunion over here.” Anxious to avoid Billy, she almost refused. But one look at his determined jaw made her relent.
She’d been ignoring the disapproving stares of the Appalachian pack members for days. It wouldn’t do to piss off their Alpha.
He threaded his way through the growing throng of people and came out on the edge of the crowd. Releasing her elbow, he grinned and walked toward a laughing group of women sitting on three stacks of crates. Chloe stared at them. It was as if they were holding court. Three regal looking females surrounded by werewolves. What would it be like to have that kind of self-confidence?
With a jolt, she recognized Darius and Trey among the wolves. The normally grim-faced pair were smiling and laughing with the rest of them. As she walked forward, she saw recognition, pity, and disapproval flash in their eyes—although they recovered quickly. Her spine stiffened. She wasn’t looking for acceptance, and she sure as hell didn’t want anyone’s pity. She
Chloe stepped into the clearing and took a deep breath, trying to slow the hammering of her heart. She gulped past a lump of fear. It wouldn’t do to let her emotions get away from her in this crowd. The Council meeting had lasted most of the day, and now with dusk beginning to fall the celebration would begin. At least a hundred people were milling about, and more were arriving by the second.
The Council of Chiefs had chosen the Panhandle pack to host this year’s meeting, and wouldn’t you know that’s where she’d run after she killed Wyatt? Two chiefs—Jackson and Darius—were being recognized as having survived the trial period, and the whole event had turned into an excuse for one big party.
She looked around, unable to hide her smile of appreciation. The host pack had gone out of its way for this reception. Trees strung with bright white lights surrounded the huge clearing and torches lit the clear areas. Long tables were piled high with food. There was even an open bar. By the time she arrived, the place was packed. She’d considered leaving town while the Council was in session, but she hadn’t seen her parents in months. And in the end, what good would it do? She’d given her word—and that meant Billy would come after her.
She felt eyes on her as she moved through the crowd, and pushed away a surge of panic. There was no danger lurking here. Wyatt was long gone. And she didn’t—wouldn’t—belong to anyone else.
Still, she couldn’t help the knot in her stomach, the pounding that began behind her eyes. There were too many werewolves, pressing too close. They looked at her with curious, speculative gazes, and her skin crawled.
Tears pricked her eyes and she squeezed them shut, willing the moisture away. Her counselor, a werewolf’s mate, had assured her that some day she would feel whole, complete, and strong again. She wasn’t so sure. Six long months had passed and she felt the same as she had the day she’d walked out of Jackson’s house and never looked back. Joanne thought that was part of the problem—she needed to face the place where she’d lost her hope. And she needed to face Billy Cagle. That task seemed impossible. As much as she secretly admitted she longed to see him, she didn’t trust him not to force his claim.
She felt him seconds before she saw him. As she scanned the crowd for her parents, her eyes clashed with his. He held her gaze before slowly nodding and disappearing into the throng. A sudden rush of awareness made her lightheaded. She spun to push her way back to the parking area. It was her first glimpse of him in months, and she had to get out. In her haste, she bumped into a tall, broad back.
“Whoa! Hey, are you okay? Chloe?”
She looked up into Jackson’s concerned face, and smiled weakly.
“Fine. I’m...fine.”
He frowned, obviously not believing her. He took her elbow.
“Come say hello to Summer and meet her cousins. They’re having a regular reunion over here.” Anxious to avoid Billy, she almost refused. But one look at his determined jaw made her relent.
She’d been ignoring the disapproving stares of the Appalachian pack members for days. It wouldn’t do to piss off their Alpha.
He threaded his way through the growing throng of people and came out on the edge of the crowd. Releasing her elbow, he grinned and walked toward a laughing group of women sitting on three stacks of crates. Chloe stared at them. It was as if they were holding court. Three regal looking females surrounded by werewolves. What would it be like to have that kind of self-confidence?
With a jolt, she recognized Darius and Trey among the wolves. The normally grim-faced pair were smiling and laughing with the rest of them. As she walked forward, she saw recognition, pity, and disapproval flash in their eyes—although they recovered quickly. Her spine stiffened. She wasn’t looking for acceptance, and she sure as hell didn’t want anyone’s pity. She
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