Hunted (Pack of Dawn and Destiny, #1)(11)

I paused, my hand on one of the door handles. “Why not?”

“Pack meeting,” Noah said. In his early thirties, Noah was a townie—that’s what the wolves called the humans who lived in Timber Ridge. He’d been dating a werewolf named River since I had been adopted. He leaned back in his chair and lifted an eyebrow at me. “They said it was important and private. Even you wouldn’t be allowed to frolic around in there during a time like that.”

“Huh.” I twisted my lips, trying to figure out how to say, ‘I don’t care, I want popcorn,’ without offending him.

As a hunter, I was in a weird position. I didn’t quite fit in with the wolves—I wasn’t nearly strong enough, and I couldn’t keep up with their insane stamina. But I also didn’t fit in with the humans who weren’t considered Pack, but were treated as a sort of special, protected group of their own by the wolves, because I trained with the wolves a few times a week and was included on any business that had to do with supernaturals since I was one as well.

My lack of a place had been less obvious when Mama Dulce and Papa Santos were alive, but since their deaths I’d become more and more aware of the “between” spot that I inhabited.

“Well, I just want popcorn. And wine,” I said. “I’m sure it’s fine.”

“I doubt that,” Noah said. “I’ve been around just as long as you, and they said no to me.”

“It’s Pip.” Young Jack shot Noah a look of irritation. “They’ll be fine with her wandering in.”

“Why? She’s not a werewolf,” Noah said.

Amelia rolled her eyes. “Yeah, but she’s a supernatural. She’s different from us. Go on in, Pip. Grab me a snack while you’re in there?”

I winked and yanked the front door open. “You got it!”

I slipped into the lodge, glancing at the great room—by far the largest room of the lodge as it had been built to hold Pack meetings. Only wolves who lived in the area attended—there were about fifty or sixty wolves that made up the core of the Pack. There were also fringe members who lived on the borders of the Northern Lakes’ vast territory, and a few wolves that had been sent out—like Chase—to live as representatives in different cities.

I didn’t know the exact count, but I was pretty sure the Pack had a little over a hundred packmates total—though they rarely, if ever, all met in person. Usually meetings just involved the core members, like now.

I could see backs crowding the room entrance, so I turned in the opposite direction, intending to slink my way to the kitchen.

“Pip?”

I wonder if I can pretend not to hear? I can be in and out and not hear anything.

I tried to pick up my pace, but Ember called out to me. “It’s no use running, Pip. We can smell you.”

Almost to the huge granite island counter of the kitchen, I hurried with the hope of snacks. “I just want to grab a bag of microwavable popcorn and some wine,” I said. “I’ll be gone in a second.”

A few murmurs escaped the great room, and then a voice lined with power called out to me. “Pip, join the meeting.”

Greyson—like all Alphas—had a unique set of powers. He was intimidating and more physically advanced, obviously, but he also had a presence that made others pay attention to what he said, and he could even order wolves to do things that they would compulsively follow. Most Alphas had weak abilities at best, but Greyson could wield his like a weapon—if he wanted to.

I felt the thrum of Greyson’s power. But while I could feel it wash over me, and the compulsion to obey Greyson was a brush of silk at the back of my neck, I could easily shrug it off—unlike all other shifters and humans.

Another score for hunter powers!

“No thanks!” I made it to the cabinet above the microwave and got a whole box of popcorn—a full five satchels were inside! “Wouldn’t want to impose on you all. I’ll just—” I swung around and walked face first into Greyson’s rock-hard chest.

Greyson smiled at me—not the polite one he took pains to show the Pack, but one that was a little too concentrated in his eyes and showed a touch too much teeth.

Time to abandon the wine—when he looks like this it’s never good for me.

I shook my box at him. “Thanks, I’ll be leaving now.”

Amelia will just have to live without snacks—or I’ll give her a bag and she can make it at her parents’ cottage.

Greyson dropped an arm over my shoulder and spun me around with him. “There’s been a change in your plans, Lady Hunter,” he said. “You get to suffer with the rest of us.”

I tried to dig my heels in, but Greyson towed me along to the great room as if I weighed as much as a doll. “This is why I don’t like you,” I growled at him.

Greyson laughed—a low, throaty sound that was almost musical. “I’ve always known not everyone will recognize my genius.”

“I hope you get sprayed by a skunk at the next Pack run,” I grumbled.

Greyson’s grin grew, and he tapped his fingers on my shoulder.

As soon as we hit the entrance, however, he removed his arm and his playful smirk morphed into a serious expression worthy of an Alpha.

Meanwhile, I tried to find some place I could sit where I could sink into the background—and maybe duck out early.