Alphas burden

She loses some of her curtness and launches into an overview of this year’s gathering. The packs first come together for a welcome feast celebrating our continued harmony before any updates are made to the accords.

As she talks about the formal meeting following the feast, my focus derails. I swear I catch a hint of honeysuckle in bloom and drowsy summer showers spent on the porch through the cracks in the window.

Avery.

My wolf is more interested in following her heavenly scent than sitting through the meeting. Instead of fighting his influence over my instincts again, I hesitate. Her scent acts like a drug that leaves me in a disorienting haze that fills my mind with her, her, her.

Everything I shut down floods back in. My imagination is out of control, supplying me with a vivid recreation of the first moments the bond unfurled.

The way she felt pressed against me last night, with her hand splayed on my chest sparks heat in my veins. She fits in my arms so perfectly. Her bright eyes captivatingly locked on me, so soft and lovely. Those full lips parting in awe, inviting me to claim something I used to dream of with her, even after things changed between us.

I struggle to shut down the line of thought, failing to remember why I shouldn’t want to kiss her to learn what sounds she makes. Or find out the answer to the burning question I’ve always wondered—if she tastes as delicious as she smells.

“Alpha Blackburn?”

I stiffen, tuning back in. The liaison peers at me expectantly. I missed the question.

Damn it, this meeting has been on my schedule for weeks. It’s important, and I’m sitting here thinking of Avery in every way I shouldn’t be. My fist clenches.

Fate changes nothing. I’ll never go there with her.

“You’ve selected the members of your pack you’ll be attending the Pack Summit with?” she repeats.

“Yes. We’re still appointing volunteers to help Timber Wolf Pack put on the event.” As part of the accords, the summit’s host bears the brunt of the work with help from each pack to bring us all together. “This list has the Silver Falls Pack members joining me as part of my entourage.”

She takes the paper and scans it, copying names down. “And just to confirm for the headcount of your group, you are unmated? I don’t see one included here.”

“That’s correct. I don’t have a ma⁠—”

The end of my sentence becomes garbled, my wolf jerking control from me with a howl that rattles the windows. He’s pissed at me and the female for discounting his mate. My nails become claws and my arm swings across the desk without my permission, knocking a stack of paperwork to the floor.

The wolf is done with this. He wants to leave, to spend the day at his mate’s side. I won’t let him take my skin, gritting my teeth until I have him locked away where all my thoughts of Avery should remain—buried in my mind.

I clear my throat, gripping the armrests so hard that my shifted claws dig into the lacquered wood while my expression settles into a blank mask. Rather than apologize or make excuses for my wolf, I plow on with the meeting.

“I’ll send a final headcount for the group ahead of the gathering.”

“Very well.” She quirks her brow. “Please do so with at least three weeks notice so arrangements can be finalized.”

I’ll be hearing about this outburst from Alistair when she returns to his territory. Great.

“Of course.”

She shuffles her notes and stands. “Thank you for your cooperation and accommodation, Alpha Blackburn. We look forward to hosting this year’s event and seeing your pack there.”

I nod, shaking her hand. “Thanks.”

Once she’s out of my office, I lean my elbows on the desk and rest my head between my hands. An insistent tug yanks an invisible cord rooted in my chest. Fucking mate bond.