Man Gone Rogue

Chapter 17

Jade gently swung her and Arlis's conjoined hands as they wandered back toward the packhouse, initial embarrassment due to Colton being momentarily forgotten. Sure the hand-swinging was a more childish action, but she enjoyed the small reminder of how he was hers from the physically connected action.

"Is dinner with the whole pack?" She decided to try distracting herself so she could try to stop smiling like a giddy idiot.

"Well, usually. But I believe this one is just going to be the officers and their mates. It's meant to be for talking strategy as well as bonding." Jade nodded her head in response as they came up on the back door of the pack house. It made her feel better that she would be meeting just the officers, instead of the entire pack all at once. She couldn't even feel her bond yet; she just wasn't ready.

Jade followed Arlis through the pack house to a dining room she had not been inside before. She had long ago learned that the size of the pack house from the outside was deceiving.

The dining room itself was massive, it seemed like it could've been the size of the entire first floor of Jade's house. She supposed it made sense, as she hadn't asked for the exact number of members in the pack, but she knew it must be massive. She knew from what she had been told that Shiningsun and Moonshine hadn't been large packs, but merging together probably made a difference.

She tried to hide behind her fiery hair as she saw the smug grin across Colton's lips once she and Arlis entered the room. After a quick whispering into Andrew's ear, the smile was equally displayed across his face as well. Arlis chuckled softly when he noticed, gently squeezing Jade's hand.

"Just stay by my side, and you'll be okay. Dinner is somewhat formal, I'm sure they won't say anything too crazy about us."

Jade really didn't think it was that big a deal that Colton had caught them kissing, but the shifter seemed to be having a field day with it. She took a breath and nodded in response to Arlis's words, allowing him to guide her toward the long, sturdy, dark table in the center of the room. It was lined with similarly-colored wooden chairs, all of which were adorned with rosy cushions.

Arlis offered a toothy smile as he pulled out a chair for Jade, who blushed in response before taking a seat. Jade's not-so-subtly flushed cheeks caused quiet snickers to echo from Colton and Drew. She only rolled her eyes at them, sticking her tongue out for a moment. Arlis snorted as he witnessed the exchange.

"Come on, don't stoop to their level. I'm already going to have to deal with their childishness as my officers when I become the Alpha. I can't handle this behavior from my Luna, too." Jade pouted at him, before shrugging innocently, and Arlis only shook his head with a chuckle.

Most of Jade's attention was captured by the brilliance of the room she was sitting in. The ceiling was high up over her head, and the walls were covered in magnificent windows and different art pieces.

The chandeliers cast the room in a golden glow and were no less awe-inspiring than the rest of the hall. Dazzling crystal was splayed out in a raindrop pattern that distributed light with ease.

Jade's focus suddenly shifted to the sets of double doors at the right end of the room as the officers streamed in, led by the Alpha himself. He offered a half smile when he saw her.

"Jade. Arlis. Good to see that you are both still alright." Arlis nodded in answer, gently rubbing the back of Jade's hand with his thumb, as if he sensed her anxiety. In retrospect, he probably could.

The officers all took their seats, and Jade noticed how there was an empty seat left next to both Colton and Drew. She figured it was some pack custom since they were still looking for their mates. Or at least, if that was what it meant, it confirmed her suspicions that they were both still mateless.