His

Love Is Subjective

"There is a pack dinner next Saturday. There will be other alphas with their lunas and betas so I expect you to be on your best behavior. Are we understood?"

I frowned, "why will there be other alphas there? It's just another pack dinner."

Lochlan evaded my gaze. He was acting all twitchy like he did wherever he was nervous about something. I set my book down.

"Lochlan."

He grunted and plopped gracelessly onto the couch in the bedroom. He watched me warily.

"It is tradition to introduce the new luna to the neighbouring packs' leadership and any other alphas I'm close with. I've put it off long enough."

I was aware of this custom - I was an alpha's daughter after all - and Lochlan was right. I had been here for almost two months. I licked my lips and got up from the bed, Lochlan following suit.

"Okay. What kind of event are we talking? Business casual? Business formal? I'll need to go with Sadie to the mall to get something for the both of us."

Lochlan appeared pleasantly surprised that I wasn't being difficult and cracked his knuckles, heading for the door.

"My family has always done things a little more grandiose so this will be a black tie deal." He smirked, "so the mall won't cut it this time."

He saw the look on my face and waved it off, saying, "Sadie knows the deal. She'll show you what's appropriate. I've gotta head out."

The door closed and I dropped back onto the bed. The longer I sat there in the quiet, the more my mind wondered. I was being introduced to the other alphas and I hadn't met Lochlan's pack yet. It kind of made being introduced to them as his luna feel like a fraudulent statement. What kind of luna hadn't met their own pack? I pulled up my legs and hugged them to my chest. Leaning to my side, I curled up on the bed. I wished I had my friends back home to talk to. Since coming here, I had tried not to think about them. I had hoped that in forgetting them, it wouldn't hurt so much. I swallowed and pictured what they might have been doing right now. Caleb and Asher would be doing patrols, Caleb constantly worrying about his pregnant mate, Quinn. Taylor would be in class learning about wolf anatomy, on her way to becoming a doctor for the pack. And Layla would be teaching younger wolves to track and hunt. It was a perfect day for her to challenge her class; the ground was wet from the past night's rain and the scents would be mingled and hard to differentiate.

A tear leaked out as I smiled. I wondered if they had thought about me since I'd been gone.

I took a stuttering breath and sat up, pulling myself together. I swiped from under my eyes and headed downstairs. When I went onto the living room, I spotted Pete. It had been awhile since I'd seen him and so I didn't know whether or not to wave to him. Luckily, he made the decision.

"Hi, Evangeline. What are you up to?"

All the other wolves froze when they realized I was in the room. I cleared my throat.

"Hey, Pete. I was looking for Sadie. Do you know where she is?"

I thought I saw the slightest tighten in his jaw at the mention of her but Pete stood up from the chair he'd been in and came into the hall with me.

"Yeah, I think she's in the library. I'll show you."

"Thank you," I said and followed him to the elevators.

We got in and travelled the first floor up in silence. I coughed quietly and Pete looked down at me curiously.

"Um, where does Lochlan go all day?"