Bound

Chapter 2

The room reserved for pack meetings sat at the front of the house. Flooded with a sudden appearance of afternoon sunshine, Nyah crossed to where the antique mahogany table made by her great-grandfather waited. Pack members ambled in with her, chatting in small groups.

The wall to her rear held a row of portraits displaying former alphas of the Blackwater Ridge pack. Her father's portrait had been hung on the same day his headstone had been erected; exactly twenty-one days after his death, and as with the headstone, she didn't want to dawdle on the image of her father. It was hard enough to see traces of him every time she glimpsed her own olive skin, warm brown eyes and black hair in a mirror. The pungent aroma of oil paint lingered and she wondered if his spirit hovered, too. She could almost picture him drifting above her, arms folded while one finger tapped on his upper lip; his pontificating pose, as she had liked to tease.

Alan's arrival broke through her musings. He pulled out the chair beside her, casting a dark look in Simon's direction when he strolled into the room. "I meant what I said about you remaining on the council once I'm alpha. You know we all want you to stay, despite what tradition dictates."

"I think for now it's best I step away."

"There'll always be a place for you here, don't ever forget."

"I won't, thanks."

"Are you still planning on taking the college course?"

At the mention of the only subject which had the ability to lift her spirits, a smile broke free. "Yes, definitely. Registration takes place at the end of next month. I hope I'll qualify for a place."

"Sure you will, and before we know it you'll be a wealthy business tycoon," he grinned.

"I want to open a single bookshop," she reminded him, "not a nationwide chain."

"Ah, you claim that now, but when money starts rolling in, you'll be talking about expansion and profits and market-share."

"What's this about market-share?" Michael, Alan's soon-to-be beta, dropped into the chair beside Alan. "Who's expanding what?"

"Nyah's college course starts next month."

A rare smile creased the corners of Michael's blue eyes. "Ah, yes, the college course. You've been talking about it for long enough. It's about time you took the leap."

"I've been too busy minding you boys," she teased. "If you could stay out of trouble for more than five minutes, Michael Vincent, I'd have been a shop owner long ago."

Michael feigned insult before sudden worry returned his more familiar sombre expression. "Does that mean you're not staying on the council?"

When she nodded in reply he looked to Alan for an explanation.

"Nyah's stepping down," Alan told him. "I've told her she's more than welcome to stay, but I think she's just had enough of us."

"That's not true," she hurried to correct, knowing that although Alan joked, she'd hate for anyone to ever think such a thing. "I enjoyed being on the council, and I will miss it, but it's time for a change—for me and you."

"But you're the last—you're a Morgan," he argued, catching himself just a fraction too late. "There's been a Morgan on the council since—."

"Now it's time for the Stensons," she cut in gently. "You know what Dad always said about the wheel turning."

Michael didn't look convinced. He folded his thick arms on the table and leaned towards her. A sharp jerk of head indicated the figure hovering at the back of the room. "Did that asshole say something to you?"