I heard him stand and follow me. Hearing him caused my stomach to dip. It meant stepping through the door could compromise my wellbeing. But staying inside wouldn’t get me answers.
Stepping out onto a packed dirt path, I looked around. The light spilling from the door behind me illuminated a small area. Trees crowded toward the building leaving a small gap of about twenty feet between the tree line and the roofline, causing early dusk. In that cleared space surrounding the back door, I saw about twenty men waiting quietly near the trees. I frowned, puzzled. I’d expected to see much more given the rushed Introductions. Something still felt off.
Closing my eyes, I breathed deep, concentrating. Tiny sparks flashed around me in the darkness. Sam, I saw, stood to my right. His spark glowed steadily not blinking at all. The group of twenty was different.
Some of the werewolves’ lights blinked like strobes. Some faster, some slower. Some so slow, I at first thought they might have left. As I studied them, it began to make sense. I wasn’t seeing werewolves running quickly all over the place, rather an arrhythmic indication of a werewolf’s location. I focused beyond the twenty. Lights too numerous to count stood out in the darkness. It would take hours to get through the Introductions.
I opened my eyes already knowing that the group of twenty had doubled. I studied their faces noting more bruising and blood. Some men dressed in jeans and shirts, while others wore clothes too filthy from fighting to identify. Seeing the filth and blood, I understood why they wanted to rush the Introductions. Too many werewolves had arrived for this and the mating challenges the Elders feared had begun.
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. Anger churned in my stomach at Sam for not telling me. I felt tricked and yet sad for the men waiting.
“Sam,” I said turning my gaze on him. There was nothing playful in my look. I wanted to tell him that I would never forgive him for this, but knew the werewolves listening would take my words as a rejection. It would take away what little hope they had facing these numbers. Instead, I let my look conveyed everything I felt.
Had all the prior Introductions been a farce, a game to keep me from running until they could arrange the real thing? How strongly were they determined to see me mated? Would they let me leave unmated? Had my thoughts of college been a dream? No. Not a dream. I wouldn’t give up.
He lowered his gaze breaking eye contact, something he never did first. Good. He knew.
Blinking slowly, I turned away studying the growing crowd. I’d lived among them enough to know not to show intimidation. They respected strength. With their hearing, I didn’t need to raise my voice. Even those still hidden within the trees would hear me.
“No more fighting.” Using all the authority I could muster, I said, “There’s no need to wait and fight for your place in tonight’s Introduction. I will meet you all. Start a line here and I’ll walk it. If I am not right for you, there is no need for you to remain after I’ve passed you. You may leave and know that I am honored with your presence here tonight.”
Chapter 4
Men stepped silently from the trees, moving to create a line as I’d asked. With so little space between the building and the tree line, the line extended around the corner of the building. Men kept emerging from the woods until roughly five hundred of them gathered. Even with the line extending around the corner, the men crowded several lines deep. Too many for a single line.
Starting at the right, toward the front of the wing housing the Introduction room, I moved to the first man, nodded stoically, and then turned to start walking slowly down the line. The Elders kept pace with me. I didn’t bother pausing to meet anyone’s eyes. Only my scent mattered to them.
As I asked, those without a strong interest, turned to walk back into the woods allowing those behind them to step forward into their place in line. I paced the line several times in silence so all would get their fair chance. As I paced and the number remaining decreased, my mood lightened. Sam made note of names as needed.
Soon only a handful of men remained. While my future loomed brighter, theirs dimmed. I truly felt for them, but I’d experienced no attraction to any of them… no pull that Sam and other Elders and werewolves had assured me I would feel when meeting the one. I nodded solemnly to those remaining and watched them melt back into the trees. A triumphant smile wanted to break free, but I contained it not wanting to offend anyone. Finally, my duty was complete. I breathed deeply of freedom, ready to go back to my room.