“I can walk, Clay,” I insisted.
He shook his head and carried me to the door. Shifting me to one arm, he opened the door while I clung tightly to his neck. I rather liked the feeling. With an arm wrapped around him, I leaned my head against his shoulder and ran my fingers through his hair.
The few people in the hallways stopped and stared as we passed. At the intersection of halls, which led to the Introduction room, I stopped Clay. “No, go outside and around back. I won’t go in that room ever again.” As childish as it might be, I wanted something on my own terms.
He grunted acknowledgment, but instead of turning to go out the nearby back door, he backtracked to the main entrance. Before walking out the door, he set me on my feet, snagged a spare jacket from one of the hooks and carefully buttoned me in. I studied his face as he concentrated on each snap. Always thinking of me. When he finished, he scooped me back into his arms. I didn’t protest.
Bundled warmly in a thick coat, I didn’t cringe when he carried me out in the cold. I couldn’t hear the werewolves when we approached, but saw their sparks briefly before a sharp pain in my head not so gently reminded me not to look. Some of the werewolves who’d left thinking me too ill must have made their way back. There were closer to seventy-five out there. Despite my anger about another forced Introduction, I truly felt sorry for them.
Before we rounded the corner of the building, I said, “Put me down Clay. I’ll walk now.”
He hesitated. It’d be safer for both of us if I stayed in his arms. He wouldn’t fight, and I wouldn’t fall. But I didn’t want to give the unmated werewolves waiting any reason to believe this wasn’t a fair Introduction, even though it really wasn’t. I still felt the pull for Clay.
“It’ll be okay Clay. There are a lot of fast people here. I won’t fall on my face.” I spoke normally so everyone could hear. I really didn’t want to fall on my face.
As soon as he set me on my feet, I walked around the corner with my shoulders back and head held high, determined to look strong. The slippers probably ruined the image, but I pretended otherwise.
The Elders stood by the back door. Only three of them this time.
“I’m Gabby. There will be no Introduction Order. I won’t have anyone left out, or leaving without a fair chance. So, instead of the stuffy cabin, let’s just do this out here.” The warmth of the jacket when not supplemented by Clay wasn’t adequate and I started to shiver slightly. “I believe the Elders mentioned I was ill, so if I start to stammer, bear with me.”
The men began to line up. So many looking for a mate… and this was just a fraction of what was really out there. Some were too far away to answer such a short notice call. I wondered how many of their kind I still hadn’t met.
I nodded to several, meeting their eyes as I walked slowly down the not yet fully formed long line. As I’d anticipated, the shivers grew more noticeable. The cold had more to do with the tremors than my fatigue, and I fought ducking further into my jacket. They needed to smell me. I kept walking, listening to Clay keep pace with me just a few steps behind. Several of those I passed glanced at Clay, but no one actually commented on his presence.
Walking helped warm me a little. While the shivering didn’t go away, it at least didn’t increase.
A few exceptionally young Were’s stood mixed in the line. I smiled kindly at each of them. For the most part, I paced in front of them as if I performed a quiet military inspection. They scented me as discretely as possible, so hopeful for some type of connection. Many walked away after I passed.
About halfway down the line, I noticed a man step back and retreat into the woods. No unmated male walked away from an Introduction before being introduced. Suspicious, I used my other sight, knowing it would cause me pain. I pushed myself looking as far as I was able and gasped. A jolt of pain pierced my temple forcing me to close my other sight. My hand flew to my head cradling it.
Clay moved so quickly, my hair moved in his breeze. He stood close enough that I felt his heat at my back. I forced myself to straighten. The werewolf I faced looked confused. His eyes moved to the Elders standing several steps behind us.
“Gabby,” Sam began, but I held up a hand asking for a moment.
Although it’d been a brief glimpse, I’d seen a blue-grey spark moving away from our group. In the distance, three other blue-grey sparks waited.