He’d always had difficulty sharing things—his past, his feelings, his goals. He’d only shared pieces of himself with Gwen so that she’d share pieces of herself in turn, but that meant he’d inadvertently opened up to her. He’d unknowingly let her in. And she’d also done the same with him. She’d trusted him with the truth of her and her half sister. As someone with trust issues, he knew how difficult it was to rely on another person not to betray you. To him, that trust she’d shown in him to keep her secret safe was a gift. One he had no intention of abusing.
He hoped his pack didn’t put him in a position where he had to defend her to them. Maybe the reason he’d always worried about Nick discovering he was involved with Gwen was because he’d known even then that he couldn’t obey any order to abandon her while she needed his protection.
Zander had always been unwaveringly loyal to his pack. But if Nick put him in a position where he had to choose between them or Gwen, Zander couldn’t be sure that he’d choose his pack . . . so it seemed that Derren was right and that Zander was in much deeper with Gwen than he’d thought. What worried Zander was that Derren could also be right in predicting that the scenario could bite him on the ass.
CHAPTER ELEVEN
As she slid out of the SUV, Gwen glanced around Mercury Pack territory. There were several vehicles, including a Winnebago, of all things, in the parking lot. Tall, majestic trees were everywhere, creaking with the breeze—all territorially marked by claws. But it was the impressive building in front of her that held her attention.
As Zander rounded the hood of the SUV, his wolf stretched within him, happy to be back on his territory, and inhaled the comforting wild scents of nature and home. “This is Nick and Shaya’s lodge. They’re my Alphas.”
Gwen gave him an incredulous look. “This isn’t a lodge.” It was huge. Okay, it had that rustic feel going on, but only the second and third levels had timber frames. The first level was made with large stone, and those glass dove windows were not typical of a lodge at all.
“Well, we call it the main lodge.”
“I wouldn’t have expected the fairy lights.” They hung on the trees around what was more of a mansion. They would look awesome in the evening. Right now, they weren’t needed while the glaring sun beat down on them. The hot breeze gave no reprieve from the heat.
“Yeah, most people don’t,” said Bracken as they walked onto the wooden porch.
Gwen probably should have been nervous. She was a human on shifter territory, after all. But she was actually kind of excited. Coming here was a little like stepping into the shoes of a shifter for just a few hours. There were so many times as a kid that she’d found herself wishing she was part of her neighboring wolf pack, and now maybe she’d have a little idea of what that would have been like.
The front door opened before they reached it. A redhead with elfin features stood there, smiling. “Boys, I have to say I kind of missed you.”
“Just kind of?” asked Bracken.
“Shaya, this is Gwen,” said Zander. “Gwen, this is my Alpha female.”
Shaya gave her a welcoming smile designed to put her at ease. “I heard all about you from Makenna and Ally—it was all good stuff. Come in.”
“Thanks.” As they walked into a large rustic and very contemporary kitchen that led into a roomy dining area, Gwen glanced at Zander over her shoulder. “Yeah, Zander, this is so not a lodge.”
Shaya laughed. “Pretty spacious, isn’t it?” She gestured for Gwen to follow her into the dining room, which Gwen quickly realized was attached to an expansive living area. She loved how the three rooms were one huge, open space.
Several people rose from the luxurious sofas and plush armchairs. One male was already standing, leaning against the wall near the stone fireplace. One muted the TV—the entertainment system was state-of-the-art shit, Gwen noted—and Zander came to her side while Bracken stood close behind her. They didn’t move from her as they exchanged greetings with their pack mates.
Zander knew his body language was protective as he shifted slightly in front of Gwen, taking up her space, but it was automatic—some unwelcoming faces stared back at her, and that rankled in a big way. His wolf didn’t like it either. Both man and wolf wanted her in easy reach, despite knowing the pack wasn’t a physical threat to her.
Nick took in his body language and arched a brow, but he didn’t seem surprised by it. And when his gaze flicked to Gwen’s neck, Zander knew that Derren had told the Alpha about the mark. Chatty bastard. Not that Zander cared if they knew. Still, he resisted—barely—the urge to possessively cup Gwen’s neck and make a point to the others that she was taken. He didn’t want her to feel awkward in front of his pack mates.
Shaya began the introductions. “Everyone, this is Gwen. Gwen, this here is my mate, Nick. Ignore the scowl. It’s nothing personal. He’s just not much of a smiler.”
Gwen just nodded at the blond, indomitable-looking male near the fireplace, refusing to be intimidated by the alpha energy emanating from him. She turned back to Shaya. “I’ve been around Zander for a few days, so I’m sort of used to the intense stares at this point.”
Shaya’s smile widened. “Good, that helps. Near the window are Eli and Roni, Nick’s siblings.”
Gwen met Eli’s analytical gaze, thinking he was just as daunting as his brother even though he wasn’t quite as tall. “I see you’ve got the scowling thing going on too.”
Roni snickered, flicking long ash-blonde locks over her shoulder. “He’s not upset with you. I put salt in his coffee.”
Gwen’s mouth curved. “I did that to my brother once. It’s every sibling’s right.”
Roni smiled. “I totally agree.”
Shaya pointed to a small brunette standing at the rear of the room, arms folded in a way that was almost petulant. “That’s Nick’s mom, Kathy. As you can see, she’s good at the scowling too. Lastly, we have Jesse and Harley over there by the door. They’re a mated pair.”
Gwen could already sense they were mated by how intimately close they stood. She studied the golden-eyed female closely. “You don’t seem like a wolf.”
One dark, perfectly plucked brow arched. “I don’t?”
“Walking around the shelter—which I think is pretty awesome—I noticed different kinds of shifters seem to have different . . . airs about them. You have a feline air.”
Harley’s mouth curled and she bowed her head slightly, making her dark hair fall forward enough that Gwen noticed the burgundy highlights. “Very good,” said Harley.
“Perceptive,” agreed Jesse.
“She reads Zander so well it’s not even funny,” said Bracken, a smile in his voice.
Zander shot him a hard look, but the enforcer just smirked.
“Did Andie settle at the shelter okay?” asked Shaya.
Gwen nodded. “Yeah. She said she’d give it a try but that if she changed her mind she’d give me a call.”
“Give you a call?” echoed Zander.
“So I can go pick her up and bring her back to Oregon,” Gwen explained. “I don’t think that’ll happen, though. She seemed comfortable there.”
“I was thinking the same thing.” Bracken yawned. “Any chance of a coffee before I go pack more of my shit, Kathy?”
The woman humphed as she crossed the room. Her eyes danced from Gwen to Zander. “I suppose you both want one too?” she said snottily.