Much to both her human and wolf’s dismay.
Evan grumbled, easing her to her feet as he stood and faced Lance head on. It was no relaxed man but Takhini’s Alpha who moved forward and crowded the other man. “Amy, go say hi to someone else. I need to chat with Lance and the boys for a minute.”
Oh hell, no—
Chillin’. She was chillin’.
Amy stifled her anger. Now this was going to be a big deal, like she’d expected, but Evan was playing fix-it instead of them working together to set a firm foundation. But she refused to undermine his authority in front of his pack by calling him on it.
She pulled back as ordered. “Fine.”
She made sure the word flounce couldn’t be applied to her departure, but damn if she didn’t want to make a fuss.
Amy retreated to the sidewall so she could observe the entire room. It seemed watching was all she had done for the past year, but now a different perspective shaped her observations.
Not even five minutes later, Evan had an arm wrapped around one of the wolves’ neck, rubbing his knuckles briskly against his head. She glanced at the man’s face, but there was no discomfort, only satisfaction in receiving attention from his Alpha. Loud, physically aggressive and wild attention he seemed pleased with. Lance was in the middle of the melee, a broad grin on his face. In fact, the entire room was full of dynamic, eager-for-attention wolves.
Huh.
The situation had smoothed over rapidly. She’d been wrong, she guessed, and Evan had been right.
Then Amy considered what Laney would do if plopped into the room, and she shook her head. No, she might have been wrong about some things, but she wasn’t wrong about this. Her pack members would never feel comfortable in such a free-for-all setting.
And even here there was someone out of her comfort zone. Like a fish out of the fishbowl, the delicate bear-shifter Amanda Ainsworth sat in the middle of the room. Her knees were pressed together, back straight, hands resting in her lap as she stared forward and avoided making eye contact with anyone.
This was worth coming out of hibernation for. Amy made her way across the room, putting herself between Amanda and the noisiest of the gathering. “Mind if I join you?”
Amanda blinked in surprise then forced a smile. “Go right ahead.”
Amy made sure to leave space between them on the couch. She sat silently for a moment, glancing around to see what Amanda was taking in. Pretty much what had been apparent from the corner of the room.
Moving chaos. Energy and life bubbled around them, but for the quiet woman with the damaged soul, it had to be far too much shouting and questionable humour. “If you pick one spot straight ahead of you and focus on it, it will seem as if there are less people in the room,” Amy suggested softly.
Amanda turned toward Amy. She didn’t say anything for a moment. Her wolf power wasn’t useful in this situation, so instead Amy deliberately matched her breathing with the bear shifter. The tension drained from the other woman’s shoulders. Around them, the crowd continued to move in waves, but they were safe in their little oasis.
“Thank you,” Amanda mouthed.
“It’s not always possible to avoid gatherings like this, so it’s good to develop some coping strategies. I can teach you, if you’d like.” Amy shifted her gaze into the room, giving Amanda more space. “You seem to be doing very well, though. You are strong enough to accomplish anything you want.”
A small aching sigh escaped the other woman. “I’m pretending I’m strong, but each step takes so much energy.”
“It does, I agree.” Amy offered her hand. “It looks as if you’ll be around town for a while. Any time you want, you call me. Ask me anything. I’m pretty good to talk to.”
Amanda snuck her fingers into Amy’s and squeezed. “These wolves have been nothing but welcoming since I escaped my abusive husband, but they are rather…”
“Rambunctious?”
A small nod. “I enjoy the energy, but at times it’s overwhelming. And I want to move forward, but it feels as if I keep getting dragged backwards.”
Oh boy, Amy could understand. “Is there one thing you’d like more than anything else?”
The other woman stared into the room for a moment, her gaze landing on the large imposing bulk of Justin.
Ah. That was an unexpected twist. “You like him.”
Amanda shook her head in denial, before reluctantly turning it into a single nod. “It doesn’t matter if I like him or not, I’m not falling into the same trap twice.”
“Is he a trap?”
“He’s a dominant male bear. He’s demanding, and dangerous, and always looks as if he’s ready to whip out a weapon or his checkbook to make his point.” Amanda paused. “I don’t need someone with that much power. A powerful man had me in his grasp, and it nearly killed me. The next person I let in will be someone who wants me for myself.”
A rush of pain struck. Deep inside, Amy realized, that’s what they all wanted.
Fortunately for Amanda, her dilemma might be more easily solved than Amy’s convoluted situation. “I think Justin’s outside might not be showing you the real inner man,” she hinted.
“Perhaps.” Amanda brushed Amy’s arm lightly in thanks then slipped from the gathering down one of the quiet hallways.
Evan was working the room. Patting people on the back. Hugging some, joking with others. The volume continued to rise, and someone turned on music. The dining room table was picked up and moved to the side and dancing spontaneously broke out.
Amy sat quietly for another few minutes as she debated. This was her life. All her planning and preparation had been taken out of her hands, and this was what was left. Revenge had been torn away. There was no agreement between her and her mate how to proceed.
She still wanted him with a craving that neared obsession.
Ever since she’d removed herself from her final foster home, she’d been in charge of her own destiny. Maybe she couldn’t change some of what she’d been handed in the past twenty-four hours, but she would damn well take what she needed.
She was pissed off at how her life was proceeding? Fine.
Angry sex was better than no sex.
She tracked her mate to the corner of the living room, standing to one side until he noticed her. The delay gave her time to ogle his strong body with an increasing determination to enjoy what she’d denied herself. His muscular arms flexed against his short sleeves, biceps and shoulders a mass of curves she longed to grab hold of and explore. That firm jaw she wanted to bite, the layer of scruff she wanted him to rub against her sensitive bits.
The wolves he was speaking to fell away as he moved toward her.
“You forgot to say goodbye.” Amy accepted the hand he held out. “I was waiting until you were done.”
He pulled her against his body and swayed to the music. “Are you freaking kidding me? They understand. You came looking for me, and the expression on your face says something other than you want to kill me or kick me. No way am I letting this opportunity slip by.”
Amy allowed a laugh to escape. “I’m not confrontational all the time. Really.”
He pressed his cheek against hers, fire flaring between them. “I’m not complaining. I’ve decided I like you the way you are.”
Her frustrations unfurled a tiny bit.
Amy slipped her fingers into the hair at the back of his neck and stroked as she spoke. “You’re good with your pack,” she admitted, caving that much.
“Stop analyzing for a bloody moment and dance with me, woman. You have to take a holiday from your plotting at some point.”
All around them, people continued to talk and drink and eat. Some joined the dancing while laughter rose from the corner of the room where someone had started a board game. The entire house rocked with energy, but Amy’s world reduced to the man who was holding her. He pressed one hand possessively against her back, using his firm grasp to direct her where he wanted. And where he wanted her was locked tight to his torso, no distance between them. Only rising heat and need.