The Alpha's Unclaimed Mate (Jason and Laila) by Caroline Above Story novel Chapter 322

Nearer the food, people were more talkative. I nudged Jason, and we moved that way. A few pack members wearing sashes similar to Richard’s but not as elaborate, were standing there, loudly convening. One was particularly boisterous. Holding a mimosa in his hand, he waved it around, as he loudly laughed as his own jokes. The others seemed annoyed, but I saw our opening.

Nudging closer, I caught the tail end of a joke he made, and laughed along with him. He glanced at me, and hope sparked in his

eyes.

“Ah, the newcomers have arrived,” he said. “Welcome! Welcome!”

At once I thought of the Ambassador. These two would get along, no doubt. But as we had entered the ballroom, Jason and I went one direction while the Ambassador had gone in the other. I wasn’t convinced we could depend on him in a place like this. He was kind, but seemed to have his own ambition at his core. I wouldn’t blame him for it.

“We are interested in the pack,” I said. “Since we are only going to be here for such a time.”

“I’m sure you are,” the man said. “All outsiders must be curious about us. Why wouldn’t they be? Ever since the civil war, we’ve been so closed off. Many of us wish we could open the borders again. It certainly hurts with the trade. What I wouldn’t give to have an orange! But I can’t complain. The Alpha, he keeps us safe, and that’s what matters.”

“The Alpha must be a good man,” I said, purposefully leading the conversation that way, hoping he would reveal a secret or two about the Alpha, or at least about the people’s perception of him.

“He is a hero,” the man replied. “He saved us. When the civil war broke out, our entire pack was in chaos. If the Alpha didn’t rally us all together, we would have destroyed each other. Truly, we would have been lost. We owe so much to him and what he did for us. I can go without oranges.”

I nodded.

Another of the group, a man with sterner features, spoke up,

“The Delta didn’t help. Thank the goddess she’s not here tonight.”

“She wouldn’t show her face at an event like this,” said another.

“Who is the Delta?” I asked.

“A mad woman,” said the stern–featured man, who then immediately snapped his mouth closed like he was ashamed of himself for speaking too much, especially to a stranger. He glared at me like it was my fault. Still holding my arm, Jason tugged me a little closer to him, offering me the protection of his closeness.

I swayed into him, grateful for his presence.

“Forget her,” said another, and changed the subject. “The mimosas might be a little too delicious tonight.”

“Forget I said anything,” said the stern–faced man.

The conversation switched to a discussion on the weather, and then on the event itself.

Whatever they had been talking about was lost, and they revealed no further information about the event.

Suddenly, I had the strange feeling that someone was watching me. I glanced behind myself, but when I looked around, I didn’t

see anyone actually looking. And Jason seemed unalarmed. Surely if I was in danger, Jason would sense it.

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