The Millennium Wolves novel Chapter 1

Aiden

Parties. God, did I hate parties. Don‘t get me wrong. I knew how important they were. Gi ving the Pack a chance to meet their leader? To know and respect and fear their Alpha?

It was essential.

But, normally, we had to worry about only two events per year. The Yule Ball and the Su mmer Solstice. This dinner was my beta Josh‘s idea.

And, while I loved the blond spiky-haired bastard, the last thing I was in the mood for was extra party planning.

“So do we want the raised

platform or not?” Josh asked, pacing, looking over his clipboard. “On one hand, giving y ou a seat above the commoners will further cement your superiority. On the other, being level with them, will make your more relata—”

“Josh, please,” I growled, shaking my head. “Can we talk about anything other than seat ing arrangements?”

Josh stopped, put down the clipboard, and looked me squarely in the eye.

He was probably the only werewolf in the whole pack who had balls enough to make dir ect eye contact with his Alpha.

But that was because, when Josh gave me a look, it wasn‘t as a challenger.

It was as my best friend. I knew the difference.

“Normally, you want to go over every single detail.”

It was true. I sweat the details. I wasn‘t a micro–manager, but if you‘re the Alpha, you have to be decisive at all times. About everything

But right now?

“I‘m just not feeling it, Josh,” I said. “That all right?”

“Of course. It‘s just... I think tonight will be good for you. For the morale of the pack. And , who knows, maybe for some lucky lady…” He grinned mischievously.

“You‘re playing matchmaker on me, really? Or was that Jocelyn‘s idea?”

I noticed Josh‘s body stiffen at the mention of his current partner. She‘d been mine the previous Season, but there were no hard feelings. We were both adults.

And Eskimo brothers, I supposed.

Josh sat down across from me, and I knew from the crossed arms, I was in for one of hi s trademark “pep talks.” Great.

“Look, Aiden,” he said, waving his arms animatedly. “I know you‘ve been through a lot la tely, man. The East Coast Pack has faced a lot of challenges the past few months. Now you‘re in another Season with no mate. Hell, you haven‘t even picked a partner to shac k up with.”

I felt my lip curl. Josh must have noticed because he looked down and quickly changed the subject.

“The point is,” Josh continued,

“you haven‘t been yourself lately. I‘m saying this not just as your beta but as your friend, man. I‘m worried about you. If you don‘t find a mate soon…if your love life‘s off– balance, then—”

I looked aside. Josh was right to be worried.

When alphas didn‘t have a partner during the Haze—even just a reliable fuck– buddy their leadership suffered.

But eventually, all alphas had to find their

mate or else their powers would slowly weaken and they‘d be replaced by a stronger alpha.

But Josh didn‘t know everything.

I had a secret worth keeping this Season. A reason to wait.

“Your concern is noted, Josh,” I said, turning back to

him. “But don‘t butt your nose into my private life, understand? I‘m speaking now as you r Alpha.”

Now, I stared Josh down. There was palpable tension between us. For a second, his ga ze lingered. And not just as my friend.

Did he dare challenge my dominance?

But, finally, Josh looked down and nodded.

“Of course, my Alpha,” he said quietly.

“Good,” I said, already feeling better.

I stood up and stepped around the table to consider Josh‘s clipboard, taking a look at th e seating arrangements, an idea beginning to take form.

“If we‘re talking details, there is one small adjustment I‘d like to make.”

Sienna Okay guys.

Sienna Confession time

Michelle u got invited to the pack house, everybody knows

Sienna What??? How???

Michelle sorry, babe. u know i can‘t keep a secret

Sienna You are the worst, Michelle,

Sienna WHAAAATTT?!?

Michelle Michelle congrats girl! (totes saw it coming)

Sienna So happy for you, Mia!!! Erica yay mia!

Erica why am i the only one ever with no news

Mia but. si. u better send us updates tonite.

Michelle especially if it‘s about our sexy alpha...

Sienna

No promises

Sienna

I know I should have probably been distracted with the event at the pack house tonight, but all I could think about was Mia and Harry. I couldn‘t believe it.

Mia mated with Harry–fucking–Milton.

For years, the two had been best friends. One hundred percent platonic.

The fact that now, all of a sudden, the two were not only hooking up...but actually mated ?

It was almost unheard of.

I Usually mates knew the first time they

looked into each other‘s eyes. They recognized the connection on some deeper, animal level.

This was true of my parents, of Jeremy and Selene, of almost everyone I knew.