The Millennium Wolves novel Chapter 2

Sienna

Three days had passed since the run, and the period afterwards was like coming down f rom a high, which meant my emotions were all over the place.

At times I‘d experience a flash of euphoria, remembering the thrill of the chase, while other times I‘d hit an emotio nal low, thinking I‘d never feel that way again.

Aiden felt it too. He‘d grown more distant over the past few days, burying himself in wor

k. Selene conveniently left out that the best experience of my life would be followed by a crippling sense of unease.

I needed to do something to pull us both out of the funk, so I decided to bake Aiden his f avorite dessert, apple pie.

Jocelyn told me the Alpha had a massive sweet tooth, and I‘d yet to use that weapon in my arsenal against him. This time, though, I‘d use food for good.

I found myself humming and moving my hips as I sauntered around the kitchen, spilling flour everywhere. I wasn‘t expecting a chorus

flour everywhere. I wasn‘t expecting a chorus of woodland creatures to pop through the window and start wrapping me in silk or anything, but this feeling? It felt fucking great.

The oven timer dinged, signaling the apple pie was ready. It smelled like heaven. If I co uld‘ve chosen a permanent scent for myself, it‘d be this one.

I excitedly texted Aiden to see when he‘d be home. I didn‘t know how long I could wait t o see the look on his face.

Sienna

Hey, are you on your way home?

Sienna I have a surprise Sienna

Aiden Still stuck at work

Aiden We got our own surprise today

Aiden A last minute VIP guest for the Yule Ball

Aiden Gonna be working late

Sienna Again?

Sienna That‘s the third time this week

Aiden I know

Aiden It‘s not ideal

Aiden That‘s just the way it is right now

Aiden The Yule Ball is in two weeks

Aiden

Aiden It‘s mayhem here

Sienna Will you at least be back before I‘m asleep?

Aiden Don‘t know

Aiden I wouldn‘t wait up

Sienna Oh okay

Sienna Talk to you later, I guess

All the enthusiasm I had worked up instar drained from my body. I was suddenly mad.

Mad at myself, for putting so much effort into baking, like some submissive housewife.

Did

I have nothing better to do than bake for a man? To wait for his validation?

But I was just as mad at how upset his texts made me. That his absence was affecting me so much.

I used to pray for this kind of distance between us. Hell, at times I‘d wished we were on opposite sides of the Earth. But now I couldn‘t handle him being gone for a day.

And I didn‘t like it.

As the heat from the apple pie faded, so did its scent. Aiden‘s unmistakable odor— a mix of woodsy and manly– filled the room again. It was apparently strong enough to do that, even when he wasn‘t h ome.

The scent of him alone was enough to send a visceral pang of missing him through me. Ever since the run, when we‘d gotten close as wolves, my inner

wolf had this constant urge to be near his. It was like he radiated something that connected us, and I wanted to be tethered to that connection at all times.

Tears flooded my eyes. I placed my hand my mark as my body shook.

I knew I was being dramatic. I felt like a foolish teenage girl. But I didn‘t care. I just wanted him here with me, holding me, kissing me, telling me everything would work out between us.

But instead I was here alone.

Aiden

I dropped my phone back onto the table. “Dammit,” I muttered under my breath.

I hated doing this to Sienna. I‘d barely even seen her in the past three days because it felt like I was living at the Pack House. Everything was in full disarray si nce the surprise announcement that the Alpha of the Millennium would be attending our Yule Ball.

And when everything was in disarray, yours truly was working overtime.

On the one hand it was an honor to have a guest of that caliber attend our humble celeb ration. The Alpha of the Millennium was the emperor of, well, fucking everything. He wa s the beacon of power that everyone revered, and gracing us with his presence was an honor we might not get again.

But on the other hand, it was suspicious. Why would the

Alpha of the Millennium decide to come to our Yule Ball, and on such short notice no les s? Was he just interested in the annual celebration, in visiting our Pack, or was there so mething more to his motive?

I couldn‘t tell. But I was planning to keep my senses heightened until the Ball ended to make sure I was prepared for anything.

I had already ordered security to be increased tenfold, both at

the Ball and the days leading up to it. Being the most powerful man in the world— and that was what the Alpha of the Millennium was— meant you built up an impressive roster of enemies. And with the recent perimeter brea ch, it was clear that there were flaws in our system.

I was certainly not going to be taking any chances.

When I ordered the increased security, some Pack members looked at me like I was paranoid. But I was will ing to fight for the U defensive team I knew we needed. Even if everything went accordi ng to plan, I‘d rather be safe than sorry.

I had full confidence in my Pack, in their ability to follow orders and achieve results, but lately I‘d been wondering if they had the same confidenc e in me.

I saw the way their eyes connected with each other when I gave orders, and I heard the whispers that would float around m e on occasion.

Paranoid.

Not as strong

Lonely

It wasn‘t that they were disobeying me or disrespecting me. That would‘ve been unacceptable. They would‘ve been punished and replaced immediately. I was Alpha, and I was in charge.

It was more like... they were worried about me. They wanted the best for their Alpha, an d they didn‘t know how to help me get it.

It always came back to finding

a mate. Tha u much was clear. The looks, the whispers, none of it would happen if I‘d g et mated already

But then again, maybe they were right to worry about me. I couldn‘t let my mind drift fro m Sienna for a goddamn minute. I should be focused on the Pack, on the Yule Ball and the Alpha of the Millennium‘s appearance, but instead I was worried about a few texts?

My inner wolf growled. Enough. I was Alpha.

The Alpha did not second–guess himself.

I turned to look across the boardroom table, where Josh was reading through some doc uments. We had agreed to go through legal and get the signatures done, but Jeremy wa s running late.

“Josh, forget the paperwork. Call a Pack meeting. We have some things to discuss.” Jos h looked at me then nodded.

He walked to the room‘s phone and pressed a button then barked into it: “Council to the boardroom. Council to the boardroom. Alpha‘s orders.” Alpha‘s orders. That was goddamn right.