For some reason, I want to cry. It’s all fake, but I’m hurting him. Hurting them both. I need Jeffrey to leave so I can explain it to them. “Do you trust me?” I ask. I direct the question at Oliver, but glance at Parker, too.
Parker’s eyes are pleading, begging me not to do this. I can’t look away from his stare until Oliver whispers in a small voice, “Yes. I trust you.”
My heart hurts. Oliver has so much faith in me. He’s so loyal. Though he’s never told me he loves me out loud, he’s thought it before, and it’s plain as day on his face. What’s surprising is that I feel the same way. Oliver’s found his way past my walls and into my heart so much that I don’t think I could ever live without him.
I meet his gaze again and try to convey how much I love him and am grateful for him. “Then trust me, okay?” My voice is soft and pleading. I have to choose my words carefully, because I’m trying to convince Jeffrey, and, as a wolf, he can sniff out any lies I tell. “This is the right thing for me to do,” I say. “I’m sure of it.”
Truth. Helping Alpha Toth is absolutely the right thing to do.
Oliver studies me for a moment and then slowly nods, accepting my decision. “I just want you to be happy. If Rook is the man who does that, then I’m happy for you.”
My eyes start to burn. He’s going to make me cry. “Thanks, Ollie.”
Parker still hasn’t said anything. His jaw is clenched tight, and his hands are fisted at his side. My heart does another somersault in my chest. For all that I love Oliver, I care about Parker, too, and this is hurting him. When he meets my gaze, there is fear in his eyes. Fear of losing me. There’s also need. The man gave up his clan for me. “You don’t have to do this, Nora. Just because his wolf has claimed you doesn’t mean you have to accept him.”
Rook growls and earns himself a nasty glare from Parker. “Are you really so selfish?” Parker asks. “You know Nora isn’t ready for a commitment this big. Would you really push her into something she’s not ready for? Ask her to give up her humanity?”
“Parker.” I say his name so softly his eyes snap to me. He takes one look at me and deflates. I offer him a smile. “Thank you for looking out for me, but he’s not making me do anything. I promise.”
“You really want to become a wolf?” Jeffrey asks.
I have to stop myself from glaring at him. I don’t like the way he’s looking at me. He’s too eager. I don’t know how to answer his question without lying. Thankfully, Rook steps in. “My wolf has accepted her as she is now, so there is no need for Nora to jump into such an important decision without taking as much time as she needs to consider it.”
Jeffrey’s eyes bulge, and he looks at Alpha Toth. “And you’re okay with this? With Rook mating a human?”
Alpha Toth places a hand on Jeffrey’s shoulder and gives him a placating smile. “Rook is my dearest friend. He deserves his happiness. And I’m hoping that, given a little more time to think about it, Nora will choose to be turned and join our pack.”
I notice Alpha Toth didn’t directly answer Jeffrey’s question, either, but I am a little surprised that he said he hopes I join them. It can’t be a lie. I’m touched that he thinks so highly of me.
Jeffrey seems to be waiting for me to say something, so I return Alpha Toth’s smile and say, “Like you said. That’s an important decision. But I thank you for the offer, and am glad that you find me worthy of joining your pack.”
Jeffrey gapes at the three of us. His eyes dart back and forth in a frenzied sort of panic. They quickly still and narrow in a calculating way. He pulls his shoulders back and gives us a smarmy smile. “So when’s the big day, then?”
“Next weekend,” Alpha Toth says. When Jeffrey’s eyebrows climb up his forehead, he adds, “You saw how Rook was when Nora danced with Evan and Alpha Day, right?”
Jeffrey’s jaw clenches, as if he didn’t particularly like me dancing with them, either. Considering he wants me for himself, I’m not surprised. “I saw,” he admits through clenched teeth.
Alpha Toth shrugs. “This is a volatile situation. The sooner we get it taken care of, the better.”
“Agreed,” Rook says. “Next Friday would be perfect.”
“Why not?” I add, because Jeffrey is looking to me to say something. “I don’t know how mating ceremonies work, but I don’t need anything big and fancy, and I already have the perfect dress, don’t you think?”
I pull at the skirt of my dress, forcing Jeffrey’s attention to my outfit. His eyes rake over me, and his gaze fills with heat. Rook’s jaw clenches at the sight of Jeffrey’s leer, and he pulls me just a little closer to him.
“It is a lovely dress,” Jeffrey admits with a smug smile that seems unjustified. He sweeps his gaze over Rook and me, then nods to Alpha Toth. “Next weekend, then. I look forward to the ceremony.” He dips his head in a bow to me and flashes me another unnerving smile. “If you’ll excuse me, Ms. Jacobs, I believe it’s time for me to say goodnight. It’s been a lovely party. I appreciate the invite.”
“Of course. Thank you for coming.”
I force myself to shake his hand without cringing. His thoughts are on Axel. He’s running off to tell him about the mating ceremony and thinking of the wolves he’ll have to get ready in less than a week.
Once he’s out of earshot, I tug Rook to a more secluded corner of the room. I’m not surprised when Alpha Toth and all my guys follow us. They gather around me, waiting for me to speak like I’m the quarterback in the team huddle. I give Rook, Nick, and Alpha Toth a knowing look. “He’s running off to tell Alpha Day right now. You’ll want to watch him like a hawk this week. He was thinking about wolves he’ll have to get ready this week. He must have a few in your pack loyal to him that are in on the plan.”
Alpha Toth’s jaw clenches, but he nods calmly. “Thank you, Nora. Rook, please reach out to Evan. Discreetly. Let him know everything, and warn him he only has a week.”
Parker can’t hold back any longer. “What’s going on?” he demands. “What are you guys up to? Because there is no way Nora agreed to be mated to Rook so suddenly.”
Rook’s eyes narrow, and he balls a hand into a fist. I elbow him lightly. “Oh, calm down, Rook. He’s not insulting you. He just knows me.”
Oliver steps forward, eyes wide. “So you’re not being mated? I didn’t want to believe it, but you said to trust you.”
Rook huffs again, but I can’t help pulling Oliver into a tight hug. His thoughts are full of hope and relief. “Thank you for trusting me, Ollie.” My voice cracks from emotion, and I squeeze him as tightly as I can. “I promise I’ll explain later.”
As I sit on the couch in Rook’s house, waiting for Rook to get dressed, my eyes start to close. I’m exhausted all the way to my bones. It’s been a very long week, and though I’m apprehensive about the mating ceremony and impending fight, I’m just glad it’s almost over.
To say that Parker and Terrance were pissed when they learned of my involvement with Alpha Toth’s pack would be a gross understatement. Oliver, amazing man that he is, was proud of me and only worried for my safety. Once they all settled down and realized they couldn’t talk me out of the fake mating ceremony, they demanded they be in attendance in order to protect me. Normally, a mating ceremony is strictly a pack thing, but Alpha Toth agreed, happy for the extra help. He said their presence would be easy enough to explain because I wasn’t pack yet, and of course I’d want my closest friends to see me mated.
To keep up with the ruse, I spent most of the week on the pack compound with Rook. He personally introduced me to almost everyone. I vetted as many wolves as I could and helped Rook and Alpha Toth figure out who were Toth’s most loyal supporters and who I thought might be in league with Jeffrey. I’ve never used my abilities so much in all my life.
I pull my eyes open and rub my face when Rook clears his throat and says, “You about ready?”