She put on her seatbelt as Lucien started the vehicle. He pulled out of their garage and headed in the direction of the resort where they would stay. The day had dawned gray, but that couldn't dampen Emma's spirits. This council was the most exciting thing she'd done in a while. Getting out of the house made her happy and Lucien would have to be on his best behavior in front of the other Alphas. She doubted he'd hit on anyone else's wife and that would spare her some embarrassment.Not wanting to spoil the moment, Emma remained quiet. She was just going to take it all in and enjoy herself. There would be activities for the Lunas while the Alphas met. Lucien cleared his throat. "Emma.""Yes.""I want to make clear what I expect of you during this trip."As much as she knew he'd change his mind at one point, she nodded. "Okay.""You are there only because everyone else is bringing their wives.I would look odd if I didn't bring you along. That doesn't mean I want you visible."Emma's m
Emma felt the electricity of the event as soon as they climbed out of the truck. Lucien parked the truck in front of the resort and was inside checking them in. Emma took in the sunshine and the people milling about. Old friends greeted each other, introducing them to new friends. Lunas hugged Lunas. The party atmosphere had already started. How much of this would Lucien let her indulge in? She didn't know, so she stood outside the truck absorbing it all. The warmth of old friends permeated her and she had a smile on her face when Lucien exited the hotel lobby. He didn't seem to notice because he didn't comment on it."Hey, Lucien."A graying Alpha approached him, who smiled a rare smile at the man. "Rogan. How the hell are you?"They clasped hands than did the one-armed bro-hug that men liked to do. Emma's smile broadened. Even Lucien had old friends here. She refused to be sad that she didn't. She'd chosen this way of life and many of her former friends had left her behind. One wo
Emma's heart clenched. They were sharing a cottage, a large house, really, with Dex. She paused. Could she do this? "Come on. Let's unpack," Lucien said, oblivious to the turmoil she was experiencing.She'd never told him about Dex and she was glad she hadn't. There were no late-night soul-baring talks in their early marriage. Lucien didn't seem to care about Emma's past. She didn't know who he dated before marrying her either. She'd never thought about how odd that was until now. She climbed out and followed Lucien to the back of the truck, keeping her gaze off of Dex's vehicle. The scent of him called to her. Or maybe it mocked her. The universe reminding her what might have been if she'd been a stronger person. Lucien handed her a suitcase. She took it then followed him into the house. "This has a kitchen," Lucien said. "We don't need to eat breakfast with everyone else.""Are there supplies?" she asked."That's your job."She would check it later. "Why don't you want to eat wi
Emma stared at Lucien as he left. Was he serious? "Wait.""What?""I need a credit card.""Charge it to the room, but don't be lavish."He closed the door behind him and Emma gaped at it. He was leaving her, not letting her participate in the night's activities. Again. Her empty stomach emboldened her. She yanked open the door. "Lucien."He stopped in the hallway. "What?""You're seriously going to leave me here to fend for myself?" she asked He waved a hand. "You'll figure it out Emma. Pick up the phone in the room and call room service. It isn't rocket science."He strode away from me. Before I closed the door, I caught a glimpse of Dex. He wore a gray pin-striped suit that set off his blue eyes. His blond hair was slicked back, neater than when she'd seen him in the kitchen. The sight of him looking so handsome took away her breath. He'd paused in his doorway, which was just down the hall. She cast her gaze downward, her cheeks warming. She wished Dex hadn't seen that, hadn't see
Emma woke to an empty bed. Lucien whistled in the bathroom as he shaved. She braced herself, but he didn't seem angry when she entered the bathroom to shower. He wiped his face with a towel. "Morning.""Morning," she said. Since he wasn't angry, she felt a little bold. "How was the banquet?"Pretty good," he said.He pulled on a shirt. Nothing fancy, so maybe he wasn't going to a meeting today. "What's on your agenda?""What's not would be a smaller list," Lucien said and left Emma in the bathroom. She followed him out. There was something she wanted to do today. "There's a meeting of Lunas today.""So?""I'd like to go."She stood in the doorway to the bedroom, wringing her hands. She stopped not wanting him to see how important this was to her. "Why?""Because I'd like to be a good Luna."He frowned. "We've been married for five years. Why the sudden interest in being a good Luna?""Because it's time, Lucien.""Time?""Yes. I've been shirking my duties."She didn't point out that h
Today was the day. Emma had worn Lucien down and he let her out of the room. Out of the cottage more importantly. Today there were no activities, but she could go where she wanted without him.Lucien left for the day because the Alphas still had some work to do. "Stay out of trouble," he said before he left. "Don't make me regret this.""I won't, Lucien. You can trust me."He studied her, then went out the door. This was her first taste of freedom. Her first taste of being an actual Luna. She rubbed her hands together. This could be fun.Lucien had told her he might meet her for lunch. Most likely it was to check up on her, but she wasn't going to complain even if it was a temporary thawing of their relationship. She would take what she would get and do well with it.She left the empty cottage and looked around. The sun shone and she turned her face to its warmth. The last time she'd been out was when dusk had been falling when they first arrived. Didn't matter, she hadn't had time to
Emma smiled at Brutus. "Hey. It's nice to see you."He didn't return the smile. "Why are you here?""At the conference? I'm with Lucien. Alpha of the Fang City Pack."How come he didn't know that? He rolled his eyes. She laughed. "That's not what you meant. Dex and I bumped into each other. We were just catching up. We were talking about that burger place we used to go to.""A trip down memory lane? Isn't that often fraught with pitfalls?"She hadn't remembered Brutus being so maudlin. They'd had some good times together. Brutus wasn't a one-woman wolf so there had been a revolving door of women in his life. Emma never got attached to any of them. Their time was usually short-lived. "Pitfalls?""Yes. Like Dex remembering how you tore out his heart," Brutus said. She stepped back from the venom in his voice. "Dex isn't angry with me. Why are you?""Because, Emma, I'm the one who had to pick up the pieces. I was the one who had to make sure he ate and slept and took care of himself.""
After lunch with Lucien, Emma met up with Kendra again. "Some of the other women heard about your homeschooling advice and want to ask you questions," Kendra said when they met at a picnic grove in the woods"Okay. I'd be happy to answer them," Emma said.She hadn't told Lucien about her morning. She didn't want to lose the positive buzz she had from contributing something to this council. Lucien would find a way to downplay her accomplishments. Or he'd be embarrassed that she was the center of attention. Either way, she didn't talk about it and was vague about what she'd done that morning. He'd returned to some breakout session for Alphas. Her afternoon was free. A few women straggled in and sat across from Emma at the picnic bench. She smiled at everyone and Kendra introduced them all. "I'm not a Luna, but I'm here representing Wolf Woods."Emma's ears perked up at the name of Dex's pack. "Welcome.""Our Alpha doesn't have a Luna yet, but I'm the Beta's mate so we figured I'd get