Chapter 4

By the time Nova returned to her bedroom, Amara had dressed in a sweatshirt and jeans and pulled her hair back into a sleek tail. She was in the process of tying her shoes when he walked in. Just as she expected, his face was grim.

“What was that about?” she asked. She tried her best to keep her emotions in check. Something was different. She could feel it. And she had an inkling she wasn’t going to like it.

Nova went to the chair, removed his sweatpants and grabbed his good clothes. “After the attack last night, Nemoy called an emergency Council meeting. We have to get back to the compound. Now.” Standing, he hitched his jeans up his hips and snapped the belt buckle into place, threading the excess leather through the loops. He glanced up at her. “Have you heard anything about Donny?”

Boy, had she. And none of it was good. Amara nodded gravely. “Mitchell texted me this morning. Donny’s in the Intensive Care Unit at Strathford Memorial. He’s in critical condition on life support.”

“Damn.” Nova’s already stony expression darkened. As if changing the subject, he gave her the once over. “Are you ready?”

To go back to the compound that felt more like a prison? Where the occupants were far from human and could turn into wolves on a whim at any given moment? Where her lover’s own mother was making it incredibly clear that Amara was far from wanted there? No, of course she wasn’t ready to go back there. With things like they were, she never wanted to go back there again. But what she said was, “Yeah. Just let me grab my bag.”

It wasn’t that she disliked the compound, per se, Amara thought as they barreled down the road leading out of Strathford. It was cute and tidy. For the most part, people were nice. Ivanah, Nemoy’s wife, had actually started to become her friend. It was Nova’s home; she couldn’t help but love it. Yet, she still couldn’t shake that feeling that she just didn’t belong. She didn’t. She was human. Humans weren’t allowed to be in on Shifter secrets. They weren’t allowed to fall in love with shifters. It was Pack Law. And there she was, a blatant reminder that she and Nova were breaking that law. It was no wonder there were members of the pack that resented her presence.

But did it really have to be Neveah who was making her life miserable?

Amara loved Nova. Truly, she did. She had never been so sure of one feeling in her entire life. He was everything she’d ever wanted. And the best part was, he loved her back. Of that, she had no doubt. His mother? Yeah. Not so much.

Amara fought to control her nerves as Nova drove his truck through the gate and down the road toward their community square. The meeting hall was right in the middle of the compound and reminded her more of a Native American longhouse than any building she would find in Strathford. Though the structure was made from large wooden logs, the wall panels were constructed with thick, tightly woven grasses and overlapped to form a barrier against the outside elements. Already, she could see smoke rising from the hole in the center of the building. They must have had a fire going. Amara couldn’t help but feel grateful. It was heading toward winter and they were once again calling for snow.

An icy chill bit into Amara’s cheeks as she disembarked from the truck. Breathing into her gloved hands, she tried to warm her face.

Nova came around the front of the vehicle and offered her a consoling smile. “Don’t be nervous.”

“I’m not nervous,” she replied automatically. Nova simply lifted an eyebrow in question. Amara huffed out an irritated breath. “Okay, so maybe I am a little nervous. Can you blame me? I’ve never been to one of these before. And it’s not like I’m going to be welcomed with open arms.”

He frowned. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, come on, Nova. I’m a human. An outsider. And people haven’t exactly been shy about not wanting me here.”

“People love having you here.”

“Some people,” she conceded. Then she shook her head. “Not all. They think it goes against Pack Law. And from what I’ve heard, they think you and Nemoy are weak for not disposing of me in the first place. So, there’s that.”

Confusion washed over his face, followed by a hardened determination to make it better. While she appreciated the sentiment, she really didn’t need her boyfriend running off to chastise half his family. Even if he was cute when he was in protective mode. “Who thinks that?”

Amara shook her head, defeated. “It doesn’t matter. Let’s just go in. They’re expecting us.”

“Amara.”

She fidgeted. She had no desire to admit to him that she was afraid of his mother, but he deserved the truth, and she wasn’t about to lie to him. “Fine. There’s a small group of people who have been trying to persuade the others that I should be kicked out at the very least. Over the past week, they seem to have gained a decent following.”

“How do you know this?”

She smirked. “Seriously? I pay attention. I’m a bartender, Nova. It’s my job to notice the details, overhear conversations, get what they need before they tell me they need it. I’m a professional fly on the wall. And I’m smart. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together once I knew what whispers were floating around behind closed doors. Ivanah,” she answered before he could ask. “She told me Neveah has been trying to convince Nemoy to get rid of me. She’s been pushing pretty hard the last few days, and anytime you and Nemoy are out on patrol, Neveah takes advantage of your absence and her protests get pretty vocal.”

Pausing, she watched him stumble through what she had just said. That not only was a portion of his pack calling for her head, but they were being led by his own mother. It was more than any son should have to handle in the morning before having his coffee. But whatever he was feeling on the matter, in true Nova fashion, he squashed it, burying it deep beneath the responsibility and bravado he often used as a shield.

“Don’t worry,” he told her. “I’ll take care of it.” Nova took her hand. Before she could say anything more, he led her toward the longhouse. Lifting the heavy flap made of animal hide, he held it open to let her pass beneath his arm.