LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 345: (Not) part of a pack
«Compromises are the key to a better life,» Samantha said.
She had thought hard about how to reply to Renato's naughty statements... She couldn't allow him the last word on that! Their bed habits were based on compromise, after all. She wasn't submissive at all!
She had to remember proving it one of the following days...
«Yes, of course,» was his reply. His eyes were shining, his chest swollen with pride. As if he had just conquered the whole world and not just won a conversation with his mate. He sure was happy with little.
«Do you think it's okay?» Samantha asked, turned to the hall where some of the wolves were already in line, waiting for their turn to collect some food.
Renato didn't need to ask anything to understand what she meant.
«It is,» he replied.
«But I am not one of you... Isn't it too much if I eat your food? I'm already sleeping here without paying for the rent!»
«Samantha, it is okay. The pack isn't what it used to be. Now, we aren't part of it either.»
«Yet, you act like a pack. Don't you see?»
«I see,» he said.
«I didn't know a pack without an Alpha could work this well. Oh, wait... Maybe you still have your Alpha. Is Luciano Polenta as charismatic as to keep his pack united while on the run?»
«No, he's not.»
«Then, it's a mystery. You people love and respect each other... Maybe?»
«Yes, sure,» Renato said, rolling his eyes.
It had taken him longer than the others, but he was starting to feel the connection again. Samantha was right: the pack was working. But the reason for that couldn't be anything else but the appearance of a new Alpha. One stronger and more charismatic than Luciano Polenta had ever been.
Still, he couldn't reveal everything to his mate yet. He wasn't sure she would have accepted to guide them. They were enemies, and Samantha seemed to like the option of roaming in the world alone or in a small group more. Mayford, even after being abandoned by the strongest members, was a large pack.
«I feel like you're hiding something,» she said, catching his change of expression.
«Maybe I am. And you? Are you sure you're not hiding anything from me?»
He bowed forward, getting closer to her. He saw how her eyes glanced at his lips before returning up. And she blushed. Blushed.
Had she fought? Was that the reason why she was so settled on keeping it secret? He didn't hear anything about that afternoon, so it meant it was nothing severe.
Yet, the way she avoided talking about it was odd.
«What have you done?» he asked.
«Nothing much,» she said, pouting. «I just saw some people screaming and arguing, so I told them to be quieter.»
«And they listened?»
«Apparently, they did. Do you hear anyone noisy around?»
«But... Are they around?»
«Maybe not.»
«You exiled them,» he realised. «That's why you're hiding it! You don't even know what you've done, but you feel shy about it!»
«What?» she murmured, bowing her head. Exile was such a brute word. She had no authority to exile people, either way.
«You're dangerous, Mine.»
«Thanks,» she moaned, still uneasy. She didn't know what to tell him... She did say harsh words, but she wasn't expecting everyone to accept just like that. Or maybe she was, but it surprised her more than it surprised the others.
«What happened?» Renato chuckled. «Come on, just tell me!»
«Nothing... Someone was asking for trouble, and I told them to leave and never come back... More or less.»
«What kind of trouble?» Read exclusive content at m_v-l'e|m,p y r
«I don't know!»
«You're lying, Mine.»
«I mean, I know, but it's not relevant. The important thing is that they're not around to hurt our nerves anymore...»
«Tell me,» he whispered, getting closer to her. His lips brushed against her ear when he talked, and his breath made her sigh.
«They wanted to talk with you, but you were still weak... It was... The person who hurt Amanda and his father. And another man.»
«I see,» he murmured, retreating with a pleased smile.
So, she was defending him. Or his sister, but whatever... She was there because of him, and she went out of her way, exiling some people because of someone related to him. And, also, a little because they wanted to hurt him.
«You're lovely,» he said, biting his tongue before telling too much.
He wanted to tell her all about his feelings, but it would have sounded off. At the wrong moment, fuelled by the wrong circumstances. And, also, out of the blue.
«I am not,» she pointed out. «I just did something evil without realising... Again.»
«You can mark me again; I have nothing against it.»
«Oh, you...» she complained. «Stop being like this!»
«Like what?»
«You talk as if you wanted me to mark you!»
«Oh, I do.»
She bit her lower lip, startled. Did he want it?
«But I don't know how.»
«I know,» he said. «It's common knowledge... We can do it later.»
«You always think about...»
«Oh, Mine. Don't even start about it, you little devil.»
Finally, it was their turn to be served food. The cooks were three women, each working on a different stage.
Samantha smiled, hoping no one would ask her too much. She even stepped behind Renato, acting like his guest. She was hungry, and she needed food. But she wasn't sure how to ask it without being utterly shameless. That was not her pack!
«Here!» the woman exclaimed, passing her a plate filled with the best meat. A little of every option. She smiled when Samantha accepted the plate, and only then she turned to Renato and remembered he was also there.
Even though he was in front of Samantha in the line, the cook had ignored him.
«The usual,» he sighed.
Not that he disagreed. He would have ignored himself, as well, if he had Samantha in front of him.