CH 10

Nora It was the last night of the Alphas quarterly meeting, and she was back at the nightclub. She'd been dancing up there on the stage, playing her part as she was allocated like all the other dances. The show for her was now over, there were still two sets to go, but she wasn't a part of them. She’d showered and changed, pulled on a simple but elegant V-neck sleeveless maroon jumpsuit, that looked like a vest and slacks with a tied-up sash-styled belt. Esme was waiting for her, “He’s here,” she announced, drawing Nora’s attention and making her frown for a moment, not really understanding what her Beta was getting at right away. "Huh!" “The Alpha to the Dark Wilderness Pack is in The Alpha’s Bar, looking to speak with the Alpha of the Black Rose Pack,” she stated as she leaned causally against the desk. “Oh.” Was all Nora said after hearing Esme was there to tell her, “Is he!” Nora stated simply, as she finished brushing her hair. This would be the first time she’d come across him in person. She pulled her hair up into a ponytail. “Hmm, I dare say he’s looking to ask you, about you," Esme nodded. "As is my understanding, some of the Alpha’s here over the past two nights have been talking about the Black Rose pack, and it’s out that we’re into architecture and civil and structural engineering. Which we know from Garrett, that Jace is aware you studied now.” She shrugged it off, uncaring. “He can look all he likes, Esme; I’m not interested in going back to him. Everyone knows that, including Alpha Garrett. That’s why he states he doesn’t know a Nora Hammond.” Esme chuckled softly. “Yes, a little trickery on his part, because technically you’re Nora Rosa now.” “Correct,” Nora smiled, “I do also believe Jace still claims I’m a warrior-blooded she-wolf, and, well, anyone that now knows me, but doesn’t know I was his ex. Can actually claim they don’t know her with full certainty.” She did like that. “I’m aware, I just thought you’d want a heads-up is all. With the pack's company about to go public, in the wolfen world as well as the human, five years ahead of schedule, he’ll be able to access it online in both worlds. See pictures of yourself, as well as your name.” “I know, and I am unconcerned, we’ve got good, strong allies, and I don’t go by Hammond, haven't in a very long time, and we all know Jace is looking for one Nora Hammond.” She answered. “I’m Alpha Nora Rosa.” “Well, he’s in the Alpha Bar with many others, Tessa relayed that his entire unit is with him, and he’s aiming to get an audience with you. He has already asked Tessa.” “What did Tessa say to him?” Nora asked, as she applied her lipstick. “That it would be up to you when you arrive, and that wouldn’t be until after the show was over. He'd have to wait and, from all appearances, that’s what he’s doing.” Esme sighed and shook her head. “What will you do if he recognizes you? And his Gamma could pick up on your feelings on the matter of coming face to face with Jace for the very first time since that rejection.” Nora snorted, “I’m not concerned about Matt; he is not a good Gamma.” She turned and looked at Esme, her hair and make-up now done. “He didn’t even know his own Alpha was harming me the entire time I was there. I also don’t think he’ll be out to feel out an unknown Alpha that is under the protection of the Wolfen Council… that could see them come under fire if I take offense.” Esme nodded after a moment’s thought herself and headed for the door and Nora fell into step with her, “Which, Esme, I will take offense to. Tessa will actively feel it as well. Being a Gamma herself, she’ll pick up the subtle change in him, and confront him. She is a hundred times a better Gamma than Matt.” That was something that had been discussed long ago; her coming across her ex for the first time, and she did know Tessa was a better Gamma. She’d watched that girl just tilt her head, turn to look out a door or across a room and then get up on occasion and leave the room. Only to have her come back and do the paperwork for helping a wolf within the pack that needed the use of her Gamma’s charm. She was in tune with everyone inside the pack all the time. Tessa had told her it was easy to do; all she had to do was meet them when they first came to the pack, register who they were with her Gamma’s Charm. Then a connection was established for her at all times, it kind of ran in the background non-stop for her. She equated it to Nora, upon further discussion of it being like a computer virus detection program; that one never saw but was always there and switched on. That was how Tessa believed all Gammas should work within a pack as well, so nothing got past them. She didn’t understand those Gammas that didn’t feel others' pain, and had a need for the pack Gamma. It was built into them to sense it on some level regardless of where they were, and it drove them to hunt relentlessly to find the one in pain. Tessa had once said, “A true-born Gamma should have this. It doesn’t matter if it’s the Luna or not, rank is not a concern to a Gamma. Yes, we’re designated to protect the Luna by the Alpha but… all pack members are our concern, and nothing should get past us.” Nothing got past Tessa. Nora collected the black lace mask that Esme was holding out to her and put it on, smiled at her Beta and said, “The Alpha to the Black Rose Pack isn’t at liberty to meet with anyone she doesn’t want to. Come on, let’s get a drink, have a chat with a few of the Alphas out there that we do know. It’s a pity Garrett isn’t going to be there… Have we heard word yet?” “Yes, a little girl, Wyatt said they called her Joy.” Esme smiled. “He texted me while you were on stage. It was a long labour, slow to develop and took over 24 hours, but both Harmony and Joy are doing just fine. Garrett will call the day after tomorrow in regard to that new project starting with you.” “Good, did you happen to flick Elyssa a message about that?” she asked as they walked. “No, I thought you’d call her, or drop into her pack on the way to the office tomorrow,” Esme stated simply. It was on the way, and they both had a head office local to each other. Their two packs were in good standing, not only affiliated with business, but now in family seeing as Nita’s Mate, Rob, came from Elyssa’s pack. “Alright, I’ll drop by her office before we see how ours is coming along.” She nodded as they pushed into the Alpha Bar. She walked over and sat herself down in a booth and slid to the back of it, and one of her waitstaff brought drinks to the table, and she thanked them and took a sip, as her eyes moved about the place. And there he was sitting at the bar on a stool, him and his entire unit, and his eyes were on her. He’d noticed her coming into the place; because he’d been looking for it, she supposed. ‘You’re pushing it tonight, you know.’ Esme murmured down the mink-link, ‘Being in the same place as him.’ ‘I don’t think so, and it’s bound to happen sooner or later. We’ll all be at that Annual Alpha Meeting in the kingdom in just a few months, no mask there. The company going public will also see me be highlighted, so this is like a prelude to that event I guess.’ She shrugged. This here tonight would tell her if he or his wolf would have any kind of inkling as to who they were or had once been. A test of the waters before it was revealed in a month’s time. She looked at Paloma, already sitting at this table. “How’s the night going?” she asked. “Good, nice and quiet in here, there’s good attendance at the Ladies and Gentlemen's club, the nightclub, as you’re aware isn’t open tonight being that its Monday night.” She did know that. The Ladies and Gentlemen’s club was also only open because of all the Alpha’s and their units here for that quarterly meeting. If not for that, it would be closed as well. She and Elyssa didn’t want a nightclub inside their home packs, and this had become the solution for both their packs wolves that weren’t mated. One club where the two packs could always socialize and hang out. They were both still new and building up their allies and pack members as well. There was no need for them to waste funds on building a nightclub inside their pack, they didn’t hold mating balls or house hundreds of extra wolves that would be looking for something to do the night prior to the full moon. Paloma slid a folder across the table and tapped it. “You’ll get a kick out of this,” she stated with a full smirk. Nora opened the file and flipped through the photos of a male dancer, “Oh yes, I see that happening,” she shook her head. “Does young Matthew think I won’t tell his mother?” She chuckled softly. “Cheekiest Alpha pup I’ve ever met.” But he was also a good kid, loved his mother and would protect her from everyone, he’d been raised right she thought. “Mm, I thought you’d find it funny, I certainly did… Look at those shots, he’s just showing off all his pure-blooded muscles.” Paloma laughed. “Oiled himself up for that one.” she pointed one out and shook her head. “Do you think he’s doing it as a joke or for real?” “Hmm, gotta be a joke. I believe he’s at Alpha College. So just annoying his mother. Though if he wants to when he gets home,” she shrugged it off. “That is up to him, I'm damned certain it will bring the she-wolves in,” she snorted, fully amused. Nora pulled her phone out, snapped a couple of shots of the portfolio and then sent them to Alpha Elyssa. “Your son is up to something naughty.” She sent. It was quite late, but she knew Elyssa personally and knew she would open a message from her even at this hour, look at those more than half-naked pictures of her own son and heir to her pack, showing off his body. Wearing very little in one of them and striking poses for the camera, Elyssa would likely shake her own head. It took all of three minutes for a message to come back, ‘He’s at Alpha College right now, just trying to annoy me, I see. Can’t do it in person at the moment, is 18 and naughty. What can I do, he’s Gretta’s charge🤭😆.’ ‘She can be fun at times.’ Nora sent back. ‘Hmm, send him a picture of a neon clown's outfit with a big bright red nose.🤡 Tell him you’ll have it waiting for him, he can be the club’s mascot when he comes home from Alpha College. That should do the trick🤣🤣🤣.’ Elyssa sent back. ‘Lol, will do.’ Nora replied. ‘Source an outfit and send it as a gift to him at the college itself. See what he does with it.’ Elyssa texted. Nora showed it to her unit, they all chuckled softly. She had Paloma source just that and snap a screenshot to send to him tomorrow morning. “I’m certain he will love it.” She chuckled softly, as she sent the picture to Elyssa. “We got one! 🤡🤣🤣🤣.” “Love it.” Came the simple response from Elyssa and the four of them laughed. “Now to the actual business for the night,” Esme stated and stood up to go and speak to the Alphas that wanted to talk to her.