Chapter 507

Nathan

The sun hung high in the sky, but it barely penetrated the thick layer of clouds overhead. As I walked up to the meeting building, I shivered once more in my coat; and to think that I had always thought that I could handle the cold.

This northern cold was something different, though. It froze you right to the bone. Even my eyelashes felt as if they would freeze off.

Dan was already waiting for me inside. Our second day of meetings was about to begin, and although my head was aching from a long night of drinking far more than I should have, I was feeling more of a pep in my step than usual.

After all, my visit with the prostitute the night before had been incredibly…

Enlightening.

As I pushed open the large oak doors and stepped into the building, I was met with the same bustling activity as yesterday morning. Swarms of Alphas and their assistants milled around, chatting and preparing for the second day of meetings.

“Hello,” a soft voice said. “Can I take your coat, sir?”

I turned to see the same secretary from yesterday standing behind me, holding out her hand expectantly. Smiling slightly, I shrugged off my coat and handed it to her.

“Thank you, Alpha…” She blinked at me, clearly trying to recall my name.

“Nathan,” I clarified for her. “Alpha Nathan.”

“Ah. Alpha Nathan.” Another voice caught my attention, a male voice this time, and I turned to see a tall, thin, and regal-looking man standing next to me.

His pure white hair, which was maybe shoulder length, was swept back into a neat and tidy bun at the back of his head. He wore an all black suit, even a black tie, which only made his white hair and pale skin stand out even more.

I recognized him immediately: this was Alpha Montgomery, the Alpha of the Northwind Pack. He had caught my eye yesterday with his intelligent words during the meeting, and when Dan had informed me that he was the Alpha of the northernmost pack, I had become even more intrigued.

I straightened immediately, hoping that my hangover wasn’t too obvious. “You’re Alpha Montgomery,” I blurted out, extending my hand for a handshake. “Alpha of the Northwind pack.”

Montgomery glanced down at my hand, paused for a moment, then shook it almost hesitantly, although his grip was extremely firm. “Indeed I am,” he said. “You’re Alpha Dan’s assistant, correct?”

“For the summit, yes,” I said with a stiff smile. “We’re on the southeastern Alpha association together. I’m the Alpha of the Evergreen pack.”

Alpha Montgomery blinked for a moment, as though processing, and then his eyes widened slightly like he suddenly realized something.

“You’re Colin’s son,” he almost breathed, as though the revelation came as a surprise.

Hearing my father’s name made me stiffen on instinct. I swallowed, straightening my shoulders, and nodded tersely although part of me wanted to scream. I hated being associated with that brute who nearly destroyed our pack.

“I am,” I somehow managed to say around the lump that had suddenly formed in my throat.

The discerning Alpha almost seemed to eye me up and down for a moment, his eyes sweeping over me.

It was only now that I noticed their color; a pale shade of green, speckled with flecks of white like a leaf that had been touched by the frost. In fact, his entire appearance, aside from his entirely black suit, seemed rather frostlike.

“So… You knew my father,” I managed.

He nodded, firmly meeting my gaze once more now that the surprise had passed. “We knew each other once, but that was a very long time ago,” he said coolly. “We went to university together. Although, I must admit I have heard about his recent… developments.”

I swallowed, knowing exactly what he was getting at. A taboo topic, maybe, but I had no qualms about stating the truth of the matter. “My father is in prison, yes,” I confirmed.

Alpha Montgomery’s eyes seemed to flash, but not in a bad way; more so with amusement, or maybe even reverence, than anything.

“And I hear that you’re the one who put him there,” he said, lowering his voice and leaning in ever so slightly.

In that moment, I felt my blood almost seem to run cold. I nodded slowly, affirming Montgomery’s suspicions. “He was a traitor and an authoritarian,” I said firmly despite the roiling sense of unease in my stomach. “But he won’t plague our pack—or any others—ever again.”

Alpha Montgomery opened his mouth to say something else, but suddenly, the sound of a voice caught our attention and caused us to turn. “Alphas, please begin taking your seats,” the coordinator announced. “The meeting with commence in five minutes.”

Montgomery and I both straightened up in unison as the room around us began to organize into neat lines, Alphas and assistants making their way to their seats.

“Well then, Alpha Nathan of the Evergreen pack,” he said, adjusting his suit jacket and extending his hand. “It was a pleasure meeting you. In fact, he’s my card; I’d be interested to continue this discussion.”

I looked down to see that he was not looking for a handshake, but was rather holding out a small white business card. When I took it, I saw his name and phone number on it. Charles Montgomery.

“Thank you, Alpha Montgomery,” I said. “I’d be interested in continuing this discussion as well.”

With that, the two of us returned to the table where the other Alphas had taken their seats. I found Dan already in his seat, poring over a folder in front of him. When I sat, however, he looked up with a hint of amusement in his eyes.

“There you are,” he said. “What took you so long?”

I opened my mouth to respond, to tell him that I was talking to Alpha Montgomery, but then thought better of it.

“My apologies,” I said simply.

Dan looked at me for a moment as though reading me before his face split into a grin. He leaned closer, lowering his voice so that only I could hear.

“Well?” he asked. “How was last night?”

At the mention of last night, I felt myself blanch. I had done a pretty good job at blocking it out so far this morning, but now the memories flooded back in.

I still remembered the beautiful woman’s eyes, large and blue. Her eyelashes had been long and dark, and had swept across my cheek when she had leaned in to kiss me. Her skin was soft and warm as I traced my fingers along her waist.

And her long, dark hair had spilled out on the pillow around her like a black halo as I pressed her down into the bed.

“Nathan?” Dan’s voice brought me back to the present, and I blinked as I met his gaze. “How was it?” he repeated. “I made sure to hook you up with the best of the best last night, you know.”

For a moment, I just stared incredulously at Dan. But then, from across the table, a pair of pale green eyes caught mine. I held them for the briefest of moments, and during that moment, I felt my guilt ebb away into something else.

My upper lip pulled back to reveal a wry smile as I looked back at Dan.

“It was perfect,” I whispered.