Instantly, Tyrone's stance changed to reflect his Alpha's order. Jeb's hands were still clenched into fists, but he held them at his sides. Alpha Walker was old for an Alpha, and I saw the calculating look flit behind Jeb's gaze, but he didn't push the issue and returned to his group of representatives instead.
I sat back down next to Kansas, content to endure a few more moments for appearance's sake and then carry Kansas out of here. But, when my gaze collided with Alpha Walker, he took a step in our direction, and I could see my night stretching a lot longer.
Chapter Fourteen
Kansas
I understood now. I'd been told the story of how horrible these people were, but it wasn't until I'd sat with them for an extended period of time that I saw just how much hostility ran between them. Adding that to my queasy stomach, the overwhelming smell of smoke that I was too polite to mention, and the fact that my fingers were swelling to the size of pool noodles, and I was just as ready to leave as the rest of them were.
But, as Alpha Walker approached and the Walkers sitting at my table sat straight on the edge of their seats, I settled in, preparing for a longer night.
He didn't approach alone; a line of men and women followed behind. Some of them I recognized. Aver's parents and Branson's mother—elders, as the pack called them. The others I assumed were higher-up shifters in the pack. "Welcome," Alpha Walker said, spreading his arms out in a gesture that matched his message. He must have been talking to me, since I was the only new face in front of him, but he looked at each of us before dropping his arms.
The elders all smiled in that simpering sort of way that instantly put me on high alert. They were happy because they thought they'd won today. The Walker cousins were finally returning to them after ten years.
"I'm pleased to see you here," Alpha Walker said to me.
I looked to Wyatt, but for once, I couldn't tell from his face how I should be reacting. "Thank you for… thank you."
"You gave us quite a punch last time. I'm curious…"
Oh butter basket. That didn't sound good. I didn't know if the best course was to confess and apologize or stay silent and not say anything incriminating.
"I'd like to see you do that again. Though not on me, of course. The medal may give you limited amnesty, but it does not save you from a direct attack on your Alpha."
I looked to Wyatt again. This time, his green eyes found mine, and he shook his head nearly imperceptibly. I didn't think he was just worried about me eating from another man but that revealing what I could do, and how it worked, would put me in more danger later.
Except we'd just stood in a line and pledged to do our best to immerse ourselves, and I was pretty sure ignoring a direct command wasn't an option at this point. "I can't," I said, and it was as if the air was sucked out of our immediate surroundings.
"You're no longer able?" Alpha Walker asked.
"I am, but—"
"My ma—Kansas is very tired, Alpha Walker," Wyatt said, moving to stand between us.
I was still sitting, which meant I got a face full of Wyatt's gorgeous ass, but I couldn't enjoy it, not while the tension surrounding us thickened.
"Well, if Kansas is well enough to stand for ceremony and receive the protection that medal provides, then he should be well enough to obey his Alpha's command." Delia Walker moved to stand nearly even with Alpha Walker.
Wyatt's knuckles went white. Clenched into fists, it didn't take a body language expert to see that he was riding a dangerous line. "He appreciates the invitation to show you what he can do but at this time must decline." I could picture the way Wyatt's face looked when he sounded like that, his mouth barely moving.
"I want to hear him speak," Alpha Walker said.
With Wyatt protecting me and facing the other way in the process, I couldn't see his face. I didn't have any clues on how to proceed. My heart started to pound up my throat, clenching my airways closed with each thump. "I promised I wouldn't," I squeaked.
"Promised who?" Delia looked like an evil parrot suspended over Alpha Walker's shoulder.
The party around us had died down. There hadn't been a lot of party to kill in the first place, but now everyone watched our table.
"I—no one! I…" In the past, if I'd let myself fall into a situation as tense as this one, I'd just start drawing from everyone until they were too exhausted to keep fighting. That wasn't an option to me now.
"He promised me, Delia Walker. And if you have a problem with that, I am who you can talk to." That time, I didn't want to imagine Wyatt's face because I knew it was only causing trouble.
"That's Elder Walker," Delia replied with mock sweetness. "Though since you're just a prospective pack member, I'll forgive you this time."
Wyatt didn't respond, and I knew just how much that took out of him. He hardly even growled, keeping the sound to a low rumble at the back of his throat, but Delia's eyes still widened.
"Did you just threaten me?" she screeched.
"I keep telling you people, if I'd threatened you, you would know it," Wyatt snarled back. "You wouldn't have to ask."
Nash, Aver, and Branson were on their feet now, with their mates tucked behind them. It was impossible to breathe without inhaling the tension. Riley grabbed my hand, bringing me to huddle with him and Phineas. The table acted as a protective wall to our backs, and the Walker cousins blocked us from anything coming from any other angle. I'd been in enough bars and witnessed enough bar brawls to know that this was going to get bad quick, but I couldn't do what I did last time. Pulling from a crowd this size—a crowd of shifters this size—would put me out for much longer than two days. And, I had the baby to worry about. What would an overload do to that little person?
I couldn't risk it.
But my inability to help in this situation did nothing to curb the growing hostility that poured from both sides.
"This is supposed to be a party," Nana said, the sole voice of reason in a sea of angry mutterings.
"Nana Walker, this is a matter of respect. We just accepted these shifters into our home. We offered to provide them with the support being a part of a thriving pack would assure them, and this is how we are thanked?"
"We? Or you, Delia?" Julie asked.
"You don't have a say here," Delia sniped back.
Nash's growl was not contained to the back of his throat. It rumbled loudly for all to hear.
"See?" Delia threw her hands out toward him. "This was a mistake, Alpha Walker. In your unending kindness—"
"Just be quiet for once, Delia," Julie snarled.
Delia propped her hand on her hip. "What are you even doing here?"
Their bickering continued bringing those hovering around even closer. We were a powder keg, moments from exploding.
I turned my head to the representatives watching this all happen with mild curiosity. Jeb sneered. He was loving this.
I opened my mind. I told Wyatt I wouldn't pull from another, but this was an emergency. I had to.
Wyatt turned, though he hadn't dared take his eyes off his enemy for a single moment until then. He looked directly in my face and scowled. "Don't," he warned.