Chapter 43

Sarah POV

To say the air was thick with testosterone was an understatement.

It was the first full day of the conference. We’d come in last night and put the girls right to bed, though they were still a little excited from the helicopter ride from the airport. The luxury apartment building, complete with helipad, that Zane rented an apartment in was just blocks from the convention center, a sprawling complex on S. Figueroa St.

I was just grateful we didn’t have to drive because it was clear looking from above as though the ride would have taken even longer than the plane trip. The traffic in Los Angeles was something from another world.

Zane was amused that I assumed we would walking from the apartment to the convention center. Evidently, despite the traffic, we would be driving everywhere. I assumed it had something to do with the increased security, but when I saw all those cars dropping people off in front of the West Exhibit Hall, I realized the stereotype was true. People just didn’t seem to want to walk in this city.

The girls had been left with Dr. Hayes at the apartment, so it was just Zane and I (and two bodyguards) standing there with cups of courtesy coffee as people milled around and networked before Zane was to give his speech. I hadn’t realized how many people would be there. The hall was enormous, but it was still quite crowded.

All the alphas except Zane evidently traveled with a large entourage, as well as their own bodyguards. Those entourages weren’t just for show, however. Many werewolves needed translators, many had people who were constantly on the phone managing things back in their territory, many had assistants who basically functioned as ambassadors, and many had wives, husbands, and affair partners in droves.

Some territories, I knew, promoted polyamorous relationships to diversify the gene pool. I knew some of the better-looking female non-pack alphas were basically on the prowl and looking to go back home pregnant.

Every few minutes, an alpha would spot Zane and me and walk over either to introduce themselves or to ask Zane how he was doing since they’d last met. I got eyeballed either way. I wasn’t the only human in the hall, but it was a near thing.

I also hadn’t realized, though I should have, just how on display everyone would be. Some alphas seemed to be wearing their body weight in gold and diamonds, whereas others stuck to dresses and suits so clean-lined and simple they must have cost a fortune.

I was in a blue suit with a pencil skirt, narrow lapel, and small peplum. The girls had loved it.

Zane wore a Tom Ford suit that looked like it had been sewn on. I’d almost choked when he walked out of his bedroom that morning.

He looked at his (ridiculously thin) watch. “I’d better get up there.” He offered me his arm and led me to the front row of seating, waited until I’d gotten settled, took my empty cup with a wink, and left me.

I was about to get my phone out when a stunning-looking alpha sat next to me with a brilliant smile. She reminded me, somewhat unpleasantly, of Ella.

“I hear you’re the woman to speak to,” she said with a charming Spanish accent and a little toss of her platinum-blond hair. “Isabella Dominez.” She didn’t offer to shake hands.

“It’s nice to meet you,” I said neutrally. “What did you want to speak to me about?”

“Alpha Zane, of course. I’d let to set up a meeting with him.”

“I’m not his social secretary.”

“No, you are his children’s goddess-mother. Obviously, I need to get your approval before I approach him to take care of my heat.”

I just sort of blinked at her. She smiled again, reached into her tiny purse, and pulled out a business card to hand to me.

“You will inform him of my interest?”

I took the card and nodded. “Um, certainly.”

She nodded as well, satisfied, and left. I looked down at the card and read, Isabella Dominez, Esq., followed by an email address.

I put it in my purse and then just sort of sat there for a moment trying to come to terms with the idea that some she-wolves in the hall thought they needed my stamp of approval before Zane would father their pups.

I came out of my daze when another person sat next to me, but it was an alpha male who barely glanced at me. I realized the seats were filling up quickly. I looked up at the stage to see Zane walk on with several other alphas who took their seats in a short row to the side of the podium.

The crowd settled and quieted, and the chairman, dressed in an impeccable black suit and red tie, went to the podium with a smile to greet the polite round of applause.

“Welcome, everyone. I’m Xianquan Ho, your chairman for this year’s summit. It’s a great honor to see representatives from around the world here at our summit.

“I’ve been told this year we have pack alphas from no fewer than five hundred territories, making this by far the largest and most inclusive wolf organization, even if we don’t quite know when these meetings started and have never been able to figure out if we should give this summit a name.”

He paused for some perfunctory laughter. “No, this is simply the summit. We come here to represent our territories and share the best of our packs with each other.

“This year, we’re paying particular attention to what we’ve come to call The Human Equation, and who better to deliver our keynote address than Alpha Zane Cavendish, whose household includes a human goddess-mother sanctioned by the Luna Temple itself?”

A surprised murmur rose from the wolves who hadn’t already heard about me, and to my alarm, Chairman Ho looked right at me.

“Would you mind standing for a moment, Miss Sarah Astor?” he asked. “We’re honored to host you.”

I shot a look at Zane, but he was looking at Ho in surprise. Telling myself to smile, I stood and turned to look out over the hundreds of wolves, who gave me a polite round of applause as well.

“Thank you,” he said as I sat down and suppressed a sigh of relief. I really hoped I wouldn’t be asked to do that again.

“Now, it gives me great pleasure to introduce our keynote speaker, even though Alpha Zane needs no introduction, so I can keep this short. Alpha Zane served as chairman of the summit himself three years ago, has served and is serving on the board of several charities, and has led and funded no fewer than five successful class-action lawsuits aimed at improving the lives of the humans and wolves in his territory.

“His speech today is entitled, ‘Working Together to Know the Future by Knowing Ourselves.’” He turned. “If you would, Alpha Zane?”

Zane stood to enthusiastic applause, walked over to shake Ho’s hand, and then made himself comfortable at the podium. I couldn’t help but admire the perfect sight of him and contrast his easy confidence with my near-faint at looking out over the crowd.

“Good morning, everyone,” he said. “I want to talk today about the future that we will make together with our human cousins and with each other, and that future is inside us all, right now. As I look out at my fellow pack alphas, their assistants, and their families, I know I’m looking at wolves who recognize the responsibilities placed on us, responsibilities we have assumed willingly, even eagerly, because we want the future to be even better than our illustrious past.”

He paused, and there was more applause. When he continued, I expected my attention would wander, and I’ve never been one to enjoy long speeches, but he was commanding, even riveting, onstage, and I found myself applauding with the others to his discussions of inter-species educational programs, housing, employment, and even faith.

He spoke for an hour, including breaks for more and more applause. Then he finished with a well-received joke about werewolves needing to have their lunch before a fight broke out before he turned the podium back over to Chairman Ho, who reminded us to check our programs for all the panel discussions and other activities before, indeed, releasing us all for lunch.

I stood up with the others and turned to walk down the side aisle. Instantly, I had a dozen alphas in front of me, asking me questions. Some of them were beautiful she-wolves with a determined look in their eyes.

Oh dear, I thought then told myself not to make a run for the door.