Chapter 17: The Elephant in the Room

Tyler froze midway into sitting, his attention now focused in the direction of the voice. "We're in here" he called out, immediately straightening up.

In contrast, Ryder slouched even further into the sofa with a resigned sigh. "Here we go," he muttered under his breath.

I felt sick, my anxiety peaking. I was about to meet the Alpha and Luna of the River Gorge Pack. My mates' parents.

I stood, squeezing as close to Tyler as I could without seeming weird. He obviously sensed my discomfort and wrapped an arm around my shoulder, giving me a light squeeze.

The woman who casually strolled into the room was nothing like I had imagined. She was tall and graceful with a presence that filled the room. Her hair was a soft brown, probably similar to my own natural color, with streaks of silver that hinted at her wisdom and experience. Her eyes were a warm hazel color and they scanned the room, predictably landing on me with curiosity.

"And this must be your mate?" she asked, her gaze shifti