Thrown to the Wolves (Black River Pack Book 3) by Rochelle Paige Page B

meet him since my mating Parker made me part of his pack.
    “There’s no chance in hell he’s going to let Grace come to The Den alone,” he explained. “Not when she’s almost eight months pregnant.”
    “I guess I can see why he’d feel that way,” I whispered. It was nice to hear the affection my new mate felt for his brother and his wife.
    Parker’s lips tilted into a grin. “I’m not even sure how she got him to agree to coming out at all tonight. He’s been keeping her close to home lately as her time draws near. They both must be excited to meet you.”
    It was weird to think there were people out there who would be happy to have me in their pack, who would be looking forward to meeting me. I’d spent years feeling like an outsider and being treated like an unwanted child. When I’d made the decision to crash my father’s car, I’d done it feeling like I was escaping from the only people I’d ever be connected to. That, even though I might get away from an unwanted mating and a life of being mistreated by my parents, I would have to face a life alone as payment for my safety. Now, I’d built a friendship with Elias after he’d saved me, mated a man I hardly knew, and apparently gained a whole new family with brothers, sisters, and a niece or nephew on the way.
    “I like the sound of that,” I admitted softly.
    “Then let’s get you in there,” he replied before hopping out of the car.
    I watched as he scanned the parking lot before coming around to my side of the car to open my door. Knowing he was on guard for my safety, even here in his hometown, chipped away at some of the wall I’d tried wrapping around my heart.
    We walked hand in hand through the lot and into The Den. We were swarmed by well-wishers as soon as we made it inside. Since I was only eighteen, I’d never been in a bar before, so I didn’t really know what to expect, but it wasn’t dark wood paneling with matching floors, big-screen televisions, and tables packed with shifters like I’d thought it would be.
    “A bear, huh?” one of the guys said as he clapped Parker on his back and pulled him in for the guy version of a hug. My body tensed, expecting a wisecrack about how I wouldn’t fit into the pack. “Damn happy you found her, bro. Can’t wait to see if my nieces or nephews are wolf or bear. It’ll be even more fun that guessing their sex.”
    “Shut up,” Parker grumbled before the man, who I had figured out was his other brother, Hunter, turned to me.
    “Welcome to my pack, Annora,” he said, his voice ringing loud and clear through the bar.
    His announcement was met by cheering before he lifted me in the air for a hug and twirled me around.
    “Put my mate down,” Parker complained as laughter bubbled up and out of my throat while relief coursed through my veins. “Go maul your own mate.”
    “I’ll save the mauling for later ‘cause she’s been looking forward to spending some time with her new sister,” he replied. Then he nodded to a table in the corner, where a very pregnant woman was sitting with Eliza. “You better head over there or I’ll never hear the end of it for ruining her big night.”
    “Alrighty, then,” I muttered before flashing Parker a reassuring smile and walking over to the women.
    “Annora,” Eliza greeted me with a hug. “This is Grace.”
    “Hi,” she said as she waved at me before rubbing her stomach lightly. “I’d get up to hug you too, but I don’t think I’d ever make it up and out of my seat without some help.”
    I found myself doing something out of character for me. Leaning down, I wrapped my arms around Grace and gave her a hug since she couldn’t get up.
    “How about I just hug you instead?”
    “Awww,” she sighed, and I noticed tears in her eyes when I pulled away. “Damn hormones.”
    As soon as I sat down, the waitress came by to take my order.
    “I have no idea what to get,” I admitted. “Can I even order alcohol since I’m