“Good night.” We parted ways as I headed inside. Walking down the aisle, I slowed my pace as particular sounds reached me. Sounds coming from the feed room up ahead.
Moans. Grunts. Flesh smacking flesh. Voices begging or urging someone on.
Iknewthose voices. They belonged to the stable hands. Feeling my lips curve, I shook my head. It had seemed inevitable that they’d end up pouncing on each other eventually—I’d caught them exchanging many heated looks.
I continued down the aisle and walked into the tack room. There, I stopped, my mouth dropping open in surprise. A Laelap pup was hanging from leather reins, busy chewing on them while letting out the most adorable growl.
I put my hands on my hips. “I don’t think you’re supposed to be in here.”
At the sound of my voice, it released the reins and ungracefully dropped to its butt. It tilted its head, its tongue lolling out.
“Oh, you’re just the cutest thing.” My system melted. Simply melted. “Come on, let’s get you back to your den.”
Hoping it wouldn’t decide to sink its little teeth into me, I carefully scooped up the pup. A pup I then realized was a ‘he.’ He started licking my face and sniffing me.
I smiled. “I’d keep you if your Alphas wouldn’t eat me alive.” I walked to the opposite end of the aisle, pausing a mere step before the entrance of the barn. “If I get bitten by any of your pack for touching you, I will totally hold you responsible.”
I crouched down and placed him on the floor. He didn’t pad into the barn, though. He tried leaping onto my lap. “I’m sorry, you can’t stay with me.”
He barked, his tail wagging. And then there was a rustle inside the barn. The sound of claws clicking against wood became louder and louder. A huge-ass Laelap that was only slightly shorter than Chief appeared. I was guessing she was the Alpha female.
I remained very still as, her black gaze fixed on me, she padded closer. A tension in her frame, she sniffed at me. Her muscles relaxed slightly. Still, she nudged the pup away from me and guided him back into the barn.
I let out a relieved breath. Well, that could have gone worse.
A loud bang came from far behind me, followed by a barked, “What the hell?”
I pushed to my feet and pivoted. The shocked voice belonged to Justus. Frowning, I took a single step forward … right as Talon came moodily striding out of the feed room. He stopped when he spotted me, and his glower kicked up tenfold.
“You didn’t walk in on them going at it, did you?” I asked. Hehadto have known—heard—that they were having sex.
He glared at me, clenching his fists.
“What did I do now?”
More glaring.
“I didn’t go into the barn, if that’s what you’re thinking. I was just guiding a stray pup back to his pack.”
Talon sharply tipped his chin at the stable’s exit and then stalked out.
I followed with a pained sigh. Clearly Xalbia wasn’t quite over for the day. “Do you often storm into rooms while people are doing the dirty?”
He tossed me a hard look over his shoulder.
“I was just asking.” I glanced around, noticing that everyone was still gathered near the bonfire at the opposite side of the garrison. “Why did you order me out here?”
He pointed at the tower and then made a beeline for the garrison’s exit.
A shard of panic stabbed my chest as I came to a sharp halt. “The Sovereigns want to speak to me?”
He only grunted in response, not breaking stride.
“Why?” Unease laced every syllable.
Nothing.
My pulse kicking up, I pushed, “What’s this about?”
