I absently listened to her but mostly paid attention to Rynn’s ever-tightening expression. A hiss tried to erupt from my throat as another one of my finger joints popped, but I swallowed it back down.
“Anita,” Rynn said abruptly, cutting the woman off. “I’m so sorry, but I really shouldn’t keep my family waiting much longer. Perhaps we can catch up another time.”
“Oh right, of course.” Anita laughed, and the sound of it was even more annoying than her voice. I realized it had nothing to do with the pitch but the lack of sincerity behind it. I’d only known Anita for a matter of minutes, but I already knew what she was: a social climber. Those sharp, pretty blue eyes swung my way for a second before returning to Rynn. “Why don’t I join you? It’ll be like old times with me keeping you company while your family lists all their demands. I can help run interference if you need me to.”
She reached for Rynn’s hand, the one I wasn’t holding, but I was faster. “That won’t be necessary.” I tugged Rynn back so she was slightly behind me and stepped forward into Anita’s space, flashing her a smile wide enough to show off my fangs. “She has me now.”
Rynn didn’t react to my claim on her, which told me just how much she wanted to get away from this woman.
Meanwhile, calculation quickly flew through Anita’s eyes before she gave Rynn a kind smile. “How about we catch up tomorrow?” She glanced at me. “I’m sure Bastian has important Alpha pack business to take care of while he’s here, so I can keep you company.”
It was a subtle dig. Implying that Rynn, despite being a member of my pack, didn’t also have things to do while she was here.
“Sounds nice,” Rynn replied before I could say anything. “It’ll likely be late afternoon because I do have some things to attend to while I’m here. I’ll find you when I’m free.”
“Wonderful.” Anita grinned before glancing at me again, this time with a hint of smug satisfaction at having secured some of Rynn’s time. “I’m so glad to see you’re taking such good care of my best friend.”
We continued our walk, and I leaned over to whisper in Rynn’s ear. “Do Samara and Cali know they have competition for the best friend title?”
Rynn didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, she simply let go of my hand and stared straight ahead like she was walking to her execution.
I frowned slightly and then flexed my hand as the bones healed. Nobody else stopped us along the way; they just called out happy greetings that I don’t even think Rynn heard. She was retreating far into herself. It was almost like those first few weeks when she’d been at the Alpha stronghold.
Before Rynn had come to live with us, we’d arranged several trips here to meet with her on familiar ground. At the time, she’d been using the declining health of her mother to stall joining us, and we’d let her, because Warrick had been convinced he’d been close to finding the thing that had slaughtered his and Cade’s families all those years ago.
He hadn’t found shit. He never fucking did, and yet he refused to let it go.
I, on other hand, had been all about living in the moment. This was Lunaria. We could all be dead next week. Dwelling on the past accomplished nothing.
Still, I didn’t remember Rynn being like this during those visits. She’d been quiet and reserved, but not so . . . beaten down.
Had I missed something? Maybe it had to do with her claim of sacrificing something? My frown deepened. Rynn wasn’t my packmate. She wasn’t even my friend, really. Just a person who was present in my life due to circumstance.
But I didn’t dislike her. She had this sly humor about her that had gotten more than one genuine laugh out of me over the past few days, before she’d gone silent. Plus she annoyed Warrick, which instantly put a plus in her column in my book.
None of that was why a sense of unease was coursing through my veins though. Family was supposed to be a safe haven. The people you could run to when your world was burning down, who would barricade the doors behind you.
I wasn’t naive. I was well aware that not all families were like this, but I’d assumed Rynn’s family still had her back even if they weren’t super close.
Then again, maybe this was all an act. A way to make us doubt her loyalty to her family pack.
A huge stone castle came into view after we turned a corner. The large double doors were open, and six Velesians stood out front on the stairs.
“Our Alpha welcomes you, Bastian of the Alpha pack,” a man with dark brown hair announced from the top of the stairs. “And your new packmate.”
I instantly recognized the man who had spoken. Sorin Valatieri, Rynn’s brother.
“‘Packmate,’” Rynn said with a derisive snort as she climbed the stairs. “Maybe I should have invited Anita to come along after all and let her sit right next to you, batting those pretty eyelashes.”
“You’re not that much of a bitch.” The corners of Sorin’s mouth curled into the faintest hint of amusement.
“People change.” Rynn shoulder-checked him and then disappeared inside, not waiting for either of us.
The barely-there grin on Sorin’s face faded entirely, and not a single guard reacted to the exchange.
“Apologies, Bastian.” Sorin gave me a tight smile.
It was my turn to shrug as I walked up the stairs and clapped him on the shoulder. “No worries. Honestly, her foul mood is probably my fault. She’s been dealing with me nonstop for days now.”
