She smiles up at him, and her white-blonde bangs slide away from her face, pale skin catching the light. Her rounded belly presses against the box of photos in her lap. He stands over her, dark hair falling across his eyes, his whole frame angled toward her like a shield.
“Yes, all of it!” Thea says, her hands moving over the photographs. “I was just going through these old photos. It’s funny how I tried so hard to get out of Creek Falls, and now I miss so much of it.”
“I imagine that’s normal,” Xander responds. “At least you now have your most precious memories, thanks to Rhiannon.”
“It was a team effort, My Lord,” I say. “Speaking of which, there was a... complication with the mission.”
A small furrow forms between his brows. “We can speak in my study—” he starts.
Thea’s smile stops him cold. “No, stay here.” She leaves her items on the bed and stands. “I need to take a walk around the garden anyway. Dr. Olcan says I should be as active as possible if I want this baby to come, and Idowant this baby to come.” As she walks past me, she touches my arm. “Thank you again, Rhiannon. I really appreciate it.”
“Of course, Luna,” I lower my head politely.
As Thea’s footsteps fade down the corridor, an uncomfortable silence settles between us. Xander moves to the window, his back to me, hands clasped behind him.
“You weren’t present when the Luna received her things,” he finally says.
I stiffen, but keep my tone neutral. “Yes, My Lord. I had something urgent to attend to.”
“Urgent.” The way he repeats it makes it clear he doesn’t believe me.
My wolf presses hard against my ribs as I straighten up.
He turns, studying me with those penetrating eyes. “Your outburst at the Council Meeting yesterday was unprofessional, Commander.”
I’d prefer his rage to this eerie formality.
“I was only expressing legitimate concerns,Alpha.”
“You undermined me in front of—”
I scoff.This again?“I wasn’t undermining you. I was making myself heard to an Alpha who was talking over me—” I stop myself as I hear my voice rising and know it won’t end well, just like yesterday.
Xander treads cautiously on my silence. “I’ve noticed that you’ve been working late every night this week. And you didn’t attend the gathering at Akila’s.”
“I had reports to finish.”
“You seem to be missing a lot more gatherings since,” his voice softens, “Thea arrived.”
Heat rises to my cheeks. “Are you monitoring my social calendar now?” My voice comes out sharper than I intended. “Have I not been doing my duties to your full satisfaction, My Lord?”
Xander sighs. “I’m concerned about you, Rhiannon. You’ve withdrawn from everyone. The pack notices.”
The pack notices.Of course they do.They notice how their Commander exists on the periphery of the life she was once at the center of.
“I’m focused on the safety of Kortan,” I say tightly. “Someonehas to be.”
His eyebrows lift. “Meaning?”
“Nothing.”
“No, say it. What exactly are you implying?”
I shouldn’t say it. I know I shouldn’t. But the words burst out anyway.
“The peace summit is a few weeks away. Less than a year ago, the Shaman wanted to annihilate us. Now you’re welcoming them into our home, and half of our security protocols aren’t finalized yet because you’re busy playing house with your pregnant mate.”
The moment the words leave my lips, I regret them.
