Once inside the diner, curious gazes followed their progress to a corner booth. Dorian positioned himself strategically—back to the wall, clear view of the entrance. The familiar weight of hypervigilance settled across his shoulders like a mantle he could never fully shed.
"Sorry," he muttered when Harper's eyebrows rose at his obvious tension. "Just habit."
"It's understandable," she replied, her voice carrying that soothing quality. "But maybe you could try to relax a bit? We need to discuss something important."
Before Dorian could ask what, their waitress approached with the kind of enthusiastic smile reserved for the town's Alpha.
"Dorian! Good to see you out and about." The older woman's gaze shifted to Harper with undisguised curiosity. "And who's this pretty lady?"
"Lila's new counselor," Dorian said carefully, his tone neutral. "She'll be staying in town for a while to help with Lila's recovery."
"Oh, that's wonderful news! How is our sweet girl doing these days?"
The familiar knot of frustration and helplessness tightened in Dorian's chest. "She has her good days and bad days. Hopefully Harper can help turn that around."
They ordered quickly, and once the waitress departed, Dorian leaned forward slightly. "What did you want to discuss?"
Harper met his gaze directly, and he could see her choosing her words carefully. "Lila mentioned how protective you've become since the attack. Which is completely understandable?—"
"But?" Dorian's voice carried a warning edge that made several pack members glance their way.
"But I think you might be holding her back from healing." Harper's tone remained calm, professional, but there was steel underneath. "She told me about her friends, how she used to enjoy spending time with them. I suggested she reach out, maybe arrange to hang out with them again."
"Absolutely not." The words came out sharper than Dorian intended, his alpha authority bleeding into his voice. "Lila isn't going anywhere without proper protection. I can't trust?—"
"Don't you think you're being a little rigid about this?" Harper interrupted, and the fact that she wasn't backing down sent conflicting signals through his system. Admiration warred with frustration. "Lila needs friends, needs a support system beyond family. Social connections are crucial for healing and moving forward."
Dorian's jaw clenched. Everything in him rebelled against the idea of his sister—his wounded, vulnerable sister—being exposed to potential threats. The memory of finding her broken three months ago still haunted his nightmares.
"How about I chaperone them?" Harper continued, her voice gentling slightly. "That way there's adult supervision, but not you or Marty where she feels constantly monitored."
The suggestion hit Dorian like a slap. Bad enough that Harper wanted to put Lila at risk—now she wanted to put herselfin potential danger too. His wolf surged forward with violent protectiveness, demanding he refuse outright.
But beneath the instinctive rejection, a small voice whispered that Harper might be right. Lila had been withdrawing further with each passing week, despite all his efforts to keep her safe. Maybe safety wasn't enough anymore.
Trust our mate,his wolf urged with clarity.She knows better than you.
"Fine," Dorian said finally, the word feeling like it was dragged from somewhere deep in his chest. "But you stay close enough that I can monitor the situation. And if anything seems off—anything at all—you call me immediately."
He pulled out his phone, then held out his hand for hers. When Harper placed the device in his palm, their fingers brushed and that familiar electricity shot up his arm like lightning. Harper's breath caught audibly, and Dorian watched color rise in her cheeks as he programmed his contact information.
Dorian - Call Immediatelyappeared in her favorites list, and he handed the phone back with more reluctance than the simple gesture warranted.
"Thank you," Harper said softly, her green eyes holding his. "For doing this. For letting Lila rebuild those friendships. It will help tremendously—not just with reconnecting to her old life, but with learning to trust you again."
Their food arrived, and they ate in charged silence. Dorian found himself stealing glances at Harper between bites, watching the way she moved with unconscious grace, and the way she seemed to bring warmth to even this mundane moment.
She's dismantling everything,he realized with a growing alarm.And I'm letting her.
His wolf practically radiated smugness.Good. We need our mate. Need her wisdom. Need her softness.
The internal war was exhausting. Every rational thought insisted he needed to maintain distance, keep control, protect everyone by staying emotionally detached. But Harper's presence made those defenses feel increasingly hollow.
When they finished eating, Dorian drove them back to the estate in contemplative quiet until they reached the gravel driveway.
"I have some pack security matters to handle this afternoon. Can you manage on your own until dinner?"
"Of course," Harper replied easily.
