But Dorian wasn't being entirely truthful. Yes, there were always security concerns that demanded his attention. But mostly, he needed space to process what Harper was doing to his carefully ordered world—and to figure out how he was going to survive watching her take Lila and her friends out tomorrow without his direct supervision.
Maybe I'll just happen to be in town,he mused as Harper disappeared into the estate.Or maybe I'll have Marty do a casual patrol of the area.
His wolf snarled at the deception, but Dorian pushed the guilt aside. Some things were too important to leave entirely to trust.
SEVEN
HARPER
The afternoon had slipped away like water through Harper's fingers as she wandered the sprawling estate, marveling at the intricate woodwork that clearly bore Dorian's unmistakable craftsmanship. Every banister, every custom window frame, every built-in bookshelf spoke of patient hands and meticulous attention to detail. She'd traced her fingers along the smooth grain of a hand-carved mantelpiece, wondering what it revealed about the man who'd created such beauty while carrying the weight of an entire pack on his shoulders.
Now, as she descended the grand staircase toward the dining room, Harper expected another evening like the previous night—polite conversation with Dorian while Lila remained sequestered in her room, picking at a tray delivered by the kitchen staff. The thought brought a familiar pang of professional frustration mixed with genuine concern for the girl who reminded her so much of her younger self.
But when Harper stepped into the dining room, surprise bloomed warm in her chest. Lila sat at the mahogany table beside Dorian's chair, her posture still guarded but present in away that hadn't existed earlier today. The sight sent a thrill of cautious hope through Harper's system.
Progress,she thought, unable to suppress a small smile as she approached the table.Maybe that brief session actually reached something inside her.
"Good evening," Harper said warmly, settling into the chair beside Dorian's at the head of the table. His proximity immediately flooded her senses with that intoxicating scent, and she fought to maintain her professional composure.
Lila looked up and offered a genuine smile—small and tentative, but real. "Hey, Harper."
The simple greeting carried more weight than any lengthy conversation could have. Harper felt something tight in her chest loosen slightly as she smiled back. "I'm glad you decided to join us tonight."
Dorian remained unusually quiet as the kitchen staff brought out their dinner—roasted chicken with herbs that filled the air with savory warmth, accompanied by roasted vegetables that looked like they'd been harvested from a local garden. His blue eyes held a distant quality that suggested his thoughts were elsewhere, and Harper noticed the tension in his broad shoulders hadn't diminished since their return from town.
They ate in comfortable silence for several minutes, the only sounds the gentle clink of silverware against china. Harper caught herself stealing glances at both siblings—Lila, who seemed to be lost in thought but not overly tense, and Dorian, whose jaw carried that familiar set of someone wrestling with internal conflict.
Finally, Harper couldn't stand the weight of unspoken thoughts any longer. She set down her fork and turned toward Lila with barely contained excitement.
"I have some news," she announced, watching Lila's expression immediately shift to wariness.
Lila's fork froze halfway to her mouth, and Harper's heart clenched at the way the girl instinctively braced for impact. The defensive posture spoke volumes about the past few months—how Lila had learned to expect disappointment or restriction with every announcement.
"What news?" Lila asked carefully, her voice carrying that brittle quality Harper recognized from countless other traumatized clients.
"Good news, actually," Harper said quickly, her tone warm and reassuring. "Your brother has agreed to let you hang out with your friends tomorrow evening, but only if I supervise."
The words seemed to hang in the air for a moment before Lila's eyes widened with genuine shock. She turned toward Dorian, searching his face for any sign of deception or hidden conditions.
Harper followed her gaze and met Dorian's intense blue eyes. Even now, she could see the internal war playing out in his expression—relief at seeing hope flicker back to life in his sister's face warring with the terror of loosening his protective grip.
"Yes, that's true," Dorian said finally, his voice carrying the weight of someone making a monumental concession. "If you want to spend time with Sophie and Courtney, I'll allow it. But Harper drives you there and monitors everything that happens."
Lila stared at him for a moment, as if waiting for the other shoe to drop or for him to add a dozen additional restrictions that would make the offer meaningless. When no further conditions came, she turned back to Harper with something approaching awe.
"You really convinced him to do it?" Lila's voice carried a mixture of disbelief and newfound respect. "I didn't think anyone could stand up to him."
Harper felt heat creep up her neck at the implication, but she kept her voice steady and professional. "It was a compromise.Your brother wants to help you reconnect with your friends—he knows it's important for your healing."
The transformation in Lila was immediate and striking. Color flooded back into her pale cheeks, and her entire posture shifted as excitement replaced the defensive tension.
"I need to call them right now and plan what we're going to do," Lila said, practically bouncing in her chair. She stood quickly, then paused to look between Harper and Dorian. "Thank you, Harper. And thank you, Dorian."
With that, she rushed from the dining room, leaving her dinner only half-finished in her eagerness to reconnect with the friendships she'd abandoned.
The sudden quiet felt charged with unspoken tension. Harper glanced at Dorian and found him staring after his sister with an expression that managed to be both relieved and terrified. The conflicting emotions played across his features like a storm system moving across a mountain landscape.
"It will be fine," Harper said softly, trying to ease the worry she could practically feel radiating from him. "I'll be there the whole time, and this is genuinely good for her."
