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I gave him a nod. “Morning.”
His eyes raised to mine, cool and calm. “You look exhausted.”
I huffed a laugh. “You’re one to talk. Did you sleep?”
He shrugged, not bothering to answer me as he finished his food. We both knew that he hardly slept now. He split his time between hiding out in the cabin or patrolling alone in the forest, staying away from the pack as much as he could. The Noah we’d known before our trip to the human realm was long gone, abandoned there with Cordelia.
I grabbed a drink of water before turning back to him. “There’s drama. We need to head into the village for a pack meet.”
He sniffed. “Fine.”
I sighed. “A messenger arrived from the Queen. Apparently she wants to talk peace again.”
He scoffed an apathetic laugh. “Sure she does. Let me guess, Mina is all for it.”
I ran a palm over my face, trying to shake off the tiredness that was crawling over me. “Of course she fucking is.”
Noah dumped his plate in the sink before running a hand through his hair. “Hate to say it, man, but that mother of yours is a pain in the ass.”
I chuckled at his stone-faced delivery, appreciative of the fact that he seemed to see Mina’s true nature even as I missed the Noah who could see the best in anyone.
“Yeh, well, we need to go and deal with this.”
He hummed in answer and fell quiet, following me back towards the village without further discussion. I felt a nudge from him at a junction in the main pathway, looking around to see Ulf, the pack healer, shuffling towards us.
“Ah, boys,” he grinned, his face creasing into well-worn wrinkles. “Come to help an old man?”
I smiled as I made my way over and tucked his hand into the crook of my arm. “Since when do you need help? I’m pretty sure you’ll outlive us all.”
Ulf let out a wheezy chuckle, his eyes twinkling in amusement. “I just might, you know, I just might.”
I gave Noah a nod to send him on without us, knowing he would let the pack know we were coming.
Ulf hummed sadly as he watched Noah go. “I hate to see that boy so broken.”
My chest tightened at his words, my throat working to swallow as my own pain threatened to show itself. Ulf swung his wise gaze up to mine, pity and compassion swirling there.
“All three of you, in fact.”
I felt my face pull into a scowl. “Zeke doesn’t deserve an ounce of your pity.”
Ulf looked at me for a long moment before tutting softly. “Liam, you are a good Alpha, never doubt that, but you have some growing to do.”
“Ulf, it’s his fault she’s gone. This is his. Damn. Fault.” I answered, trying to hold back a frustrated growl.
He stopped, turning to face me fully. “Is it, though? Are you certain?”
I narrowed my eyes but he cut me off before I could answer.
“Look harder, Liam. I know your heart and soul are in pain, but you need to use your head.”
I winced as he reached up to plant a sharp slap on the back of my head before continuing along the path without me. I shook my head in exasperation before following, knowing I was already late for my own meeting and pushing aside whatever the old guy was getting at for now.
I had more important things to worry about than why my brother betrayed us.
The pack was gathered and waiting when we made it to the main clearing. I gave Liss a smile of thanks as she took Ulf’s arm from mine and led him to a seat on the logs which surrounded the firepit.
The murmur of chatter faded to quiet as I stepped in front of my pack.
