(Caroline’s POV)
I stood across from Aaron in his office, the weight of the conversation pressing on my chest. His focus remained on the documents in front of him, each stroke of his pen precise and deliberate.
The silence dragged on, so I finally spoke, keeping my tone light. “How is Elder Katherine doing? Has there been any change?”
Aaron paused briefly before answering, his eyes still on the papers. “She’s improving… slightly. The healers might move the surgery up.”
“That’s wonderful news,” I said softly, but my wolf stirred uneasily. This wasn’t what I wanted to hear. Td like to visit her–just a quick visit to check in on her.”
His reply was immediate, cutting through the air like a sharp blade. “No.”
I blinked, my composure slipping for a moment. I hadn’t expected the outright rejection. “I wouldn’t stay long. I promise. Elder Katherine and I always got along-”
“It’s not about that,” Aaron interrupted, his tone firm. “She needs rest. Too many visitors could strain her recovery.”
I bit back the wave of frustration threatening to rise. “Of course. You’re right, I murmured, a tight smile on my lips.
But inside, my wolf bristled. Rest or no rest, Elder Katherine always welcomed Freya. The old she–wolf never seemed to find Freya’s company ‘straining.
“She must be so proud of everything Freya’s done for her,” I added, keeping my voice as neutral as possible.
Aaron gave a noncommittal grunt, brushing the topic aside, and returned to his work. My fingers clenched the strap of my bag tightly. Soon enough, Freya would be gone, and Aaron would see the truth. I would take my rightful place by his side.
Patience, I reminded myself. Not much longer now.
(Freya’s POV)
The stack of reports and correspondence seemed never–ending. The swirling ache in my temples made it
clear–my short leave from my duties had left the pack’s diplomatic affairs in chaos.
Each letter I read revealed mistakes. The Southern Packs‘ territory proposal had been mishandled entirely,
their response now bordering on hostile. As I rewrote yet another letter to diffuse tension, I sighed. It was
going to take days to clean this up.
A soft knock interrupted my train of thought. Sarah Cooper entered cautiously, holding a steaming cup in her
hands.
“Luna, your tea,” she said, her voice nervous but warm.
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<Chapter 46: Pack Politics
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As soon as the bitter herbal scent hit my nose, I forced a polite smile. “Thank you, Sarah. But from now on, let’s keep it simple–plain water will be fine.”
Her brow furrowed, and for a moment, an unspoken question lingered in her expression. She hesitated but nodded quickly. “Of course, Luna. Water. I’ll bring some right away.”
As she left, I sank back into my chair, rubbing the bridge of my nose. The faint sound of scratched paper and muffled voices filled the room outside my office, but it all blurred together.
My hand unconsciously rested on my stomach. The growing cub within me seemed to radiate warmth, a constant reminder of what I had to protect. Water was safest. No unexpected ingredients, no unnecessary
risks.
I let my head rest against the chair momentarily, eyes closed, hoping to block out the chaos for just a
second.
But the familiar thread of Aaron’s voice cut through the stillness like a wire through fog. “*Freya.*”
Instinctively, I tensed. Even through the mate bond, his voice carried weight. “*What is it?*” “*Lunch,” he replied curtly. His tone had no warmth, but it wasn’t cold either. “* Join me.*” “*Use the phone for pack business,” I snapped back, my frustration leaking into the bond. “I’m busy.” Before he could respond, my phone rang. I glanced at the screen. Caroline. Of
urse.
“Hello, Luna Freya!” Her tone bubbled with forced sweetness, a syrupy attempt at friendliness. “I’m preparing lunch for everyone. Why don’t you join us?”
The knot of annoyance in my chest tightened. I kept my voice flat. “No, thank you.”
Without another word, I ended the call. And with it, any lingering connection to Aaron over the mate bond.
My wolf Bella growled, frustration rippling through her as the rejection of both invitation and mate bond left me seething.
I needed fresh air. Sarah had gathered her things to leave, lunchbox in hand. Before she could slip out, I called to her. “Sarah,” I said. “Wait.”
She paused. “Yes, Luna?”
“I’ll join you,” I said simply, reaching for my jacket.
Her face brightened with surprise. “Oh, really? I mean, of course! That’s wonderful, Luna!”
Her enthusiasm softened my frayed nerves. Still, my thoughts stayed focused on preparation. Sarah’s role would expand. There was no point putting it off. “Sarah, after lunch, I’ll have additional assignments for you.” Her brow pinched together, worry momentarily clouding her expression. “Luna, I’m so sorry about the extra work recently…”
“It’s fine, Sarah,” I said, cutting her off gently but firmly. “You’ll need experience with this workload. We’ll increase your responsibilities.”
She nodded quickly, though her body radiated tension.
The dining area buzzed with activity. Conversations grew louder and more animated closer to the food counters. As soon as we stepped in, the tone shifted. Whispers rippled like waves.
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Chapter 46: Pack Politics
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Sarah tensed but stayed close to me. I was used to this. It didn’t take an enhanced wolf’s hearing to catch
their words.
“Look who’s trying to act all approachable,” someone muttered, too loudly to be accidental.
“She has to eat here now,” another sniggered. “Bet the Alpha doesn’t save a seat for her anymore.”
I kept my expression neutral, but Bella whined inside me.
We filled our plates in silence. Sarah’s hands trembled faintly as she reached for silverware. When we sat down, the whispers turned into outright conversation.
“Caroline would make such a better Luna,” a younger wolf said boldly, confident I wouldn’t react.
“She’s beautiful and comes from a proper pack,” another chimed in. “And didn’t she save the Alpha’s life? That’s loyalty.”
“Must be embarrassing for Freya,” a sneering voice added. “Depending on Aaron all this time with nothing to
show for it.”
Sarah’s entire body stiffened. Her wolf energy bristled so visibly that even distant pack members took notice. I felt her anger bubbling, on the verge of boiling over.
She shoved her chair back abruptly, the scrape of metal on tile silencing most of the chatter. Several pack members turned to watch.
“That’s enough!” she shouted, her voice trembling with fury. Her wolf eyes flashed as she glared at the
gossipers.
For a moment, I let her stand there, my own wolf quietly observing the pack dynamics. But it was too soon for her to act this way, too soon for her to display such raw emotion in front of others.
“Sarah,” I said, my voice low but authoritative, the kind of tone that made even defiant wolves pause. “Sit.
Down.”
Her head whipped toward me, disbelief flashing in her eyes. “But Luna, they’re-”
“I said sit down,” I repeated, softer but no less firm.
She hesitated but obeyed. Shoulders trembling, she lowered herself back into her seat. Her protective instincts were admirable, but outbursts wouldn’t serve her in the long run.
The whispers in the dining hall didn’t stop, though they quieted slightly under my cold, unwavering gaze. I didn’t look around to meet their eyes. I didn’t need to. Even lower–ranking wolves sensed what quiet strength
meant.
“You shouldn’t let them talk about you like that,” Sarah hissed under her breath, still fuming.
This time, I allowed a small smile to tug at the corners of my lips. “They’re not wrong about everything,” I murmured.
Sarah looked like she might argue but held her tongue. Instead, she stabbed at her food silently while her anger simmered below the surface.
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