Ava couldn’t help but feel Adrian was hiding something from her as they left the interrogation room.
Rhea had been uncooperative. She refused to divulge her plans for the pack. How she had managed to conjure up a mate bond and if she had received help from her parents in the process.
Ava had wanted nothing more than to rip into her but Adrian had pulled her aside saying that the torture would come soon enough.
Next, they had gone to speak with a shell-shocked Ivy.
“She just came at us and…” Ivy shivered.
“She went crazy on us. Maybe it was because she knew we were suspicious of her. My father’s sources told me she was the heir to the Silverwolf pack but it was unbelievable. She was just so meek and easygoing that I was unsure if the information was correct, that was what I was talking to Cynthia about when she attacked us.”
Why hadn’t Ava thought of investigating her? How could Ivy of all people have beaten her to the conclusion that the strange, quiet girl from an enemy pack might be hiding something?
“Can I leave now? I feel drained.” Ivy asked.
Ava was even surprised that she was this cooperative. Perhaps that was what a close shave with death could do to someone. She looked at Adrian to check if he wanted to ask Ivy a question. Adrian was avoiding Ivy’s gaze.
Why was that? Fighting off a weird sense of anxiety, she spoke.
“Sure. You can go.”
“Thanks.”
Ivy stood about to leave through Adrian’s side when she stumbled, her hand going to her forehead as though dizzy.
Adrian caught her in time though. Ivy latched onto him like a lifeline and stared at him like this was the first time she was really seeing him. Adrian pulled away from her as though the touch scalded him and Ivy moved away quickly as well before hurrying out of the room.
The entire exchange made her feel weird. Was there a secret between Ivy and Adrian that she knew nothing about?
It had been decided that Rhea would be sent to the werewolf council after all her accomplices had been caught and dealt with.
Ivy sipped her fruit juice. She would have preferred the bitch dead like the other execution that Ava had ordered but she would take what she could get.
No matter what Rhea said about her, no one would believe her. Even Cynthia didn’t know what she had done so her secret was safe.
Rhea’s dreams of leading her parents’ pack might have been shattered but the shattering had given way for the rise of hers.
Ivy stroked her belly and smiled.
*******
A Month Later
Ava kissed the back of Adrian’s shoulders. He remained unresponsive.
She was desperate so she slid her hand over the front of his briefs. He felt so thick, ready and– Adrian pushed her hand away.
“Goddess, Ava, I need to sleep. I have a meeting early tomorrow.”
Of course, that was the reason.
Maybe Ava would have believed him before. But now she thought of the past month following Rhea’s arrest. Since she got back, Adrian hadn’t touched her. Their kisses felt perfunctory and forced.
It felt like every touch from him only made them drift further apart instead of drawing them together.
“I’m sorry.”
Ava muffled then turned her back to him fighting back tears.
This was supposed to be their happily ever after but it felt like they were only falling apart instead of growing closer.
The worst thing was that she didn’t know what she had done wrong. She didn’t even know if it was all in her head. Maybe he was really busy as he had said. It’s not like she would know.
He had slowly but steadily removed her from activities related to the running of the pack. He claimed that there was no need for her to stress herself with meeting the Elders when she could pursue her passions. The pack hospital.
She knew that he meant well by it. He had to. The war was over so there was no need for her to disturb herself so much. That was what she told herself when she passed by Elder Elvis wearing that insufferable smug look of pride.
The geezer was obviously happy that she was gone from the bargaining table. Her loneliness was only compounded by the fact that Alex was now based in the other pack with Zinora.
She was all alone.
No, she wasn’t. She would always have Adrian. No relationship was perfect, they had their ups and downs and she refused to let this small hiccup be the defining moment of their relationship.
She would be strong enough for both of them.
********
It had been over a month of radio silence from Cynthia. She should be nearing her delivery date by now if the baby hadn’t come already.
The last time he had spoken to her she’d felt distant and had inquired about a she-wolf who had ended up being the heir of the Silverwolf pack. It had more than surprised him and would no doubt shock the council members.
Dorian had called her number so many times to no avail and he was forced to face the possibility that she might have deserted him.
He flung his chair so it broke as it made contact with the wall.
Cynthia couldn’t decide when she would leave him. It was his fault for giving her so much freedom. The first thing he would do once he got her back would be to beat some sense back into her.
Her time away from him had sharpened her tongue and her attitude. He recalled how she had shouted at him the second to the last time she had spoken to him.
Yes, he has made a colossal mistake. One he would soon correct. Cynthia was his property, he would not let her slip away from him so easily.
The door opened and Council head Eden walked in.
“Why Constantine, it looks like you just had a temper tantrum. Is everything alright?” Her voice was light and teasing.
“I’m great.” He took her hand and dropped a kiss on the back of it.
She raised an eyebrow in obvious disbelief but she didn’t push it. She might have been the head of the Werewolf council but she knew that he wasn’t to be trifled with either. Even if she didn’t know the full extent of it.
“Laurel might not live through next month. We need to appoint her replacement.” Eden said seriously revealing the full portent of her visit.
Dorian pulled on a mask of worry. “Really? I thought she was getting better.”
He had made certain that she wouldn’t. It was no small matter to appoint a new member of the werewolf council but he was going to pull it off to move the numbers in his favour for his final play.
“So did I. Take heart. I know both of you were close but we need to focus on ensuring the council’s numbers stay balanced.”
“Of course, Eden.”
Cynthia could wait for now. He had bigger fish to fry. Once he had secured the council, if she still didn’t remedy her ways, he would deal with her.