Emily’s POV
“You wanted to see me,” I announced my arrival, entering Xavier’s office without knocking or waiting for him to invite me in.
Xavier looked up languidly from the report he was reading, not even annoyed by my abrupt interjection.
“Yes,” he said, gesturing to the chairs in front of his desk. “Pour yourself a cup of tea and have a seat.” He seemed not to be in a hurry, and that annoyed me. I have been in and out of his office for brief, nitty-gritty meetings for the past couple of days, and my patience is wearing thin. I suspected he was doing it deliberately.
“I’m not planning to stay very long, Xavier,” I said, crossing my arms around my chest. “I have more pressing matters to attend to than sit down and have a tea party with you. Why am I being summoned to your office?”
Xavier silently fixed his gaze on me for a considerable amount of time, which made me uneasy. An indiscernible emotion flashed across his eyes as his expression suddenly darkened.
“What the f*ck was that?” Willow muttered, bewildered. It was unlike anything she had ever seen in Xavier.
“I am not sure,” I cautiously said. “But I saw it too.”
“Suite yourself,” Xavier abruptly said, putting down the report on his desk, reclining in his chair, and returning to his normal demeanor. “I had intended to talk to you last night, but you have been in a terrible mood lately, so I thought I would talk to you this morning instead. It appears that this is not the ideal moment even now.”
Was it Xavier’s intention to make me feel guilty?
I slowly lowered my eyes back down after rolling them up to the ceiling in an attempt to hide the fact that I was currently irritated with him.
“What can I do for you, Xavier?” I asked, attempting to hide my annoyance.
“Nothing significant,” he answered. “I just wanted to let you know that this weekend is my birthday.”
I squinted at him. Those words carried some sort of subliminal message.
I was told earlier that Xavier would be turning fifty years old this weekend. I did not give it much thought. A birthday celebration in honor of Xavier is customarily arranged. I assume this year’s festivities will only include the pack, as they were last year.
“And?” I asked.
“I have decided,” he said. “I am calling off my birthday party because of all the rogue attacks.”
Why is he talking to me about this instead of his council or pack?
“Okay,” I said, shifting my head to the side. “Is that all there is?”
Xavier pinned my gaze as he lay forward on his desk, his fingers crossed, saying, “No, on the contrary, it is not.”
I briefly became concerned and even a little scared because of Xavier’s strange behavior.
How did he intend to proceed?
Furthermore, how did it relate to me?
“So, what are your plans for your birthday?” I asked.
“A ball,” he said. “And a couple more things to occupy everyone.”
“A ball?” I let out a startled gasp. “Yet you just declared that you were going to cancel.”
“That is right,” he interrupted. “However, I felt that inviting all Alphas and immediate ranks to the celebration would be a good idea. After that, devote the remainder of the weekend to further training.”
“For the entire weekend?” My jaw dropped in shock.
My breath caught when I considered the possibility that both Alex and the so-called Luna would be there!
Xavier repeated, “Yes, the entire weekend,” picking up his cup of tea and sipping while he kept his eyes fixed on me.
“How does this relate to me?” I mumbled, attempting to control my feelings.
“The training will be presented by you!” Xavier stated.
“How come? No! Why?” I moaned in shock.
“You are the Royal Gamma of the White Moon Pack,” Xavier declared. “It is your responsibility to guarantee that every pack is adequately prepared to fend off any threats.”
My heart sank into my shoes.
“I told you I had no desire for a title.” I hissed. “I was happy without it!”
“Call the position whatever you want, Emily,” Xavier said in a quiet but foreboding manner. “But the fact remains that you hold that role and are accountable for the safety and training of everyone. You are aware of the statistics and the training gaps that exist among the packs.”
Xavier sat back, and a grin followed his lips.
“Besides, take this as a challenge,” he said. “It might do you good, and maybe you will get a better perspective on everything.”
“Perspective?” I huffed, annoyed. “What is that supposed to mean?”
“Make with that bit of advice whatever you like,” he said, a teasing smile playing at the corners of his lips. “But even as you lament being rejected, keep in mind that life goes on and that we still have a rogue epidemic to deal with. We need you to help us put a stop to them. I have faith and trust in you. All the packs do.”
I sighed.
“Very well,” I said. “Send me the details of what is required and when the packs will be arriving.”
“It has been emailed to you as we speak.” He said, his smile growing.
“If that is all,” I said. “I’ll be taking my leave now.”
Xavier gave a nod and observed me walk away.
“Perspective!” Willow growled in my mind. “What is his understanding of the term perspective?”
I shrugged, not giving a damn, went outside, shifted, and quickly made my way back.
However, my mind strayed to Alex. Perhaps there was a reason Alex and I were not meant to be together. Maybe it was better that way.
“Don’t you dare believe that!” Willow growled fiercely in my mind. “Alex was given to us by the Goddess for a purpose!”
She had continued to hope that we could be together, but right now I was too afraid to hope. My heart was still aching.
“That reason is f*cking hurting us!” I lost my temper.
“Have faith,” Willow muttered, pacing my mind. “Alex will fulfill his promise and locate some kind of evidence. He loves us. I am certain he does.”
I ran faster than I normally would, and in no time I made it back home.
I quickly shifted, found my hidden clothes, and got dressed.
I started going down the forest trail to the place I called my home when Willow became anxious.
“Strange,” Willow uttered. “Why are the pups not playing outside? It’s such a beautiful sunny day!”
Immediately, the surrounding forest became silent, as though to alert me to something being amiss, and I felt a cold shiver creep down my spine.
“F*ck!” I muttered as my heart began to race in my chest. “Lex!”
I did not hesitate to sprint the remaining distance on the trail, stopping at the forest’s edge.
With my nose pointing skyward, I focused and inhaled deeply. Noticing nothing unusual about the smell, I focused on listening.
When I couldn’t hear or smell anything, Willow hid my scent, and I stalked down, praying that nothing bad had happened and that my sixth scene was off.
I reached the house in the nick of time, climbed the steps to my front porch, and went to the window to peer inside.
Nothing seemed off until I saw something like a shadow moving inside my home.
I widened my eyes in shock.
“Have you…?” Willow let out a gasp.
“What the f*ck?” I interrupted her with a mutter, then hurried to open the front door.
****