Zade’s POV
I raised an eyebrow at her strong disagreement.
“Why can’t we? It’s the most reasonable thing to do,” I said.
“People of the other packs will start to dig deeper into Malia. What if they find out about her curse? She’s going to be so devastated by the stigma,” she replied.
My forehead creased in confusion. “Since when did you start caring about Malia’s feelings?” I asked.
“Please, I’m not a monster,” she replied, her face a mask of annoyance.
“I didn’t mean that and you know it. And, don’t worry, I don’t think anyone’s going to dig deeper about who she is or anything. They’re just going to be focused on the bounty on her head,” I said.
Her eyes suddenly became sad.
“What now?” I asked.
“What if when you find her, you’re also required to marry her? You can’t have two Luna’s,” she answered.
“You don’t have to be worried about something like that happening. The pack has accepted you and they believe you’re carrying the next Alpha,” I replied pointing to her protruding belly.
She nodded. “I guess there’s nothing to be worried about then,” she said.
I breathed a sigh of relief and continued with my meal.
She moved closer to me and cleared her throat. I knew what she was about to say wasn’t going to sit well with me.
“So about that vacation I was talking to you about before you went to search for Malia, I think we could go this week,” she said.
I took a deep breath. “Not yet, baby. We still haven’t found her. Our pack is still in jeopardy. What would the others think if their Alpha and Luna decide to go on a vacation in the middle of a crisis?”
I spoke to her patiently like I would speak to a little child.
She stood up abruptly in anger.
“That’s all you care about. The pack. You’re forgetting that you also have a wife and an unborn child whom you also need to focus on just like you focus on the pack. You don’t even pay us half as much attention,” she complained.
I felt my appetite desert me and I pushed the food aside.
“The pack is my responsibility. And you’re forgetting that you’re also part of this pack. Anything I do for the good of this pack, I do for your own good and that of our unborn child. If this pack is destroyed, what legacy will our child have?” I asked with my voice rising in anger.
To my horror, she broke into tears. I wanted to smash something in frustration but instead, I stood up and went to her.
She resisted as I tried to pull her in for a hug.
“Victoria,” I sighed and raised her chin to look up at me.
This time when I tried to hug her, she didn’t resist.
“You know I care about you. All that I do is so that you and our child can be safe. I love you Victoria,” I said, patting her back gently as I spoke.
She nodded against my chest.
I led her to the bed and offered her my meal.
“I’ve already had a lot to eat. I guess I’ll just sleep,” she said.
I made sure she was comfortable on the bed before I rang the kitchen again to clear the dishes.
I dropped the plates on the table before settling in beside Victoria.
I ran my fingers lightly through her hair until she was fast asleep.
I gently got off the bed so as not to wake her and headed to my study.
No sooner had I settled on the chair than Elder Zelda walked in.
“I already addressed you all, I have nothing else to add to what I said earlier,” I said rather abruptly.
She gave me a look before settling down on the chair opposite me.
“You’d have to watch your tone when you speak to me. I’ve known you since you were in diapers,” she scolded.
“I’m sorry, Zelda. I guess I am just stressed out,” I apologized.
“We all are,” she replied.
She regarded me in silence for a moment.
I arched a brow.
“I’m sure you didn’t come here to look at me,” I said softly.
“You look more like him every day,” she stated.
She didn’t need to say who. I bore a striking resemblance to my father whom she’d been in love with, though she’d never admit it.
“What if we never find her?” She asked.
I sighed in frustration and rubbed my temples. I didn’t want to think or talk about Malia at that moment. I was planning on getting lost in a good book before Zelda walked in.
“We have to find her. We’re going to find her. I don’t want to think about the alternative,” I replied.
“But we have to so that we can be prepared and think of another plan. Another solution,” she urged.
“I’ve heard you, Zelda. I’ll think about it.”
“Please do. For all our sakes,” she said and got to her feet.
Immediately the door closed shut, I shoved all the stuff off my desk in anger and frustration. I desperately needed to let off some steam or risk exploding.
Tommy entered into the study at that moment and raised a brow at the mess that I had made.
“Don’t even ask,” I warned.
He nodded and wisely didn’t say a word.
“I don’t deserve this. The pack doesn’t. Or did we do something that bad?” I asked in frustration.
Tommy shrugged. “All I know is that things are going to get better at some point. You should believe that.”
I paced my study to keep from smashing the table against the wall.
Tommy noticed my frustration and suggested we go to the training field to let out some steam and put my mind elsewhere even if it was just for a moment.
I agreed without hesitation and together we made our way to the training grounds.
The sounds of weapons clashing were exactly what I needed. I put my all into the fight.
Thank the goddess that Tommy was an expert or I would have ended up injuring him badly.
We fought until we were both totally exhausted and all I could think of was my bed.
I panted hard as I plopped to the ground.
“Not bad,” Tommy joked as he plopped down beside me.
I snorted and closed my eyes.