The pack house is dimly lit when I step inside. It’s quiet, which suite me fine, the exhaustion clinging to me like a dampened, soggy second skin.
Another day filled with meetings, negotiations, responsibilities I shoulder without question.
Rolling my neck, I glance th egrand halls. There i snot a sould to be found.
Something feels off.
AT first, I can’t place it. But, as I move deeper into the house, a nagging sensation grows stronger.
Then, I relaize it. The scent of fresh flowers is missing from the foyer. The usual warmth of candlelihgght in my study is all but dead-, Inside only blackness, as if it belongs to no one, let alone the Alpha King.
The faint hum of carefully selected music no longer drifts through the air.
The small, insignificant comfotrs I rarely pay attention to–gone.
What’s happening?
“Where is my tie fortomorw?” I call out to the silence, irritation lacing my voice.
There is nothing- silnce.
Is this a joke?
Suddenly, i hear heavy patters of feet. The butler, a young pup just happy to be here, appears. His posture is stiff, his face is neutral, but his eyteys give him awya. He’s lost.
“Alpha, sir,” he clears his throat. He’s panicking and he should be. “Many apologies. How cal asits?”
“My tie, Gorkin, where is it?”
U11, 20 API
Chapter 4
“I’m..I’m very sorry Aplha, I do not know.”
Is this pup serious?
11)
I swallow down the instinct of rage., settling on a frown. “What do you mean you don’t know Gordkin? That’s exactly your job, what you’re padi to do! KNOW!”
The growl escapes. I cannot contro I the fury.
He’s terrified, but it makes no difference. I want answers and I what them now.
“Speak Pup!”
“Ah..Ah Lady Seina. She is the one who prpeares your belongings alpha.S he handles the schedules, makes your social arrangements, your-”
“And you? What do you do?”
The question burns between us.
“I..I’m sorry.”
I waive a hand, cutting him off. “So everything that is misplaced and wrong in this house tonight is due to the Luna’s absence? Is that your explanation?”
The butler trembles but remain ssilnet.
Exhaling sharply, I run a and through my hair. “…Maybe That crazy woman was actually useful afterall,hmm.”
“You are excused pup.”
Suddenly, my wolf stirs in the back of my mind. A low growl of dissporval rumbling through the deepchords fo our bond.
[You never appreciated her.]
I scowl. “Why are you so keen on defending her Horace? She chose marriage for an alliance! She has no love for you, or me or this pack! She manipulates, lies.”
Horace is silent for a moment before he reposnds, voice quiter, but firm.
[If you keep ignoring Siena and pushing her away, you’ll come to regret it Raiden. Mark my words, nothing good can come of this.]
He could be right, but it makes no difference. I have sacrificed time, money and my sanity for many years on her account. I want nothing but compliance because that is what I am owed.
That is what was agreed.
[Remember raiden. She is your Luna, our Luna. respect-]
“Enough!” I growl, slamming my fist into the frdiege, rattling it’s contents.
Trying to shake off the unsettling warning from my intrusive wolf, I pull out the phone. Only a few hours agao I commanded her to be home.
She has disobeyed me.
Setting the phone down, I grab a water, a bag of cashews and I wait.
08:33 Sun, 20 Apr
Chapter 4
The silence is loud. The clock ticks in the distance, it’s rhym is everywhere and in no particular place, all at once
What nerve she has! Who does she think she is?
Drumming my fingers on the marble counter, i wait. Still, there‘ snotihng.
Frowning, I pull the phone out again. Checking the screen.
Delivered. Not read.
Not even opened.
What game is she playing at?
A strange sunken feeling begins to wheirl around in mystomch.
The girl who used to chase me around, hung on my every word. the woman who sacrificed everything for me-
Blocked me.
She’s ignoring me…?
