I can feel her before I see her.
Siena sits at the far end of the conference table, her back straight, her voice steady as the presents Windhow’s strategy for the upcoming negotiations.
She’s commanding, in control, but I can’t shake the feeling that something’s wrong, Her face is too pale, the shadows beneath her eyes too dark. She’s exhausted, and I can tell. I don’t know how, but I just know
My wolf stirs, a low whine raking through my chest, instinctively drawn to her. I try to ignore it. I try to focus on the meeting, but my gaze keeps sliding toward her.
The words coming out of her mouth barely register in my mind. My focus is on the way she holds herself, the way she rubs a hand over her face after every few sentences, as though she’s holding herself together by sheer will alone.
Zion moves toward her after the meeting his broad shoulders cutting through the sea of people, and I can’t help but watch His hand rests on her shoulder, light and casual, but there’s something possessive in the way he keeps it there for just a bear too long. He whispers something to her–probably nothing important, but the way she smiles in response is different.
It’s weak, the kind of smile that doesn’t quite reach her eyes. She’s not happy. I can see it. But Zion doesn’t notice. He’s too busy with his own smug satisfaction, like he’s claimed something that was never his to take.
My jaw tightens, my wolf growls low in my chest, but I ignore it. I can’t. Not now. Not when I promised myself I wouldn’t let her back into my thoughts like this.
“You’re distracted again,” Lila’s voice cuts through my internal chaos. Her fingers dig into my arm, nails pressing into my skin as she leans in closer. “Remeber what we talked about? You need some distance Raidne. Let her play her little games. It doens’t matter–you win.” she smiles. “You always will when you’re with me.”
I glance down at her, then quickly pull my eyes away, focusing on the conversation at hand. “What are you talking about?”
Lila raises an eyebrow, her lips curling slightly in a sharp, knowing smile. “You’ve barely heard a word I’ve said all day. Your mind keeps drifting to her.This eeds to stop. I need you here Raiden, with
me
“I’m focused on the negotiations,” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended. But the lie tastes bitter, and I can’t help but feel guilty. It’s not just the negotiations.
It’s her
It’s always been her
But not anymore.
I drag my attention back to the meeting, doing my best to ignore the way my chest tightens every time I glance at Siena.
She’s sitting with her pack now, her head slightly bent as she talks with Rickard and Rairity.
But even from across the room, I can feel the tension radiating from her. The weight of the stress she’s carrying, the distance between us growing wider every day.
Did I do that?
The urge to go to her is unbearable, but I fight it.
16:26 Mon 21 Apr
Chapter 45
