006 Wella POV - The Pack League

Wella's POV

Ava had been everywhere for the past three days...

Looking for me.

Not in an obvious way. She was too clever for that. She floated through corridors like she belonged there, clipboard in hand, asking questions that Theo had already answered, flipping through files that I had already organized. She was always just around—in the east wing when I needed to pass through, in the garden when I took my morning walk, at the construction site when I went to check the progress.

The resort was nearly finished.

Three years ago, I had hosted the League when it wasn't even our rotation. The other packs had pushed the schedule forward to humiliate Alexander—to force a crippled Alpha to host, to watch him fail.

I had stayed up for weeks, researching every protocol, memorizing every name, planning every detail. I had done it because I knew what it felt like to be counted out. I had done it because he was my husband, even if he didn't want to be. I had done it because I was terrified of embarrassing him, terrified of giving them more reasons to laugh at the broken Alpha and his Omega Luna.

The summit had been flawless. Not a single complaint. Not a single misstep.

So this year, per the old Alpha’s direct order, we were to build a new resort at the lake area for the Pack League Meeting, as the grand celebration for Alexander’s first meeting as the host, to show everyone that he finally returned.

And he wanted to use it to show Ava’s return.

I knew that’s his plan, I mean--

Ava is pregnant, and in three months, she would be showing.

Alexander would not wait that long. He would give her the Luna title before her belly betrayed them both.

But he would not admit that was his plan. He would say I was throwing a tantrum. He would say it was my fault for not trying harder, for disappearing, for being difficult.

He would make it my fault. He always did.

I stood at the edge of the lake, watching the workers haul the last of the scaffolding away. The building rose out of the water like something from a dream—glass and pale stone, wide balconies that faced the sunset, a great hall that could seat a thousand. It had taken a year to build. A year of my life, of late nights and early mornings, of arguing with contractors and soothing egos and making sure every detail was perfect.

It was supposed to be my gift to Alexander. His first Pack League Meeting as Alpha. His first time standing in front of the eight packs as their host, as their equal, as the man who had clawed his way back from the edge of ruin.

I had wanted it to be perfect for him.

Now I was handing it to Ava.

Theo came up beside me, his boots crunching on the gravel. "They're done with the east wing. Plumbing's tested, electricity's live. All that's left is the furniture delivery tomorrow."

"Good." I didn't turn around. "I'll sign off on the final inspection tomorrow morning. Then you can hand the keys to Ava."

Theo was quiet for a long moment. Then he said, "She's been looking for you."

"I know."

"Every hour, Wella. She's been asking every hour where you are. I've been running interference, but she's—" He stopped, searching for the right word. "Persistent."

I almost laughed. Persistent. That was one word for it.

The Pack League was the reason the eight packs hadn't torn each other apart for the last century. Every year, one pack hosted a ten-day summit where Alphas from across the territory came together to discuss borders, disputes, alliances. It was the single most important event in our world. The host pack's reputation lived or died on those ten days.

This year, it was our turn.

Our turn. Except it wasn't mine anymore.

I turned away from the lake. "I'm going to the office. If she comes looking, tell her I'm in a meeting."

"I don’t have to avoid her. She is the theif, and you have nothing to hide."

Yes, I do. I have a baby in me, one that I’m not sure what to do. I do want to keep him, I mean, I love him. I don’t know how to explain that, but from the moment I knew of his existence, I can’t stop loving him.

But can I really keep him, even if I want to?

I only have half of a say in this matter. But Alexander wouldn’t want a child of his out side his pack, and he wouldn’t want one in the family he wants to build with Ava...

"She wants me gone, that’s why she’s looking for me. I will leave soon, and she will rest assured when I did."