Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Xenois 

That was only what she texted to me.

It seemed like she didn't care. There was no anger, no disappointment. As if she'd already expected me to fail her again.

The text should have relieved me, there was no fight or any guilt trip but instead, it left me feeling uneasy. 

The Luna I knew would have not given in quite easily. She would have demanded explanations, and made me work for her forgiveness. This quiet acceptance was something that I could not see her doing.

*Is everything okay?* I texted back, . This was a rare moment, feeling genuine concern for my mate.

The three dots appeared, indicating she was typing, then it disappeared. Appeared again. Disappeared.

Finally my phone buzzed with a reply: Everything's fine, Xenois. Take care of your 'something.' We'll manage without you. We always do.

Her using my full name felt like I had been punched out of nowhere. Luna hasn't called me "Xenois" since we got mated. The only time she used that full name was when she was still keeping me at arms length, still trying to decide if this forced bonding between us was something she could grow to accept.

Before I could respond, my phone rang. It was Thorne, my Second, who was calling.

"Alpha," he said when I answered, "we've secured the place at the airfield. No unusual activity reported at all during the preparation of Kingston pack's return."

"Good." I said as I turned around in my chair, looking out over Silver Creek, the town I'd sworn to protect.

 "Any word from our contacts in the city? Any movement from the Blackwater pack?"

"Nothing solid yet, but there are rumors going around that they're expanding their territory. If they continue pushing towards East with their current pace, they'll be at our borders within the year."

I frowned, considering the implications behind this move. The Blackwater pack was well known for their aggressive traits, demanding land and taking it as theirs, killing innocents and weak ones who presented as an obstacle to them. If they set their sights on Silver Creek...

"Double the border patrols," I decided. "And send our best scouts to check and monitor their movements. I want to know the moment they make a move in our direction."

"Consider it done." Thorne paused, his voice dropping a bit. He hesitated for a moment before he spoke. 

"Is there anything else you need me to handle today? While you're... otherwise occupied?"

I stiffened at his tone. "What exactly are you implying, Thorne?"

"Nothing, Alpha." His voice remained neutral as he spoke nonchalantly "Just offering my assistance, as always."

I ended the call with more force than necessary, tossing the phone onto my desk.

 Thorne knew about Sophia, there was no way he didn't know. 

As my second-in-command, he was well known to private information about my comings and goings. But I didn't appreciate the insinuation in his voice, the subtle judgement he had in his tone..

What I did with my time was my business. As long as the pack remained safe and happy and was prospering well under my just rule, my personal affairs were no one's concern but my own.

I checked my watch again. Time to leave for the airport if I wanted to be there when Sophia's plane landed. 

I gathered Riley's medication and my keys, ignoring the nagging voice at the back of my mind that sounded suspiciously like Luna's.

You're making a choice, it whispered in my ears. Every time you walk away, you're choosing.

I silenced the voice easily like I had been doing since this double life started and made my way to the car.

____

The small private airport located on the outskirts of Silver Creek was quiet when I arrived. I could see some handful of members moving about the single runway. 

I parked in the VIP section and headed for the small terminal building, nodding my head at the security guards who recognized me immediately.

"Alpha Mayor," one greeted me respectfully with a bow. "The Kingston jet just radioed in. ETA fifteen minutes."

"Thank you." I moved to the observation deck, watching the empty sky, feeling anticipation building up in my chest.

Sophia Kingston was technically an outsider—a wolf who married into the neighboring Blood Creek pack. 

Her husband, Alpha Marcus Kingston, had died two years ago, leaving her with a young son and a pack that didn't like her much.

 As someone who wasn't recognized as the Luna of that pack, due to the mysterious ways she got her child after rumors went round that she was barren, she had no real standing among wolves, her position was only maintained through her son, the future Alpha and his cousin. The one who has accepted the position of Alpha, Alpha Sean Kingston.

 We had reconnected with each other years ago after a short relationship we had in our college years before I was informed that I was to be wedded to a daughter of another powerful pack, Lumina Brooklyn otherwise known as Luna.

Sophia had been there representing her son's interests, looking lonely in a room full of Alphas, holding her own with a kind of dignity that had captured my attention.

Our affair was renewed when I had too much to drink and then we started meeting up in secret, maintaining appearance until she dropped the bomb that she needed to leave her pack for a while with her son.

Now, watching her private jet land on the walkway I felt the familiar mixture of anticipation and guilt in my stomach tying up in knots.

I waited as the door opened and I could see both of them getting ready to step down

As soon as they got on the ground, Sophia's eyes found mine as she waved.

"Xen!" Sophia called, hurrying towards me with excitement scribbled all over her face.

 Riley followed slowly behind her as well but his face__similar to that of my son___ looked happy as well to see me.

I met them halfway across the tarmac, accepting Sophia's hug, despite the fact it felt wrong and I slowly pulled away.

"We missed you," she murmured against my ear before stepping back.

I bend down to Riley's level, offering him a smile as I spoke. "Hey, buddy. How was the city?"

"Loud," he said simply looking serious as he kept on speaking .

"And my wolf didn't like being around so many humans."

I nodded, understanding completely what he meant.

Young werewolves often struggled with control of their wolf form especially around populated human areas. 

"Well, you're home now. The wolf can relax."

He smiled then nodded his head.

 "Mom says we're having dinner at your house tonight. Is Ollie feeling better?"

The question was innocent enough but caught me off guard as I avoided Sophia's eyes.

"Your mom must have misunderstood," I said carefully. "I thought we'd have dinner at your place. Just the three of us."

Sophia who had been looking at us seemed disappointed at this for a reason I'm not sure yet, but she recovered quickly

"Of course. Whatever you think is best."