Composure

Tristan’s POV 

The look on Reya’s face was like that of a vicious vixen. Her eyes were fixed on Chloe and her mouth lifted up in a smirk that tugged at my heart. Before I could say anything, Lycan Xander appeared by her side, slipping an arm around her waist. 

“Is everything alright here?” he shot a questioning glance at Chloe who looked like she had seen a ghost, but that wasn’t my problem. My problem was that an unknown feeling swelled in my chest and I had the urge to jump forward and pry his hands off Reya. 

I gritted my teeth, clenching my fist beside me. “Chloe,” I bit out. “Has be having dizzy spells. I’m sure she just needs to rest.”

That snapped Chloe out of whatever trance she was in and she plastered a smile on her face. “Oh, I’m sorry. I’m… fine. Come, I’ll show you to your rooms. I’m sure you all are tired from the trip and need to rest.”

She shot me a glare, silently sending me a message that I had a lot of questions to answer. 

Again, that wasn’t my problem. I needed to find a way to get Reya away from Lycan Xander. If I had my way, I’d have kicked him away from my territory the moment we reached the borders, but not only was he the Lycan King, he was here to support his pack team.

And it was the only way I could bring Reya here.

I sidestepped, copying Chloe and plastering a fake ass smile on my face. “We prepared an entire lounge for you and your team, Lycan King. I hope you like it.”

My eyes strayed to the spot on Reya’s back where his hand met her skin as he led her into the pack house and rage boiled inside me. Try how I might, I knew I couldn’t keep the news of her return on the down and low. 

I mean she was my Luna for two full years even if I never let her engage in any Luna duties. Every member of my pack knew her and I knew news of her arrival back here was going to spread like wildfire. 

I frowned as a little boy with a mask on brushed past me, giggling about something with the little girl I had seen with Lycan Xander the other day. I frowned. They brought a fucking kid? And who the hell was the boy?

“Why do you not look as surprised as I am?” Chloe’s voice sounded in my ears, lifting the fog of thoughts over my mind. Although she was talking to me, her eyes were settled on Lycan Xander and his team who were being led to their lounge by one of the maids.

“You saw her too, right? That was Reya.” She turned to me, narrowing her eyes into slits. “Did you know she was coming here?”

I groaned, rubbing my temples. Although it turned into almost not possible for werewolves, I turned as if am experiencing a headache. Goddess, why didn’t I think about Chloe when making my plans?

“You knew she was coming here and you said nothing to me?” she snapped, her voice laced with malice and anger. “Even going as far as making a fool out of me by bringing me down here to welcome her. What was your aim? Do you enjoy seeing me being humiliated?”

I groaned inside. “In my defense,” I began, trying my best to sound as civil as I could. “I told you not to come. I would’ve welcomed them myself.” With the look she gave me, I knew as soon as I finished saying the words that wasn’t the excuse I should be giving.

Well, the deed had already been done.

I peeked a glance at the direction they were headed, hoping to catch a glimpse of Reya but they were already gone. My mouth turned sour, and I turned away from Chloe marching to my office in long strides. 

Chloe ran after me, the heels of her shoe clicking the floor in an annoying way which was causing headache to me.  

“How can she be here?” she hissed as soon as we were both in my office. “Tris, she is supposed to be dead!”

I frowned, hating the idea of her even suggesting or thinking something like that about another person. What was wrong with her?

“Obviously, she is not dead,” I shrugged, falling into a couch to catch my breath. It was clear she was still in shock, because the Chloe I knew would never wish death upon any animal, not to talk of a werewolf like us. 

“So, why is she here, Tris?” she lowered her voice, coming to stand in front of me and run her fingers through my hair. “Please tell me it’s just for the games. That’s all, right?” 

Goddess, why was this so hard? I didn’t want to lie to her, I wanted to tell her that Reya was here for nothing but the games, but the tightness in my chest told me there was more. 

I knew I wanted Reya back. I knew the moment I set eyes on her in the Lycan King’s territory. I didn’t realize how much I missed her before, but now, she was all I could think about. She was all I wanted.

And without her, I felt utterly useless and incomplete. 

‘While you are admitting your feelings, something you should have done a long time ago, why not also admit that you fell in love with Reya and not Chloe?’ My wolf mocked. ‘The person you have always loved is Reya but you were too proud to admit it and now see where we are.’

I scoffed in my head. Me? In love with Reya? That was impossible. While I was sure my feelings for Chloe were gone, I wasn’t sure I caught those feelings for Reya even though I didn’t feel the need to make her suffer like I did before.

“Why aren’t you saying anything, Tris?” Chloe snapped. “Tell me her return means nothing to you and will not affect us in any way!”

I sighed, reaching out to hold her hand. “Reya is here to represent the Lycan King’s team in the games,” I assured her. “That’s all. There’s nothing between us and there will be nothing between us.”

She sniffed but said nothing. Hopefully, I would be able to keep these rising feelings for Reya buried within me for Chloe’s sake, because as much as I craved and missed Reya, I couldn’t bear to hurt Chloe more than she was already hurting. 

‘Aren’t you pathetic?’ My wolf mocked, scratching hard at the back of my mind. ‘Is that all you are going to say?’

“Will you punish her for running away?” Chloe asked, pulling my attention back to her face. “Even if she is now hiding out in the Lycan King’s territory, she is still a member of your pack and you had a standing agreement with Alpha Wyvern.” She reminded me. 

Her fingers scratched my scalp in a way that she knew I always liked. “It was her life for mine, Tris. I hope you did not forget.”

How could I forget? Although Alpha Wyvern had chosen not to take up a case after Reya ran away and I still went ahead to claim Chloe, an agreement was an agreement and even if five years already passed, I still had to honor it. 

Except, a lot has changed since that time. 

I didn’t see myself giving Reya off to anyone. She was mine and mine alone and I was going to make sure it stayed that way.