Don't Poke the Luna (Xena and Ryder)

Chapter 83

Xena's POV

The gravel crunched beneath the tires as we pulled up to Ryder's pack house. The massive stone and wood structure stood imposing against the afternoon sky, windows gleaming in the sunlight. Members of his pack moved around the property like they always did-some training in the yard, others carrying supplies or talking in small groups.

A cluster of men, including Magnus, were standing near the entrance, stuffing their faces with donuts. Their eyes followed us as we got out of the car, Ryder carrying the samples I'd brought to show him.

"Don't want to break a nail, Ms. Harris?" Magnus called out with a sneer, his eyes raking over me with undisguised contempt.

I met his gaze directly, feeling that familiar fire building in my chest. "I'm not the one who should worry about breaking nails. Last I remember, you son of a bitch were the one

who couldn't—"

"Magnus, go run some laps," Ryder interrupted, his voice carrying the unmistakable command of an Alpha.

"Yes, Alpha," Magnus muttered, shooting me one last glare before jogging away. We continued walking toward the main entrance, Ryder's hand brushing against the small of my back in a way that sent unwelcome tingles up my spine.

"Since you're so good at motivating young people now..." Ryder sighed as we entered his office, a spacious room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the forest beyond.

"Technically, I'm still young myself. Just connecting with my peers," I shrugged, dropping into one of the chairs in front of his desk. I crossed my legs, tapping my fingers against the armrest impatiently.

Ryder laughed softly, the sound doing strange things to my insides that I refused to

acknowledge. "Let's start with the layout," he said, pulling out a piece of draft paper. He drew a rectangle and marked the existing layout of the space. "What do you want to change?"

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I leaned forward, focusing on the task at hand rather than the way his scent-pine and

something wilder-seemed to fill the room.

"I want to add a private office behind the reception area. Keeping the bathroom in its current position would save money, but it needs to be slightly bigger. I need a separate room for imported goods, but it doesn't have to be huge. The customization area needs to be larger than before."

shifting back to the paper. "What about adding another customization station so you can hire someone

business?"

that before. The idea rolled around in

so. The west wall would only need

for a

phone kept buzzing with incoming messages. He responded to some and ignored others. My

so desperate to

Ryder pressed a button, and the door buzzed before

cool," I said, genuinely impressed by

kitchen staff member

"Thank we'd be

eating.

Please set it on the coffee table." I stood and walked over to see

to leave, another figure stepped into the doorway. "Oh good, the bitch isn't here. Now we can continue what we were doing earlier." Helen walked in wearing nothing but a trench coat, her voice sickeningly

plucked a few blueberries from the lunch tray and popped them into my mouth, watching with morbid fascination as her little performance

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Chapter 83

I asked calmly, the ice in my voice barely concealing my

not here or too busy, so I finally caught you." She completely ignored me, her voice taking

see?" She opened her trench coat slightly, flashing Ryder a

clearly. Turn around," I suddenly commanded, my voice

her act faltering. She quickly closed her coat,

hatred.

you doing here?" she

desk will go

I let the lie hang in the air between us,

rage. "Now, I want to

released a burst of my aura, letting it

I calmly ate another blueberry. Helen was forced to open her coat, revealing the lingerie she'd chosen specifically to please

please a man.

big for you. Doesn't seem to fill out the top," I

blueberry into my mouth.