Chapter 86
Bronx's POV
When I get back to pack house, there is a distinct negative energy in the air that feels like Kas. If I didn't know better, it's almost like she lost her temper or something and it seems to influence everyone. Even Ashley seems grumpy.
"Ashley, is Kas back? Have you seen her?" I ask when I see her walk by.
"She’s in her office. Why?" Ashley snaps at me.
Okay. That's weird. Ashley has never once in the twenty-five years I've known her, come close to raising her voice at me. Even when my mental health was at its worst and I almost killed Reggie. She was nothing but forgiving and worried about me. Maybe it's pregnancy hormones?
"Ashley, watch yourself," I step in front of her, blocking her path, 'What’s gotten into you?"
She looks at me like she is just realizing I'm there. Her face turns bright red with embarrassment, "Oh Alpha, I'm so sorry. What was I thinking? I didn't mean-,”
"It's all right, Ashley. Where's Kas?" I ask again.
"In her office with the rest of her team and the Manae leaders," she says more calmly.
'Thank you. Is this too stressful for you? Covering for Carly? I can find someone else."
"Oh, no, Sir. I'm fine. Seriously. It's just for today. I’m happy to help," she says, nodding and backing away.
"Alright. But you tell me if you need a break, okay?" I look at her more carefully.
"Yes, Alpha!" she calls out as she turns and hurries away. 1
"Marco, James, where you guys at?" I mind link Kas's guards.
"In the Luna’s office, sir. You should probably get up here. Things are getting a little tense," Marco links back, "and uh, kinda weird."
'That sounds like a bad combo," Saint puts in his two cents, "What are you waiting for, dummy?" 2
I run up the steps two at a time until I get to the fourth floor landing. The guards assigned to monitor me stay on my heels as the best they can.
When I get to the stairs to the fifth floor, two guards stand at attention, blocking the way.
"Alpha, are they expecting you?" the guard asks defensively.
Has everyone lost their minds today? Did he just ask me if I
says again,
time for this shit. I glare as the guard moves to let me
think he is?" Saint
affecting me. I can’t imagine what it is doing to everyone else.
I jog down the hallway until I see Tyree and another
going on? What’s
so hot in the botanical gardens today. Marco and I thought Lex was going
the blood drain from my face. Why
name is Valor. I don't mean any disrespect to any of
clarifies and shakes
say anything derogatory about anyone. He is
all of them are in there now?" I point to the
Marco, James, Musu, and Delilah,” he has a
why does it feel like everyone is trying to slow US down from getting to
it?" I agree with Saint for once. No one in the pack has ever questioned me trying
I give him
and open
to her is Katherine, with body posture as tight as a guitar string. Amari and Persephone are avoiding eye contact with everyone. Across the table, Marco and James are assessing the situation as calmly as possible. Then I see Musu and Delilah also
Tessa, who can't stop crying. They all look at me
though, what is going on
fully, I see Kas at the head of the table, sipping a glass of wine. I swear when I blink my eye, the transparent outline of a man leans over and whispers in her ear. I make eye contact with the form, even though there are no eyes to speak of. I get a sense that it is smiling before it disappears instantly. The outline seemed familiar but I don't
did you
guy
shadow of a guy, right? Did it look
dummy. It looked like it was talking to her. Maybe he gave her
but my brain didn’t process it. Kas is drinking wine. Kas doesn’t drink. Time
next to her. Anger is rolling off of her in crushing waves. She looks calm except for a slight glow of her aura. I look closer to see her eyes are
against her chest. She slowly lifts it to her face, trying not to draw attention to herself, and makes a small motion as if she were drinking from an invisible glass, then clutches her chest again. Her eyes open much wider,
the can of
Baby, you okay?" I speak softly as I look back
home!" Kas smiles sweetly, finally acknowledging
what have you been talking about? How did it go at the
to torture me for the rest of my life, but it's cool. That won't happen now. She's going to stay with US for a few
Katherine, who is staring at me wide eyed. She mouths 'help'
cruel little chuckle, "And look at her, I don’t see how she could possibly say no. Oh, and she
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Qd/y6IKeW6CskA3CkLzXElnzexuZZoT5uAy5Rje8qjGVXjKpOTF+F0x0iJzF89hCdX9T78VEy1s4nLd6MPR7P4+b5aVmd4DY7eqZSW3xTRhN2hmTUP849cVTKiKVeJPYkZNR6OiZPS6xDaEW617ykTqzltrck/7AjJUFJzqRDRaJFPWa/ZuIh2QkpzE4An4WuWapedwV/I4qDm5hkJ0m6/gR6FFUasTTC2lvH9fhr5n3DH/ixJFLyViWF8m6b3r1Rx259bKKEOHwwDnaJDZ0MNHUSbpuIdUC64NyBoUBLf4qRc94xj2xOeo+Kd6dbqzrnd5f9Md9VJer1+E3jl0XrbV2P08fn8CmOseZIHcQOFqyELKogmBo2bmCbiE+OaHjRdn496tDsRuNgnrR7dk0QM9MJV0a6ChZ71s3ocfgewalRZVzsZIjShGZGhdru5kC9DmVmUJba+4Wnv2J9S6DoXZHBOKvL1oTsJS9VlSOjJ5UYB+8oyEWus2yFbSFBdh+fh9K+zT+pi3LlxIMKADFo6vUNIJubQrse2qHBZ/s+WSDwDD9sb7Mexq6fIxMYOSCPuI78b36VguUcylCoOmbNnoobRMgdaks64paWXd3VFJGstTkTGsT6jAv/WCGwE8U/jt6YsaAozAzl7fCnT9qeorJN8zlyQ34h8zjfpc8tPuvO89WIvmdcG6ydCAcqklDmUu6qzzlIYP9MDaS0Tu21z+NW+IzItXK7HIg2E0wbthRRFNQYFENxhmBrm8NAp3kcPkUjSQOxBMKExThq1qkkF+rexM+KXOZRRnX7bhun2/6oQ5thOt1RtCWP9QsMQxEEWcPRIwzBg3MMMl3iO6EZW9QZPuZ8Ux0boRXWraD9gXNA4lToGwZ/UGEiK1bYtOQgY/mZipmmyi8P2t7wIuc+iRbjLpWJfvF0BSdnI9WiseQRwoehqnaJ6mzMx3vDcSenC7vY8aYPI4SJeAtK57Lpfj5+QkJSt/MML5hawRJcB5azXJvbsDvvQnbvVIwVJaAHwtrCV4uC0x4TshJe8yrq6XY+DCkymjv6t7ol6ZO7hIAuUux3iNHnCzidKhJIPURyCNzVd4muNzIxwcnSlUdoJCdmxlrMAkzD2b4u6ysKab/8SzqJR4FI9gVTcpTam2RHAKkuq4qhHeMlLIxWBGWD2TMGA6VH0RsC2uRT/GnMTw9x0KJaaq6wAXGHIRLF8q2VGTFHN+COdrcMn55Bx4xzAriCs5j5tyGdFUFJYWhX/uVeD2tNk8wk8rHp82VCoBT7qtcvO1og/BuSsO8MLSK+F8HRG2PNzw+ReZSkwECkXTS2Rz1vjQSpctQQD+7faDvxT8Kw/Oa2WBOWWz3vdl4NOPTQZKuJpPlM1dmLgpRVZ0rcqC4cYkzuKJNckQbhTGKluGIAgVh51ZOuGjcepam3Ye6iYjKw5SsMOTmhvvoRuuu/P9SEYXj6ptI/+XHAHCtttbNPehcniSRWmsuUs3QWr6mztAaXmah+Yv23tWTYXPfmtlqYAROmaZKLjyN/AKE/owStWuql3E9Vbo4kD8JI6c3938kjkDWmuk4Sov29wnCGsUQjsulL1OHqhjfY7iaVmQFH85JwAKM89u6mIFqFzJ5c/1W99/f+VfiqVqdspgCbivzHfFr3huy358BJRAdx3ZF8Taf5YDdxw/q5iQX10y5WASl+ZN1ZWd7sKM1K2aAPGlj6pNc9u293l4K1Ub8rAnLnXCsaC4XZFaUWO5bbUgs4oOwEdScOhqRvp0nMbncEofaReJ/l621cJqqRdNz4y+l7ZGU6oLfpFESrfRwjBsc1wKVrb0AjcfuonOgQmLn+zaC2aZ9pj41kttKGrB8CNSRfreUgadA9iVYXs0MG5D6FT2n/DS6zL2GxX9cL/E5QhQrZr2+WIefSw/zk2Q1awNV9sp9oVdGi2kXK9C3IcbhjjjD4akjkcc6Zw6psV/Bt4K8GEaMB/705s82vuPGFRg+TMQtXPFRTbcqooF70xWEhQIEk0qtb6t/Dgz36AC7pFBKLDQb+eLKAbLjAV32RnVO/5X5ENnqI6TpU7Ojp3czJAoISW3Km1gGLGce9uyo9Csz5srrseHpmABDuMVJzqf16BAmk5RjAU46QM+bvQD8lNQoNWRxG9lk1yTfCctZh6sBhOaYeLpWO6EVp3xubthF+152ah6TmHQy+IFh0k2MgButXF2yeiRH4xX4+Eg3Pf0GGmoWENjlB+5t9BqYCyocO3tXDbYxcUdquHdGtZlPPWBAmNuwobx2noR9/SHvdtJRO74xEFrpg+AsDxQoPen6mwtU8tNJRJgVtjoFoALt4dFU7rkzXKlLuuE4+t7CnXVyMdJGasMUlOSoZ0EmT+cMVkKn22TPEF0HE90NQiiFEHa7EdA5cmeFxLtKOrhbkcqNg4MK4UBVSay5UyBmwjXch5RQaqz7nY5ZuglM7TRF2vz2P0+nNP2d7oeT+Z2PDgRQDyuOY24mnbruqzQ42vajiVH3nmIAz5Ewzfd3HSpkCya/xau7y8oQoPVPy5yHxtf1m5rLR92B2vvaJ2kANSVY4vKS6074OGDierA71EoANzRPBeUnYJryy8i8Qujir4BgpJsfP5fXz2oplj1zlhsQfyY2kKppJu2bWo7S1mF2fGBFySaiVwSeK0QR8I/al+9s9204blfqzSzoO/jFWgvnIAA2nswgz+h15lX5ype7X+3k67kJ0/dRPCiYqzr53cDepg5QqNG+gulcM+10
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