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.
today? Did he just ask me if I have permission to
Sir," he says again,
have time for this shit. I glare as the guard moves to let me
this guard think he is?"
a pack member like that? Something is definitely off. The negative energy filling the pack house is already affecting me. I can’t imagine what it is doing to everyone else. Kas must have
the top of the steps who lets me through with a cautious look. I jog down the hallway until I see Tyree and another guard are in
the Hell is going on? What’s with the
in the botanical gardens today. Marco and I thought Lex was going to kill that Tessa girl," he admits,
I feel the
surface. So did Tessa's wolf. Her name is Valor. I don't mean any disrespect
he clarifies and shakes his head, "It was a hot
derogatory about anyone. He is always jovial and friendly, making
are in there now?" I point to the office
Musu, and Delilah,” he has a scowl
trying to slow US down
with Saint for once. No one in the pack
Tyree," I give him a nod and
on the door and open it without
is Tessa sobbing and rocking herself in her chair. Next 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
except for Tessa, who can't stop crying. They all look at me as if they are silently pleading for
what is going on in
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
did you
guy
a shadow of a guy, right? Did
know. It was a shadow, dummy. It looked like it was talking to her.
process it. Kas is drinking wine. Kas doesn’t drink. Time to get to the bottom of whatever's
people sitting around the table like she doesn’t realize I'm right 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 also
turn my eyes to Delilah and Musu. Delilah’s eyes are the darkest blue I have ever seen. Almost black. She has her hand clutched 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,
need to get the can of
softly as
sweetly, finally acknowledging
How did it go at the botanical gardens?" I ask, careful not
rest of my life, but it's cool. That won't happen now. She's going to stay with US for a few while and work with a
Katherine, who is staring at me wide
points at Tessa and gives a cruel little chuckle, "And look at her, I don’t see how she could possibly say no. Oh,
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