Page 38 of Hidden Pain

“But all this stuff?” Ebony seemed to suddenly remember about all the baby items scattered around her.

“It doesn’t matter. Get out!” he shouted at the top of his voice.

Thankfully, this time the she-wolf listened to him and scampered from the room on her high heels. Selene’s skin returned to normal, and she collapsed down onto the floor. Brayden was at her side in an instant. Jessica went with him and started checking on Selene and the baby.

“Her pulse is high.” Jessica informed them. Hunter could tell from her voice that the witch was worried.

“What happened?” the frightened snow leopard asked his mate.

“I don’t really know. I’d just put the twins down to sleep when she came in and told me I had to vacate the rooms. She ordered me to collect all our belongings and get out because we were moving to different quarters,” Selene cried as Brayden wrapped her in his arms.

“What?” Hunter spat out. “I didn’t order that.”

“She said they’d had a meeting where it was agreed that the mother of the future alpha needed better apartments than the ones she currently had, so they’d decided on these. Apparently, you wouldn’t let her have her old ones back.” Selene looked at him in confusion. Hunter turned his head to where Lily and Kingsley stood huddled together in the doorway.

Hunter sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what meeting this is all about, but I’ll find out. She’s been after better apartments since she returned, and obviously while I was away, she decided to take you on, thinking you’d be weaker on your own. Little did she know about your baby’s amazing protective powers. I’m truly sorry. I’m just glad we returned when we did.”

“So am I.” Brayden kissed Selene on the top of her head and got to his feet. Emma pushed past them all to check on the twins in the next room as Scott and Brayden came to stand in front of Hunter.

“We’ve been thinking about this a lot over the last few days, but following this incident, I think our decision is made. We’re going to return to the Glacial Blood mansion. I can’t say that it’s safe for us there, however, with what’s happening with your pack at the moment...” Brayden shook his head. “A few minutes later, and I dread to think what would have happened.”

“I understand.” Hunter allowed his shoulders to sag. His friends had been helping him all afternoon, but he’d failed to protect them from the fighting within his own pack. “I wish I could say something to change your mind, but Ebony seems dead set on causing trouble. I think I need to focus on that for a while if I’m going to save my pack from falling into line with Nuka’s philosophies.”

Both Brayden and Scott nodded.

“Yeah, and we don’t want that happening.” Scott rolled his eyes. “ That man’s more chauvinistic than a male lion.”

His comment lightened the mood in the room, and they all laughed.

“We’ll collect our stuff together and come and see you before we go. Thank you for everything. If you need help, you call us. Jessica is always listening, not just for you but for Lily and Kingsley as well.” Brayden offered Hunter his hand, which the alpha accepted and shook before turning to leave the room, determined to deal with Ebony and Christian.

“Do you want us to come with you, Hunter?” Kingsley questioned, his brows furrowed together in deep concern.

“No, you’re fine. Stay here and help them.” Hunter leaned forward to kiss Kingsley on the lips but then remembered that members of his pack could be watching. He didn’t want to risk making a bad situation even worse, so he pulled back and smiled down at Lily instead.

“Ebony can have my room if it means Selene and Emma can stay. I don’t mind.” His little bear had the kindest heart. “I’ll sleep wherever you can find space for me. The sofa over there looks really comfortable,” she offered.

Hunter shook his head.

“It’s not about the rooms. It’s because of Ebony herself. Her unpredictability is too dangerous around Selene with the baby’s need to protect its mother.”

“I’ll miss them.” Lily looked at him sadly.

It was strange how the little bear had turned her life around in such a short space of time, he thought. Hunter brought her closer to him and kissed the top of her head. Showing affection to Lily was all right, but doing the same to Kingsley would destroy him in the eyes of the pack. It was sad, but the duty of an alpha…He handed Lily over to Kingsley and left them to say goodbye to their friends.

Hunter descended the stairs to the lounge in search of Ebony. As he did so, a junior member of the pack ran past him almost bumping into him.

“Where’s the fire?” Hunter called after him, and the junior stopped, frozen to the spot, obviously recognizing his voice.

“I-I’m s-so sorry. I-I didn’t realize it was you, sir,” the junior stammered with nerves.

“What’s the matter?” Hunter reassured him with a warm hand on his shoulder.

“Christian wants us all in the lounge for a meeting. I don’t want to be late, and I guess you’re on your way, and now I’ve delayed you by almost running into you. I’m so sorry.”

Hunter chuckled but was seething underneath his skin. He’d no doubt the meeting was in relation to the incident between Ebony and Selene.

“It’s ok. Here, let’s go together.”

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