Page 16 of Beyond the Grasslands

The Plan that Faltered

THORIN

It had beena week since Nika returned to my pack. She had not bothered to venture beyond my suite in the pack house. The only person who visited her regularly was her friend from Mirage Island, Janella. I had a feeling they both needed one another. Something happened between my cousin Viktor and Janella, though no one would come clean about what it was.

If I had to guess, she was his mate, but then again, he refused to hang around the pack long enough for me to find out. Eventually, I would have to give him an Alpha summons to explain himself. In the meantime, I’d been inundated with the investigations brought about by everything that happened when Nika was kidnapped.

Not only were the former Alpha and Luna of Aiden’s pack being investigated by the council, but my own pack had an investigation underway about Miriam, my former/alleged moon-blessed mate who disappeared, and my father’s death. Everything was connected somehow and I believe the gods paired Nika and me together as second-chance moon-blessed mates due to this entire situation.

Beyond the investigations, I still had to plan for a formal claiming ceremony for my Luna and me. That was hard to dobecause the only other individual who went to see my mate was my wolf. Every night he went to her and every morning, I woke in her bed and saw my way out. Some mornings it was as a wolf, others it was as a man. I didn’t think Nika was aware of it though. She always appeared to be asleep when we came and went.

I’d thought everything through. Two more weeks should be enough for Nika to pull out of whatever she was going through. It sounded callous, but we were meant to be the leaders of the pack, and that didn’t leave a lot of time for us to hold up in our rooms feeling sorry for our circumstances.

“I sound like an asshole,” I spoke aloud, thinking I was alone, but then laughter came from the door. My Beta stood there and attempted to wrap his lips around his teeth to hold his laughter at bay, but he failed miserably.

“Sorry, Alpha.” His apology lacked any semblance of being genuine. “I came to tell you that the council would like to meet with you in regards to your part in the demise of former Alpha Aiden Thornwin.”

“When?”

“At your earliest convenience. They are knee-deep in the investigation of his parents at the moment and advised that they might not be available for the next month, but that if you found the time to speak to them before then, they would make time for you.”

“I want to be kept abreast of that situation,” I informed Warren.

“I thought as much and the council agreed that both you and your future Luna should also be kept informed, since the former Alpha and Luna’s decision to abandon their pack and pups affected you both to such an extent.”

I nodded and Warren turned to leave, but hesitated in the door. “I’m not sure why you think you sound like an asshole, butyou know that I’m here for you - even if you need a sounding board and someone to tell you if you truly are an asshole or if you’re just playing one in your own mind.” My best friend couldn’t quite hide his amusement.

“I’m glad you’re enjoying yourself. I need you to take a message to Nika.”

His brows rose and he stepped back into my office fully before he shut the door. “I’m to pass your future Luna a message from you?”

I nodded my head and then came out with it. “Tell her that she needs to be ready for a formal mating ceremony two weeks from today. The pack needs to know that we are on the same page and looking out for their well being. They also need to know that their Luna is alive and well, something many have begun to speculate, since she won’t leave my suite.”

Warren took in a deep breath and let it out before he addressed me. “I think this is something she needs to hear directly from you.”

“I have other pressing issues.” It was bullshit. While I did have other pressing issues, my future Luna should be at the top of the list. It was probably crazy that I wanted her to submit to the claiming ceremony even as I wasn’t able to face her after what I’d done. I truly was an asshole.

Warren didn’t bother to argue with me, though his eyes spoke volumes before he turned away and walked out of my office. It was unfair to put him in the middle of me and my luna. I wasn’t ready to handle her rejection in person, and that was something I feared was in my near future.

Two Hours Later

Warren knockedon my office door as he simultaneously entered my space. I glanced up from the report about my father’s death and noted my Beta’s grim countenance.

“Is something wrong with Nika?” I stood immediately, as if to go to her.

Warren shook his head. “No, not in the way you think. She sent me back with a message of her own.” My friend glanced down at the floor in front of his feet but failed to deliver a message.

“What is it?” I snapped at him. He slowly brought his eyes up to meet mine and what I saw there made me worry. He was amused and I dare say delighted by the message she sent him to deliver.

“When you are Alpha enough to see me in person, and request a claiming, then I will answer you in kind. Until then, we cannot be fully mated.”

I growled and turned my back on my very smug second in command. “You found enjoyment in that?”

“I find that I quite like our little Luna and her answer gives me hope for the future of our pack.”

That caught my attention. “What do you mean?”

“She refuses to be disrespected, even by you.”

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