Page 96 of Claimed By My Fiancé's Brother

CHAPTER 16

ALEXANDER

“You were reckless yesterday,” Anastasia commented too casually as she slid me a glass of water before taking her seat next to me at the dining table.

The medicine slid down easier than my frustration.

I should have been at the training grounds working off my anger and pummeling whoever was unfortunate enough to spar with me, but after that conversation with Eleanor, I couldn’t focus. When Anastasia came by to give me an update, it’d been a welcome distraction.

If only I’d been able to control myself the night before.

I turned to face Anastasia.

“I told you to keep an eye on Micah.”

It wasn’t much of an accusation. None of us could have foreseen what occurred yesterday.

Anastasia tilted her head to the side, her hair falling over her shoulder.

“It’s hard to do that when I’m worrying about you,” she said softly, reaching out to check my temperature.

I stood up before her hand reached me. I knew Anastasia was just checking if my fever had returned, but there was only one person’s touch I wanted, and she wasn’t here.

Anastasia’s hand fell back to her side and her eyes fell to the floor, but not before I saw a flicker of pain in them.

“Is there any information on the treaty?” I asked, moving to the main subject of our meeting.

Anastasia rapped her fingers against the hardwood table.

“Dylan just got there. Give him time.” Her eyes settled on me. “Besides, you know Gregory and the rest of the Bloodfrost Pack only agreed to the truce becauseyouproposed it.”

I didn’t like the sound of that.

The treaty with the Bloodfrost Pack would never have been possible if Gregory’s father hadn’t passed a year ago.

New to his position like Dylan, Gregory was eager to prove himself, but he wasn’t stupid. He didn’t want to risk standing against me in battle, so he’d agreed to the treaty.

But he was still an egotistical alpha, and if by chance he sniffed out any weakness in Dylan, the alliance would be fried.

“I should be there with him.” I sighed.

I would have gone if I hadn’t had to get the medications yesterday…if my body wasn’t betraying me.

Distracted by my thoughts, I failed to notice Anastasia sidling up to my side.

“Then let’s go. Both of us,” she whispered, her eyes glistening with emotion as she slid her hand into mine. “Just how we used to do.”

The last time we’d been this close was in my receiving room, when Eleanor had seen us together during the party.

The migraine had come out of nowhere.

Falling into old patterns, Anastasia had escorted me back to my receiving room. When she came onto me afterwards, I’d let her know Eleanor was watching.

I needed to push her away, and Anastasia had given me ample opportunity. Once Eleanor left, I’d pulled away from her immediately, and Anastasia had stared at me like she barely knew me.

That incident still hovered between us, even if Anastasia never brought it up.

It was one of the things I liked about her—her ability to remain rational regardless of the situation.

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