Page 72 of Stella

Stella snuggled under me. “Busy. We onboarded three new packs this week.”

Thanks to Meredith, I thought, and then pushed the thought away. Stella wasn’t Ava. She wasn’t using me for my connections. She had her own business to run, and any time I asked about it, she shut me down, almost defiantly.

She wouldn’t do that if she wanted money.

I kissed her temple. “I am finally done with those mergers.”

“Good. We get you all to ourselves this weekend.” Stella offered me some popcorn.

I took a handful. My headache receded, but my temples still throbbed. “You do. How was your day?”

“We’ve started setting up for the charity banquet in a few weeks.” Stella snatched some popcorn. “Sunshine’s working with Pack Kahele, and Raina’s contacting other packs to attend.”

“Do we need to be your plus three?” Evan leaned over me to steal some popcorn, kissing my cheek while he was close.

“Please? It’s on a Saturday, so we can go together.”

“Meredith was talking about a charity banquet.” I frowned. “She asked a bunch of family friends to attend.”

Stella shrugged. “I don’t know who they are. Meredith said she got the VIP table filled already.”

I stifled a growl. Meredith was helping Stella again. It’s not that Meredith shouldn’t help, but having my baby sister tangling up with Stella and her family made me anxious. What if it all fell apart? What if Meredith got her heart broken all over again?

“I didn’t realize Meredith was on staff.” I rolled my shoulders.

“She’s not.” Stella frowned. “Raina and I were talking, and Meredith wanted to help.”

“She does more fundraising for your mother than she should, anyway,” Evan told me with a glare.

“When were you going to tell me about this?” I crossed my arms over my chest. These were simple questions, so why was Evan scowling at me? I had a right to know.

“I’ve been talking about the banquet for weeks now.” Stella cocked her head. “What’s really bothering you? You were in a bad mood when you got here.”

It wasn’t Stella’s fault that my dad was a jerk. “My dad stopped by.” I picked up Stella’s hand. “I’m sorry. I’m tired and I have a monster headache.”

“It’s okay.” Stella relaxed, and I relaxed with her.

I grit my teeth again. I was anticipating her moods already, wanting to make her happy. Last time I was this in tune, it was Ava. And Ava’s constant talk about how overwhelmed she felt with Evan and Jerrick had made me reconsider my better judgment.

I’d failed Evan and Jerrick. I was trying to be a good alpha, but I clearly couldn’t trust myself.

“Your dad’s an ass.” Evan patted my shoulder and flipped through the channels. “He’s trying to get you back under his thumb.”

“I know,” I said, sharper than I meant to. “He wanted Stella to sign a prenup.”

Everyone froze, and for a half a second, I wished I could take it back.

Stella snorted. “Like hell.”

I frowned. “Really? You keep telling me how you’re not using me for money and connections, but your first reaction is ‘hell no’?”

“Are you for real, Simon?” Stella scooted back, Jerrick giving her space, and studied me like I was some sort of alien creature. “You want me to sign a prenup?”

“Of course not.” I shook my head, my alpha instincts all over the place. Stella’s face was pure hurt, and it killed me that I’d done that to her.

But part of me wanted to snap at why she was so quick to say no. If she really didn’t have any other motives, it wouldn’t matter if she signed a prenup, right? A prenup would make everything cleaner, simpler.

“Then why even bring it up?” Evan snapped.

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