Page 24 of A True Mate Bond

Lyliann stepped closer and hugged Niev with her free arm. “How are you?”

“I’m good. I just need to pee again.”

Lyliann giggled and pointed to the bathroom door, setting Darron on the floor and sending him to his room. “Right over there.”

While Niev was in the restroom, Blake sat down on the sofa opposite Seth, who had taken a seat in one of his armchairs.

“I heard you and Niev will be moving closer to the village?”

“Yes.”

Lyliann handed Blake a glass of water and sat next to him. “It’ll be the best for Niev. I cannot imagine her being close to the end of her pregnancy all alone out there. She could go into labor without one of us around.”

“Blake was saying the same thing,” Niev chimed in and sat to Blake’s other side.

“Has father provided you two with an option already?” Seth seemed curious and it alarmed Blake that he didn’t know yet. Usually, Seth and his father shared all that was new instantly.

“He has asked me if I wanted to fix up one of the old houses to the north. I’ll show them to Niev later today.”

“You don’t want to be closer to the village?” Lyliann asked disappointed.

“If we get a few men together we can have one fixed up within a few weeks. After what you’ve done, the men will stand in line to help.”

Niev’s cheeks blushed again. “They don’t have to repay anything. I believe they saved us by putting their lives at risk.”

Before Blake could say anything, Lyliann chimed in. “Niev, don’t be shy about yourself. You went far beyond what was expected of you. My son owes you his life and with that, the pack owes you everything. You’ve saved their future alpha’s son.”

Tears started running down Niev’s cheeks and she hid her face in her hands. Blake pulled her closer, knowing his touch would calm her. He didn’t know why she was crying. Maybe the thought of her failing the ones that hadn’t returned lingered over her or maybe it was just the pregnancy hormones. All he knew was that she needed him.

“I’m sorry this is so not me,” she said in between sobs.

Lyliann leaned closer and rubbed Niev’s shoulder. “You should’ve seen me when I was pregnant. I was a walking waterfall.” She made Niev giggle a little. “Seth used to run around with what felt like a thousand tissues in his pockets.”

Seth took that as a clue and stood up only to return a minute later with a tissue box in his hands, which Niev gladly accepted.

“Thank you.”

As Niev wiped her tears, Seth sat back down. “Niev, may I ask you a question?” Seth’s tone was gentle, something he usually only reserved for Darron and Lyliann. It didn’t bother Blake, but it did surprise him. He knew that Seth’s and Niev’s friendship was slowly forming, but he hadn’t thought it would ever come to a point like this.

She nodded. “Of course.”

“Why do you believe my father has offered the Skadu Pack to join us?”

Blake could feel the tension in the air rise as Lyliann gave Seth a warning look. “Why are you pulling her into this?”

“Because she once told me that my anger clouds my vision and leads me to make unwise choices and now, I want her opinion.”

“You have no right to ask her for anything. She shouldn’t be in the middle of it.”

“I’ve asked her if I can ask her a question, not to answer it. She doesn’t have to if she doesn’t want to.”

Seth’s tone made it clear that the discussion was over, and Lyliann didn’t seem to like it. Blake had never seen them fight, not once, and this seemed to have been boiling for a few days. She got up and walked to Darron’s room, where Blake could hear her busy herself with getting him dressed.

“Seth, I’m not sure if I should help you or get involved with this. Blake said something like this has to be resolved between you and your father.” She sighed and looked into her lap. “Blake also explained to me that if either of us get too involved in something like this, people will lose their trust in him. They might think he wants to take your place as future alpha.”

Blake hadn’t had the chance to talk to Seth and his father about this, and Seth’s face hardened at her words. He’d probably never seen it like this, he’d probably never even noticed the mistrust some pack members had for Blake.

Niev must have seen Seth’s expression too and quickly added. “Blake has made it clear to me that he doesn’t want your place, only that other people might think so if he gets too involved.”

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