Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25

Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25
Bronte's POV

I barely sleep.

Every time I close my eyes I see Alexander's hand on the bathroom door handle, see Sebastian pressed against the wall inside, see how close we came to everything falling apart.

By the time morning comes I'm exhausted and my head pounds.

I drag myself out of bed and get dressed, dreading going downstairs but knowing I have to.

The dining room is already full when I arrive. Pack members eating breakfast, talking quietly, the usual morning routine.

Alexander sits at the head of the table with his beta beside him.

When he sees me, his expression doesn't change.

"There you are," he says, his voice neutral. "I was beginning to think you'd sleep all day."

"Sorry, I didn't sleep well."

"Again." He gestures to the empty chair beside him. "Sit."

I sit and one of the pack members immediately brings me coffee and a plate.

"Thank you," I say quietly.

Alexander continues his conversation with his beta about patrol schedules, but I can feel him watching me from the corner of his eye.

Sebastian walks in a few minutes later.

He looks as tired as I feel, his jaw still bruised, his hair damp like he's just showered.

He takes a seat at the far end of the table, not looking at either of us.

"Sebastian," Alexander says, his voice cutting through the morning chatter. "I thought I sent you on border patrol."

"You did."

"So why are you here?"

"I finished my rounds early and came back to file my report."

"Your rounds were supposed to last three days."

"I covered more ground faster than expected." Sebastian finally looks up. "Is that a problem?"

Alexander studies him for a long moment. "No problem. Just unexpected."

"I can go back out if you need me to."

"That won't be necessary." Alexander turns back to his beta. "Actually, keep Sebastian on rotation here at the pack house for the next few days. I want him close."

"Yes, Alpha."

I keep my eyes on my plate, not daring to look at either of them.

The rest of breakfast passes in uncomfortable silence punctuated by small talk that feels forced.

When Sebastian finishes eating, he stands without a word and leaves.

Alexander watches him go, his expression unreadable.

"He's been acting strange lately," Alexander's beta says quietly.

"I've noticed."

"Should I have someone keep an eye on him?"

"No, I'll handle it myself." Alexander turns to me. "You look pale. Are you feeling alright?"

"Just tired."

"You said that yesterday too."

"Because it's still true."

"Maybe you should see the pack healer."

"I'm fine, Alexander. I just need more rest."

He reaches over and takes my hand. "I worry about you."

"I know."

"Last night—" He pauses. "When I came to your room."

My heart skips. "What about it?"

"I know you said you were messaging Irina, but something felt off."

"Nothing was off."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

He squeezes my hand. "Because if something is bothering you, if someone is bothering you, I need to know."

"No one is bothering me."

"Good." He brings my hand to his lips and kisses it. "Because you're mine, Bronte. My mate, my Luna, and I protect what's mine."

The way he says it makes my skin prickle.

After breakfast, Alexander has meetings in his office but this time he doesn't insist I stay with him.

"Rest," he tells me. "You look like you need it."

I go back to my room and lie down, but sleep doesn't come.

Around midday, there's a knock on my door.

"Come in," I call.

The door opens and Serena walks in carrying a tray with tea and sandwiches.

"I thought you might be hungry," she says, setting the tray on my nightstand. "You barely ate at breakfast."

"Thank you, but you didn't have to."

"I wanted to." She sits on the edge of my bed. "I also wanted to check on you. You seemed upset this morning."

"I'm fine."

"Are you sure? Because if something happened—"

"Nothing happened."

She watches me carefully. "Alexander was cold to you at breakfast."

"He was just tired."

"He's never tired." She tilts her head. "Did you two have a fight?"

"No."

"Then what's wrong?"

"Serena, I appreciate your concern, but I'm fine. Really."

She opens her mouth to say something else but then we hear Alexander's voice in the corridor.

"Serena? Are you up here?"

She stands quickly and opens my door. "In Bronte's room."

Alexander appears in the doorway, his expression hardening when he sees her.

"What are you doing here?" he asks.

"I brought Bronte some food. She barely ate at breakfast."

"That's thoughtful, but we need to talk." He steps into the room. "Downstairs. Privately."

"Of course." She glances at me. "Feel better, Bronte."

She leaves and Alexander follows her, closing my door behind them.

I wait a few seconds, then move to my door and crack it open slightly.

I can hear their voices down the hall, Alexander's low and firm, Serena's softer, harder to make out.

"What is this about?" Serena asks.

"I think it's best if you stop coming to the pack house so frequently."

There's a pause.

"Why?" Her voice is sharper now.

"Because Bronte is my mate and having you here constantly is confusing things."

"Confusing for who?"

"For her. For everyone."

"I'm just trying to help with the ceremony preparations."

"I know, and I appreciate that. But I need some space. We need some space."

"Space from me."

"For now, yes."

Another pause, longer this time.

"I see." Serena's voice is cold now. "And what about us?"

"What about us?"

"Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about, Alexander."

"Keep your voice down."

"Answer me."

"This isn't the time or place for this conversation."

"Then when is?"

"I'll come see you. Later. Tonight maybe."

"So I'm just supposed to stay away from the pack house and wait for you to show up when it's convenient?"

"Serena—"

"No, I understand perfectly. You want me out of sight so your precious mate doesn't get suspicious."

"That's not what this is."

"Then what is it?"

"It's me trying to do the right thing."

"The right thing would be choosing."

"I have chosen. The Moon Goddess chose for me."

"That's not what I mean and you know it."

There's a long silence and I hold my breath, straining to hear.

"I'll come see you tonight," Alexander says finally, his voice quieter now. "We can talk about this then."

"Fine."

"Serena—"

"I said fine, Alexander. I'll stay away from the pack house like you want. But you better show up tonight."

"I will."

I hear footsteps moving away quickly, then Alexander's slower footsteps coming back toward my room.

I quickly close my door and move back to my bed, my heart racing.

He knocks and opens the door without waiting for an answer.

"Feeling better?" he asks.

"A little."

He crosses to the bed and sits beside me, pulling me into his arms.

"I just had a conversation with Serena," he says.

"Oh?"

"I asked her to stop coming to the pack house so much."

"Why?"

"Because I need to focus on you. On us." He tilts my chin up so I'm looking at him. "She was helpful with the preparations, but having her around constantly was becoming a distraction."

"A distraction from what?"

"From building our future together." He kisses my forehead. "You're going to be my Luna, Bronte. That means you should be the one making decisions about the ceremony, about our life, not her."

"What did she say?"

"She understood. She won't be coming around as much anymore."

I nod, saying nothing about the conversation I just overheard.

"I love you, Bronte," Alexander says, pulling me closer. "I know I haven't always shown it the way I should, but I'm going to do better. Starting now."

He kisses me and I kiss him back because what else can I do?

When he finally pulls away, he stands.

"Rest. I have a few more meetings but I'll be done by evening. We can have dinner together, just the two of us."

"Okay."

He leaves and I lie back down.

He told me he's focusing on us, that Serena is gone, that everything will be different now.

But I heard him promise to see her tonight.

The afternoon passes slowly and I can't settle, can't rest.

By evening I go to the window and look out at the gardens below.

That's when I see them.

Irina and Sebastian, standing under one of the trees, talking.

Even from here I can see the way Irina is looking at him, the way she's gesturing with her hands, the way Sebastian has his arms crossed and his head down.

They're too far away for me to hear what they're saying, but something about the conversation looks serious.

Intense.

Irina reaches out and touches Sebastian's arm and he looks up at her and says something that makes her face change.

They stand there for another minute, talking quietly, and then Sebastian walks away and Irina watches him go.

She looks up at the pack house and our eyes meet across the distance.

Even from here, I can see the expression on her face.

She knows something.