Chapter 39 Chapter 39
Leah's POV
After breakfast, Tariq stood and stretched, his eyes softening as he gazed at me. He reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. “I have to attend a meeting,” he said. “There are new rules I need to set for the pack now that I am officially their leader.”
I met his gaze, trying to smile but feeling the familiar weight of uncertainty in my chest. “It must be a big responsibility,” I said softly.
Tariq’s expression softened even more, his thumb tracing light circles over the back of my hand. “It is, but I’ll do everything in my power to lead them well, for you and for us.” He cupped my face gently, his thumb brushing across my cheek. “You have given me strength, Leah. You make everything feel possible.”
My heart fluttered at his words, though the unease from the night before still lingered beneath the surface. I wanted to believe in the future he was offering me, but doubts gnawed at my mind, unspoken fears that refused to leave me in peace.
Tariq leaned closer, his lips brushing my forehead in a lingering kiss. “I know things have been overwhelming, but I want you to know how much you mean to me,” he whispered against my skin. “I want you to be happy, Leah. I’ll do everything I can to make that happen.”
My breath hitched slightly as I looked into his dark, sincere eyes. He had always been kind to me, always shown me care and affection. “I’m just... adjusting,” I replied softly, my fingers gripping his hand. “It’s all happening so fast.”
Tariq smiled, lifting my hand to his lips and pressing a kiss there. “I understand, sweetheart. I do. But you don’t have to worry about anything. I’ll take care of everything.” He kissed my hand once more before letting go reluctantly. “I’ll be back soon, and then we can spend the rest of the day together.”
I nodded, forcing a smile. “Okay. I’ll be here.”
Tariq kissed my cheek, his lips lingering for a moment longer than usual. “I love you, Leah. Don’t ever doubt that.”
His words were sweet, but the doubts in my heart remained as heavy as ever. “I love you too,” I whispered, though my voice lacked the conviction I wished I felt.
Satisfied, Tariq turned to Susan, his expression now all business. “Take care of Leah while I’m gone.”
Susan nodded with a warm, affectionate smile. “Of course. I thought Leah and I could take a walk around the territory. She hasn’t seen the flower garden yet. It’s lovely this time of year.”
I forced a small smile as I watched Tariq leave the room, the sound of his footsteps fading into the distance. The warmth of his kiss lingered on my cheek, but instead of comforting me, it only deepened the uneasy feeling twisting in my stomach. Something felt off, but I couldn’t put my finger on what.
“Come, dear,” Susan said. “A walk will do you good. The gardens are beautiful, and they’ll help you relax.”
Susan looped her arm through mine, guiding me out of the dining hall and into the vast gardens that surrounded the mansion. The sunlight was warm on our skin, and the garden was alive with the scent of blooming flowers. Bright colors painted the landscape; roses, lilies, and wildflowers stretched as far as the eye could see, creating a serene atmosphere that contrasted with my inner turmoil.
“Isn’t it beautiful?” Susan asked, her voice light and cheery as she led me down a stone path lined with lavender bushes.
I nodded absently, my mind far from the beauty around me. I glanced at Susan, trying to find the right words to ask the questions that had been gnawing at me since I had learned Tariq was now the Alpha of this pack.
“Susan,” I began hesitantly, “how did Tariq know the former Alpha? He never really mentioned anything about him before.”
Susan’s smile faltered just a little, but she quickly recovered. “Oh, well, they were old friends. The Alpha trusted Tariq deeply, knew he was the right person to take over when the time came.”
I frowned, my brow furrowing as I tried to make sense of it. “But… I thought the Alpha didn’t have any family? No siblings, no children, and no Luna? Isn’t that unusual for an Alpha?”
There was a flicker of something in Susan’s expression; nervousness, maybe even guilt, but she quickly smoothed it over. She kept walking, her pace a bit faster now. “It’s a sad story, really. His Luna died young, from a grave illness. They never had children, and he was the last of his bloodline. That’s why he entrusted the pack to Tariq. He knew Tariq would take care of them.”
My heart tightened in my chest as I watched Susan closely. Something about her explanation didn’t sit right. Susan seemed too eager to move past the subject, too quick to brush it off. I knew Susan cared for me, but there was something she wasn’t telling me.
“Are you sure that’s all?” I asked, my voice quieter now, but I didn’t miss the way Susan stiffened beside me.
Susan’s smile became more strained. “Of course, dear. Tariq is a good man. You know that. The former Alpha saw it too.”
I wanted to believe her. I wanted to believe that Tariq had told me everything, that there were no secrets between us. He had been there for me when no one else had. He had saved me from Kayden’s rejection, and now he wanted to marry me, to give me a future. But the nagging doubts wouldn’t leave me alone.
“I just find it strange,” I murmured, more to myself than to Susan. “It feels like there’s something missing… something no one is saying.”
Susan stopped walking, turning to me with a soft but firm look. “Leah, darling, I understand you’re feeling overwhelmed. It’s a lot to take in, I know. But Tariq loves you. He would never lie to you.”
My chest tightened at those words. He would never lie to you. But hadn’t Kayden said the same once? That he would always protect me, always be there for me? And yet, he had cast me aside like I was nothing. Could Tariq be doing the same in some way I couldn’t yet see?
I swallowed hard, trying to suppress the wave of doubt crashing over me. I wanted to trust Tariq. I wanted to believe in the life we were planning together. But the way Susan was acting only made me feel more uneasy.
“I just… I don’t know, Susan,” I said. “There’s something about all of this that feels off.”
Susan reached out and squeezed my hand gently. “You’ve been through a lot, Leah. It’s only natural to feel uncertain. But I promise you, everything is fine. Tariq loves you more than anything. You’re safe here.”
I nodded slowly, but my wolf, Athena, growled softly in the back of my mind. I didn’t believe Susan, not entirely. But what could I do? I had already agreed to marry Tariq, and he was treating me with such care, such devotion. Was it wrong to doubt him?
Susan led me deeper into the garden, pointing out different flowers and talking about how they bloomed all year round. But my mind was elsewhere. I couldn’t shake the feeling that there were secrets buried here, hidden beneath the surface of the perfect life Tariq had promised me.
As we walked, I glanced at Susan, noticing the way her fingers twitched nervously every now and then, or how she seemed to avoid eye contact whenever I brought up anything about the former Alpha.
Could it all really just be a coincidence? Or was there something Susan wasn’t telling me?
I wanted answers, but for now, all I had were more questions.