Chapter 134: Grace
I sat on the hard wooden chair at Arlo’s table, staring out the window. My focus was dismal at best. I couldn’t make myself care or pay attention to anything. Rhys had set this up before my panic attack, and before he had felt me up, and now I just had nothing left to give. Nothing at all.
“Did you finish the reading?” Arlo asked. He had been doing something in the kitchen, while I had been doing independent work.
I turned my head away from the window and looked at him before shaking my head. No. I hadn’t finished my work. I had barely even read the first three words on the page.
“Come on, Grace,” Arlo exclaimed in exasperation. “This should have taken you ten minutes at most to finish this, and I’ve been gone for 20.”
“Sorry,” I mumbled, turning my attention back to the book I was supposed to be reading.
“Here, I made you a tea to help you focus,” He said as my eyes blurred as I stared at the page trying to bring it back into focus.
“Oh.” I looked up in surprise when I realized what he said. “That was very kind, but I really don’t want any tea right now.”
Arlo slammed his hands down on the table causing Rhys to look up from his spot on the couch. “Do you want to learn or not Grace?” He shouted. “Because right now, it doesn’t look like you give a damn about learning enough to help us survive -”
“Arlo-” Rhys warned, closing his laptop.
“What?” Arlo snapped at him, turning so he could see both of us. “It’s her fault we are at war in the first place and she’s not even willing to put in the work to help get us out of this mess!”
Tears rimmed my eyes. I was trying... Didn’t he see I was trying? Did everyone think that of me? I know I had disappeared for a bit of time. I know that I had been slow at returning to life, but I was giving everything I had.
“Out of line!” Rhys shot back, standing up and walking toward me.
“You are the Alpha King!” Arlo argued, getting in between the space between myself and Rhys. “You should be pushing her to be better! You should see through her act!”
“I am not pushing her into anything, and the only act I’m seeing through is yours.” Rhys said in dangerously calm voice. “Grace, come on, we’re leaving.”
I stood up, my whole body shaking. I reached for the bond to see what Rhys was feeling but they were so intense that I quickly pulled myself out of it. I wanted no part of it.
Rhys reached for my hand, and I took it hesitantly. I didn’t know if his anger was directed at me or not. I mean, Arlo was right. I wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t fulfilling my role as Rhys’ wife let alone as a Luna, let alone as the Luna Queen.
“You’re just going to let her education suffer because you don’t agree with what I am saying?” Arlo contended.
“She was learning without your help before. In case you haven’t noticed, my fiancé is very smart, and I have no doubt that she will continue to learn and educate herself as we go. This is her last lesson with you, and I will not put her through this again. Thank you for your time, but your services are no longer needed.” Rhys responded coldly, letting the door slam behind him as we headed for the path.
I flushed at his boast of confidence and hoped that I wouldn’t disappoint him. Arlo followed us out, the door slamming again, the sound reverberating all around the quiet woods.
“You. Need. Me.” Arlo shouted behind us.
“And that is your mistake.” Rhys replied cooly, his temper a bit more in check now. “I do not need anyone, but Grace.”
It was much colder than I remembered it being earlier, but to be fair we had been training and then running, so I wasn’t sure I would have noticed. But maybe it really had dropped in temperature because Alana had been out here earlier with us just chilling....
“I’m sorry about that, Grace, I’m so fucking sorry.”
“Why are you sorry?” I asked in surprise.
“Because it was my idea to start lessons back up, and Arlo clearly has some grudges right now. I completely led you astray. I had no idea he was going to act like that. He never used to question my rule.”
“It’s not your fault, Rhys. It’s mine. I’ll do better.” I promised.
“You just need to be you, Grace,” He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it gently. “All I will ever want is for you to just be you.”
I smiled at his kind words. I loved his constant reassurance, but a part of me wished I didn’t need them. That I could be confident in whatever I was whether he cared or not. I just wanted to be myself, without any care, but I didn’t think I would ever get there.
“Are you worried that he isn’t the only one thinking those things?” I asked.
If I was being honest, I wasn’t sure I really wanted to know the answer, but I didn’t think that was fair if Rhys wanted to talk about it.
Rhys sighed and tugged at his hair, tiredly.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t.” He answered as the packhouse came into view. “But I don’t want you to worry about that sort of thing, my love. It doesn’t matter what they think, you’ll prove them all wrong in the end.”
“I hope so,” I muttered, looking forward to the warmth of the house as we approached.
“I have a question about earlier...” Rhys said as he opened the door.
“Okay?” I answered as we walked into warmth.
However, I never got to hear his question as someone barreled into my arms, and my name echoed off the walls.
“GRACE!”