Chapter 142 Chapter One Hundred and Forty Two

Chapter 142 Chapter One Hundred and Forty Two
Xander was hunched over his table, going through a document.

He seemed to be doing that lately, putting his whole focus on work. And while he didn't neglect the children or me, I would have liked it if he didn't work so much. 

"Busy?" He looked up at me and smiled brightly as I walked over to him.

"Not for you. Come here" I slid onto his legs and wrapped my arms around him.

His lips captured mine, our tongues dueling fiercely as we sought dominance.

I gave in easily, eager to have him take the lead. His fingers tangled in my hair, pulling at the roots.

Things got hotter and I pulled away to catch my breath. 

"What have you been doing?" I asked breathlessly.

"Working...I'm thinking of expanding" my brows furrowed. 

"Expanding?" 

"Yeah. The territory. There are a lot of undeveloped areas on our lands. I want to fix new structures there and....I want us to have our own house"

"This is our house"

"It doesn't really feel like ours. Guards and servants...other workers. I want something that's just for us. Where can we have dinner all alone. Just us" 

"We can still do that here"

"Of course, but having something just for us makes it different" I thought about his words and he was right. 

But I considered all the others that lived with us as family. Gabriel, Belinda, and Xavier whenever he visited. Those were our family. 

"You don't like the idea?" He studied my face.

"I've never actually thought about it. But if that's what you want..."

"I want what makes you happy. What makes them happy too"

"I don't know how they'll react to it but I'm sure we'll all come to love it" I nuzzled my face into his neck and he smiled.

"Gabriel was here minutes ago. Mentioned a theft" 

"What?"

"Someone stole. A servant?"

"Big mouth" I muttered under my breath, annoyed that he had said something even when I asked him not to. 

"What was that?"

"I told him I was handling it" I snapped.

"He was concerned"

"Well, he wasn't supposed to say anything. And now I'm not going to try to convince you to get him an assistant"

"He wants an assistant?" Since he'd betrayed me, there wasn't any need to hold onto my loyalty.

"Says the work is too tedious. I was going to help him convince you to get him an assistant but he came to blabber so I'm not...."

"It wasn't Gabriel who told me" Xander cut me off.

"What?" I squeaked and he laughed.

"I heard from the guards" I scowled at him.

"Well, you have to get Gabriel that help" he opened his mouth and I quickly shushed him.

"That's non-negotiable"

"As you wish. Now the theft"

"That woman from the other night. The one with the burns" recognition flashed in his eyes.

"She was accused of stealing"

"And she didn't do it?"

"Claimed it was a setup because she's unliked"

"And you believe her?"

"There'll still be an investigation but she could be saying the truth" he said nothing and I watched him.

"What do you think?"

"Nothing. I wasn't there to assess the situation"

"But do you think I was right?"

"It doesn't matter" I wasn't satisfied with his vague answers.

"I put her with Belinda while the investigation is ongoing but I have another reason"

"I'm listening"

"I have this weird feeling"

"Tell me baby" he kissed the side of my face and that distracted me for a moment.

"When mama was here last time, she was quite vocal about her lack of support in our decision to keep Salem"

"I don't see how that has to do with anything"

"She told me, that Salem looks exactly like a friend I used to have when I was much younger" his brows pulled together.

"And where is that friend?"

"Disappeared from the pack around the same time I did, returned a year later. She was weird and strange"

"And?"

"She and her entire family passed away in a fire. Burned beyond recognition" he paused and then his eyes lit up.

"You don't think......"

"I wouldn't have but I can't help it. There's something else. Mother told me her name was Val and when that servant introduced herself, she told me her name was Val. And when I asked to confirm, she called herself Valerie"

"Anything about her pack?"

"A neighboring pack. She didn't give a name"

"Makes her even more suspicious. What do you want me to do"

"I need you to investigate. In the neighboring packs. Due to her....unique appearance, I'm sure she'd be hard to miss if she indeed lived in any pack"

He nodded. "I'll get onto it and..."

"You had the whole kingdom searching for me?" 

I looked up to see Xavier standing at the doorway, a smug look on his face.

"Xavier. What are you doing here?"

"Where the fuck have you been?" Xander and I spoke at the same time.

I rushed out of his arms and hugged Xavier. I'd missed him so much.

"If I knew you missed me this much, I'd have come earlier" I heard a snort behind me and then Xander was prying me off him.

"No touching" he growled and I swatted his arms.

"Where have you been?"

"Around" his answer was vague but I noticed the ghost smile on his face.

"Come on tell us. Did you find someone?" His lips twitched but he shook his head.

"Noo"

"You're lying" I accused and even Xander agreed with me.

"You can bring her here"

"There's no one really. I've just been moving around, making sure the world is a safe space"

I snorted loudly, not buying his tales.

"Good thing you're here. I have work for you" Xander said quickly and Xavier's expression shifted

"What kind of work? How long will it take"

"Why? Are you in a hurry to get back?"

Xavier narrowed his eyes.

"What do you want me to do?"

Xander narrated all I'd just told him and I slid onto his legs again.

"Just to find out if she is that friend from your past?"

"That's one but I also need to know if she has anything to do with Salem and if she does, then it's no coincidence that she showed up in our pack so suddenly"

"And she could be plotting something?" I nodded.

"And the girl, Salem?"

"She should be out with the children right now"

"They've gotten close?"

I nodded. "She's a part of our family"

"And what do you plan to do if you find out it was all a plot"

I took a moment to think over the question. Salem was only a child. If she was manipulated....or forced then I could never hold it against her.

But I needed to know the truth and then make that choice for myself.

"Whatever Anna decides to do, we'll go with it"

I shot Xander a thankful look and kissed his face.

"I'm going to see the children?" I waved him off.

"I'll spend some time with my mate" Xander gave an appreciative growl and kissed me on the lips.