Chapter 34 Ronan's POV
Chapter 34 Ronan's POV
I left her house with my jaw clenched so tight forcing myself to stay calm and walk away.
The door shut behind me with a loud bang that sounded like it was mocking me, and I stood there for a moment longer than necessary, staring at the empty space, trying to make sense of everything that just happened and why the fuck I let it happen.
She wouldn’t leave.
No matter how many ways I turned it over in my head, no matter how many logical arguments I stacked up, the truth stayed the same. Sienna was stubborn, fiercely independent, and far too willing to stand her ground even when that ground was crumbling beneath her feet.
And her life was at risk.
That was the part I couldn’t change. She was at very high risk.
She was being sort by hunters and that made everything ten times worse. Hunters didn’t miss. Hunters weren't driven by emotions like rogues. They were a lot stronger that her and groomed to kill.
And they sure as hell didn’t target just anyone with them being paid to... That made all my senses alert.
Someone had wanted her dead badly enough to spend money to hire hunters, and until I knew who that someone was, everything and everyone around her was a danger to her.
Including me.
I still didn't understand how the person found out about her. I kept her a secret. How did someone know enough about her to be able to send hunters against her.
It meant they knew the secret and I was the one on the loosing side because they knew everything and I didn't even know who they were.
Worse still, the thought that it might be someone from the council wouldn’t leave my mind.
If that was the case, then this wasn’t just about Sienna anymore. It was about politics and power.
They were trying to keep her dead so they could continue their rule.
The most grating part of it all was her inability to realize it. She hasn't fully grasped it all so it was up to me. .
It meant I had to be cautious.
More cautious than I’d ever been.
It annoyed me that iw as the only one who cared for her safety while the both of them stayed at home playing family.
I mean him touching her right in my presence was tasteless.
A power play.
That’s what it was.
He wanted to show me who he was and how much influence he had over her.
Fine.
If this was how it was going to be, then I’d play my part too.
The pack grounds came into view faster than I expected. I parked and headed straight for the main house, not bothering with pleasantries.
Lucien was already there, leaning against the railing like he’d been waiting.
Of course he had.
“You look like shit,” he said mildly.
“Get a house ready,” I replied instead. “The one near the east boundary. The one set aside for… contingencies.”
Lucien straightened slowly. “That serious?”
“Yes.”
He studied my face, then nodded once. “I’ll have it secured by morning.”
“Good.”
A pause stretched between us before he spoke again. “I can watch her if you need extra protection.”
I stopped.
Turned.
“No.”
Lucien lifted a brow. “You don’t trust me now?”
“This isn’t about trust.”
“Sounds like it is.”
I stepped closer, lowering my voice. “Kael wants me to do it myself. He made that very clear.”
"That Fucking lone fuck. who did he think he was. He just waltzed into her life and thinks he calls the shorts now. The ego on that guy. I mean he's trying to get to you.” he cursed angry his rage even more than mine
“Maybe,” I frowned.
"I don't care if they are sleeping together or not. I just want to protect the pack and that. mean protecting her" I said it with a neutral face. I was lying
Lucien’s gaze sharpened. “And you’re just going to accept that?”
“I’m not accepting anything,” I snapped. “I’m choosing my battles.”
“Funny,” he said. “Doesn’t look like you’re losing this one.”
I exhaled slowly. “If her safety is compromised again, if it threatens the pack, I’m forcing her here. With or without her consent.”
Lucien didn’t argue. That alone told me how serious the situation had become.
“I’ll make the preparations discreet,” he said. “No council ears.”
“Good,” I replied. “That’s exactly what I’m worried about.”
When I left the pack grounds, the weight in my chest hadn’t eased, but my path forward was clearer.
Back to the city.
Back to her.
My skyrise apartment loomed among the others, high enough that nothing got in or out without my permission. I’d built it that way for a reason.
I hadn’t planned on living there full time again.
But plans changed.
I parked in the private garage and rode the elevator up alone, the quiet pressing in around me. The doors opened the apartment.
It was quiet.
I couldn't even remember when last I stayed for more than a few days. The house was fully furnished and I had a cleaner come maintain it but it was empty.
And felt like a newly furnished apartments that hadn't been lived in.
I was going to have to do that to protect her.
From here, I could see everything.
Her street. The surrounding blocks. The patterns of movement below. I pulled up the feeds front the street camera's, scanning them automatically, already adjusting security parameters in my head. I was going to add more camera's to the streets.
Kael might be at her side.
But I’d make sure to keep everything safe from where I stood. I was going to keep an
eye on her.
I was going to watch over her and make sure she was safe until I was able to get the information I wanted out of her.
I was an Alpha. I had to think first of my packs safety before anyone else's.
I kept repeating it in my head so I wouldn't forget