Chapter 89 An Enemy of Zephyr

Chapter 89 An Enemy of Zephyr
She shrugged, feigning nonchalance. "I think the entire pack wouldn't just enjoy it, they'd support it."
"Oh?" I nodded like she'd said something of great importance. "And what else do you think the pack would support, Alice? Hm? Should I keep taking suggestions?"
She slid her phone back into her pocket with a small smile. "Just reminding you. Some of us are still here. Still loyal. Still willing to serve however you see fit."
The implication couldn't have been clearer.

"Goodbye, Alpha Wrath," she purred, then turned and sashayed away, her long auburn curls swishing behind her. 
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes as I got into the driver's seat. But the moment the door shut, I pulled up the image of Lyla and Marvin again on my phone.
Another bout of anger crashed over me— over the fact she was smiling that way and indeed looking way too relaxed with him. 
Over the fact that I was letting a stupid photo and a coincidental run-in mess with my head.

My wolf didn't care.
He wanted to destroy anything that even looked at her like she was his to take.
Gritting my teeth, I started the engine and headed home, fighting back the urge to go to that diner and spill Marvin's blood across the floor.
My grip tightened on the wheel.
I'd have my moment. Just not now.

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Lyla strutted into the mansion wearing a glow she hadn't worn in days. 
It hurt more than I wanted to admit that the glow came after seeing Marvin Hall.
"Hi, babe," she chirped, slipping off her coat and handing it to Benedict with an appreciative smile.
"Thank you," she mouthed before moving further into the room.
I knocked back another glass of whiskey, refusing to move from the couch.

"Hi," I grumbled.
She didn't seem to notice my sour mood, humming a melody as she rummaged through her bag. 
A moment later, Cage entered the house, holding a huge flower vase in one hand and a smaller one in the other.
Lyla, still cheerful, pointed him toward the glass table in the center of the living room for the smaller vase and to the kitchen island for the larger one.
"Alpha Wrath," Cage greeted with a curt nod.
I waved a hand in response.

Cage was a man of few words, just like his cousin, Troy.
Once he finished, he left.
Lyla busied herself adjusting the small vase hosting pink petaled flowers, in front of me, shifting it left… then right… Then back again. Still smiling and humming that damn song.
It was beginning to grate on my nerves.
She hadn't even noticed my mood.
And why the hell was she so happy anyway?
What had that rockstar idiot said to her that had her glowing like that?

Finally satisfied, she stood upright and looked at me.
My eyes ran over her pretty gown. It was a casual yellow sundress that stopped above her knees, with little dandelion prints and thin straps. 
Strappy high-heeled sandals hugged her feet, and her black-painted toes peeked through. Perched atop her head were my Ray-Bans. Well, not mine anymore.
"You should listen to that song," she said, mildly distracted as she picked at a loose thread on her dress.

"What song?" I asked, trying, and failing… horribly, to keep the edge out of my voice as I knocked back another swig of whiskey.
"The one I've been humming," she replied, finally yanking the thread free. "It's from Wild and Free's latest album."
Oh, bloody hell. Of course it was.
"You remember them, right?" she asked innocently.
I didn't answer.
How could I not? Who didn't remember the names of their enemies?
And as far as I was concerned, Marvin fucking Hall was exactly that. An enemy.

Every detail about the band was now etched into my brain thanks to the rockstar.
He hadn't wronged me or posed any real threat. But he had made Lyla laugh. And that was reason enough to loathe him. 
"Anyway," she said, hopping onto the armrest near me, "how was the meeting, and Alice's reaction? Did she slip up, or look like she was hiding something? You know… anything interesting since we're pretending to be on a break?"

I set the empty glass of whiskey on the table. "I couldn't exactly focus on analyzing Alice with photos of you, and Marvin plastered all over the damn internet." My tone was dry. "Looked to me like you were on some fairytale lunch date."
Lyla blinked in surprise, her smile slipping for a second. Then, she exhaled.
"Yeah… I figured it was paparazzi. I saw a guy holding something up. But Zeph, come on. It was purely coincidental, I'm sure you know that."
She took off the shades and set them on the table. "I ran into him on my way to the florist shop. He's taking a break after his tour."

"Taking a break in Aspen?" I raised a brow. "Of all places?"
"Zeph," she warned.
"I think he followed you here."
"You're overthinking things." She said flatly. "But jealousy looks good on you."
I groaned. "I'm not jealous."
"Mhm, sure you're not." She smirked, leaving the armrest to sink onto my lap, throwing one arm lazily around my neck.
Like a switch flipped, my shoulders instantly relaxed, the anger miraculously draining from my body.

The calming effect my wife had on me needed to be studied. 
Lyla pressed a soft kiss to my cheek, despite my grumbling. "God, you're such a baby."
"I'm not," I muttered, nuzzling my head into the crook of her neck. "I'm an Alpha"
"An Alpha that loves to be babied," she laughed. "You're my big baby."
"And you're mine," I murmured against her lavender-smelling skin, lifting my gaze to her face.
She smiled. "Obviously."

Her eyes turned serious. "You do know there's no reason to be jealous of Marvin, don't you?" 
"I do," I said softly. "But sometimes I can't help it. You're familiar with how the mating bond works, at least to some extent. But because you're not a wolf, you wouldn't fully get what it does to us. What it does to me."
Lyla tucked a stray hair strand behind her ear and listened.
"When I see you smiling like that with someone else, it stirs something in me. Something that's beyond jealousy. It's something instinctual." I explained. "It's the need to be near you to show that you're mine. It's the need to protect you even though you're not in harm's way."

She smiled. "Being a werewolf is that complicated, huh?"
"Yeah." I huffed. "Anyway. I've got some news. Something that might interest you."
"Oh?" She peered at me curiously. "What kind of news?"
"Athena's going to be staying with us for the next three months."
"Oh my…" Her face lit up. "That's good news! I haven't seen or heard from her since the last gathering. But I have to ask… why the sudden long visit?"
"They're dealing with security issues in their pack. Some kind of threat they haven't fully identified yet. Her parents want her somewhere safe while they figure things out."

She nodded thoughtfully. "That makes sense. And it's wonderful she'll be staying here. But don't you think the pack grounds will be safer? Or make her feel more at home?" 
"I'd rather have her under my roof," I said. "If something goes wrong out there, and I'm not there to stop it… I wouldn't forgive myself. She's here for safety. That's what I promised."