Chapter 45 Chapter 45
Tiana
I arrived at the dining hall later than usual, my body still aching from yesterday’s confrontation with Zane.
He had not hurt me physically.
But the way he had cornered me in that hallway and demanded answers I didn’t have, had left bruises in my heart.
The dining hall was already occupied when I entered.
Zane sat at the head of the table, his posture perfect as always, a cup of coffee halfway to his lips. He paused mid-sip when he saw me, his eyes tracking my movement across the room.
I didn’t look at him, even as I had felt his gaze on my skin.
I took a seat three chairs down from him and tucked myself into it.
A servant appeared immediately, setting a plate of eggs and toast in front of me. I murmured my thanks, though my appetite had vanished the moment I had walked in.
“Good morning, Alpha,” I murmured, keeping my eyes on my plate.
“Good morning.” A soft response came from him and after that, silence settled between us uncomfortably.
I picked up my fork, pushed the eggs around without actually eating. The scrape of metal against the porcelain, too loud in the quiet.
Then footsteps echoed from the hallway, and Kaius walked in.
“Morning everyone,” he said cheerfully, dropping into the chair beside me. His energy was a stark contrast to the suffocating air already thick in the room. “Did I miss anything interesting?”
“Not at all.”
Kaius glanced between us, his smile faltering slightly. “Right. Well, good morning Uncle.”
He reached for the coffee pot, poured himself a cup, then turned to me. “Luna, good morning. I wanted to ask about yesterday. Was there something you needed to tell me?”
My hand froze mid-motion, the fork hovering above my plate.
“I—” My voice came out smaller than I intended. “No. It was nothing.”
“Are you sure?” His brow furrowed. “Because it seemed like you had something to tell me.”
“Mmm…” I replied, nodding. “I am sure.”
Kaius’s eyes flicked to his uncle, then back to me. “Okay. If you say so.”
I forced myself to let out a smile. “It was nothing.”
Kaius studied me for a moment longer, like he was trying to read something I wasn’t saying. Then he shrugged and turned his attention to his breakfast.
The silence returned, broken only by the clink of silverware and the occasional sip of coffee.
I tried to eat. Managed a few bites of toast that tasted like sawdust in my mouth. Maybe because it actually did not taste good.
“Oh, I meant to tell you,” Kaius said suddenly, setting down his cup. “I’m heading to the border tomorrow. The construction project I mentioned before—remember? We’re finally breaking ground.”
I looked up. “The one at the pack borders?”
“Yeah.” His face brightened. “It’s going to take a few weeks, maybe longer. But it’ll be good for the pack.” He paused, then added, “You should come with me.”
My heart stuttered. “What?”
“Come with me to the border,” he repeated, smiling. “You’d love it, Tiana. There’s fresh air and on the way to the borders, you can get a glimpse of real pack life. You’d get to see how things work outside this pack house.”
For a moment, I let myself imagine it.
Doing something useful instead of sitting in my chambers waiting for the next round of treatments.
“I don’t know if—”
Before I could finish, Kaius had already turned to Zane. “Uncle, what do you think about it?”
“She’s not going to the borders.” He replied plainly, like it were some simple response that did not exert dominance.
I turned to him, my stomach sinking.
His expression was calm. But his eyes were hard, fixed on Kaius with an intensity that made my skin prickle.
“Uncle,” Kaius said carefully, “it’s just a construction project. She would be perfectly safe.”
“The borders are not safe,” Zane replied, his tone still even but carrying an edge now. “We’ve had three incursions in the past month and you are aware. Silvercrest is testing us. I’m not sending the Luna into a potential conflict zone.”
“Alpha, I don’t think it’s anything to be bothered about. Besides, it is not a conflict zone,” Kaius argued. “It’s a construction site. There are guards, protocols…”
“I said no.”
The finality in Zane’s voice left no room for debate.
Kaius opened his mouth, then closed it. His jaw tightened, but he didn’t push further.
I sat there, my hands clenched in my lap, feeling smaller with every passing second.
Of course. Of course, Zane wouldn’t let me go.
Not because he cared about my safety.
But because he couldn’t stand the idea of me spending a single unsupervised minute with Kaius.
“She has responsibilities here,” Zane continued, his eyes still on Kaius but his words clearly meant for me. “As Luna. Those come first.”
“What responsibilities?” The question slipped out of my lips before I could stop it. Now, I could argue that I was foolish but maybe it gave me some disturbing satisfaction every time Zane reminded me of my purpose.
His gaze shifted to me. “Preparing for your role. You have to bear me a pup.”
Heat flooded my face, crawling down my neck.
He’d said it so casually.
“Right,” I whispered, looking away.
Kaius frowned. “Uncle, I don’t think—”
“If you want to get busy,” Zane interrupted, his attention back on me now, “you can assist the supply division here at the pack house. I’ll also look into other roles you can take on. But the work around the construction site is not an option.”
“Understood, Alpha,” I replied quietly.
Kaius looked like he wanted to say something but whatever he saw in Zane’s expression made him reconsider.
“Fine,” he muttered, pushing his chair back. “I should get going. There is a lot to do before I head out.”
He stood, gave me an apologetic look, then walked out without another word.
Kaius left, and the room changed instantly. It became heavy and suffocating like there was an imaginary hand pressing on my chest.
I rose from my chair, desperate to escape before the silence swallowed me whole.
“Tiana.”
Zane’s voice stopped me mid-step.
I turned slowly. “Yes, Alpha?”
“Sit down.”
“I need to—”
“Sit. Down.”
The quiet emphasis made my stomach drop.
I lowered myself back into the chair, my hands trembling in my lap.
Zane crossed the room with deliberate, controlled steps, then leaned against the table with his eyes fixed on me.
“Sit,” he repeated softly. “We need to talk.”