Chapter 36 Ryan’s Absence
NATHAN'S POV
Ryan's decision to step down caused a great vacuum in pack leadership that was felt in every corner of Moonstone territory and it also showed in Lisa's daily life. For years, Ryan had been her constant presence whether as enemy, mate, or reluctant partner. His absence was obvious as he was no longer seen around the pack house hallways and meeting rooms.
I took charge of Ryan's former duties which made me to start working closely with Lisa and Daniel more than I formerly did. The work was hectic and demanding, it required long hours coordinating patrols, managing disputes between pack members, and handling the administrative details that kept everything functioning smoothly. Daniel handled the official Beta responsibilities very well but I took on the collaborative work that had been Ryan's role alongside Lisa.
These few weeks made me see how much Lisa had grown as Alpha. She made decisions with great confidence, she no longer second guessed herself the way she had when she first took the position. Her compassion had earned the loyalty of pack members, the way she handled conflicts with wisdom that seemed beyond her years. Watching her command a room full of skeptical senior warriors or negotiate territorial agreements with neighboring packs filled me with pride and something deeper that I carefully kept controlled.
One evening after a very exhausting day spent on settling a complicated boundary dispute, Lisa and I had dinner alone in the small private dining room adjacent to her office. The pack house was quiet around us, most members already settled for the night, and the silence felt peaceful rather than oppressive.
The conversation flowed easily between us, there were no formalities. We talked about pack business initially, reviewing decisions made and planning for challenges for the next couple of months. Then the discussion entered into more personal topics as we relaxed,
I made Lisa laugh with stories from my trips to other packs as I exaggerated the pompous behavior of certain Alphas. Her laughter was genuine and unguarded, lighting up her face and it made me very happy. She shared memories of her time in the human city, describing the coffee shop where she had worked and the small apartment that had been her refuge from pack politics and mate bond complications.
"Lisa," I said carefully, setting down my fork to meet her eyes directly. "I need to know something and I need you to be honest. Is the mate bond with Ryan truly weakening, or are you just suppressing it temporarily?"
Lisa looked taken aback for a moment before replacing it with warmth that had been there before. She looked down at her hands folded on the table, then her fingers twisted together, a gesture I recognized from years of knowing her.
"I don’t know the difference anymore," she admitted quietly. "I push back against the pull constantly, refusing to let it influence my feelings or decisions. But whether that is actually breaking the bond or just ignoring it while it stays intact, I honestly cannot tell."
I reached across the table and took her hands in mine. Her skin was warm against my palms and I felt her pulse jumping rapidly at her wrists. "Lisa, listen to me. I will not be the person you turn to just because Ryan is not here. I will not be your distraction or your rebellion or your way of hurting him back for everything he has done."
"Nathan, that is not what this is," Lisa protested but I gently squeezed her hands to keep her listening.
"When you are ready, truly ready, to explore what we could be together, tell me," I continued with conviction I needed her to hear and believe. "But not as a reaction to Ryan leaving or the mate bond confusing you or loneliness making you reach for the closest person who cares about you. As a genuine choice for me specifically, for what we could build together independent of anyone else."
Lisa's eyes filled with tears. "You deserve that, Nathan. You deserve to be someone's first choice, not their backup plan."
"And you deserve to make choices free from pressure or expectation," I said. "So take the time you need. I will be here regardless, as your friend and your Third and someone who loves you enough to wait for you to be certain."
Lisa nodded her head gently with a smile then pulled her hands from mine gently and we finished our meal in awkward silence.
The next morning, Emma was finally recovered enough to leave the medical wing after weeks of treatment for injuries sustained during her captivity. The pack doctor cleared her for light activity with instructions to rest frequently and avoid any stress that could trigger setbacks.
Emma found Lisa in her office reviewing patrol reports, and I was present discussing security of the pack when Emma knocked on the door frame. She looked healthier than she had in weeks, and strength returned to her movements, but her expression carried urgency that immediately put me on alert.
"Lisa, I need to talk to you," Emma said, glancing at me uncertainly. "It is important."
"Nathan can stay," Lisa assured her, gesturing for Emma to come in and close the door behind her. "What is wrong?"
Emma took a deep breath then composed herself before speaking. "During my captivity with Viktor, before everything went wrong and the rescue happened, I overheard conversations between Viktor and Sophia. They talked when they thought I was unconscious or too weak to understand what they were saying."
My entire body froze . Sophia's involvement with Viktor went deeper than we realized.
"Sophia’s goal isn’t just to break you and Ryan apart for revenge or jealousy," Emma continued, her words tumbling out faster as she shared information she had been holding since her rescue. "She is also working to make you look bad as the Alpha. She has been spreading rumors to other packs, questioning your leadership abilities and suggesting Moonstone is weak under your command. And she is planning to formally challenge you for pack leadership within the month."