Chapter 85

Elroy’s POV

Today had been exhausting. Fighting the council always was, but it had been worth it. We’d shown them the ugly truth, the one they’d denied far too long, and hopefully got some of them to rethink their roles a little.

And there was Olivia.

Goddess, she was incredible in there. Seeing her in action was always incredible, but today? The way she’d stood with her feet planted and her head high, the way she commanded the room, the way she’d seemed to radiate steel and fire…

Her power was undeniable, and I couldn’t be more proud of my Luna. She was what Eclipse had needed. She’s what you needed, my wolf reminded sternly.

I smiled and didn’t fight the accusation.

I wished I could have spent more of the day with her after that fiasco, basking in her calm presence, but duties never ceased. I’d been looking forward to holding her close tonight, but if ‘girl’s night’ was what she needed, then it’s what she would get.

That and pizza, of course. I hadn’t known what Jordan’s pizza preferences were, so I ended up walking down our hall with a total of four pizza boxes in my arms—pepperoni, cheese, and a vegetarian one just in case, along with Olivia’s sausage and mushroom. I’d had to guess at ice cream too, so I got them Neapolitan. That was a classic, right?

It wasn’t that late yet, but the hallway was dark. The only light came from under Olivia’s door, and even from several steps away I could hear the women talking happily. I couldn’t help but feel warmth erupt in my chest. Leading a pack was a hard and sometimes lonely job, and I was glad Olivia was making friends she could depend on.

I adjusted the boxes in my grasp, freeing one hand to knock on the Lily Room’s door. Before my hand could make contact I froze, finally close enough to make out what Olivia was saying.

“—mixed signals," I heard, and even without seeing her face, I could picture the furrow in her brow. “It’s like, obviously he trusts me, obviously cares about me, but there’s still some invisible line that he refuses to cross.”

I felt ice water slide cold down my spine, every sense going on high alert. There was no danger, but it felt like there was. There was no doubt in my mind she was talking about me.

My wolf stirred restlessly within me, a low growl of self-reproach echoing in my mind. What did you expect? he chided, his tone rough like gravel. Did you really think a perceptive woman like her wouldn’t notice your behavior?

Guilt twisted in my gut, heavy and sour. My wolf had warned me, and now I was learning just how right he was.

“Alpha Elroy has always been a bit of an enigma,” Jordan agreed gently. My heart squeezed. I didn’t exactly grow up with the pack and preferred to keep to myself, but I hadn’t known how that was affecting the pack.

“I can feel it, Jordan,” Olivia said, her voice uncharacteristically small. “It’s like he’s right there, but just out of reach.”

You hear that, you fool? my wolf said pointedly. Olivia is reaching for us.

“Part of me gets it,” Olivia continued, “wants to give him as much time as he needs—” I shouldn’t need time— “you can’t rush the heart, right?” You’re not rushing Olivia, I love you. “But a part of me fears it’s my fault.”