Chapter 42

Sienna’s POV

Asher looked really annoyed, and I couldn’t quite place why.

Maybe it was because I’d been avoiding him so intensely? Making sure we never once crossed paths?

I studied Asher’s face, noting the way his jaw was clenched so tight — didn’t that hurt? — and his fingers curled in his palms.

Lucius seemed oblivious to it all.

My eyes moved to Lucius, and I was overcome with thanks for him and all he’d done since this whole mess started.

Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to consolidate so much debt like I had. He’d stepped in and so expertly helped me find partnerships and trades that boosted Nightwind’s little economy monumentally.

Before Asher arrived, Lucius and I had been talking about Mia, frustrated that none of my accomplishments had been in the report she had submitted to the Elder’s.

Lucius had said that, unfortunately, I would probably never be worthy of my Alpha status in Mia’s eyes.

I didn’t want to care what Mia thought of me, but I had to, considering her voice to the Elder’s was so strong. Just her report alone made them give me a warning that my status was in jeopardy.

Completely unfair, by the way.

My attention was brought back to the table by the sound of a chair being roughly pushed back, and I saw Asher leaving, his brows creased in frustration.

What the…

“What’s his deal?” I asked, not having realized he and Lucius were even talking. I’d been so wrapped up in my head that I hadn’t heard a thing.

Lucius looked alarmed, too. “I thought things were perfectly fine. Seems he has something personal going on.”

“I’m sure he’ll tell you all about it,” I said with a tight smile, knowing he and I wouldn’t discuss a thing.

His mood was probably related to me, anyway.

“Anyway,” Lucius smiled at me, turning his eyes back to the seating chart on the table. “What are your thoughts on the event?”

Considering the charity event he was hosting was all about supporting orphans who lost their parents to rogue attacks, I was pretty happy about it.

“You know I love the idea behind it,” I grinned back, though it didn’t reach my eyes. Thinking of others losing their parents like I did made me sad.

Even if Prince Alaric was the real reason my parents were dead.

That still left me an orphan.

“I’d like for you to give a speech there,” Lucius said softly, his piercing eyes meeting mine. “I think it would resonate with a lot of people — especially other orphans.”

That’s right. Because I’m an orphan.

“I would love to,” I murmured, nodding slightly.

“A lot of orphans attend,” Lucius explained gently. “There are a lot of people who are victims of rogue attacks.”

“Though few are left in the position of leading a pack,” I sighed, a part of me regretting the life I’d been left with, another part proud to lead the pack my parents committed their lives to.

“They’ll look up to you even more for that.” Lucius briefly rested his hand over mine, his palm warm against my skin.

Warm and very comforting.

“I hope so.” My smile was shy, my heart set to racing in my chest. This was becoming a more regular thing around Lucius.

“You mentioned wanting to donate some things?” Lucius looked to me, his finger hovering over the seating chart.

“Yes,” I perked up, glad to have his palm off my hand. “I wanted to donate some of our top potions. Healing, pain, hunger.”

“For bidding?”

“Well, preferably for the orphans to take their pick, free of charge.” I wanted to give what I could to them, because they definitely didn’t have it like I did.

Some of them might be left entirely alone, with barely a roof over their head or a scrap of food on their table.

“That’s very kind of you,” Lucius said gratefully, almost reaching his hand out to mine again but stopping himself.

“It’s the least I can do,” I sighed. “And I would do more if I could.”

“It’s enough.” His voice was tender, admiration coating his words.

“And I might still lose my place,” I whispered, an aching pain spreading through my chest.

“You know I’ll do all I can to stop that from happening. I have my powers, too.” I wanted to believe him, because he sure sounded reassuring, but I just couldn’t.

“Mia has a lot of power.”

“She’s not the top Alpha of any pack,” Lucius growled, a flutter running through my stomach at his intensity.

“But she might have a stronger connection to the Elder’s.” I couldn’t help my negativity on the subject — she was after me like a starving animal, and I was the long awaited prey.

“Absolutely not.”

The force of his words made my eyes dart over to him, the look in his eyes sending a biting shard of ice right down my spine.

This time, I had to believe him.

Maybe I wasn’t aware of just how powerful he really was.

All I did was nod, knowing he’d understand that I too understood.

Not long after that, Lucius left, and for a while I sat alone at the table, thinking of the influence he must have.

After about thirty minutes of quiet, Asher’s door opened, and he came out, sitting across from me.

I stared back at him, assuming he was waiting for me to speak…and I did prefer to take control of the conversation.

“You know we need to look like we can stand each other when we attend the charity event.” I kept a steady gaze on him, not letting my nerves get the better of me.

“I’m surprised I’m still attending with you.” Asher spoke with his guard up, the walls between us growing higher.

“Why, did you want to go with Mia?” I sounded like the teenager I was, only worse. I was a jealous, bitter snob.

Asher rolled his eyes, turning his eyes to the tabletop, where he held them for a beat.

“This has nothing to do with Mia,” he finally said, his words coming out in a growl. “It’s only to do with us.”

“We can’t break this strong front we have, not after all this time.” My voice shook, and I cursed myself for letting it get through.

“Did I say anything about breaking it?” Asher looked back up to me, a bitterness in his eyes.

I had to bite back a comment about this ending in divorce after six months, because I did that every time in retaliation.

There is nothing between us.

This is ending.

I told myself the same things every time I had the opportunity to bring up the divorce. I’d convinced myself he had some bad reason he wanted it, so I’d never let myself ask.

I knew he’d tell me why if I just asked the question. But that would open up a whole other arena of problems.

“No. I was just reminding you that it’s important — ”

“ — to keep up appearances for our contract.” Asher finished my sentence for me, and for a long moment, we just stared at each other.

Then he got up and left, this time very silently, a hint of melancholy emanating off him.

Yet I was filled with it.