Chapter 158

Sarah POV

I was hoping to see Zane when I got to the villa, but Hans told me he was upstairs lying down. I supposed the visit to the temple had been strenuous and/or frustrating. I changed out of my shopping clothes into jeans and a nice top, wondering if I wanted to give the girls the model right away or save it for something.

I’d ask Zane, I decided, when he was feeling better.

The girls showed up not long after that, which meant about ten solid minutes of petting Selene and talking about what a good girl she was and asking if she wanted to go for a which she did. The girls put on her leash and walked her for about another ten minutes, which meant they were hungry and would take her out for a longer walk later.

They all returned, and I heard about the painting Grace had turned in for the art contest. I realized she’d been keeping me from seeing it, and I couldn’t wait to get a look at it.

However, I sensed she didn’t want to make a big production about it and just told her I was proud and was looking forward to seeing how she did. Then I got some fruit cups out for them.

It was about that time I got a text from Lainey.

What happened? Check Cavendish.com

With a frown, I went to the site. There was a large photo of me standing next to a “mysterious figure” who proved to be none other than Pack Alpha Zane’s half-brother, Scott.

“Oh, goddess give me strength,” I sighed.

“What is it?” Chloe asked, looking up from her little fruit cup with a frown.

“I ran into your Uncle Scott today while I was doing a little fun shopping.” I turned the phone around so they could see the photo.

“Are you in a toy store?” Chloe demanded.

“Maybe, and thank you for concentrating on the important things.”

“Did you buy anything?”

“Who is this nosey little alpha pup in my life?” I asked before bopping Chloe on the nose and getting her to giggle.

“How are the comments?” Chloe asked.

I turned the phone back with a sigh. “Lovely as usual, I’m sure.”

GreyGoodies: Are we sure that’s Scott? You can hardly see him.

Jane Dayviellers: I knew she was a slut.

StylebookSchmybook: OMG her shoes. They’re 2 cute!

Diamonds&Purlies: I have the Cavendish Monopoly set. It’s awesome. We should start a group to play online.

GinnyWolf: Oh yes, @janedayviellers. Talking to someone is just the same as fucking them.

WeDon’tHaveThatCopy: You know, Sarah and Scott could mate if they wanted. He’s only a beta.

Rosemary&Sage: Is she buying a present for the girls in that toy store? Is that Moontides?

WhooWahh32: Lame, D&P.

DufferentStuff: Where’s that sexy bodyguard that’s usually with her? BODYGUARD LUV!!!

SingleMoment: I think it’s Kids & Pups over on Hacker Drive.

I glanced up to see the girls looking at me expectantly.

“They think my shoes are cool, and someone is excited to see a Cavendish Monopoly set.”

They both looked bored and finished up their fruit.

“We don’t have much homework today,” Chloe said hopefully.

“Then you’ll be able to finish it quickly so you can play outside,” I told her.

“Sounds good, girls,” Zane said as he entered the kitchen. “I need to talk with Sarah for a bit.”

They nodded and put their bowls in the sink before they reached for their Randoseru backpacks.

“What?” he asked with a gentle smile. “No hugs for your sire first?”

They giggled and gave him a double hug before going off to their playroom.

Alone, Zane and I smiled at each other, and I saw the weariness in his eyes.

“The Luna Temple was difficult?” I asked.

He closed his eyes and shook his head. “I’ll tell you all about it, but not today. I still have to figure it out in my own head.”

I wanted to ask what, exactly, he had to figure out, but I just nodded. He looked around quickly and then pressed a quick, sweet kiss to my lips.

“I went on a spirit walk.”

I just stared at him in amazement, my lips tingling pleasantly and my mind blank. It was like he said he’d taken a walk on Mr. Everest.

Then I shrugged. “OK. We’ll talk about it when you’re ready.”

“Thank you.” He reached over and tapped my phone. “Besides, you’re the one with the interesting story, seems like.”

I rolled my eyes and then carefully explained Scott’s trick with the letter blocks and then recounted everything we said to each other as best I could.

“Inner circle?” Zane echoed. “I’m not sure I’d call it that.”

“I think he just meant the guards, but actually I think it’s true more generally.”

“How?”

“I have you and the girls, and you have us plus Travis, Hans, and Whitfield, and then I have them plus Lainey and Dr. Hayes.”

“And Melissa?”

“Working on it. She’s a wonderful person.”

“But?”

I made a face at myself. “It’s a little like staring into the sun for too long.”

His smile was wry. “It is.”

I thought of the comment on the website about how I could mate Scott because he was “only” a beta. I was the “only” around here. As I saw him trust me about Scott, not blaming me or asking suspicious questions, I thought of how he deserved someone perfect, someone who could let him forget about Olivia and help him raise not just Chloe and Grace but more pups, alphas like him even.

Melissa, I thought, wouldn’t be foolish or careless enough to get caught talking to Scott in a toy store. She wouldn’t have people online calling her a slut or questioning her protection of the Cavendish family.

It really hit me for the first time that if Melissa and Zane were to mate, I would still be the girls’ goddess-mother. It was a lifelong position, after all. I would have to watch them be the perfect couple together, saving the territory and uniting wolfkind.

“What’s wrong?”

I realized I’d just been staring off into space for a moment. “I just, um, I’m just thinking about how deeply I care for your daughters.”

“Our daughters.”

I felt tears trying to come to my eyes and fought them off with thoughts of how happy Selene had looked when the girls had come home.

“Our daughters,” I whispered. “I would do just about anything for them. You know that, right?”

“Of course I do.”

I nodded. Whatever the future held, whoever Zane and Melissa became to each other, I would be there for the girls and for him, as much as he wanted.