Chapter 36

I deleted a line of text, scrunched up my forehead, and rewrote it.

As soon as I’d gotten home from grandmother’s long term care facility, I’d started drafting my letter of resignation from the pack. She was right. I’d been hesitating and delaying long enough, and now I needed to take some action. If I left now, I’d be able to get far enough away to set up a new life before anyone realized I was pregnant.

If I waited any longer, I risked all my secrets coming out.

I was trying to get the wording right and figure out how to suggest we address the issue of how much money I still owed the pack. I had a suggestion for a payment plan, but was still struggling with language about why I was leaving.

Everything I wrote made me sound like a spurned lover.

Which I was, but Hunter wouldn’t be the only one who read this. I needed to make it sound like I was looking for my next career challenge and I’d simply outgrown what I could do in our pack.

If Adrian meant it about an offer of working with them, it would definitely be a step up.

Not that I intended to go there, either. If I started running, I didn’t think I would stop until I was far away from everything and everyone I knew now.

I typed my name at the bottom and read the letter again, finally deciding it was good enough. I printed it and added a signature. It all looked and seemed more real seeing it like that. I put my hand on my lower abdomen and felt a flutter there.

“I know, baby,” I said softly. “I’ll get us out of here and take care of you. I promise.”

It still felt uncomfortable to talk to it. Like I was going crazy. It still didn’t feel completely real that there was a pup in there. But with every flutter, our connection changed. It reminded me that it wasn’t just me anymore: that I had to do what needed to be done, not just for my own sake.

I dressed slowly. I wanted something professional, but also something comfortable enough to travel in if I got the chance to leave immediately. I settled on a black shift dress and flats, a thick cardigan on top. I started to put away the other clothes I’d been considering, then paused.

I should probably just pack.

It didn’t take long, once I started. It was a little depressing how little I’d accumulated in my years here. I had just the number of clothes I needed, but nothing more. I didn’t have knick knacks or decorative objects. No collection of lover’s gifts.

In some ways, I’d never been at home here.

I practiced what I’d say to Hunter on the drive. I’d try to keep it short. I’d take responsibility for my errors with the pack school, but try not to be too apologetic. I wasn’t going to blame him for any of it, and I was going to emphasize the fact that I needed a change in my professional career.

Not that I was desperate to get away from the man I loved and his new lover.

I took deep breaths and set my jaw as I opened the door, ready to go straight to Hunter’s office.

I froze, staring at my desk.

Adrian was sitting there.

Not just sitting, but lounging. He had his feet up on the desk and was leaning back in the chair, looking ridiculously casual. I wondered how long he’d been waiting for me.

I clenched the letter I was holding more tightly between my fingers.

“What are you doing here,” I asked quickly. I was surprised that my tone of voice sounded pleased to see him. It wasn’t what I’d expected, walking into the building. He caught me off guard.

“I just came to tell you that the planning commission has approved your request.”

“They what?”

He swung his legs down and rose to stand up, smiling slightly as he did so.

He splayed some files out on the desk. The top was was the plans, with a big stamp of approval in red ink on top.

“This should be everything you need,” he continued. They apologized for being overly hasty in their decision. And Sean also sends his apologies for being overly hasty in his reaction. You’re all set now.”

I had to sit down. I landed heavily in my desk chair, still warm from Adrian having been there.

I couldn’t speak.

I wondered what he must have done to make this happen. He certainly had strings he could pull, as an Alpha Prince. And especially if he was about to be made King.

But I certainly hadn’t thought something like this could be a priority.

It was the polar opposite of Hunter’s reaction, of refusal because he didn’t want to risk his seat on the Alpha Council. Adrian had much more to lose and nothing to gain. But he still helped me.

“I don’t know how to thank you,” I said finally. I looked down at the papers in front of me instead of up at him. I hadn’t thought this could be fixed, and the relief was so strong it made me feel weak at the knees.

“Nothing to thank me for,” he said. “Just finish your good work on the school.” He lowered his voice, then. “And after you’re done, tell me how I can pull you away from this pack and into mine instead.”

His tone seemed ever so slightly husky, with something other than his usual cool professionalism.

How had he done this for me was one question. But the bigger one was: why?

Adrian

She glowed as she sat there, shuffling through the documents I’d brought her. I wondered if she had any idea how impressive she was.

Even now, at her rock bottom, she was more poised and competent than just about any woman I’d ever known. I watched the determined set of her jaw, and straight backed posture. The downturn at the corners of her eyes and slight flush across her chest were the only symptoms of her upset, or the intense emotions she’d been feeling when she walked into the building.

I had to help her, I reminded myself. For one thing, she was the first person Sean had ever agreed to work with for more than a week at a time. His lands were at an essential point on the border, and it was pivotal to finally bring him into the fold.

It was important for inter-pack relations, yes, but in light of the rogues’ plans, it was important for our security as well to be collaborating with the pack on the northern border.

It was a good thing for inter-pack relations, I told myself, to help her.

And it was true.

But as I looked at the determined set of Kara’s mouth as she reviewed the files, noticed the slight redness at her collarbone receding back under her dress, I realized there was much more to it than that.

I’d been wrong to reject her, all those years ago.

And now she was being mistreated, about to be dumped, and none of this was what she deserved.

I made up my mind instantaneously. Or maybe I’d made it up long before, but just acknowledged it to myself while watching her.

I was going to win her back.