Hannah sat there, surrounded by a group of younger pack members.Her blonde hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights as she leaned in, speaking in a low, conspiratorial tone.Larissa picked up snippets of their conversation, and what she heard made her blood run cold.
“…Nick’s leadership is weak,” Hannah was saying, her voice dripping with false concern.“And Malcolm and Larissa?They’re too busy fighting—or fucking—each other to notice what’s really going on in the pack…”
A couple of the young wolves snickered at Hannah’s language, and Larissa clenched her hands into fists under the table.
She forced herself to look away, to pay attention to Una, who was studying the menu with intense concentration.
“So,” Larissa said, perhaps a bit too loudly, “how’s Javier doing?Sarah mentioned he’s starting to read.He starts school in the fall, right?”
Una looked up, her eyes lighting up at the mention of her cousin’s son.“Oh, he’s doing great!Sarah’s a bit nervous, of course, but Nick’s been wonderful with him.You should see them together, Larissa.It’s like…”
As Una continued talking, Larissa found her attention divided.Part of her listened to her friend, nodding and making appropriate noises of interest.But another part, the part that had been honed by years of pack politics and the recent turmoil, was laser focused on Hannah’s table.
“…and the way Nick’s been handling things?It’s like he doesn’t even care about the pack’s traditions,” Hannah’s voice drifted over again.“We need strong leadership, not this wishy-washy ‘let’s all get along’ approach…”
Larissa’s jaw clenched.She knew exactly what Hannah was doing.Sowing seeds of doubt, exploiting the pack’s lingering fears and uncertainties in the wake of Vincent’s reign.It was clever, she had to admit.
And dangerous.
“Larissa?Are you okay?”Una’s concerned voice broke through her thoughts.
Larissa blinked, realizing she’d been staring off into space.“Sorry, Una.I just… I’ve got a lot on my mind with the alpha competition and everything.”
Una reached across the table, patting Larissa’s hand.“I can imagine.It can’t be easy, going up against Malcolm like this.”
At the mention of Malcolm’s name, warmth spread through her chest.Unbidden, the memory of their kiss during patrol flashed through her mind.The feel of his strong arms around her, the taste of him on her lips, the way her whole body had seemed to come alive at his touch…
Larissa shook her head sharply, banishing the thoughts.Now was not the time for that.She couldn’t afford to be distracted, not with Hannah and Gregory apparently actively plotting against the pack.
“It’s…complicated,” Larissa said finally, her voice carefully neutral.“Malcolm and I have our differences, but we both want what’s best for the pack.”
As she spoke the words, a realization hit her with the force of a physical blow.Theydidboth want what was best for the pack.And right now, what the pack needed wasn’t her rivalry with Malcolm.It needed unity in the face of the threat Hannah and Gregory posed.
The waitress chose that moment to appear at their table, notepad in hand.“What can I get for you ladies?”she asked, her pen poised to take their order.
Larissa ordered quickly, barely glancing at the menu.Her mind was racing, piecing together everything she’d overheard and everything she knew about Hannah and Gregory’s past actions.
“I’ll be right back,” she told Una as soon as the waitress left.“I need to use the restroom.”
In the small, cramped bathroom, Larissa leaned against the sink, staring at her reflection in the spotted mirror.Her eyes glittered almost feverishly with her realization.She knew what she had to do.
She took a deep breath, trying to center herself.
She needed to work with Malcolm, to present a united front against Hannah and Gregory’s machinations.
“You can do this,” she muttered to her reflection.“For the pack.”
But the thought of being close to him again, of having to ignore the pull he exerted on her… It made her stomach twist with anticipation and dread.
No, she told herself firmly.The attraction doesn’t matter.It was a fluke, nothing more.What matters is the pack.
With that thought firmly in mind, Larissa straightened her shoulders and left the bathroom.As she made her way back to her table, she caught Hannah’s eye.The blonde woman smirked, raising an eyebrow in a silent challenge.
Larissa kept her face carefully neutral, refusing to give Hannah the satisfaction of a reaction.But inside, her resolve strengthened.She would not let Hannah and Gregory tear apart everything Larissa and the others had fought so hard to rebuild.
As she slid back into the booth, Una looked at her curiously.“Everything okay?”
Larissa nodded, forcing a smile.“Yeah, everything’s fine.Actually, I was thinking… Maybe we should call a pack meeting soon.There are some things I think we need to discuss as a group.”
