“Damien.” Hudson’s voice stops him. “I know you have your reasons for keeping your distance from Luna. But she’s pack now. Deal with it.”
A muscle jumps in Damien’s jaw. “Is that an order, Alpha?”
“Does it need to be?”
“Our agreement still stands,” Damien says, his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. “If anything happens to her—anything at all—I’ll gladly challenge for Alpha and rip your fucking head off your shoulders.”
The air in the room freezes.
I stare at Damien, shock rippling through me at the blatant threat. Challenging an Alpha is serious—a fight to the death that would tear our pack apart.
Hudson holds Damien’s gaze for a long, tense moment before nodding slowly. “Fair enough. I’d expect nothing less.”
What the hell?
They had a deal?
About Luna?
“Good,” Damien growls, then stalks out, slamming the door hard enough to rattle the hinges.
I turn to Hudson, struggling to process what just happened. “What deal? Since when does Damien care about Luna’s safety?”
Hudson sinks back into his chair, suddenly looking exhausted. “It’s complicated.”
“Uncomplicate it,” I demand, my usual deference slipping. “Because from where I’m standing, it looks like you two have been keeping secrets.”
Hudson sighs, suddenly looking older. “Damien has his reasons for keeping Luna at arm’s length. They’re his to share, not mine.”
“That’s not an explanation.”
“It’s all you’re getting.
I make no effort to move.
“Dismissed,” Hudson alpha barks.
My body rises before I can stop myself, legs carrying me toward the door even as my mind rebels against the command. The power that forced obedience ripples through my muscles, overriding my will.
I hate this sensation, this loss of control.
Hudson rarely uses it on us. Not on his inner circle. The fact that he’s resorted to it now speaks volumes about how desperate the situation has become.
My hand reaches for the doorknob without my permission.
“We need to tell her,” I manage to say through gritted teeth, fighting the compulsion just enough to turn back and meet his eyes.
“I’m trying to protect her,” Hudson says, his voice softening slightly. “All of us.”
“By lying to her?” I shake my head, the motion jerky as I struggle against the bark’s lingering effects. “She deserves better.”
I step into the hallway, the door closing behind me with a soft click. The farther I move from Hudson’s presence, the more control returns to my limbs. By the time I reach my workstation, the forced obedience has faded to a dull ache in my bones.
Luna’s laughter drifts, mingling with Oli’s animated voice. The sound tightens something in my chest.
She trusts us.
All of us.
