Chapter 197


    E


    When I wake up the next morning, I feel better rested than I have in weeks. For the first time since I


    started hypnosis, Phil!ppe hasn’t had to charge in during the middle of the night to wake me from my


    night terrors. Simply being able to connect with my mate did wonders for my state of mind, and even


    though our lovemaking was reserved for our dreams, my body is sated and satisfied.


    Even though I just saw Sinir, my heart leaps when my phone rings a momentter, and I pull the


    device from it’s charger. “Good morning my love.” I greet him, beaming.


    “Good morning, gorgeous.” His handsome face fills the screen, still drowsy from sleep. “How are you


    feeling?”


    “A thousand times better.” I admit, because not only did he save me from my nightmares, but the


    weight of my lies are finally off my shoulders. I run my hand over my belly, checking in with our pup.


    Rafe is happy too, he’s been missing you as much as I have”


    “I’m d you’re both feeling better,” He rumbles, ” though I have to tell you, you’re not going to be


    happy with me in a moment.”


    “Why?” I ask nervous?y, sitting up. A thousand possibilities run through my mind, though I have a


    sneaking suspicion I know where this is going.


    “Because I’ve called a meeting with your co- conspirators.” Sinir reveals, a note of foreboding in his


    deep voice.


    “But Dominic, it wasn’t their fault.” I object. “I’m the one who convinced them and to be fair, without you


    here I outrank all of them.. except Gabriel.” I amend. “So they were just following orders.”


    Sinir gives me a sardonic look. “I hate to break it to you trouble, but as incredible and strong as you


    are, your wolf has only been awake for a month – there are children with more experienced animals. As


    far as I’m concerned, you don’t outrank anybody yet.”


    “Im their Luna.” I counter defiantly, deeply affronted that he’s undervaluing my agency in my own


    scheme.


    “You are, and you and I are going to have our own reckoning when Im home.” He promises ominously,


    “But for now, we all need to get on the same page.


    Muttering mutinously, I slide out of bed. “When is this meeting?” I snap after a moment, deciding not to


    voice some of the more colorful insults in my mind aloud.


    N?velD(ram)a.?rg owns this content.


    “Half an hour, in Gabriel’s chambers.” Sinir shares, a familiar glint in his green eyes. “Now, would


    you like to spend that time grumbling at me, or would like to sneak in some fun before the day gets


    away from us?”


    “That depends.” I huff, thinking that I’d quite like to continue grumbling. “What kind of fun?”


    “Well, I’ve been thinking of the show you gave me the other day.” Sinir shares, sending a crimson


    blush to my cheeks as I recall pleasuring myself on ourst video call. “And how beautifully you lost


    control, even if you were defying me every step of the way.”


    I smother a shiver, “And?” I squeak, already excited and having to clench my th!ghs together to relieve


    the ache at their center. My annoyance and trepidation about the meeting is gone, reced only with


    e.rotic interest – which is exactly what the wiley wolf intended.


    “And since I’m such a generous mate, I thought I might give you the chance to redeem yourself.”


    Sinir bares his fangs, all predator now. “By doing exactly what I tell you to do, no matter how


    scandalous it sounds..” His words trail off into a low growl, and I swear my se.x spasms as if it’s already


    on the verge of climax. “You’ll follow my orders exactly, so that even though it will be your own hands, it


    will feel like I’m the one ying your sweet body like a fiddle – and I’m going to watch every moment.”


    “Okay,” I gulp, trying to get control of my pounding heart.


    “Good girl. Now prop the phone on the table by the bed and make sure I can see you.” He instructs, his


    voice like rough velvet. “Then take off your nightgown, and lie down.”


    “And then?” I breathe, already obeying.


    “Then wait for my instructions..”


    Forty minutester I careen into Gabriel’s chambers, freshly dressed but still weak kneed from our


    video call. Sinir was as good as his word – unsurprisingly – and spent nearly the full half hour before


    the meeting ordering me to pleasure myself for his enjoyment, and Goddess was it hot! I never thought


    I would enjoy that sort of thing, but I’m wondering if I don’t have a small exhibitionist streak when it


    comes to my mate.


    I’m sure the wolves in this room can sense my over -excited vital signs, not to mention smell my


    lingering ar0usal. Part of me wonders if Sinir doesn’t take some sort of twisted pleasure in showing


    off his se.xual prowess this way, or if perhaps this is just part of my punishment. Either way, I veer into


    the meeting ten minuteste, and take a seat at the table.


    Sinir’s face is already on argeputer screen, and his hawkish eyes follow me the moment I


    enter the room. They linger on me for a long moment after I sit down, before he turns his attention to


    mypanions. “So, I’ll get straight to the point,” He begins gruffly. “I know that you’ve all been helping


    E continue to do hypnosis sessions. I know about the second memory she uncovered, and that she


    hasn’t slept in weeks because of the nightmares.”


    Henry, Roger, Gabriel and Phil!ppe all exchange wary nces, before turning their attention to me.


    I sink down in my chair, feeling like a child sent to the principals office – only there are four principals


    and they’re all lethal predators. “I didn’t know about any nightmares.” Henry states in concern. Roger


    and Gabriel murmur in agreement, and Phil!ppe glowers as I confess that only he knew.


    “No, only Phil!ppe knew and I swore him to secrecy.” Their gazes swing to my guard, full of usation,


    so I add, “I didn’t give him a choice.”


    “There’s always a choice.” Henry says gravely, and guilt fills me as I see the shame in my guard’s eyes.


    “This isn’t about me.” Sinir interrupts. “E and I have talked and well sort matters between us


    when Ie home. I also know it wasn’t easy for her to convince you, and I know why you agreed.” he


    reveals, sounding resigned. “Im more concerned with how we move forward.”


    I look up, not quite believing my ears. It almost sounds as though he’s going to let us continue, but that


    can’t be right.. can it?


    “I know my mate well enough to realize that once she’s set her mind on something there isn’t any


    stopping her – at least not when I’m so far away.”


    He adds with a note of warning. “So I want to make sure that the future sessions are safe and healthy. I


    want to know when they’re happening and how they go, as well as any new information that’s


    discovered.”


    “Dominic,” Henry sighs, “Im sorry we kept this from you, and though we did feel it was worth the risk,


    I’m sorry we didn’t pick up on how badly it was troubling E.” He reaches over and squeezes my hand,


    looking at me with obvious worry.


    “Thank you,” Sinir nods, and I realize that though he certainly mes me for not speaking up about


    my bad dreams, he also mes them for not noticing what was obvious to him from thousands of miles


    away.


    “But son, you have enough going on without adding these updates and reports to your te.


    Henry continues. “I can assure you that we’ll keep a sharper eye going forward and relieve some of the


    other stresses E is dealing with. Then we can update you with everything when you’re back.”


    Not for the first time, I feel a bit indignant to have all these men talking about me as though I’m not in


    the room, but I also understand this is part of being a she-wolf. All these bossy Alphas view me as part


    of their pack, and though the independent woman in me feels offended, the orphan who grew up with


    no one giving a damn about her feels oddly touched. “No.” Sinir counters, not willing to budge an


    inch. “Im not happy about any of this, so I’ll be damned if I’m going to stay in the dark about it.”


    “That’s fair.” Gabriel acknowledges. “And I think I speak for us all when I say that we do regret the


    subterfuge, and for not taking better care of your Luna.” The others mumble their agreement.


    “There’s another thing.” Sinir continues, “E, I expect you to go through Leon’s suggested therapy


    after your sessions, and I want you all to make sure she does it.”


    My jaw drops, “What?”


    “You heard me, little mate.” He rumbles. “That point is not up for debate. If you’re going to do this,


    you’re going to do it safely.”


    If I could shoot daggers with my eyes, my mate would certainly be dead. Still, he stares me down and


    growls until my wolf is trembling and tucking her tail between her legs. “Fine.”


    “Good.” Sinir approves, “Now, I’d like a word with Phil!ppe in private.”


    My heart sinks as I look at my guard. “Dominic -“


    “No.” Phil!ppe, objects, holding up a hand to stop me. “It’s okay, E. I answer to my Alpha, and I knew


    what I was risking.”


    “But -“


    “Come on, E.” Henry encourages, leading me from the room. Still, I can’t help but look back over my


    shoulder at my guard. The door closes behind us, and thest thing I see is my mate’s enraged face


    scowling out of theputer screen.