Chapter 173
I shower, dress and eat the food Adam brought up for me, even though I don’t have much of an
appetite.
I think about shifting and running again.
It’s easier to be in wolf form and not have to feel all these confusing, upsetting things all the time. Not
have to worry about the packs or the businesses or if this is how the rest of my life is going to look…
alone in a pack full of other wolves.
But shifting and running can’t be the answer every time I feel down.
I need to find other ways to cope, and hope that with time, things will get easier, because this is going
to be my life now.
I have all these responsibilities, and I can’t see how Aaron and I will ever get past the ways we’ve
wronged and hurt each other.
Sure, it seems like we’re going to work together temporarily to find out what happened to the Al
weapons system, but after that, we might not ever have a reason to speak with each other again apart
from basic formalities to do with the pack and corporations.
Being mated has only pushed Aaron further away from me, instead of bringing us together like it should
have.
But it’s fine, I tell myself.
Even if he wanted to have anything to do with me, I can’t look at him without being reminded of…
everything.
Tears threaten as I walk down the stairs, and I determinedly shake them away.
I have work to do.
I don’t have time to sit around and cry about things that can’t be changed.
“Sleeping Beauty emerges,” a voice says from across the foyer as I reach the bottom of the stairs.
Tobin stands, buttoning his stylish jacket, a friendly smile on his face.
“Councilman,” I greet with a polite nod. “What brings you to Rathbom packnds? If you’re here to see
Aaron-”
“I know Aaron’s not here,” Tobin returns, his pale eyes intelligent and assessing. “Everyone knows
Aaron hasn’t been staying on Rathborn pds for months. And please, let’s dispense with the
formalities. Call me Tobin.”
I incline my head again. “If you’d like toe through to the sitting room, I can have some
refreshments brought.”
“Such a gracious host,” Tobinpliments with a smile that I’m not sure what to make of
Tobin helped save me that night Brian Leithrow tried to ki ll me. And he’s wandered on and off Roberts
pds like he’s entitled to, which made me think he had some kind of agreement with Liam, but I
also know he’s been friends with Aaron since before I even came to the Rathborn pack.
However, he’s hard to read, and I’m not sure what to think of the attention he gives me.
Now that I’ve got my wolf, I can sense how wild he is, how close to the surface of his humanity his wolf
is lurking.
Once we’re seated and he’s got a whiskey, neat, in a crystal tumbler, I muster a smile. “Breakfast of
champions,” I joke.
He barely cracks a grin.
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“So, what can I do for you?” I ask, striving to keep my tone pleasant and not nervous.
I get the feeling Tobin is not the kind of wolf you should ever show weakness to
“Nothing official, this is just a social visit,” he responds, leaning back against the couch cushions, those
uncanny pale eyes never
leaving me.
“A social visit?” I repeat, trying not to sound as confused as I sound,
“I heard you woke up from youra, so I thought I’de see how you are.”
“I’m fine,” I reply automatically.
Tobin is at me, then drains his drink and sits forward to put it on the table between us.
“You’re a strong woman, Leah. You had to be, after how you were sent to the Rathborns as a blood
debt. And your new wolf is fierce, I can sense that.” His pale eyes focus on me intently. “But times are
changing. After your father and brother were killed, and with Aaron absorbing the powers of three
Alphas…well, anyone can see that there’s a fighting. The question is, will you be on the right side
of things?”
My wolf bristles, and even I’m on alert now.
“Are you threatening me?”