Chapter 137
The packlands are on fire. The Alpha King is under scrutiny, and the damage to the established hierarchy is not going to be repaired anytime soon. It’s what he deserves for sweeping all those deaths under the rug the way he did to protect the Romanos.
I’m sitting in my grandmother’s garden when something interesting happens. The air carries Anastasia Polucci’s scent, but the confirmation of her arrival comes from the traces of my affinity in her body. She is the first person I have healed that way. Ragnar doesn’t count, I feel. We’re connected through our bond. I wonder if it works that way for everyone?
“Is there anything you need, my lady?” Avery, Elise’s daughter, asks from the path that leads up to the house.
“Tea, please. We’re going to have company,” I inform her. “The one with the green lid.”
“Would you like some snacks as well?”
“Sure,” I agree. “You can come closer. I know you’re there.” I call out. “You could have called.”
“How did you know I was here?” she asks. I look up to see her stand up from behind the gazebo.
“You’re downwind, and there aren’t a lot of scents like yours. All I ever get here is flowers,” I wave her down.
Anastasia looks like a person again. She’s wearing dark, fitted clothes that do wonders for her figure. Her hair is growing. She’s done her makeup to perfection, and she’s wearing the cutest spiked platform boots I’ve ever seen. Before she sits down, she touches the chair and looks around as if checking to make sure the coast is clear.
“I hear you’re officially the Queen now,” she says as she slowly lowers her body into the chair.
“Are you still in pain?” I ask her.
“No,” she shakes her head. “It’s kind of a phantom habit. I know I’m better, but my body is still a little off.”
“You didn’t do the physical therapy as I instructed,” I state, because she wouldn’t be feeling that way if she had.
“I don’t have the time for that, Sophia,” she shrugs like it’s not a big deal.
“How can I help you, Anastasia?” I am happy that she seems to be doing much better.
“You channelled the water in body,” she sneers.
“You tried to blackmail me into doing something I didn’t want to do,” I remind her and save my classwork before I submit it. I shut my laptop to give her my full attention.
“You’re not like other omegas, are you? I have omegas working for me, and none of them would even dare look up at me the way you do.”
“I used to be. Not anymore. I guess I’m just fed up with others trying to push what they think I should be doing on me. I now have the means to defend myself.”
“I have Gurerro in custody,” she states. I do my best not to react to how happy that makes me.
“Okay,” I say, not sure where this is going.
“He doesn’t know you drowned his little princess on the rooftop terrace of her home yet,” she adds.
“You have something to say, Ana. Just say it,” I glare at her.
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Chapter 137
Avery takes this moment to come out with her team. The four of them set up our branch. Avery stops in front of Ass flashing her the sheriff’s badge that’s attached to the gun on her hip. She smiles kindly at me betone browing and excuseg herself. Ana doesn’t like that, but there isn’t much she can do. Ragnar sent over a team to serve, and the property is
surrounded.
I told him I wouldn’t be going out last night. I only wanted to process everything that had happened, as well as pinpoint all the inmates that were directly accused by the Romanos, so that their cases may be reviewed. This way, it doesn’t look like we’re playing favoritism with Kaylee’s brother.
“It was way too easy for me to get in here without being noticed by your guards, she says.
“I knew you would be stopping by soon enough. Eliza thinks we should hash out what happened, given the stress on both of us during these events. I agree with her, I think you can teach me a few things
“I’m sorry about that,” she sighs. “I don’t play well with others, and getting people to do what I want them to do is usually a lot easier.”
“I’m sorry I got upset with you. However, you threatened my mate and King, I will not be apologizing for the attack. You should know better.”
I sense the moment Ragnar pulls up to the gate and glances in his direction. He recklessly pulls up to the front of the house and storms over to us like a madman. I smile when she lets out a heavy sigh.
“Where?” he demands.
Ana, without skipping a beat, points in the direction she was able to get in from. He spins around and heads over to the guard hut. It only takes him a moment to come back out holding our head of security by his collar.
“Sorry, that’s my fault. He’s been upset with me ever since we got back from the city,” I sigh and watch as he yells at him and his team for missing such an obvious spot. “Why do you have Gurrerro? I’m assuming you are the reason why he didn’t show up to help his precious baby girl.”
“I am,” she nods. “I still need that favor. Only this time, I’d like to ask you to be the one to question him. You don’t have to hurt him or even slap him around. Be the good girl I think you are, and I don’t know, stitch him up. Ice his wounds or whatever you do. And ask him what you need to ask him. I need those answers as well.”
“What’s in it for me?” I ask. Her eye twitches, and she blinks it away to try to hide it.
I stand up, reaching for my purse to get my check–up kit. She doesn’t move when I approach her. Now that I’m closer. 1 sense how tired she is. The anxiety in her body must be driving her crazy. I know that from experience. The pain doesn’t just stop from one instant to another. It’s muscle memory at its finest.
I remember how tightly coiled my body was for months after I had completed my physical therapy. I tried my best to calm down, but my body wouldn’t respond the way I wanted to, and I’d sit alone in my room for hours crying because I didn’t know what to do with myself.
‘What do you want, money?” she rolls her eyes.
‘Follow,” I say, holding my hand up. “And no. What part of my life has ever suggested I need it?”
“Handouts are beneath you. I have real money. Not chicken nugget change,” she rolls her eyes. “Pay–outs are good business.”
“You need to sleep. If you’re not doing physical therapy, stretch every morning,” I reach for my mini portable printer and open my laptop to print out a couple of images of the stretches she should be doing. “Do you have green wolfsbane?”
“Yes, I do.”
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Chapter 137
10 vouchers
Seoke some to help with the anxiety. Yellow wolfsbane is only going to make it worse because it’s boosting your energy as
You send less unel you can manage on your own without substance assistance.”
Te that what you med?
“No, I don’t know what I was until I shifted into my pelt the first time.”
You raw dogged your physical therapy recovery?”
“I did, which is why I know you’re not doing well despite how clean you look. You should be resting.”
“Seriously, what do you want in exchange?” she asks as she watches the images print.
“I would have to think about it. Set up a date and let me know what I need beforehand so I can be prepared. How about you
Give me one?
I don’t like owing anyone shit, Sophie,” she sighs.
“Well, I don’t have a lot of illegal things I want done, Ana,” I slide the images over to her. “But here we are.”
AD
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
