I waved my hands with a shake of my head. “Please, drop the formalities. I’m just Reese.”
I hoped that would help him feel a little more at ease. It took weeks, but I finally got most of the pack to call me by my name instead of Alpha Queen. Especially after Chael and I formally mated. They all had this sixth sense of what happened and felt even more obligated to call me by my pack title. It made sense, I supposed, given that, according to werewolf law, Chael and I were officially married.
Thinking about that fact caused a kaleidoscope of butterflies to go off in my belly. I bounced on my toes, feeling light from the reminder alone that I was officially Chael’s. And he was mine.
“Okay, Alph—Reese,” Christophe corrected.
I smiled and watched him look over his shoulder toward the hallway again.
“I hope I’m not keeping you from anything,” I said, bringing his attention back to me. “I know you’re helping Chael track down whoever’s behind that whole Dr. Pines situation.”
“N-no, you’re not keeping me from anything worthwhile.” He stepped back and held out his arm in the direction of his kitchen.
I nodded and followed him in there.
“Would you like any coffee or anything?”
“No.” I pressed my hand against my full stomach. “I think Ms. Elsie was trying to feed an army this morning. I’m fine.”
He poured himself a cup of coffee from the small pot on his counter. I quietly watched as he sipped it again, his eyes finding everything but mine.
“Well, I should apologize for the surprise visit, but I wanted to talk to you.”
His eyebrows lifted, but he didn’t say anything. I took that as my signal to keep going.
“It’s uh…” I grew nervous, not knowing where to start. “First, I wanted to say thank you.”
He scrunched his face. “I didn’t do anything for you to—”
“No, you have.” I stepped forward but still kept some distance between us. “You found out that stuff about Pines and tracked him after he tied Sera and me up in his creepy basement. And, Chael told me you were the one who installed the tracker on my phone.”
His gaze dipped again. “Yeah, sorry about that.”
“Don’t apologize.” I shrugged. “I mean, I know why Chael did it. He’s a protector and has slight control issues.” I chuckled and noticed the corners of Christophe’s mouth tip upward, but it wasn’t a full-on laugh. “Anyway, if you hadn’t placed that tracker in my phone, Montgomery might have died, and we might not have made it off the property. Who knows? Pines and whoever he was working with could’ve come back before Chael got there.”
He took another sip of coffee and then stared at something above my head before nodding. “You’re welcome.”
“Also, I noticed you didn’t stay long at the Supermoon Ceremony, and you hardly ever come over for breakfast in the mornings, lunch, or any meal.” I stepped closer. “Maybe you think things are different because Chael found me, but I promise you, his home—our home is still as open to his pack and family as it ever was. I think he would like to see more of you. The entire pack would.”
Sure, I spoke for Chael and the pack when I probably shouldn’t have been, but why wouldn’t they want Christophe around?
“I’m not so sure about that.” He shook his head.
“Why not?” The despondency on his face caused a wave of sadness to pass over me. If I didn’t know any better, I could imagine I spotted a great deal of loneliness in Christophe’s eyes. Even though he still wouldn’t look me in the face.
He shrugged and didn’t elaborate.
“From everything I know about the pack, they love one another and find joy in spending time with each other.”
He snorted, and at that time, he did look me in the eye. “Is that what you think?”
I furrowed my brows. “I don’t understand.”
“Never mind.”
I started to ask him to explain, but a sound from down the hallway interrupted me. It was the noise of a floorboard creaking like someone was walking.
“I’m sorry.” I looked back over my shoulder. “I didn’t realize you had company.”
