Dominic, Hunter, Zane, and Luke trailed in after us, all quiet for once, and surely sensing tension, they don’t know how to navigate either. I keep the introductions brief, glancing occasionally at the way Astrid hides subtly behind her mother’s legs.
Everyone gathers in the untouched living room, almost like it has been frozen in time through the years, and the guys start pulling plastic away from the furniture as I guide Lila and Astrid down the hall.
Once we reach one of the spare bedrooms, I open the door and flick the light on.
“You can say in here. You’ll have all the privacy you need,” I murmur, glancing around the room for myself briefly, reacquainting with the space. “Make yourselves at home.”
It’s a comfortable enough room with neutral tones and a big bed, but above all else, it’s safe.
Lila’s shoulders relax fractionally the longer she takes it in, and with some reluctance, she says, “Thank you… It’ll be fine until we figure things out.”
There’s a decisive note to her words, like she’s not at all prepared to stay long term, and it feels like a stitch to my side.
“We will. Soon,” I return quietly, glancing from Astrid then back to Lila. “But first, I want to talk to you alone.”
She stiffens instantly. “No.”
“Not far,” I reassure her, countering with an even tone. “The guys will stay with Astrid. Just for a few minutes.”
Lila looks at her daughter again, weighing her options. I can tell she wants to refuse, but she doesn’t want her daughter caught in the crossfire even more. She sighs.
“Fine. Five minutes.”
My jaw tightens, but I don’t push it. I can make that work.
“Luke,” I call over my shoulder, catching as he perks up. “Keep an eye on the little one.”
He nods and approaches, smiling at Astrid—one far warmer than he ever used throughout his service—and gets down to her level. “You like puzzles?”
She nods shyly, but doesn’t pull away.
“Good. I’m terrible at them, and I need you to show me the ropes.”
At that, Astrid smiles, more than on board with the request.
Lila studies Luke carefully, as if gauging whether she really can put her trust in him and the others, then she leans down to press a kiss to Astrid’s temple.
“I’ll be just down the hall,” she whispers to her.
Unfazed now, Astrid nods her understanding before reaching for Luke’s hand and following him back into the main room, where the others wait. As they grab one of the old puzzles to keep her busy, I gesture for Lila to follow me just beyond the spare room and towards the undisturbed office.
She hesitates in the doorway like she’s going through that internal debate again before stepping inside and allowing me to close the door behind us.
The second she faces me, folding her arms over her chest, the space between us thickens with everything left unsaid.
“Say what you need to say,” she mutters, not caring to be warm or anything, just beyond civil.
Her irritation shouldn’t sting as much as it does, but every small bit of resistance from her hits so much harder now. I caused this, and I earned it all on my own. I know that. But the bond, or whatever invisiblethingthat has been holding us together since we were teenagers, is awake and thrashing in me like a caged animal.
“I meant what I said out there,” I begin, pulling in a breath to maintain my nerve.
Lila’s eyes narrow, flashing with immediate anger. “Which part? Where you called me your bride, or the part where you threatened another pack with war on my behalf, even though we haven’t spoken in four years?”
Something in me instinctively wants to rise to her irritation, but I grit my teeth. “Both.”
She scoffs, almost in disbelief. “Unbelievable.”
“What, you think I just decided to do all of this on a whim?” I ask, brows furrowing. “Like this is some kind of power move?”
