“I will. As long as she follows the only rule I’m setting for her, not to shift into her wolf.”
“But the shackle. It’s degrading.”
“No. That’s non-negotiable.”
“You’re cruel,” Nadia told him directly, and I had to suppress my laughter because Aeon was taken aback by her words.
“Think whatever you want to think of me. That female has a temper, and I’m sure once the shackle is out, she will try to shift. And the moment she does, she’s as good as dead. That shackle is her only key to being alive, so if you want me to keep my word in keeping her alive, then don’t ask me to take it off.”
“Are there no other options so she doesn’t have to be shackled?”
“Wolfbane.” He chuckled. “But it will eventually kill her. So no, I can’t think of any other options at the moment.”
I brushed my hand against Nadia’s arm. I knew she was still upset seeing Alexa with a shackle on her neck, but Aeon was right. His father, Alpha Argon, wouldn’t think twice about killing her if she tried to shift.
“You better start driving now,” I told Aeon to break the tension between him and my Luna.
“Yup. Thank you for your generosity, Alpha Riley, Luna Nadia.” He flashed us a weak smile.
His eyes looked tired, but he puffed his chest out as he turned around and went to where Alexa was standing. He grabbed her arm without saying anything and guided her towards the car.
Alexa didn’t complain this time and just let Aeon take her to the car, but her gaze was fixated on my mate, her eyes pleading.
“We can’t do anything, my love. This is for Aeon to handle, not ours.” I whispered, my lips kissing her hair, as her hands gripped my shirt tightly.
“Do you think we can trust him not to kill her?”
“He’s a man of his word. And I don’t think he would deceive you if he promised you one thing. He would face my wrath.”
“But you don’t like Alexa.”
“I don’t like everyone, except you. And it doesn’t matter what I think. An oath is an oath.”
Chapter 81
A week later.
NADIA.
The week just wentby swiftly, but I couldn’t complain. My days were filled with too many activities, and I was thankful that I was having a normal pregnancy. My pup has never given me any nausea or any problems, aside from my addiction to custard cake and decaffeinated coffee.
Yes, coffee.Maybe because it was Riley’s scent. Whenever he wasn’t around me, I craved him more, and the smell of coffee helped me get through the hours without him.
And I missed Laura’s cake. Although I was able to force Jenny to help me make one, we couldn’t get the perfect taste like the one Laura made for me in Atlanta. But when Zahra told me that Laura had made one for me and that she was taking it today, it made me happy all morning. I could already feel the custard cake melting in my mouth. All I was thinking right now was how to keep it to make sure no one would see it and take it away from me. And no, Riley was not an exception. He could probably taste it, but one spoon is enough.
“Luna!” A bubbly voice greeted me as soon as I entered the big kitchen, where several lovely omega females were helping with the dinner for tonight.
My lips widened into a grin at the sight of Anya, Gamma Sebastian’s younger sister. She was in the kitchen helping out, as she promised her brother, just so he would allow her to hit the bar last night with Jenny for her after-party.
Anya turned eighteen a couple of days ago and had wanted to go to the bar with her friends for the first time, but the Gamma, being the overbearing brother that he was, had a hard time letting his sister go.Thankfully, Jenny stepped in and told him she would be watching over her.
So Anya was finally allowed to hit the bar last night with Jenny and two of her closest friends. She invited me as well, but bars were really not my thing, plus I’m pregnant. And I didn’t think for a second that my overprotective mate would allow me to go out without him. And the last thing I wanted was to drag Riley and spoil Anya’s fun, so I just decided to stay home and have fun with my Alpha.
“Anya!” I opened my arms and the lovely blonde female launched herself on her feet and was soon hugging me back, squeezing my body gently.
“You always smell so good, Luna!” She mumbled, her nose digging into the collar of my shirt.
“And you are always so sweet!” I giggled, kissing her cheek before we let go of each other. “So how was your night? Did you have fun? Jenny told me you didn’t scent anyone.” I pouted my lips, faking disappointment.
