I am about to head out of the door when I see the door handle moving slightly.
Damn it! What now?
The window?Alora blurts out.
Not enough time.
I could move to the storage room, but damn it—
The door is opening already. Fuck, I am fucked. I straighten myself to face Harry and present him with an excuse. Anything that makes it believable that I am here.
I freeze the moment I look into a pair of blue eyes. These are not Harry’s.
They are—
“Luna,” Martin hisses, grabbing my arm. “He is coming. You have to hide.”
“You… you were following me?”
He looks a bit bashful. “Yes, sorry, but now you need to hide. He can’t find you here.”
He is right. Any questioning can wait for later. I let him shove me into the storage room and just hope he isn’t going to betray me.
Forest doesn’t need another betrayal.
Idon’t need another betrayal.
I hold my breath when I hear the door opening again, and Harry’s surprised voice echoing through the room. “Martin? What are you doing here?”
“Alpha Harry, I am so sorry for entering without you being here. I forgot to knock and just entered. I was hoping to see you here,” Martin says smoothly. “We haven’t talked in so long.”
“What do you need, son?” Harry asks.
Wow, he really likes Martin. But then, it makes sense; Harry chose him as Forest’s beta.
“I was hoping I could borrow some books from your immense library. You have so much knowledge, and I need to work hard to be a support to the pack.”
He says pack and not Forest. Smart. Martin knows the game.
“I see, you still uphold your old values,” Harry says. “I always thought you were reasonable, but the last few weeks, I wasn’t so sure anymore. I’d be lying if I said I am not disappointed.”
“I apologize, Sir, but I had to make sure Forest trusts me.”
“That makes sense,” Harry muses. “What is my son up to? I have not seen him a lot recently.”
“He is all over his mate,” Martin says, which works as a perfect distraction strategy from Forest’s real plans, because Harry just huffs.
“That woman is insufferable. What is it with her?”
“Honestly, I have no idea,” Martin says. “But I will keep an eye on her. I can’t have anyone threaten the pack after you build it up so well.”
“Right.” Harry sounds content. Of course he does, like the old narcissist he is, his ego likes it that Martin compliments him. “Make sure you don’t let her out of your sight.” He pauses. “Which books do you want?”
“I would love to read more about communication strategies and negotiations,” he says promptly. “As the future beta, these skills will come in handy.”
“They do,” Harry agrees. “I don’t have the books here, though. I have stored them in my suite. Wait here, Martin. I will fetch them for you.”
“I don’t want to trouble you,” Martin says. “I can—“
