Wonderful Luna

7

Riley and Lena had arrived and made their way up to my room, where Lucian and Morgana also followed.

“Elise, what happened to you? Did you have a fall?” Lena exclaimed the moment she saw me.

I noticed Connor’s expression tighten.

“What do you mean? Weren’t you two with her during training?” Connor asked. He knew my routines well and that I always trained with my best friends. “Didn’t she get those injuries there?”

If there was ever a perfect moment to reveal the truth about what had happened—and who was really responsible for my injuries—it had been handed to me on a silver platter. But it wasn’t worth it.

Morgana would deny it, of course, and it would just be my word against hers. I had no proof. Worse, calling her out would only fuel her hatred toward me without any chance of changing Lucian’s mind about choosing her as my replacement.

Riley and Lena looked at Connor, visibly confused.

“Not at all, Beta,” Riley responded. “The trainers were very careful with Elise’s routines, and Lena was training with her. When we said goodbye, she didn’t have any of these awful injuries.”

As expected, all four of them turned to look at me—including Morgana, who watched with a smug sort of satisfaction, no doubt hoping I’d spill the truth. But I had already anticipated her intentions.

“Well…” I said, feigning a bit of embarrassment, “I did have a fall. These injuries didn’t happen during training.” I could feel Morgana’s gaze heavy on me, silently daring me to accuse her. “I tried to climb the stairs to the front of the house, and it didn’t go as well as I’d hoped.”

Connor buried his head in his hands, and Lucian instinctively stepped closer to me. But the sharpness in my eyes made him stop in his tracks.

“How didn’t I think of that?” Connor chastised himself. “This is my fault, Eli. I should’ve insisted on taking you home. I promise you, by tomorrow, the necessary renovations to the house will begin.”

“Well, it wasn’t that bad, don’t you think?” Morgana interjected, disappointed that I hadn’t fallen into her trap and clearly annoyed by Lucian’s instinctive reaction. “At least Eli managed to overcome that challenge and finally made it up the stairs. I’m sure she won’t be so clumsy again.”

I caught the look of disdain Lucian shot at Morgana, though it didn’t change his plans to replace me with her.

“In any case, I’m glad you’re okay, Eli,” Riley said as he stepped closer to examine my wounds. Unlike Lucian, I allowed him near me. Lucian, though he tried to hide it, let out a low growl.

“I know an excellent contractor who can handle the renovations and do a great job,” Riley added, looking at my brother, who nodded in gratitude.

“I can handle those renovations myself, and it won’t cost you a thing,” Lucian cut in, his gaze now filled with venom as it landed on Riley. “Connor, I’ll order the best builders in the pack to come tomorrow. By nightfall, everything will be finished—and of the highest quality.”

Would Lucian have thought to offer the renovations if Riley hadn’t mentioned his contractor? My brother had already brought up the need for them earlier, but it wasn’t until now that Lucian decided to give the order.

“I don’t think it’s necessary to divert the pack’s builders when they’re needed for defense construction,” I said, trying to diplomatically block Lucian’s opportunism. “There are also civil repair projects that should take priority over a cripple’s house.”

Lucian didn’t seem to like my reasoning.

“Elise, if Lucian is offering to take care of the renovations, you should thank him,” Connor said. His words didn’t surprise me. Faced with choosing between loyalty to his Alpha and his sister, I knew what the answer would be.

“Yes, don’t be ungrateful for your Alpha’s gesture,” Morgana added, clinging to Lucian’s arm.

I didn’t miss the phrasing she used: “your Alpha,” as if to place Lucian outside my sphere of trust and firmly establish his position as superior to mine.

As expected, Riley didn’t say anything else about his offer, and the matter was settled.

Lucian had gotten his way.

He was the Alpha.

That was what was expected.

Would it always be like this from now on?

With Connor’s unconditional loyalty, the submission of the pack members, and Morgana soon to be his partner, that was exactly how it would be. There would be nothing I could do to stop it.

“Fine,” I said, accepting the inevitable. “If you’re sure those workers won’t be needed elsewhere for something more urgent, they can come tomorrow.”

Lucian didn’t miss the subtle jab I threw his way. We both knew, from our time as the governing pair, that there was an urgent need for workers in strategic defense projects, as well as in civil maintenance work like aqueducts, canals, and bridges. I knew this because, during my brief period as his partner, I had been in charge of overseeing these projects.

“I’d love for you to join us tomorrow, Eli,” Lena said, as the conversation about the house renovations seemed to come to a close. “Spend the day with us. You won’t want to stay here, breathing in construction dust.”

Her suggestion sounded fantastic.

I needed—and wanted—to get out, spend time with my friends, and stop thinking about everything that had happened the night before.

“Of course,” I said, immediately noticing Lucian’s reaction as he realized the same thing I did: I’d be spending time with Riley, and there was nothing he could do to stop it. “I’ll be ready first thing in the morning, Lena. And if you don’t mind, I’d like to take a shower now.”

I not only wanted to be alone, as had been my goal since returning home, but I also missed the feel of hot water running over my body.

“I suppose you’ll need help in the bath,” Lucian suggested—the least appropriate person to make that offer at the moment. Morgana’s eyes flashed with rage, even though she tried to hide it. Still, the weight of her glare betrayed her.

“I don’t need anything except to be left alone,” I said curtly, cutting off any further offers. With ease, I transferred myself to my wheelchair.

I was starting to get the hang of it.

Connor escorted everyone out and walked them to the door while I prepared my bath. I set up the tub so I could sit while I washed myself.

I didn’t need anyone’s help.

Though my arms were still sore, they were already adapting to the routines that would now define my life.