Jaded

Chapter Six

By the time Walter left the pool house, Jade was finally asleep.

The emotional exhaustion had caught up to her the moment her head touched the pillow. He had sat beside her bed longer than he intended, waiting until her breathing deepened and the tension left her face.

Even asleep, she looked younger.

Less like the stubborn young woman who argued with him at every opportunity.

More like the little girl who used to climb into his lap after nightmares.

Walter quietly pulled the blanket higher over her shoulder before switching off the bedside lamp.

For a moment, he simply stood there.

Watching.

Making certain she was truly asleep.

Only then did he leave.

The morning air was cool against his skin as he crossed the stone pathway separating the pool house from the main residence. The fountains continued their endless song. Birds were beginning to stir in the gardens. Somewhere on the far edge of the property, scouts were changing shifts.

The estate was waking up.

Walter felt exhausted. He slid open the glass doors leading into the kitchen and stepped inside. The familiar scent of coffee greeted him immediately.

Luca was already there. Of course he was. The younger male sat at the kitchen island with a mug of black coffee resting between both hands. His dark eyes immediately lifted from the cup. "How is she?" The question came without hesitation. His gaze briefly drifted toward the pool house visible through the wall of glass overlooking the backyard.

Walter noticed. He always noticed. "She is asleep for now."

Luca nodded slowly. Some of the tension in his shoulders eased. Not much. Just enough.

Walter crossed the kitchen and reached for a bottle of whiskey. After the morning they had just endured, coffee wasn't going to do the job. He grabbed a crystal tumbler and poured himself a generous amount. The amber liquid splashed against the glass. A few cubes of ice followed. The soft clink echoed through the quiet kitchen. Walter took a long swallow. The burn was welcome.

For several moments, neither male spoke. Luca stared into his coffee. Walter stared into his whiskey. Two generations carrying different burdens. Thinking about the same female.

Finally, Walter broke the silence. "She is not ready for her birthday."

Luca's jaw tightened. “I know.”

Walter rotated the glass in his hand. The whiskey caught the morning light, matching the amber color of his eyes. "She is terrified." The admission sounded strange coming from him. Because Walter rarely acknowledged fear. Especially Jade's. He preferred solving problems rather than discussing them. But this was different. There was no solution. Only time. "When Roman leaves with the scouts, I want you here."

Luca immediately looked over.

Walter met his gaze. "I don't care whether she sleeps in the main house or whether you sleep in that pool house." His voice left no room for negotiation. "But she is not to be out of your sight."

A groan escaped Luca instantly.

He leaned back against the stool, throwing his head back dramatically. "You know good and well she's going to give me endless s**t for babysitting her."

Walter's mouth twitched.

Luca continued. "I'll be lucky to survive the first night."

That earned a low chuckle. Walter moved around the island and settled onto the stool beside him. "Just do what I ask."

Luca rubbed a hand down his face. The expression alone screamed frustration. "It was bad enough making me fetch her."

Walter raised an eyebrow.

Luca stared into his coffee. "Knowing where she was." A pause. "What she was doing."

Walter fought a smile. The jealousy was so obvious it was almost painful. Luca either didn't realize it or was determined to pretend otherwise. "You were the obvious choice.”

Luca scoffed.

Walter took another sip of whiskey. "You are the only one she somewhat listens to.”

"Somewhat."

"Somewhat." Walter nods.

Luca snorted.

Walter's expression became more thoughtful. "Had I gone there myself..." He shook his head. "I’d probably still be out there trying to find the bastard."

Luca laughed. A dark sort of laugh. "I'm surprised you didn't smell him on her duffel bag.”

Walter glanced over.

"The cheap cologne was strong enough to make me sick.”

That pulled an actual laugh from Walter. He lowered the glass. "I was trying not to think about it.”

Luca muttered something beneath his breath.

Something that sounded suspiciously like agreement.

The amusement slowly faded.

A heavier silence settled over the kitchen.

Walter stared through the glass toward the pool house. Toward the room where Jade slept in the pool house, his expression hardened. The Alpha resurfaced. Cold. Calculating. Unforgiving. "When we have Julian," Walter said quietly, "Astrid dies.”

Luca's eyes shifted to him.

Walter didn’t look away from the window. "I want her executed.”

The words landed heavily between them.

No hesitation.

No ambiguity.

No room for interpretation.

Walter finally turned toward his son. "Jade will be told, Astrid was moved to a secure location.”

Luca stared at him. "Dad—"

"No." The single word cut through the room. Sharp as a blade. Walter set his glass down. Ice shifted softly against crystal. "She helped murder my scouts." His voice remained calm. "I buried good wolves." His jaw tightened. "Wolves who had families." A muscle flexed beneath his eye. "People who trusted me to protect them.”

The room felt colder.

Luca remained silent.

Walter stood from the stool. Glass in hand. Towering. Intimidating. Every inch the Alpha he had spent decades becoming. "When the time comes, I want Astrid dead.” His amber eyes locked onto Luca's. "You will make it happen.”

The order hung in the air.

Absolute.

Final.

Luca held his father’s gaze.

For several moments, neither male spoke.

Then Walter turned away. Looking once more toward the pool house. Toward Jade. Still asleep. Still protected. Still unaware of the decisions being made around her. "No one kills my scouts and walks away from it." His voice was quiet. Deadly. Certain. "And no one threatens this family twice."

Luca lowered his head.

The order sat between them like a stone.

Heavy.

Unmovable.

He knew exactly what Walter was asking. More importantly, he knew exactly what it would cost. Astrid deserved punishment. There wasn't a wolf in the pack who would argue otherwise after what had happened to the scouts. But Jade had given her word. Jade had looked Astrid in the eye and promised her protection. If Astrid ended up dead, Jade would eventually ask questions. And if she were to discover Luca had been the one to carry out the order… His stomach tightened.

The coffee in front of him had long since gone cold. Finally, he spoke. "Can you not have someone else do it?”

Walter remained facing the window.

The whiskey glass rested loosely in his hand.

Luca swallowed. "If Jade ever found out..." His voice was quieter now. "That it was me…” The sentence trailed off. He couldn't even finish it.

Walter slowly turned his head. Amber eyes settled on him. Cold. Sharp. Assessing. "Are you refusing an order?”

The question immediately tightened every muscle in Luca's body. Not because Walter had raised his voice. Because he hadn't. The calm questions were always the dangerous ones. Luca lowered his gaze. His fingers tightened around the ceramic mug. "I am asking you not to make it me.” The admission tasted bitter. Weak. He hated how weak it sounded. Slowly, he lifted his eyes back toward his father. Not in challenge. Not in defiance.

Just hope.

Hope that Walter would understand.

Hope that for once, someone else could carry the burden.

For several long moments, Walter said nothing. The silence stretched across the kitchen. Broken only by the distant splash of the fountain outside.

Then Walter's jaw tightened. "Fine." Walter turned back toward the glass wall, back toward the pool house, back toward the sleeping girl that neither of them could stop worrying about. "Then you will stay with Jade.”

Luca frowned.

Walter continued before he could respond. "Every hour.” His tone hardened. "Every day."

"I already—"

"No." Walter cut him off immediately. The word cracked through the kitchen. "You don't already.”

Luca's mouth shut.

Walter set his whiskey glass onto the counter. The crystal clicked softly against the marble. "You will stay with her until I tell you otherwise.” His eyes never left the window. "When Roman is away with the scouts, you take over.”

Luca rubbed a hand over his face. "Father—"

"No." Again. Sharp. Final. Walter's patience was disappearing. "If you aren’t willing to handle Astrid, then this is your assignment.” His gaze finally shifted back toward Luca. "And before you start arguing, understand something.” The Alpha entered his voice. Not loudly. But unmistakably. "I am not negotiating.”

Luca's shoulders tensed. "I don't expect Roman to do my work.”

Walter hummed. A humorless sound. "Good." His stare lingered. "Then stop making me repeat myself.” The kitchen grew silent. Walter walked slowly toward the island. Each step measured. Controlled. "You know why I'm assigning you to her.”

Luca didn't answer.

Walter stopped across from him. "You are the only one she trusts enough not to immediately throw out." A pause. "The only one stubborn enough to survive being around her for twenty-four consecutive hours.”

Despite himself, Luca snorted.

Walter ignored it. "I can understand not wanting the burden of betraying her.” The admission surprised him. Walter rarely acknowledged emotional complications. He usually bulldozed straight through them. "But I will not put some half-trained guard beside her while Roman is gone.” His eyes narrowed. "Not now.”

Not with her birthday approaching.

Not with Julian still breathing.

Not with every instinct Walter possessed screaming that something was coming.

Luca understood all of that. Which made arguing impossible. His grip tightened around the mug. A muscle flexed in his jaw. "Okay." The word came out flat. Resigned.

Walter studied him. Then nodded once. Satisfied. "Good."

Silence followed.

Then Walter jerked his head toward the backyard. "Get to the pool house.”

Luca looked up.

Walter raised an eyebrow. "Now."

The stool screeched loudly against the floor as Luca stood. His untouched coffee remained behind. Neither male mentioned it. Luca stepped around the island. Around his father. Toward the sliding glass door. The frustration simmering beneath his skin made every step feel heavier. He shoved the door open. Crossed through it. Then let it slide shut behind him harder than necessary. The glass rattled.

For several seconds, Walter simply watched him disappear toward the pool house.

Toward Jade.

Toward the responsibility he had just inherited.

Then a slow smirk pulled at one corner of Walter's mouth. He lifted the whiskey to his lips. Shaking his head. "Maledizione." The muttered Italian slipped into the empty kitchen, his smile widened slightly. "That boy is hopeless.”