I Need You, My Luna

CHAPTER 8

XARION'S POV

It’s almost sunset. Warm light spills into my pack office through the large windows, soft and peaceful, completely opposite of the chaos in my head.

I’m half-seated, half-slouched in this damn leather chair, staring at the corner of my desk like it personally offended me.

I should be thinking about the deal. About the impact losing it will have on my company, my pack. It was a major blow, years of planning flushed down the drain in a single meeting I wasn’t even present for. But all I can think about is Megan.

Megan, walking away from me like I mean nothing.

Megan, shoving me away when I touched her.

Megan, glaring at me like I’m the monster in her story, her eyes full of fury and her voice shaking with the weight of four years' worth of resentment.

Something cracks inside me. I rub the back of my neck, trying to force the tension out. But it’s no use. I can’t stop thinking about her. About the twins. About how much I’ve lost.

And Goddess help me, I need to fix this.

I lean back in my chair and stare blankly at the ceiling.

"Xarion," Andrew calls out from across the room. "Are you even listening to me?"

I blink.

Great.

I forgot he’s been here the whole time. Sitting on the couch. Talking. Probably about something important.

I rub my forehead and sigh, turning my head to look at him. "Sorry. What were you saying?"

Andrew groans dramatically and throws his arms up. "Unbelievable. I’ve been talking about the patrol rotation for the past forty minutes and you’re just now realizing I’m in the room?"

“I just have a lot on my mind."

Andrew leans against the edge of my desk and folds his arms. He then gives me a look. Not judgmental, just... patient. He knows me too well.

"Let me guess. This has to do with what happened earlier at Valemont, isn’t it? The sponsorship deal. Megan. All of it.”

I shoot up from my seat, pacing rapidly around the room.

Andrew watches me with that annoyingly calm look of his. "You hate losing, man. I get it. But maybe cut yourself some slack."

"This is tearing me apart, Drew," I mutter. “I can’t stand the fact that the mother of my pups hates me. She won't even let me get close to them."

“Oh,” Andrew whistles low. "So you’re not as broken up about the deal as you are about Megan and the kids. Noted."

I glare at him.

"What?" he shrugs. "I’m just saying what we’re both thinking. But you do know this is your fault, right?"

I turn away from him.

"You pushed her away, Xarion. Back then, you were cold. You didn't like the fact that she was wolfless. And after Seer Hyram gave you that prophecy, you started acting like a…”

"Enough, Drew," I say sharply.

He stops talking and I close my eyes.

"You know I didn’t push her away because she was wolfless. And you know how seriously I took Hyram’s visions," I say, softer now. "And back then, he made it clear that Megan shouldn't get pregnant and carry my pup to full term. I believed her life was at risk. I was trying to protect her."

"And now?" He asks.

I pause, staring out the window. The sky's streaked with gold and deep orange. "Now, I know I messed up. And I need to fix it."

Andrew nods slowly. “Glad you know you should've handled things better. Too bad Seer Hyram’s dead now. And we still don’t know what killed him."

A heavy silence falls over us as my stomach tightens.

Hyram dropped dead without warning last year. No signs of poison. No trace of disease. Just gone.

"I believed Hyram," I say quietly. "He was rarely wrong."

"And look where that belief got you," Andrew replies. "No Luna. No kids. A fake abortion report and an ex-wife who wants to castrate you."

I grunt, then I turn to him sharply. "Speaking of the abortion... What about Doctor Phillips? I asked you to bring him to the Pack House."

“I tried,” Andrew grimaces. "Turns out he left the pack two months ago. No trace."

"Damn it."

I slam my fist against the desk, sending a stack of files scattering.

It all makes sense now. Doctor Phillips forged the report. He lied to me.

"He must've done it to protect Megan. Or to protect the kids," I say, trying to wrap my head around the betrayal. "That's why he gave me a fake report."

"Which leaves you with one other problem," Andrew says gravely after a second. "Renzo."

My body goes rigid. "I can’t let him get near Megan or the twins, Drew. No matter what. I need to make sure they're safe."

Andrew nods slowly. "So what now?" He asks quietly. "It’s obvious you still have feelings for her. You want her back. Are you going to fight for her? For the kids?"

I lean against the desk, both palms braced on the edge. My head bowed.

"I have to."

"And Danielle?"

The name leaves a sour taste in my mouth the second I hear it.

And before I can respond, the office door swings open.

I freeze.

Speak of the devil.

Danielle struts right in, dressed in a designer jumpsuit that probably costs more than most people’s monthly salaries. Her heels click against the floor like the ticking of a clock.

"Hey baby," she says with a bright smile, walking straight to me and planting a kiss on my lips.

I don’t kiss her back.

She pulls away, her smile dimming slightly. "What's the matter, baby? Since when don't you return my kisses?"

I frown. "You didn’t tell me you were back from your trip.”

"I wanted to surprise you,” She pouts, brushing an invisible dirt off my shirt. “You promised you’d come join me in Arvella, remember? But you didn't."

I rub the back of my neck. "I’ve been swamped with pack matters. You know that.”

“You’ve been so distant lately. It’s like you don’t even try to make time for me anymore.”

Then she glances between me and Andrew, narrowing her eyes slightly with suspicion. "What were you two talking about before I came in?"

The room is instantly heavy with tension.

Andrew looks at me, then back at her, raising a brow as if silently asking, ‘You want me to stay or go?’

Danielle tilts her head, waiting for an answer.