Chapter 34: Plan In Motion (7)
Ryder glanced at the woman nestled in his arms. He was reluctant to leave, his gaze lingering on Reana’s peaceful face, but the urgency in Marcus’s mental call brooked no delay, and with a quiet sigh, he carefully extricated himself from Reana’s side, his movements gentle so as not to disturb her, and swung his legs over the side of the bed, his eyes never leaving her face as he stood up.
"Unfortunately, I can’t accompany you through the night," he whispered as he pulled the blanket up her chin, his fingers lightly grazing her cheek.
"See you at dawn, My Luna." With that, he turned, the look in his eyes swiftly turning cold, his expression transforming from tender to terrifying in the span of a heartbeat, as he strode towards the door, his movements fluid and deadly, like a predator stalking its prey.
Reana, blissfully unaware of the trouble in her pack, frowned in her sleep as if her source of comfort had been withdrawn, but when the scent of lavender wafted into her nostrils, her expression softened, and a gentle smile played on her lips, as if the familiar fragrance had become a substitute for the warmth and security she had lost, lulling her back into a peaceful slumber.
...
"Do you intend to be caught sneaking around the pack? Why is your hoodie off!?" Xavier growled, his eyes blazing with anger as he took in the sight of Mirian approaching him, her usual disguise abandoned. Despite her shaken and breathless appearance, Xavier’s expression remained unyielding.
"I—" Mirian began, but the death glare from Xavier cut her off, silencing her. "I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice barely audible, as she stood before him, her eyes cast downward in a gesture of submission.
He rolled his eyes, "What took you so long?" Xavier’s voice was still laced with irritation, his eyes narrowing slightly as he searched Mirian’s face for any sign of what had delayed her, his gaze lingering on the faint tremble of her lips.
Mirian’s eyes snapped up, her eyes locking onto Xavier’s with a sudden jolt of urgency, as if finally remembering why she had to run. "I saw intruders heading to the pack house," she blurted out, her voice low and husky with alarm.
"They wore black and their faces were masked... I couldn’t scent them. I tried to inform the warriors but the mindlink was blocked," Mirian’s words tumbled out in a frantic rush, her eyes wide with fear as she grasped Xavier’s arm, her grip tight with urgency. "I had to run to find you. I think they’re trying to infiltrate the pack house, Xavier..."
"And...?"
Stunned, Mirian repeated subconsciously, "And...?" her voice laced with incredulity as she stared at Xavier, speechless at his nonchalant response to the potential threat to their pack. Her eyes widened in dismay, as if she couldn’t believe he wasn’t taking immediate action, her face pale with worry. "Don’t you understand? The pack is in danger!"