Chapter 15
Claire’s POV
No, no, no. There’s no way in hell that Daphne, of all people, figured out my real identity. And especially not on the first day. I couldn’t let her know that she’d figured it out so I put more pressure on her neck.
“The name is Raven. Goddess, I feel bad for Alpha Gideon if you are going to be his Luna. How are you going to run a pack if you can’t even remember a single name?” I growled out and shoved her even more into the wall before backing away.
I watched with satisfaction as she sank to the floor, clutching at her throat as she gasped for breath. The guards took that moment to intervene, grabbing my upper arms to prevent me from going after Daphne again.
Out of my periphery, I saw Peter start to move in closer, but I subtly shook my head. I’d already caused enough trouble. I might even get fired because of it. But honestly, it would be worth it just to see Daphne like this.
Daphne finally climbed to her feet. When she’d finished coughing, she marched up to me and slapped me across the face. The pain barely even registered. Goddess, Daphne was weak. I couldn’t believe this was the she–wolf that had almost killed
- me.
“You bitch. How dare you attack me! I –” Daphne cut herself out mid–rant and cocked her head. Then a cruel smile crossed her face. “Gideon! Gideon, help!”
Tears that hadn’t been there seconds before began streaming down her face. I curled my lips back in disgust. My, my, my. Wasn’t she just the most perfect little actress?
Gideon rounded the corner at a run, but came to a halt at the scene that was before him. I’m sure it was pretty disconcerting. Daphne was in front of me bawling her eyes out, the guards had me trapped, and Peter…Peter waas leaning against the wall, cleaning imaginary dirt out from under his nails.
“What the hell is going on here?” Gideon growled and a trickly of his Alpha power came through. It raised goosebumps on my arms and I fought off the need to shiver. It had been a long time since I had heard that kind of bie in someone’s voice. Ivan rarely, if ever, needed to use it.
Daphne launched herself into Gideon’s arms. “Oh, Gideon. It was awful. She attacked me out of nowhere! I want her fired! I want her out of our pack lands right now! I never want to see her again!”
She buried her head into his chest and wailed. Her performance brought back all the memories of what life had been like when I was his fated mate. Of all the times he took her side over mine. I didn’t really think that this time would be any different.
Gideon’s green eyes landed on me and I met them, defiant. I was no longer a part of this pack. I was no longer Daphne’s whipping boy. I was protected by Prince Ivan himself. There was nothing these people could do to hurt me anymore.
Before Gideon could say a word, Leo suddenly appeared, running out of his classroom and placing his small body in front of mine in a protective stance. I couldn’t help but notice how weak it was. But I was still so proud of him for trying.
“NO! You’re not sending her away! She just got here and I like her. Papa, I heard everything. I know what happened. And Daphne’s lying,” Leo said, his lower lip trembling as he stood up to his father and Daphne for the first time.
Daphne’s eyes narrowed almost imperceptibly before the waterworks started again. “Look at what she’s done, Gideon. She’s turned Leo against us. She’s trying to drive a wedge in between Leo and his mother!”
I heaved out a sigh. “Look, Alpha Gideon. I won’t deny that I attacked your future Luna. But it was in self–defense. She tried to make me run her errands. I reminded her that I’m here strictly as Leo’s bodyguard. She said she wanted to teach me a lesson. I pushed her against the wall. And here we are. That’s it. That’s the story. But let me remind you that I’m here as a favor from Prince Ivan’s pack. I’m a Captain in his inner circle. I honestly don’t need to deal with this.”
15:28 Thu, Dec 25 RG
Chapter 15
As I explained, Leo was nodding his head emphatically. His show of support warmed my heart and it was all I could do not to take him into my arms.
“It’s true, Alpha Gideon. Ms. Daphne was the first to make a move, as it were,” Peter said from his place on the wall, still cleaning out his fingernails.
Daphne opened her mouth to argue, but to my surprise, Gideon pulled away from her and raised his hand.
“I don’t want to hear anymore. The reason we need Ms. Larson in the first place is due to your negligence during the firework show. I don’t want anymore scenes from you involving Ms. Larson. She’s staying and that’s final.”
Well, that was new. It looked like Gideon wasn’t as accommodating for Daphne as he used to be. Or maybe it’s because it has to do with Leo. Although I hadn’t been here for a full day, it really did seem that Gideon loved our son. Which might have made me feel better toward him if it weren’t for the fact that he had separated us and left me for dead.
I shrugged off the guards easily and made a show of smoothing out my fighting leathers. “Well, since you’re back early, I will be taking my leave. Leo, I’ll see you again tomorrow,” I told him, ruffling his hair before turning to walk away.
I hadn’t even made it one step when Leo grabbed my hand. “Miss Warrior, do you really have to go back right now? Can’t you stay with me a little bit longer?”
I bit my lip underneath the mask, almost hard enough to draw blood. There was nothing that I wanted more than to stay with my son. I had barely spent any time with him, had just started to get to know him. I wanted to spend forever with him.
But Nova was waiting for me. And I couldn’t abandon her for her brother.
“I’m sorry, sweetheart. I have to go home now that your father is here, but I promise I’ll be back tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day after that. Okay?” I asked, kneeling down in front of him so that we were eye to eye.
Leo’s lower lip jutted out in a pout. “Okay, but only if you promise that you’ll always come back.”
I chuckled. “I promise.”
***
When Peter and I arrived back at Ivan’s house, Nova came flying out the door, asking a million and one questions about Leo and her father. While I answered her questions to the best of my ability, it was hard to keep myself from comparing her to
Leo.
She was so lively and strong. Healthy. The way the child of an Alpha should be. It made me even more determined to get Leo the training that he desperately needed.
Ivan came out of the house a few moments later, interrupting Nova’s incessant questioning. I shot him a relieved look, but that relief quickly turned into concern when I saw the look on his face.
“Nova, sweetie, why don’t you go ask Uncle Peter some questions? He also met Leo and your dad today. I want to talk to Prince Ivan for just a second.” I suggested and she ran off giggling. I almost felt sorry for Peter. Almost.
“What’s that face for?” I asked when she was out of earshot. “Has something happened with the rogues?”
Ivan shook his head. “No,it’s nothing like that. Listen, Claire, I actually did some digging into the incident with Leo at the party…”
My eyebrows rose. I hadn’t expected him to look into it at all. It had just been an accident. An unfortunate one, but an accident nonetheless. And Leo hadn’t even gotten hurt.
“Don’t look so surprised,” he chastised me and I looked away to keep from laughing. “Claire, this is serious. We found someone that was in the crowd that wasn’t supposed to be there. We think it might have been another assassination attempt.”
Chapter 15
My eyes widened. How would that even be possible? Nobody has been around Leo at the time. He had just been distracted. How was him almost falling an assassination attempt?
“Who was it?”
Ivan opened his mouth to answer but was cut off by my phone ringing. I glanced at the screen and immediately answered.
“Alpha Gideon, how can I help you?” “You need to come back. Leo’s missing.”
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