Don''t Poke the Luna


    Xena''s POV


    "No, Ryder, I''m not okay," I said wearily, leaning against the bathroom counter.


    "I don''t like this situation either. I could have-"


    "No, Ryder," 1 cut him off, my voice sharp. "I''m not okay because everyone seems to think they need to keep things from me. I''m a fucking adult now, and the Luna of this pack. Mates shouldn''t have secrets. You had no right to hide that from me. We''re supposed to be equals! I expected this from them, but not from you."


    Ryder took my reprimand with appropriate shame spreading across his features. "You''re right. I''m sorry."


    I didn''t answer. My reflection stared back at me, anger still evident the tightness around my eyes, the slight downward pull of my lips. Ryder moved closer, his hands gently running up and down my arms. He stood behind me, meeting my gaze in the mirror, his eyes filled with apology. "I just wanted to protect,you."


    "Some things, you can''t protect me from," I replied, feeling my anger begin to recede. Deep down, I understood his intentions, but that didn''t make his actions right.


    "I know. I''ll remember that."


    Iturned to face him, and Ryder pulled me into his embrace. "I''m still mad at you," I muttered against his chest, though I could


    already feel my anger dissipating like morning mist.


    "I know," Ryder said, tilting my face up and cing a gentle kiss on my lips. That kiss felt like a promise, an assurance that he would be honest from now on.


    "Ready to go back to brunch?" he asked.


    "Yeah."


    Ryder closed the door behind us. We walked hand in hand back to the dining room. Thankfully, they had moved on to a different topic and were discussing future arrangements. I silently breathed a sigh of relief.


    "Have you found a new beta yet?" Alpha Benedict asked.


    "Probably going to promote Leonard, but we need to have a conversation about it," Logan sighed, "He needs to adjust his approach a


    bit."


    "Hope you find your mate tonight," Dad said with a sigh. It wasn''t unheard of to be Alpha without a mate, but having one made you stronger.


    "Hope so," Logan gave me a look. That "now all the pressure is on me look. I returned it with a smug smile.


    "Are youing to clear out your room?" Logan asked.


    ''I should. There''s not much to take, but there are things I want," I said, thinking of the few items that had apanied me through my childhood, the small treasures that held my memories.


    "Just letting you know now, Martha is determined to turn it into a guest room as quickly as possible, so anything left behind is getting trashed," Logan warned. The mention of Martha sent a wave of distaste through me. She had never hidden her desire to see


    me gone.


    "Do we have time to go over after we finish eating?" I asked Ryder, already mentally cataloging what I needed to take.


    "Of course. We can''t spend too long there, but it''s your birthday, so whatever you want."


    I could feel Ryder''s reluctance to go there, but he also didn''t want me to lose my belongings.


    "I''ll go with you guys. That way I can keep anything you don''t want to take but don''t want Martha to throw away, Logan said.


    Ryder''s phone began to vibrate. He nced at it, then stood and walked out of the room to take the call. My eyes followed him, a flicker of doubt crossing my mind. I hoped there wasn''t more trouble brewing.


    "Does Ryder mind if Ie?" Logan asked.


    "He''s fine with it. He just doesn''t like Martha," I shrugged.


    "Nobody likes her," Ama mumbled, then looked shocked at her ownment. "I''m


    so sorry! That just slipped out."


    Benedict shook his head, but the rest of usughed.


    "What''s so funny?" Ryder asked as he walked back in.


    "Ama," I answered, taking another bite of food.


    "Penelope is going to meet us at your pack house. She says we missed something she needs."


    "What thing?" I asked.


    "Shop stuff."


    "Why is she handling the shop and the party at the same time?" I was shocked.


    "Because that woman is talented," Ryder nodded. "Incredibly talented Wish we had her help all the time."


    "Penelope has been working under you, learning from you for almost four years now," Loganmented.


    "Yeah, she just needs some guidance," I agreed, feeling proud of how far Penelope hade.


    "Doesn''t it make you jealous when Ryderpliments Penelope like that?" Ama asked.


    The food I was about to put in my mouth stopped midway. "No?" I looked to Ryder


    for answers, suddenly realizing I''d never considered this question.


    "You''re really not the jealous type," Logan answered.


    "I guess he hasn''t given me reason to be jealous? I don''t know. I think I''ve never really thought about it."


    "Don''t start now," Ryder said, and we allughed.


    "Why?" I asked Ama.


    Ama opened and closed her mouth several times.


    "She gets jealous over the smallest things, like if I discuss the menu with a pack


    member," William said, gently rubbing Ama''s back.