Xena''s POV


    "No. I think I''m good," I said quietly, my voice barely carrying across the sterile hospital room.


    "Very well. Have a nice day, Alpha Ryder, Luna Xena." The nurse bowed respectfully before walking toward the door.


    "Thank you," I called after her just before shepletely left. I noticed her body hesitate slightly, but she continued walking. A wave of guilt washed over me- maybe I should''ve been kinder to her. She was just doing her job, after all.


    Ryder slid off the bed and reached for my arm, steadying me as I stood. "Let''s go," he said, gesturing toward the door. I followed his lead, knowing the phone call we were about to make wouldn''t be pleasant. Just thinking about telling my father I''d been in danger made my stomach twist into knots.


    We walked in silence toward the pack house, Ryder''s hands at his sides, yet maintaining at least three feet of distance between us. This physical gap seemed to mirror the emotional chasm that had suddenly appeared between us, creating an unexpected ache in my chest. I was still wearing that torn t-shirt, feeling exposed with every step, each movement a reminder of my vulnerability.


    When we reached the pack house, a warrior stood guard outside-unusual, but that was an issue to address with Ryderter. For


    now, I headed straight upstairs to our bedroom.


    Inside the closet, I peeled off the ripped shirt and changed into basic shorts and a tank top with a built-in bra. Ryder helped adjust my clothing so it wouldn''t rub against the bite mark on my shoulder. The small gesture warmed something inside me, despite his eyes avoiding mine. I couldn''t understand why he''d suddenly be so distant. Was it because I''d disobeyed hismand?


    "Let''s call your father from my dad''s office," Ryder said as we emerged from the closet.


    "Why?" I frowned, confused. I''d wanted to make this call privately, to avoid letting more people know about the trouble we''d


    encountered.


    "He''s going to call your father about those locations anyway," Ryder shrugged, his tone carrying something I couldn''t quite read.


    "Fine. It''ste though-can we have food sent to our room and go to bed early?" I asked softly, suddenly feeling exhausted beyond measure, not just physically but emotionally. Everything that had happened today had drained mepletely.


    "Sure." Ryder didn''t even look at me as he walked out of the bedroom toward his father''s office. The coldness stung, but I forced myself to follow, burying thoseplicated feelings for the moment.


    Ryder knocked once before opening the door.


    *Hank, your daughter just walked in. She has something to tell you," Alpha Benedict frowned. He put the phone on speaker and set


    it down.


    "Yes? What is it?" My father''s voice filled the room, sounding tense already.


    "Hey, Dad," I said timidly. My heart hammered in my chest, knowing he wouldn''t like what he was about to hear.


    "Xena? What happened?" The alertness in my father''s voice was unmistakable.


    Dad, I don''t want you to be angry," I said carefully, like I was approaching a sleeping bear.


    "Damn it, Xena. What did you do?"


    I flinched at his words, hurt blooming in my chest. “Hey! I didn''t do anything!" I defended myself, my voice louder than I''d


    intended.


    Ryder made a dismissive sound before sitting down. The reaction irrated me further, but I struggled to keep my temper in check.


    "Yeah, well. Tell me what happened."


    "Ryder took me to patrol the borders of their territory..." I began, trying to keep my voice steady.


    "Good. You need to learn these things," I could picture my father nodeling. Chapter Comments


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