I noticed his reaction, feeling twinge of unease. Whenever he hesitated like that, it usually meant bad news wasing. I took a deep breath, bracing myself.


    "What is it?" I asked, my voice calmer than I expected.


    He handed me the te, frowning as he said, "Ama wants to see you Actually, everyone does. Ryder sighed, picking up the roast beef and filling his te with fruit.


    "What did you tell them?"


    "Logan''sing up now, but the others will have to wait until after you''ve had a bath and rested. Just as he finished speaking, a knock sounded at the door.


    Thankfully, Ryder got up to answer it. Logan and Ryder shook hands before Logan walked in and came over to me.


    "How are you feeling, sit?" Logan sat beside me, keeping just the right distance- close enough without touching me. After everything that had happened, I''d be especially sensitive to touch, and he seemed to instinctively understand this.


    "Sore. I think eating something and taking a bath will help."


    Logan reached out and gently pulled down the corner of my shirt to check the bruising.


    "Impressive," he said, his tone filled with concern and a hint of anger that I knew wasn''t directed at me.


    "It''ll still look like this for the dance tomorrow," I said, suddenly remembering that my dress for the dance would need


    reconsideration.


    Ryder and Logan exchanged a look. That kind of silentmunication immediately put me on alert.


    "What?" I asked, my heart rate picking up. Those looks never preceded good


    news.


    "About the dance... we were thinking maybe we should just skip it," Logan said as I took a bite of food.


    "Skip the dance?" I asked with food in my mouth, looking at them. The news hit like a stone dropping into still water, creating ripples through my heart. I forced myself to remain calm, not showing too much disappointment.


    "We''re alsounching our attack tonight. Ryder will stay here with you, but the rest of us will be going. Things are too tense right now for public events like dances." Loganid it all out for me, looking me straight in the eyes.


    My heart broke a little, not for the dance itself, but for all the preparation work. Penelope and I had spent hours organizing and nning this event. Seeing the final result and everyone having fun was the most rewarding part. But I understood safety had toe first, no matter how disappointed I felt inside.


    "Fine," I said, suppressing my emotions. Pretending everything was okay, despite the small storm raging within me.


    "We could have a small dance here?" Logan suggested, seemingly trying to make up for my loss.


    His suggestion made me seem petty, so I ignored it and tried to change the subject. "Are we still having lunch on Sunday?"


    Logan frowned but didn''t pursue the previous topic.


    Yes, we are."


    What about our tests?"


    "Moved to Monday," Ryder answered for Logan.


    I''m sorry. I know this isn''t what you wanted," Logan said, looking atine and cing his hand on my leg.


    "Nobody wants this. Think about it-1 used to only worry about being stuck with Martha," I shook my head with a bitter smile. "I wish that was still my problem."


    Neither man said anything, just sat there watching me go through various emotions. I ate mechanically, my thoughts already far


    away.


    The Rogues wanted to kidnap me and give me to Tatum.It could hardly believe he wanted me just to fuck me. There had to be another reason.


    My experience in that building was truly my greatest fear realized. It was a strange feeling. Since my fear had already be reality, I wasn''t as afraid as before, but there was still a part of me that panicked just thinking about it.


    Alpha Benedict and Luna Kestrel wouldn''t give Ryder the Alpha title until this was all over. They just wanted me to travel, to leave the center of trouble, basically handing everything over to them to handle. So far, we''d done exactly as they asked, and it hadn''t worked. Neither strategy was seeding; something needed to change.


    "Would you care to share what you''re thinking?" Logan asked, breaking the silence.


    "Things need to change," I said simply, not looking at either of them


    "What do you mean?" Ryder asked, his eyes shing with concern and curiosity.


    "I mean, I''m going to take a bath, and then we''re having a full meeting with Alpha Benedict, Dad, and everyone. I''m tired of standing on the sidelines. If my life is going to be in danger, I''m not giving the power to decide my actions to someone else. We''reunching an attack tonight, which will dere war on them. They''ve had too many victories. I won''t be someone who''s seen as lying down and taking it. No, this all ends now. With me."


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