Page 98 of Losing My Siren Luna
“No, lad,” the commander shook his head. “It would be one of our orphanages. I think you would do well in the one near the sea. The kids take walks on the beach often and pick seashells. Sometimes our Alpha even joins them.”
“Your alpha?!” Riley asked in disbelief. “Alpha’s don’t care about kids.”
Kent huffs. “They do. Yours just doesn’t. He’s a special kind of horrible.”
“Speaking of which,” the commander said, “It appears the brothel wench you spotted from the store window was seeking Alpha Wayne. Are you sure she was the one who caused the problems for the Luna and for Percy’s new mate?”
Kent nodded. “Percy wanted to skin her alive. Leona was very possessive of the Alpha at the brothel, too. If she’s here, I don’t imagine it’s for a good reason.”
“She could just be trying to find a new Alpha to harass since ours found his mate,” the third man said.
“Doubt it,” Kent groaned, narrowing his eyes in the direction they saw her walking. “She was obsessed. The crazy kind of obsessed. She had the brothel women crash the Alpha and Luna's wedding reception. She even tried to get in his wedding bed before the Luna could.”
The commander pursed his lips deep in thought while staring in the direction Riley said not to go. “Why is that way not safe to go?” He asked Riley.
Riley sniffled and looked down the path with a worried expression. “The guards live down there. They attack women walking that way. They got my mom. They killed her.”
Kent grips the boy tightly against his chest, hiding his angered expression from him so as not to scare him. The commander and the other man looked appalled.
“Gerald, mind link the others and let them know that that woman is here. Tell them the situation and wait here to watch for her return. Don’t go down that pathway unless you hear screams. Even then, notify us first.”
“Sure, commander. Where are you two going?” The third man, Gerald, asked.
The commander tenderly smiled down at Riley. “We’re going to get this boy checked into the hotel and cleaned up. Maybe Kent can introduce him to the captain after getting him new clothes and a belly full of something delicious.”
The commander takes a paper bag Gerald is holding and offers it to Riley. Gerald is more than willing to part with his recent purchase for the boy's sake. Riley opens the bag, then smiles for the first time in weeks.
"Cookies!" Riley squealed gleefully.
"All for you, lad. Munch on those as we walk," the commander said as he lifted the boy in his arms, hiding his grimace as he got a closer view of the bruising on the boy's cheek from the brothel wench's slap. It's wrong, but the commander secretly thinks that if she were to be attacked, it might just be deserved. He never thought he would think that about a woman, but she seemed like pure evil. This pack would fit her well.
Chapter 32
Lachlan POV
Since that night, our relationship has only gotten better. That walk to the garden, and finally being able to confess to my wife that I knew she was my mate, was the start of her truly opening up to me.
That evening, dinner was intimate. Most of the pack had eaten, leaving only the stragglers and Cherum. He grumbled a bit when first seeing us, asking Lira if she was alright, but when he noticed the change between us, he excused himself to another table, claiming he needed to talk with someone about a cream delivery or something along those lines.
I didn’t question it, and Lira giggled at his excuse, distracting me once again. Her giggle and laughter is like a soothing balm to my anxious soul. It’s the most reassuring sound I’ve ever heard. It’s like my soul is crying out that if she is happy, everything else will be okay.
That night, I held her as I usually did while she fell asleep, but we talked, truly talked until her eyes fluttered close and her breathing evened out. We were never so open with one another, and after she slept, I just watched her for heaven knows how long, marveling at each and every one of her beautiful features.
Even the little sounds she makes, and her light snoring I find adorable. I never wanted to sleep, not wanting to miss a single movement of hers. Eventually, I did drift into a deep, restful sleep, which I was thankful for since we would be busy the next day. I thought up big plans for us while watching her sleep, wanting to have another perfect ending to a fulfilling day. I want more nights alone with her, growing closer to her as we learn more about one another.
The next day, just as I promised, we set out for the orphanage after breakfast, a small entourage of Cherum, Cedric and a few of her guard warriors accompanying us.
Cedric looked less enthusiastic than normal, not going out of his way to irritate me for once. I thought it was a good thing, but then Lira picked up on his mood and fawned over him for most of the journey.
I don’t know what the issues are between him and Meldec, but I want them fixed. It’s petty of me to admit, but I don’t like watching my wife show concern for anyone else.
I ended up mind linking Meldec, telling him where we were and asking him to personally come and bring me my horse. Lira wanted to walk to the orphanage, but I had plans for our way back.
He questioned why he had to be the one to do it, but when I mentioned Cedric, he was quick to agree.
Lira and I played in the water with the children, one little boy in particular, during most of our time at the orphanage. The little tyke, Westley, was excited to see Lira. A little too excited. He ran to her, pulling on her skirts until she kneeled down, then he wrapped his arms around her neck and kissed her cheek.
It’s not attractive for a man to be jealous of a child, but I was. Extremely so. I somehow buried that down from showing on the surface and knelt down beside my wife, the boy going shy at my appearance. With a kind smile and a few pats on the head, he warmed up to me, and I selfishly made it my mission to hold and hug the boy, even teaching him how to swim, so my perfect wife wouldn’t have to.
