CHAPTER 158: TO NORTH CALIMORE

"Now, will you mind sharing with me what Jennifer actually

told you?" Lucien asked, closing the small distance between them. "I promise I won’t repeat a word to her."

"Umm..." Leia hesitated, her eyes flickering. "She said that I’m weak, and if I plan to stay by your side, I need to grow. Everything I’ve done so far only shows my immaturity. Honestly... I think it was a reality check for me. As the Pack Development Coordinator, I haven’t achieved much. And... I felt Jennifer was just being honest with me."

Though Leia tried to soften Jennifer’s harsh words, Lucien caught the sting behind them. He knew Jennifer well enough to imagine how blunt she must have been.

"You’re already working on a project," Lucien reminded her gently.

"But I get beaten down almost every other week," Leia admitted in a low voice. "I fall behind, make excuses, and delay my work. People must think their Alpha keeps forgiving me too easily. Lucien... I have a request. Please don’t refuse me this time." Her eyes searched his, hoping for reassurance.

Lucien tilted his head slightly. "Tell me what it is. I’d rather hear it before I agree blindly," he clarified.

"You’ll never agree to it," Leia murmured. She clasped her hands together. "Can’t you grant me this one small thing? Please?"

"Fine," he relented, after a pause. "Say it, and I’ll keep my word. But if I feel your request doesn’t sit nice, then I may give you additional ways."

Leia drew in a deep breath. "I want to live separately from the three of you. Pay me for my work, and I’ll rent an apartment within the pack. I want to live among our people, to understand them better. Just give me three months."

Lucien’s eyes narrowed slightly, a shadow flickering across his expression. "I can’t grant that request," he said firmly. "You can commute from here. The pack houses aren’t far. And I won’t interfere in your decisions as long as they benefit the pack. If you want to understand the people, spend your free time with them. How about that? Of course, I swear like before I won’t interfere in anything you desire. I’ve been a jerk to you and that’s why you probably hate me for being too controlling."

Besides, the thought of Leia living away gnawed at him. With so much turmoil surrounding him, the idea of her being apart from it, and from him, felt unbearable.

"That’s good too," Leia replied softly.

Her easy agreement caught Lucien off guard. He had been bracing himself for another argument, but instead, she surprised him with acceptance.

"And I don’t hate you anymore," Leia said gently. "You’ve misunderstood me. Maybe once, in the past, I did, but with time, that hatred faded."

Lucien’s lips curved into a faint smile at her words, warmth flickering in his chest.

"Also..." Leia hesitated, her tone turning more serious. "I noticed the ashtray on the garden table this morning, while I was walking with Kieran. You smoked a lot last night. Maybe you don’t feel it yet, you’re still young, or perhaps your wolf is too strong, but don’t do it again. Please. I hope you’ll actually listen to me this time."

Lucien lowered his gaze, guilt shadowing his expression as though she had caught him in something shameful. "I’m sorry," he murmured in a subdued tone.

"I know you’re carrying a lot on your shoulders right now," Leia said softly, "but you don’t have to bear the entire burden of the pack alone. You’re surrounded by people who want to help you. You can trust them too."

Lucien gave a faint, almost weary smile. "I’d like to agree with that. But Ronan recently uncovered something... The attacks against us happened because some of our own sold themselves out for money. So, trusting just anyone, it’s not an option anymore."

Leia’s eyes widened. "That’s... shocking. Did they catch the ones responsible?"

"Not yet," Lucien replied. "I’m still waiting for its full report." His gaze shifted to the wall clock, a reminder that Ronan would be leaving for North Calimore soon.

"Come. I’ll drop you off at your room Don’t move much and take a good rest to recover fast," he said at last. Taking her hand in his hand, he walked out of his room with disheveled hair.

But as they stepped into Leia’s room, they found Ronan and Kieran already there.

"Ronan! Finally, I get to see you," Leia exclaimed, her face lighting up.

"Sorry," Ronan said at once.

"You did nothing wrong," Leia reassured him quickly. Her eyes narrowed, however, as she took in his attire. He was dressed from head to toe in black. "But why are you dressed like that?" she asked, tilting her head. A playful smile curved her lips. "Don’t tell me you’re sneaking off on some secret mission," she teased with a chuckle.

"Yes, I am," Ronan admitted without hesitation, pulling her into a quick embrace. "You won’t see me for a few days. I’m sorry for ditching you midway and not being able to help with your training. Don’t push your body too hard while I’m gone. And... don’t miss me too much, or I won’t be able to focus on the task.

As Ronan pulled back from their embrace, Leia’s eyes widened. "Where are you going this time?" she asked, her tone tinged with shock.

"Well, I can’t tell you right now," Ronan replied, his gaze flickering toward Lucien.

Lucien stepped in calmly. "I’ll explain later. For now, Ronan may get late for his flight."

Leia’s brows knitted together, frustration bubbling in her voice. "Why do you always take on these secret missions alone? If I hadn’t been injured, I would’ve gone with you."

Ronan gave a small smile. "I wouldn’t have taken you with me, Leia." Then, with a sudden step forward, he cupped her face gently and pressed a firm kiss against her lips.

Leia startled, heat rushing to her cheeks. She pushed him back quickly, flustered, suddenly aware of her two mates, Lucien and Kieran standing nearby. The moment felt strange, almost embarrassing. Yet deep inside, she knew letting Ronan leave without a proper kiss would have felt just as wrong.

Gripping the collar of his coat, Leia rose on her toes and pressed a gentle kiss to Ronan’s lips. As her heels touched the floor again, she held his gaze. "Call me every day whenever you’re free. And if you can’t call, at least send me a message. If you need any kind of help, you can reach out to Lucien. I’ll be healed soon, maybe I can even visit you."

Ronan smiled faintly and hummed in agreement. He leaned forward to place a soft kiss on the crown of her head before stepping back. Turning then to Lucien and Kieran, he linked with them silently: ’Do not tell Leia that the hunters are after her, or that one of them ordered her death. And keep everything I share with you during this time between us.’

"Let us walk you out," Leia offered quickly.

"Don’t bother. I’ll go," Ronan replied firmly. "You shouldn’t trouble yourself with too much walking." He gave her one last, lingering glance before leaving.

Leia stood frozen for a moment, watching his retreating figure. A strange hollowness developed in her chest. It was the same unsettling feeling she used to feel as a child whenever her mother left her alone at home.

Meanwhile, as Ronan crossed the living room, a fleeting thought struck him, he should see his grandmother before leaving. But when he reached her room, he found it empty. She had gone out to the park with Fleur to enjoy the fresh air.

"Brother, are you going somewhere? You weren’t even at dinner last night!" Inara’s voice called from across the hall.

Ronan turned his head, offering her a faint smile. "Ah, yes. I have to leave for some work," he replied. "Stay close to Leia while you’re here. She’ll need your company."

"Okay... but where are you going?" Inara pressed curiously.

"Well, I can’t tell you," Ronan replied with a small smile. Without another word, he turned on his heels and strode out of the house. Sliding into the waiting car, he started the engine and drove off toward the airport, where a flight to North Calimore awaited him.

"Brother Ronan is so mysterious," Inara murmured with a pout, folding her arms.

"Miss, I’ve prepared the vanilla shake for you," came a servant’s voice from behind.

"Thank you!" Inara said cheerfully as she turned to her, her pout vanishing in an instant. "This isn’t for me though. It’s for Leia!" She grabbed the tray from the servant’s hands and headed upstairs.

As she stopped outside the room of Leia, she found Lucien and Kieran were giving her a princess like treatment. She couldn’t help but smile seeing that.

Clearing her throat, she knocked on the door, "Leia, I’ve made the servant prepare a special vanilla shake for you!" She announced and walked into the room.