Pursuing My Rejected Luna by Cara Anderson novel Chapter 279

Ch. 49

Noah

I’m still bent over my desk, neck stiff and shoulders drooping, when Piper stops by. She brings food-apparently having decided the useful thing to do is to make sure I eat. She sets it on the desk beside the operational files and stands beside me with a hand on her hip until I give in and look up at her.

“How are you?” she smiles, waiting for me to return the expression that will prove I’m just as happy to see her.

If it weren’t for the headache pulsing behind my right eye and the sinking feeling I’m running out of time to solve this riddle, my answering smile might be genuine. As it is, the most I’m able to muster is a weak substitute. She doesn’t seem to notice though. She just circles behind my chair, her hands deftly finding the knots in my shoulders and kneading them away.

I drop my head back on a moan, her hands applying just the right amount of pressure.

“Oh Alpha,” she murmurs, “I love it when you make those sounds for me.”

“Trust me, I love it too.” I demonstrate by making another satisfied sound. “I wish I had time for more than just a massage.”

I gesture at the mess of files and loose documents covering every inch of my desk surface. But she doesn’t ask about the situation I’ve spent my whole day seeking a solution to. The one the whole pack’s been on lockdown because of. Doesn’t even acknowledge it.

“You never answered me. How are you? I haven’t seen you all day.” She asks instead, her tone a little too close to accusatory.

“The situation is handled,” It’s the answer I give because how am I supposed to think of anything else, even myself, when there’s a threat to my pack?

“I know. You’re a competent Alpha. Of course the situation is handled.” She continues working the knots from my shoulders and neck. “But that’s not what I asked. I want to know about you. Did you miss me today?”

“Of course.” The answer slides out because it feels like what I’m supposed to say. That I’ve been too focused on work to miss her is probably closer to the truth, but it’s definitely not the right answer.

I take her hands from my shoulders and hold them in mine. I appreciate the massage. I appreciate that she came, that she brought food, that she asked the question that was about me rather than the territory. She’s taking care of me and I appreciate all of it genuinely.

At the same time, I’m also aware-somewhere in the back of my mind, a door that I’m not opening tonight-that I spent my entire day doing military-style pattern analysis, and the thing I want right now is to keep doing it with someone who would find that interesting rather than concerning. Someone who would pull up a chair and read the files and say what about this, what does this tell you.

Caring for this pack, protecting the people in it, was my purpose in life long before I became their Alpha. The depth of the responsibility I feel isn’t something I could ever explain in words. So I need someone who inherently understands that, someone who doesn’t need an explanation.

I don’t say any of this. I let her comfort me. And it does help, some.

We eat the dinner Piper brought in silence while I continue flipping through documents, reading while I chew. She tells me about her day, seeming not to notice I’m only half listening. Or maybe that’s just wishful thinking.

“Noah? Noah!” The sharp lash of my name snaps me to attention.

“What?” Her face falls and I feel a stab of guilt at the sight. I took this woman to bed and now I’m basically ignoring her. I pull her into my lap and kiss her temple. “I’m sorry, sweetheart.”

That puts a smile back on her face before she tilts her head and presses her lips to mine. She tries to deepen the kiss but I gently pull away, knowing my head is still somewhere else and she deserves more than what I can give her at the moment.

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Ch 49

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“You’ve been at this all day. Can’t you leave it for tomorrow?” She plants teasing kisses along my jaw. “Come to bed with me. I promise it will be more fun than…” she sweeps her hand toward the papers littering my desk, “whatever this is.”

I sigh deeply, lifting her off my lap and setting her on her feet. Part of me wants to set her straight, explain that “whatever this is” could hold the key to protecting this pack and is more important than the “fun” she has in mind will ever be. My wolf agrees but then, he wanted me to throw her out the minute she walked in the door. I settle for gently guiding her to the door.

“Not tonight, sweetheart. But soon.” I ignore her pout and send her away-

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