Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 355

Chapter 355

I bristled a little again, but Andrei nodded understandingly. “That’s a fair observation, Dan. Truthfully, Natalia and I had a…” He glanced at me, and his eyes softened. “A rough past. I’ll admit that I wasn’t a good husband, and I didn’t give her the chance to feel protected from outside threats in her own home. I’ve spent every day since her miraculous return atoning for that.”

“But,” I added, “you should all know that it wasn’t Andrei who made me go into hiding. At the time, I thought it was–but it was Lilith, the snake who slithered into our home, who sent rogues after me and tried to harm me and my children.”

“And she’s been handled,” Andrei finished.

Dan looked like he wanted to say more, but Ellen touched his arm gently. “They’re right, Dan. Besides, everyone has skeletons in the closet. You should know that more than most.”

Dan’s eyes flickered with regret. He looked down at the table and didn’t speak again.

Darrick cleared his throat. “Well, I’m not opposed to the alliance. But what about resources? Are we expected to share between all of us? What safeguards are in place to ensure that we’re all treated with equity?”

Meg nodded in agreement. “My husband is right. Green Ridge has large swathes of farmland, but we also have a larger population to feed. We can’t spare that much more food.”

“Ashmoor has empty fields that have gone fallow because of the dropping population,” Andrei replied. “I’ve already spoken to my brother, and he said that if you can spare some laborers, the fields could be up and running again within six months. They could produce enough grain to make up the difference in case of a food shortage.”

Meg and Darrick whispered to each other for a few moments before Meg nodded. “Very well. Sending some laborers to Ashmoor would also help with our overpopulation problem and Ashmoor’s underpopulation problem.”

“Excellent. And as for you, Catherine and Edmond? What do you say to the alliance?”

The two who had been the most quiet throughout this entire meeting glanced at each other. They didn’t speak out loud, but I knew they were mindlinking just from the glazed looks in their eyes.

Finally, Edmond said in a low voice, looking at me, “Natalia, my opinion of you was admittedly quite low after the debacle at my wife’s charity event. You trampled all over an evening that was very important to her, thinking only of your own drama.”

My throat bobbed. My pride wanted me to tell him that he was wrong, that I had nothing to do with that whole day, but… That would have been wrong. It might have been Lilith who began it all, but I had played into it just as much as she had. I should have taken more steps to ensure nothing bad could happen that day. Perhaps I should have declined the invitation outright, knowing that Lilith might try something.

“I am sorry, Catherine.” I turned to the Luna, lowering my gaze. “I know how important that day was for you. Back then, I was… so wrapped up in my own wants that I didn’t think about the consequences.”

Catherine shook her head. “I’m not upset about that, Natalia. It’s just… You never called afterwards. You never checked in. You just… disappeared. And I had grown to like you quite a lot during our time together preparing for the event.”

My chest ached. “I’m sorry. I grew to like you, too. You were the first who treated me like a real Luna.” Catherine’s face broke into a small smile. She looked at her husband and nodded, and he cleared his throat.

1/2

“Very well. Aspen will join your alliance.”

#25 Bonus

With that settled, we launched into our next steps. Plans to secure the borders, extend the walls, and share patrols amongst all packs began. The meeting went on well into the evening, and eventually, the Alphas and Lunas retired to their rooms to leave at first light.

Once everyone had filed out of the room, I turned to Andrei, beaming so wide my face hurt.

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