Reclaimed By My Alpha (Natalia and Andrei) novel Chapter 480

Chapter 480

“I’m fine.” His voice came out sudden and rough. He pulled his arm away and took a step back. “Just tired, that’s all.”

I blinked. “You don’t look fine.”

“I said I’m fine, Natalia.” He turned and walked out of the room before I could stop him.

I stood there for a moment, staring at the empty doorway. Something was wrong. Andrei had been acting strangely lately, and not just overworking himself. I kept thinking that he was overworking himself for a reason. A reason that he wouldn’t get into.

I tried prying it out of him as we prepared dinner, but he didn’t spill. In fact, by the time we sat down for dinner, he was smiling and laughing with the twins.

But the smile was tight, lines forming around his eyes and mouth that had nothing to do with the years that had been forced on him by Helena’s ruby. He was faking it, and I didn’t understand why.

After we finished eating, I started cleaning up while Andrei took the dishes to the sink. “Can you help me put the kids to bed tonight?” I asked. “I think Jane wants you to read her a story, and you haven’t been around for bedtime.”

Something flickered across his face. That same haunted look from earlier. “I need to review the supply reports. You can handle it, right?”

“But-”

“I’ll be up later.” He left the kitchen before I could argue.

I stood there holding a dish towel, listening to his footsteps retreat down the hall. Jane tugged on my sleeve.

“Is Daddy okay?” she asked.

I forced a smile. “He’s just tired, princess. Come on, let’s get you ready for bed.”

The months that followed were busy. Between caring for Hope and helping coordinate efforts to settle the Bloodmoon refugees, I barely had time to think. The pack was slowly rebuilding. Homes were going up. The community center was finished. People were starting to smile again,

Hope was thriving. She was rolling over now, and sometimes she would let out these little giggles that made my heart feel like it might burst. Jane and Max adored her. We were happy.

Life was returning to normal. Or at least something close to it.

Except for Andrei.

He was still throwing himself into his work. Still coming to bed late and leaving early. Still finding excuses to avoid spending time with us. And whenever I tried to talk to him about it, he would brush me off or change the subject.

“He just needs time,” one of the new servants, an Omega from Bloodmoon, told me one afternoon. She was one of the refugees who’d decided to stay, an older woman who’d lost her mate in the war. She often helped me with the kids. “War changes people. Leaves marks that don’t always show on the outside.”

“I know that.” I put down the towel I had folded and reached for another. “But he won’t talk to me about it.”

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Chapter 480

+25 Bonus

“Men like him don’t know how to talk about it.” She pulled the sheets off the clothesline. It was a balmy spring day, and Hope was giggling in a wicker basket by my feet while Jane placed wildflower petals on her head. “My mate was the same way after his first real battle. Took him months before he could sleep through the night without waking up.”

“What did you do?”

“Got him help. There was a witch doctor in Bloodmoon who specialized in treating soldiers. She gave him herbs for the nightmares and taught him how tap into his emotions rather than running from them.” She paused. “She came with us, actually. She’s old and retired, but she might still help if you bring him to her.”

“He wouldn’t go. He’d say he doesn’t need it.”

“Then go without him. Get advice on how to help him yourself.” She gave me a knowing look. “Sometimes, you have to save people from themselves.‘

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