The Wrong Brother's Temptation novel Chapter 193

Sinna

“Given everything that happened last night, I think a less stringent approach going forward would make sense. This is our pack and family, not some war. I don’t think we need to employ anything extreme…for both of us, honestly.”

Connor’s fork clattered against his plate loudly enough that I actually jumped in my seat and several heads turned.

“You did? Thanks little bro. Though, I wish you would have spoken before my trial even begun”

Aaron’s smile crumpled and he fought to find the right words to say as Connor watched him struggle to fill in the awkward

silence.

“Yeah. Sienna was the one actually to push me to do that” Aaron looked at me, seeking some validation.

“Oh?” Connor tilted his head slightly.

“She is just so nice and forgiving and…”

“Thanks for bringing the fruits earlier today,” Connor cut him off abruptly, his voice mild on the surface but an unmistakable current of something considerably harder running directly beneath it.

Sandra’s head turned so fast her earrings swung a second time. “You went to the hospital?” she asked Aaron in a surprised voice that told me he hadn’t shared that bit of information with her.

And her eyes were already accusing him of betrayal. “You told me you were going out to handle something with the northern packs…”

Aaron opened his mouth, and I could already tell from the shape of it forming that whatever came out next was going to be some variety of fumbling half–truth, but Connor got there first.

“Is there a problem,” he said, “with my little brother coming to check if I was still alive?”

His voice was mild, and he sat there casually buttering a piece of toast without looking up from the task, utterly unhurried.

Sandra’s smile went brittle at the edges, visibly working to hold its shape. “Not at all,” she shook her head, recovering fast. “Why would I?”

That was way too much butter on one toast…

Connor shrugged. “Just felt so”

Sandra was all smiles as she added. “In fact, I would have come along with him iff he’d mentioned it.”

Connor leaned back in his chair, and then leisurely ate the overly buttered toast like it was the most flavorful thing to exist

on earth.

“You had the whole night to visit me if you wanted to,” he pointed out. “With Aaron, or without him. You’re free to visit your boyfriend’s brother whenever you like, aren’t you? It’s hardly an exclusive invitation.”

The question was devastatingly polite, but damn he did know how to make a knife thirsting for blood look like a rose.

Sandra’s mouth opened, and closed once as she tried to give an answer that wouldn’t expose her for the pompous bitch she

was.

I fell asleep the moment I fell on the bed, she tried to act calm but her tone was a tad too defensive. After I finished a either important discussion with Elder Johansson.”

The Wrong Brother’s Temptation

Every set of eyes at the table turned, almost in unison, toward Johansson.

looked genuinely startled for exactly one visible second before he smoothed his expression back into composure.

“Yes,” he said, straightening slightly in his chair, and recovering his footing. “Aaron and Sandra came to me requesting a less harsh approach to the remaining evaluations going forward. We had what I would consider a very productive conversation.”

Sandra doubled down on it, appearing slightly relieved. “See, so we were doing things behind the scene that would actually benefit you instead of…” she let the line trail as she flicked her gaze to Sienna before adding, “…just sitting beside your bed uselessly”

I wanted to retort but Connor’s hand had left my shoulder and now gently squeezed my knee under the table as a silent command to stay put.

He noticed my unease and anger as I tried to push his fingers away but he only pressed harder, reminding me who was in charge when it came to both of us.

“The doctor said a loved one’s presence greatly improves recovery of a patient and since you were so tired, at least Aaron and I were there to ease Connor a little”

Connor looked at me slowly like he genuinely didn’t expect me to give it back to her subtly instead of creating a ruckus.

“You were just doing your duty, Sienna. A luna doesn’t gloat about being there for her partner in times of need. Right Aaron?”

Aaron looked from her to me like a lost puppy.

I opened my mouth again but this time, Connor’s hand slid up a little over my thigh, right where the small slit in the skirt was and brushed against my bare skin.

I blinked furiously, momentarily forgetting what I was about to say.

“She did more than her duty last night. She ensured I was resting, well fed and energized enough.”

Well fed???

He then briskly changed the topic before anybody could speak.

“You’re planning more tests,” Connor said, eyeing Elder Johanson.

Johansson’s chin lifted, satisfaction settling over his features like he’d been waiting for exactly this opening to arrive.

“Yes. The draught proved insufficient for our purposes so we require something further.”

! I watched Connor’s eyes narrow the smallest fraction, barely visible unless you were sitting close enough and paying

attention, and noticed the first real crack in the composed performance he’d been maintaining since the moment we’d walked through the front gate.

Johansson, either oblivious to the shift or entirely uncaring, asked for a cheese omelet.

“You see the elders have to uphold pack tradition, but I agree with Sandra who was of the opinion that the necessity of rigorous evaluation should be balanced against the fairness owed to any candidate.”

So he was giving credit to Sandra for suggesting something and not a word of apology was given to Connor?

“I thank Sandra for speaking up on this. Would you agree. Elder Johanson that the last night’s trial was a bit too harsh then?”

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