Chapter 34
Xena’s POV
My body felt like it was on fire. Sweat trickled down my forehead, soaking my skin. When I opened my eyes, I realized someone was pressed against me. After sitting up, I discovered that Ama had slept with me last night.
“Good morning.”
I nearly jumped out of my skin at the sudden voice in my room. William was lying on my
couch like some damn stalker. The blanket and pillow there told me he’d spent the night.
“What the fuck are you doing here, William?” My tone was sharp from the sudden shock.
The bedroom door creaked open and Ryder poked his head in. “Coffee?”
“What the hell are you two doing here?” My shouting woke Ama. I was acutely aware that
my silk pajamas weren’t exactly conservative, which made me feel even more irritated and
exposed.
“William slept here because Ama wouldn’t budge, and he texted me to bring coffee. I slept
in the other room,” Ryder explained as he walked over and handed me a cup.
Ama got up, grabbed her coffee, and casually sat next to William as if this happened every
day.
“She’s not a morning person. You have to give her time,” Ama sighed.
It was too early for me, and I wasn’t used to waking up like this, especially when my body
needed more rest from the injuries.
“I can see that,” Ryder chuckled, sitting down in the armchair.
“Why…” I wasn’t sure which question to address first.
“After we got back home and dealt with everything, it was almost four in the morning. Alpha told us to just sleep here. I was going to move Ama to another room, but she wouldn’t budge. So I took the couch,” William explained.
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7:31 pm
Chapter 34
“Why didn’t you go to another room?” I was clearly annoyed as I stood up and headed for my closet. My ribs still hurt a bit, but overall I felt okay.
“Didn’t want to leave Ama at night. When you have a mate, you’ll understand,” William snorted, as if I was being dense.
“Holy shit!” I walked into the closet and put on a sports bra and workout shorts that probably could have been an inch longer, ready to hit something. I grabbed socks, shoes, and a hair tie before walking out.
“Not everyone is going to be attached at the hip with their mate,” I shot back, still sharp. I felt Ryder’s eyes on me, assessing. His gaze irritated me right now. Was I wearing something strange? •
“Girl, you were just in a fight. Can’t you rest for one day?” Ama asked, sipping her coffee.
“Says the daughter of a warrior?” I frowned, my mood not improving at all. Ama doesn’t understand that resting means giving up control for me. And control is the only thing I
can rely on.
Once my shoes were on, I stood up and tied my hair into a ponytail.
“One day I’m going to teach you that proper rest is good for the soul too,” Ama sighed.
“Good luck with that!” I kissed her cheek and headed for the door.
“When I get back, I expect you all to be gone,” I directed at the two males.
As I was about to close the door, I heard Ama say, “She’s really not a morning person.” 1 shook my head. I had just reached the stairs when I heard someone call my name.
“X?” Damn it.
“Yes, Dad?” I turned to see him working in his office.
“What are you doing?”
“Some light training to work out the soreness.”
“Be careful, okay?” He went back to his paperwork.
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Chapter 34
I had only taken three steps when her voice made my spine stiffen.
“Put some clothes on, you little slut!” At the sound of her voice, I froze. Already irritated from waking up, her taunting was like pouring gasoline on a fire, and I wanted to fucking slap her.
I turned to look at her. Martha stood with her hands on her hips, her eyebrows nearly touching. “Hello, Martha,” I greeted with restraint.
She walked slowly toward me. “You didn’t turn in the accounting files yesterday.”
“The deadline is today. I’ll finish and submit them by 5 PM.”
I turned to leave, but she grabbed my arm. Feeling her touch, my muscles immediately tensed, instinctively wanting to shake off the contact. I hated that she thought she had the right to touch me.
“That’s not good enough. I want you to do it now!”
I yanked my arm away. “No, it will be done by 5 PM.”
“What did you say? Who do you think you’re talking to? I am your mother…”
“You are not my mother. You are nothing to me.” I said through gritted teeth. The words shot out of my mouth like bullets, each one loaded with years of resentment and pain.
Martha raised her arm to slap me, but I was expecting it. I smoothly moved to the side, and she missed. This made her even angrier, and she lunged forward to grab my sports bra. But I was already at the door.
“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” A dangerous voice came from behind me. It was Ryder. He stood on the staircase, looking down at us.
“You have no authority here! I will be sure to tell your father how you treated a Luna!” Martha snarled in fury.
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