Chapter 0361

"Let's go." He stands and offers his hand. "As much as I'd love to stay here with you, Theodore is almost here."

"You ripped all my clothes." I mumble, letting him pull me up.

He retrieves the shirt he'd hung on a branch earlier. "Why do you think I took this off?" He presses a soft kiss to my cheek before heading to the stream to clean up.

I wrap the blue shirt around myself, thankful for Alexander's larger frame. The fabric swallows me whole, covering everything necessary. As he fastens his jeans, he returns to carefully roll the sleeves up to my elbows. "I should bring you out to the woods more often."

The sound of snapping twigs alerts us to Theodore's approach. He carries a backpack and hands it to Alexander. "Sebastian and Luc were wondering where you disappeared to."

"We'll be back soon. Did they say anything specific?"

"Luc mentioned car trouble. Sebastian suggested you two might have taken a detour." He winks at me before turning away. "I brought another vehicle. I'll be waiting in it." Once he's gone, I start unpacking the clothes. The sight of underwear confirms Brianna packed this—men never remember such details.

"How did Luc know to say that?" I murmur, pulling on the white underwear set.

"Like you said, it's not exactly a lie. Probably the best excuse he could come up with before speaking with us."

He leads me back to the road where Theodore sits in the driver's seat of a jeep, reading while eating an apple. He tosses the book into the backseat when he spots us. "Ready?"

Alexander opens my door and wipes something from my cheek as I sit. I notice red on his thumb before he quickly rubs it away and jumps into the front passenger seat.

Does he not trust Theodore anymore?

'He's being cautious.' Nyx murmurs.

'Finally.' Her voice brings me comfort.

'Please don't get hit by another car.' She grumbles. 'It really messes with me.'

'It wasn't intentional.'

I feel her mental eye-roll. 'Such a stupid accident that caused so much damage.'

'I don't plan on letting it happen again! Were you aware of everything else that occurred?'

'Yes.' She groans.

'Three members of Obsidian Howl.' I sigh. 'Three of Alexander's own Wolves.'

'You're handling it correctly. I would have suggested the same approach.'

"You're unusually quiet back there." Theodore notes. "Everything alright?"

"Just tired." I reply while watching Alexander stare him down.

'It's not him.' I link Alexander. 'He only asked why I'm quiet, nothing about the accident. You know Theodore—he wouldn't doubt us.'

Alexander doesn't respond, but I see him relax slightly though not completely.

'I think Luc would know immediately if it were Theodore.' Nyx tells me.

I have to agree, and I truly hope only those three deceased Wolves were involved.

Theodore stops the car just outside the gate. Caleb and another Wolf are on duty. I'm surprised Alexander agreed to this arrangement given his frequent statements about Wolves maintaining control here.

"Where's Finn?" Theodore asks.

"His mate went into labor. I was closest, so I offered to cover his shift so he could be with her." Caleb shouts while opening the gates.

"I'll send someone to relieve you." Alexander tells him.

"Not necessary, I've got this covered." Caleb nods enthusiastically.

"Wolves should guard the gate."

'We don't know who else is involved.' I link Alexander again. Having a Wolf plotting against the pack shouldn't be guarding our home.

"Change of plans. You'll take this shift." Alexander tells Caleb.

Caleb looks pleased to have something useful to do. He must be struggling with the transition from leadership to having no responsibilities.

"Report any problems directly to Athena." Alexander orders as Theodore drives us through.

Theodore drops us at the packhouse entrance and announces he's heading to the hospital to check on things.

"I thought you wanted him to examine me." I murmur to Alexander as we watch him drive away.

"Didn't I examine you thoroughly enough?" He muses.

Even after all these years together, he still knows how to make me blush.