Hidden Wolf

40 Princess

By morning I was feeling quite recovered. Chris had left early for whatever meetings he had and Claire had settled the women. Shockingly enough Jude had hit it off with Chloe and were off together somewhere.

'So much for Gamma Jude, he has other priorities now.' 'I think I can stay out of trouble for a day.' 'Your track record says otherwise...'

"So what are you doing today Jess?" Claire asked.

"Dunno. I haven't had a chance to spend much time with Ethan so something with him. May do some archery too," I mused. Nathaniel did seem quite hopeful and he was a great opponent.

"Chris wants two guards with you at all times off grounds," she says apologetically. I nodded.

I picked at some leftovers for breakfast not wanting to go to the pack house. Claire just watched me from the counter as she drank her tea.

"What?" I finally asked.

"Nothing, just that tonight is the ball and-"

"Really?" I groaned.

"I was just hoping that you'd be open to going now. I mean you've done so well here I figured it would be a breeze now after pinning Dimitri," she trailed off with a nervous laugh.

"I don't think so, I don't have a dress or anything, I'm just not feeling it," I mumble trying to ignore her disappointment.

When Ethan finally got up he wanted to watch a movie and his go to was avengers. I've seen it often enough I can quote it, I think I even fell asleep.

Willow texted and I'm currently on my way with her, Nex and Sara to do a little practicing. This time I've brought the bow Mack made me. Willow will be able to use it better too being very close to my height.

"I was beginning to think you weren't coming," Nathaniel said, stepping away from the tree he was leaning against.

"What can I say, was a slow morning," I replied nonchalantly.

"I bet," he says with a knowing grin. The bastard knows all about what went on with Dimitri and everything else yesterday!

"Are you mental? He's a councillor," Sara hisses. I just shrug.

"I won't cower from him, it's just a round of archery."

I pull out my bow and hand it to Willow; she's as awestruck as I was when I first saw it. Her fingers traced the elegant silver scrollwork on the ebony staff.

"That's quite a bow Luna," he says, raising a brow. "How is it you possess a Guardians bow?" He practically growled Guardian.

"It was a gift after Derek broke mine." He looked barely satisfied by that answer.

"What's the deal with the Guardians and Council?" I ask boldly. I think Sara might burst into flames at any moment. Nathaniel just laughs.

"You are refreshing. I don't think there's a single Alpha here who would dare ask that," he says with a mischievous glint in his eyes.

"I'm told I'm reckless, you're the first to say refreshing," I deadpanned. "I do not have the polish to play politics and games, nor the experience in your world to be in the know."

"Short answer is they've been butting heads long enough that no one really remembers what started it." His answer feels like a half-truth.

"You speak as though you're not on the Council," I say, raising a brow.

"Right now I'm just a guy shooting a couple of rounds for fun," he says in exasperation.

"Right," I concede. We did just that, shooting several rounds till my shoulder started to ache. He was good, very good, quite possibly better than me.