Chapter 66

Violet

Theodore opened it on his phone since mine was near dead. The bastard had changed, but it was clear that he hadn't planned to be holding this press conference now.

"The Shelter project," Owen said, "is not only a risk but a direct challenge to the stability of our society. Rogues, by definition, are untethered, violent, and inherently dangerous. They exist outside the bounds of our laws and our values for a reason. Granting them pathways back into our communities endangers the very fabric of what keeps us strong, but that is what Alpha Nightshade is proposing. As it will affect every pack in the country, I'm putting it to a vote."

I clenched my jaw, my hand tightening around the edge of the table as his words continued to wash over me.

I hated to admit it, but there was a time I would have agreed with him. Years ago, before Theodore and I had crossed paths, that narrow worldview had been all I had, but to hear it from the alpha king, who should know better than anyone about the statistics of actual rogues, turned my stomach.

I thought of Ben, and the young omega women with their rounded bellies and the children running around without any structure and snarled as the press conference ended.

"I'd like to claw his eyes out."

"That's the hunger talking." He smiled. "Please save treasonous foreplay to somewhere more private."

I scoffed. "If we're talking about your brother as foreplay, we aren't having a sex life ever."

The air heated. I looked up at him. His eyes were burning with heat.

"… and are we having a sex life?"

I swallowed and looked away, remembering my request.

Things… had been different then.

I bit my lip. "I thought we were talking about Shelter."

He grabbed his glass. "I'll ask again… When you're less murderously hungry. As for Shelter, don't get so upset. This is just part of his game."

“He’s framing Shelter like it’s some reckless experiment,” I muttered, my irritation spilling over. “Like it’s about coddling criminals instead of saving lives, and tons of smaller packs with insecure borders will buy into it.”

Theodore hummed. "He's allowing all alphas to vote, so that will be interesting."

I scoffed. "Probably because he knows which way the smaller packs will tip. There is no weighted vote is there?"

"No."

I shook my head. "It's one thing to be aware of your constiuents' ignorance, it's another thing entirely to capitalize on it for your personal grudges." I snatched my glass up. “If he could see even a remote benefit for him and his standing in Shelter, he wouldn't be so hesitant. He'd want to take it over."

Theodore chuckled. "You've met him only a handful of times and you know him so well…"

I paused and sipped, turning over his tone. I looked at him suspiciously. I couldn't tell if his expression was one of serenity or false innocence.

"Is… that your plan, Theo'?"

He frowned. "What?"

"To have the crown take over Shelter."

He blinked and chuckled. "No wonder you were top of your class. It hadn't ever crossed my mind." He smirked. "It's fucking sexy when you scheme. Do you think that's possible?"

His eyes lit up with glee. "I might even be onboard with a plan to make Owen willingly retract that statement."

I smiled. "I think… it's quite possible, but not immediately."

"Of course not." He leaned back in his chair, his eyes thoughtful. “We have to let him paint it as a threat first. Maximum payoff if that ever happens."

I shook his head. "He's cruel."

Theodore nodded. “… learned from the best.”

His tone turned dark and heavy. His eyes looked out into the distance.

"Hey."

He looked at me, his attention snapping to me.

"I'm wearing a wedding dress and a veil. The only dark thoughts we're having right now are murder and sedition."

He laughed, and for the rest of brunch, we talked about anything and everything but politice.

By the time we were headed back to Midnight, driving to the border of Dark Forest, I was less hungry, more tired, and the anger that Owen had stoked with his stunts had started to turn calculating.

There was a real chance that Owen would one day see enough benefit to institute Shelter, in some form, across the country, but we couldn't wait for that. I stared out the window, the skyline of the central territory whizzing past. I wondered how many wolves in those buildings were like I used to be—just ignorant from lack of exposure rather than prejudice.

Then, an idea hit. I held out my hand.

"Can I use your phone?"

He handed it to me without hesitation. I smiled at that.

"I… don't remember a single time that Lucas ever just handed me his phone."

Theodore flashed me a grin. "Glad I can prove, even in the smallest ways, that I am nothing like him."

I chuckled and called Sophia.

"Alpha?" She sounded surprised.

"It's Violet, actually. My phone is dead. Are you near a computer? Your desk?"

"Yes… Aren't you… supposed to be on your honeymoon?"

I scoffed. "We're headed back to Midnight."

"I meant not working."

"A good leader is never completely off duty. I want you to start those marketing courses we talked about and start a file for Shelter's press coverage in response to the alpha king's press conference."

Theodore growled. "You are not meant to be working."

I waved him off. "You don't let yourself forget a good idea."

He glowered at me. "Five minutes."

"Ten."

He laughed. "Eight!"

"Done. Starting now."

"You've already been on the phone for two!"

And I really only needed eight more. I rattled off my preliminary thoughts on the campaign to shed light on the realities of the statics about rogues quickly. Sophia was surprisingly more helpful than I think even she thought she could be, and I told her so. I could hear in her voice how happy she was to be praised for her good work.

Right at the eighth minute, I finished the call.

Theodore huffed. "Of course you didn't even go over by a second."

"I'm conscientious to a fault."

"I was hoping to have a reason to spank you properly."

My gut clenched, and I handed him back his phone, content to not say anything more for the rest of the drive.

I woke up in Theodore's arms what had to be hours later as the carriage pulled up outside of his house in Midnight.

Had I really been asleep that long?

He smiled down at me. "Awake, are you?"

I nodded. When the carriage stopped, we climbed out together.

He reached out to take my hand. “But we’re done with work for the rest of week. No exceptions.”

I frowned, opening my mouth to protest, but he held up a finger.

“No negotiations either." His eyes sparkled. "We’re supposed to be on our honeymoon, remember?”

Honeymoon. The word felt strange, foreign. I remembered my honeymoon with Lucas. A soft heat rose to my cheeks, but I quickly masked it with a slight cough.

“What exactly did you have in mind?"

Theodore smirked, tugging me gently inside. “We have now. Come on.”

“Where are we going?” I asked, my stomach fluttering with equal parts curiosity and apprehension.

“Somewhere secluded,” he said, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “Trust me.”

We headed down the stairs toward a heavy door. He opened it and led me out into the dense, ancient woods that made up Midnight’s hidden forest. I heard about it. Read about it, but all of that paled in comparison to actually being in it. It felt much like the forests of Darkmoon in some ways. The sunlight barely filtered through the canopy, casting everything in a serene, greenish glow. The deeper we went, the quieter the world became until it was just the sound of our footsteps and the occasional rustle of leaves. I couldn't believe

Eventually, Theodore stopped, turning to me with a grin. “We’ll run the rest of the way.”

“Run?” I repeated, tilting my head.

He shrugged off his jacket, tossing it onto a nearby branch. “It’s faster. And more fun.”

I froze as he started to unbutton his shirt, realization dawning like a sudden slap. Shit. I hadn't thought that Theodore would actually want all the traditional parts of taking a new luna. I felt stupid and a little dazed by the thought.

A part of me was excited. I hadn't gotten to have the experience when I'd married Lucas as he claimed to be unable to keep up with me on a run, and since he was only alpha in name, my father hadn't pressed for it.

But…. I wanted to run with Theodore. It burned to know that I couldn't.

“Theo…”

“Hmm?” he asked, pulling the shirt from his shoulders and looking far too casual as he whipped his belt out of the loops.

“I can’t shift.”