Wolf Endangered (Willow's Forbidden Pack #2) - Avery Song Page 0,116

to lean against.

"I know," I whispered. She was dealing with a lot, plus her new role as Beta in the pack was clearly opening her up to pathways in the pack bond where she could easily sense how the others were feeling. I doubted she'd expressed her ability to Dimitris.

If she did, he'd easily realize she's tapping into her Alpha abilities.

Willow's wolf abilities were awakening faster than they should, and without her being given a moment to breathe and embrace the transition, I worried it would knock her out or force her to stop and take a serious break.

Dimitris may have approved of a break, but it wouldn't mean Willow and the others would be sitting down and relaxing. This "time off" was to prepare for bigger things - grand reveals, bigger announcements, and to prove to the realms of business and the shadowed areas of power that the Forbidden Pack wasn't here to play around.

"When we return, I think you should enjoy a long bath and relax. Your muscles need it."

"That sounds delightful, though I have a strong feeling it'll be interrupted by Onyx," she admitted with a smirk.

"He should be sleeping," I noted.

Willow laughed. "If you think he's going to sleep knowing we're visiting Roberto, you better do a recheck of his priorities because he'd become a zombie if it means he can stalk me with the intentions of keeping me safe.”

She had a point, and I knew he was probably somewhere around this place keeping an eye on us.

"I'll distract him when we get home if you need some alone bath time," I concluded.

"Much appreciated," she replied and lifted her head to look up at me.

I bet she didn't know I could see her eyes through the shades at this angle. That I could see the worry, fear, and uncertainty that flickered in her blue, radiant eyes. My eyes lowered to her delicate lips that were glossed with red lipstick that only further stood out against her tanned skin.

She looked a bit paler this afternoon. I didn't like it, but I knew we'd be leaving shortly.

"Are you worried?" I took the risk of asking.

She continued to stare up at me before whispering, "I'm not ready to take over his pack, Viktor." Her voice actually shook and I'd be a fool to ignore her glassy eyes that were fighting to remain hidden by her black shades.

I was sure she didn't know that the bright light of the hospital room illuminated those shades enough at this angle for me to see it all, but I knew deep down that she wanted me to see the hints of her vulnerability.

That she was relying on me to guide her out of this crazy path of uncertainty.

"It won't happen," I vowed as if I could control what Mother Moon had in store for Roberto.

What she had in store for us...

"In the off chance it does?" she whispered. "I...he never got to see me take things further. To witness with his own eyes that the woman he thought would be nothing beat every single odd laid out for her. I know I got to hear him say he was proud of me...and though I'm thankful for that...it's not enough. I'm not satisfied with that. Not because my accomplishment wasn't worthy or grand enough. It's just that it's only one aspect of our two-spectrum world. He never got to see me excel where it really matters. To see that I'm a wolf powerful enough for him to acknowledge and deem worthy. I'm sure it's dumb for me to yearn for that from a parental figure that contributed more destruction than hope...but I’ll be fucking pissed if he dies without seeing me in the limelight. Without the pack that practically ignored my existence seeing what I've become."

"Roberto makes himself appear weak and vulnerable on the spectrum of human business," I quietly stated as I turned my gaze to the very man. "When you see him hooked up to all those monitors and oxygen, you see an older man who surely went through some major shit in his life. But in the spectrum of wolves, that man is a cynical volcano that can destroy anything in his path. His human part may be weak, but his wolf won't let him die so prematurely. I can guarantee that."

Willow continued to stare at me before her gaze returned to Roberto.

"I guess if you're right and he wakes up, you owe me a date."

I arched an eyebrow as I