"Who is this?" He turned to me, a note of surprise in his voice.
"Selene Frostveil. She's my trainee from the Mooncourt." I kept my tone neutral. "Going forward, she'll be handling the council records."
He considered this for a moment, then nodded, his voice casual. "That works. No need for you to waste your abilities on minor duties like that."
Minor duties.
I laughed quietly to myself.
It was exactly this kind of "small work" that had kept me buried in the chaos of howling council chambers, sorting through endless scent-marked scrolls and territory reports just so he could grasp the key points in the shortest time possible.
And in his eyes, all of it was unnecessary.
Selene handed over the council minutes, her nervousness bleeding into her scent.
Fenris flipped through a few pages, his frown deepening with each one.
After Selene retreated from the den chamber, he turned to me, his tone intimate and casual. "You still know me best. The new Omega's summaries are way too cluttered."
He was clearly waiting for me to do what I'd always done—take the documents and reorganize them myself.
But I just smiled faintly. "Give the new pack member some time. She'll adjust."
He froze for a moment, as if he hadn't expected that response. A flicker of discomfort crossed his face before his expression smoothed back to normal.
Just then, his message-sigil flared with light.
I caught a glimpse of it without meaning to—an invitation to a mating celebration from his closest ally, with a note specifically requesting he bring a companion.
"Want me to come with you?" My voice was soft, carrying a hint of something almost imperceptible.
His expression turned complicated in an instant.
He reached out and pulled me into his arms, his voice gentle and indulgent. "That kind of gathering isn't really your scene. Just a bunch of high-born pups showing off their bloodlines. I'd hate to put you through that."
I gently pulled away from the embrace, keeping my tone even. "Actually, I have plans tonight too. I need to go out."
Sensing my words had come off a bit cold, I added, "Come back to the den early."
He visibly relaxed, pressing a light kiss to my cheek. "You're so thoughtful, sweetheart. Next time there's something more formal, I'll definitely bring you. Let everyone meet you properly."
I looked at the sincerity on his face and almost laughed.