Chapter 26: Commander-in-Chief

Jessica stared behind Kira, distracted by something, or rather someone else, while Kira recounted her new life experiences in Dravengard. They had grabbed a table at the cafeteria after their first lecture to relax, but "relaxing" was the last thing on the menu.

Kira had been mid-sentence about the sheer size of Dravengard’s breakfast spreads when she noticed Jessica’s eyes drifting again. She snapped her fingers twice in her face to bring her back to reality.

"Earth to Jess! Welcome back to the cafeteria," Kira teased. "Focus!"

Jessica blinked, refocused, then jerked her chin towards the corner table. "I’m focused. Just... on him. Is he going to be here all day?"

Kira twisted in her seat. Connor sat one table away like a stone statue. Even in the casual campus setting, he looked terrifying. He wore dark sunglasses that hid his eyes, even though they were indoors, but his scowl was visible from a mile away.

"Unfortunately," Kira groaned, turning back to her friend.

She could still hear Derek’s cool voice from that morning in the car. He had been adamant and had wanted six bodyguards to march her across campus. She had flat-out refused. No way was she turning up to lectures looking like a celebrity under siege. After ten minutes of back-and-forth argument in the car, he had sighed, rubbed his temple like she was giving him a migraine, and finally muttered, "Fine. Connor only. But he stays close."

So here Connor was. She liked him well enough, but having a Lycan warrior watch you drink a latte was a bit much.

"I mean, I’m not exactly complaining," Jessica said, lips curving into a wicked grin. "He’s definitely not a bad view, K."

Kira rolled her eyes, stifling a laugh. "Jess, please. You’re supposed to be on my side."

"I am! I’m Team Kira forever. But come on, babe. You’re basically a queen now. Queens get security details. It’s protocol. You never had this at your dad’s place, so it feels weird, but it’s... right."

Kira huffed a laugh that didn’t reach her eyes. "Speaking of my father. How’s he holding up?"

Jessica’s grin turned downright gleeful. "Oh, trust Anna to deliver the premium tea."

Anna was one of the omegas in Kira’s father’s pack house who helped her communicate with Jessica whenever her father grounded her and confiscated all her mobile devices, isolating her from the world as a form of punishment.

"Your dad’s fine," Jessica continued. "Physically, anyway. It’s just a silver blade straight through the palm. Personally, I would’ve preferred if your man had ripped the whole arm off, but we can’t have everything."

Kira’s coffee cup froze halfway to her mouth. "A what?"

Jessica took a slow sip of her mango smoothie, eyes dancing. "You didn’t know your shiny new husband stabbed him?"

"Stop calling him my husband. It feels weird."

"But he is," Jessica singsonged, batting her lashes.

Kira shot her the filthiest glare she could muster. Jessica only grinned wider.

"I left before any of that went down," Kira muttered. "You’re telling me Derek actually stabbed him?"

Jessica nodded, not even pretending to look sorry. "Can’t say I feel bad for the man. Not even a little." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, and her gaze slid past Kira again. A soft flush crept up her neck. Kira followed the look.

Connor had finally ditched the sunglasses. He was now casually flipping through some glossy magazine that had materialised from nowhere, looking for all the world like a very dangerous man trying to appear normal.

Kira sighed. "Jess. I know you’re basically a desert right now, but focus. He’s working. He’s not going to notice you swooning from across the room."

Jessica gasped, mock-offended. "Excuse you? Are you saying I’m not hot enough to distract a Lycan bodyguard?"

"You’re a smoke show, darling," Kira said, grinning despite herself. "But these Lycans are emotionally constipated. They don’t do swooning back." Heat crawled up her own neck at the memory of Derek’s mouth brushing her forehead that morning. She quickly shoved that memory into her never-think-about-this-ever-again mental file and locked the door.

"Well, not everyone is as repressed as your husband," Jessica replied, then leaned closer, voice dropping to conspiracy level. "Speaking of emotionally constipated husbands... have you two done the deed yet? Scale of one to monster truck, how big are we talking?"

"Jessica!" Kira whisper-shouted, cheeks blazing. "We are not discussing my sex life in the middle of the campus cafeteria."

"Fine, fine. Keep your marital secrets." Jessica raised both hands in surrender. "But he is your husband, no need to be shy."

"I said stop saying that," Kira said.

"Saying what?"

"Husband."

"Okay. He is your Commander-in-Chief."

Kira cackled, shaking her head. "I literally hate you. Okay, back to business. Alpha Rolf, how’s the pack taking it?"

Jessica’s playfulness vanished, replaced by a dramatic, heavy sigh. "Bad. My dad says we’re being hit with twenty percent tributes and a seventy-five percent tariff. It’s going to wreck the economy. Everyone is suffering because of one man’s ego."

Kira’s stomach dropped. She felt bad for the werewolf communities. All those families. All because her father’s plan had unravelled. All because she hadn’t hidden her scars well enough. Maybe if she’d lied better, played the perfect bride a little longer...

"Stop it," Jessica said, reading her expression perfectly. "I see those gears turning. This is not your fault."

"Maybe I shouldn’t have said the truth. Maybe—"

"Maybe nothing." Jessica cut her off, fierce. "Seriously, K, I don’t get the hold that man has over you. He’s your abuser. You’ve been chasing his approval your whole life, and let’s be real: if he was ever going to give it, he would’ve done it by now."

Kira stared at her chipped nail polish. She hated her father. She really did. But some stupid, bruised part of her still ached for the day he would look at her and say, "Well done." And now, after what he had said about her mother, she didn’t know whether to pity him, hate him more, or keep making excuses like she always had.

Jessica reached across the table and squeezed her hand. "I get it. Wanting that one person to see you. But his opinion doesn’t get to define who you are anymore. Look at the bright side: billionaire lifestyle, unlimited shopping, actual safety for once. Your Commander-in-Chief has very deep pockets."

Kira laughed despite herself. "You’re shameless."

"Guilty as charged," Jessica replied.

"That reminds me... I found out something disturbing. About me."

Jessica leaned in, her "gossip mode" reactivated. "What?"

"It turns out I do have a wolf. But her senses were muted. That’s why I never shifted on my eighteenth birthday."

Jessica’s jaw dropped. "You have a wolf? How?"

"Someone has been poisoning me for years, Jess. Aconite and fadevine. Small doses, probably in my food."

Jessica’s hand jerked back like she had been burned. "Is this a joke? You’d be dead if that were true."

"I should be," Kira said darkly. "Derek thinks my father’s involved."

Jessica let out a low whistle. "Not shocked. But how are you even breathing right now? Those poisons should’ve killed you ages ago. You feel okay?"

"Surprisingly fine." Kira gave a small, crooked smile. "If I was meant to die, I’d be dead already. But there’s something else. About my mother."

"What about her?"

"My father said she cheated on him, and that was why he erased all her memories. Somehow, I don’t believe that. I think there’s something more to the story." She caught a look of guilt cross Jessica’s face and narrowed her eyes at her friend. "What’s that look?"

"Nothing."