Chapter 8

**Alexander POV**

"We have new information about the pack we were following, and it is confirmed, they are the same kind as her," Ryder told us, making me freeze for a moment, but I managed to compose myself. I nodded to him as I looked over at Nerissa.
Schooling my features, we looked at each other for a moment before I said to Ryder, “Let’s go.”
We walked out of Dr. Reed’s office and headed towards my office when Ryder asked, “Shouldn’t Reynard be also present in this meeting?”
I stopped and looked at him for a moment then let out an exhale. “Yes, he should. Go and wait for us in my office, I will go in search of him.” Ryder nodded his head in agreement and continued towards my office while I stood in the main hallway, thinking about where my brother might be until I remembered that I had told him to help Emily in the kitchen.
Walking outside the pack house, I decided I needed some fresh air before the meeting started, so taking the back road I walked towards the rear door which lead to the kitchen.
I couldn’t shake that kiss from my mind, and it was disturbing me like crazy. The feeling of her lips pressed to mine was still so fresh in my mind that it felt like we were still there, in that moment. I let out a groan as anger filled me. I was angry at myself for being so pathetic, for letting myself feel so weak in her presence. How could I be so stupid to let my emotions get the better of me? Fuck this! I said to myself as I took long strides towards the back door. This all is just a fucked-up mistake. Of all the shifters… Fuck!
Getting closer to the door, I could hear laughter coming from inside. I opened it and walked in, still filled with anger that wasn’t subsiding.
Once inside, I heard Reynard and Emily’s laughter die down as I walked towards Reynard.
As he looked towards me, I saw his eyes searching behind me, probably looking for Nerissa which made me even angrier. “Ryder is waiting for us in my office, he has some news to share with us,” I told Reynard, walking past him as I said it, towards the door of the main kitchen entrance. Once there, I stopped and turned around to look over at Emily. ”Tell Nerissa, and you should know as well, that this weekend we are having a pack gathering with a few other packs in attendance. Everything must be spotless and food will need to be prepared ahead of time. Whatever you need, find me, or Ryder, and let us know. It will be provided, understood?”
I stood there for a moment, waiting to see if she understood what I said. Seeing her nod her head I turned back towards Reynard. “Reynard, come with me, Ryder is waiting.”
He followed after me quietly, and I could feel his stare on my back as he watched me, but I didn’t care.
As we neared my office, I opened the door and saw Ryder already inside leaning against a bookshelf while patiently waiting for our arrival. Upon seeing us, he pushed away from the bookshelf, greeting us with a bow before Reynard and I entered the office, taking our seats.
Ryder was silent as he waited for me to speak, so I said, “Tell us what you found.”
Ryder nodded his head as he started the meeting while Reynard leaned on his elbows, listening carefully to what he was saying.
“It has been confirmed that the pack, as I said earlier, are Phoenix shifters, but the thing is…” He stopped for a moment as he looked at both Reynard and I before continuing, “They were ambushed by some other warriors that seemed as if they were also following them.” He concluded, making me raise my eyebrows at the news.
“Who was it?” I felt my rage growing, becoming more than a low simmer that someone else had beat us to them.
“We don’t know…” Ryder said and I growled loudly in anger. He continued on, not bothered by my reaction. “But we do know that they left the pack alive and unharmed when they moved on.”
Reynard and I looked at each other after hearing Ryder tell us this newly gathered information. Looking back at Ryder I leaned forward, my chin on my hand, elbow resting on my desk, as I thought Ryder’s words over. “They left them alive?” I asked.
“Yes. It looks like they were only ambushed for some information, and now they’ve moved on,” Ryder replied.
“Do we know where they are going?” Reynard asked as he scratched his chin, his brows furrowed in confusion.
“Their movements lead towards the Windswillow pack," Ryder told us, his eyes connecting with mine.
Growling once more, I stood from my chair and started to pace around the room.
Windswillow pack, a pack that we had attacked a while ago. The one that Nerissa and Emily came from.
Why would they be interested in her pack? I asked myself.
I halted my movements and looked to Ryder. “Keep an eye on this new pack that is coming our way, and keep me updated on the development of this situation,” Ryder nodded before turning away and leaving the room to fulfill my command.
Slumping down on the couch that was in my office, I pressed a hand to my face, trying to get rid of the irritation and anger I was feeling.
I felt a movement as Reynard sat down near me. “Do you suspect who that might be?”
Removing my hand from my face, I looked over at my brother and took a deep breath, feeling tired. ”No, I don't, but whoever that is, it’s better we know their movements rather than be surprised by them.”
“You think they might be after Nerissa and Emily?” Reynard asked, making me look at him thoughtfully, pondering his question for a moment.
“I don’t know.”
“If they are, and they come here to get them, tell me you won’t give them away just like that?” he demanded as his eyes turned into slits, watching me, waiting for my answer.
Arching a brow at the tone of his voice, and the anger coating his every word, I stared at him without even a flinch…
Why is he asking so many questions regarding her? I thought to myself as I kept my eyes trained on him. Could it be that he likes her?
Not liking that train of thought, I stopped myself from thinking about it any further. “What is it to you if that happens?”
I was testing his answer because for some unexplained reason I just had to know. I needed to know the extent of his feelings for Nerissa.
Reynard stood up, rage coming off of him in waves. He took a threatening step towards me and I reacted by standing up as fast as I could, facing him, and waiting.
“How dare you?” he growled at me, his chest puffing out.
I growled back at him in warning as I took a step towards him, my chest nearly brushing his.“Know your place, brother, or this will not end well.”
“I know you don’t care about them, or what could happen to them, but if you think I would stand still and let you give them to Goddess knows who, then think again, dear brother, because I will not be quiet on this and I will not let you nor anyone else touch them,” he snarled.
Surprised by his words and hearing his threat directed towards me, I told him, “I can do whatever the fuck I want, and if you want to challenge me in order to change my decisions then, Reynard, I am ready whenever you are.”
I could see the challenge in his eyes, and as he opened his mouth to speak, a door opened making us look at the person who barged inside the room, only to be surprised when I saw a fuming female throwing daggers in my direction.
What the hell was she doing in my office?
“Nerissa?” Reynard called her name, causing a growl to escape me before he walked towards her. She moved past him as she took quick strides towards me, still seething, which, for some strange reason, I found cute coming from her.
She pointed at me with her index finger before pressing it against my chest. “How dare you?”
Glancing to Reynard for a moment, I noticed he stood by the door, looking confused as he watched us. I looked back to the woman before me and raised my eyebrows and grabbed her wrist to stop her from poking my chest any further, not that it hurt me at all.
“You are a selfish, cold-hearted asshole!” she yelled at me as she pulled her hand from my grasp and continued on, “Do not ever again touch me! And don’t you ever try to kiss me again!” From the corner of my eye, I saw Reynard's mouth fall open at her words, glancing between us and waiting for me to deny her claims.
Nerissa moved away from me then and I just stood there speechless. “Stay away from me, I don’t want to see you near me ever again,” she said angrily, her eyes burning with fury. Then she ran out of the room, leaving me standing there in the middle of the room, silently watching her leave.