Coldsnap: The Billionaire Alpha's Fated Pregnant Princess (GL)-Chapter 372 - [K] Slipping Through, Shaping Up

Chapter 372: Chapter 372 - [K] Slipping Through, Shaping Up

***[POV: Bend But Not Break Alpha]***

Spheres rolled between my fingers and palm with a rhythmic click-click. Blue plastic that had become as natural to hold and fidget with as breathing over the past twelve days.

Cheap hair ties that looked like her wolf’s eye color if you squinted. Barely a replacement or a memory. Yet, all gifts count from the thought.

I just don’t know what hers are, anymore. So, I’m not sure how to value them.

"The southern quarter’s staging is complete. Medical supplies have been re-distributed to the safe structures Claire identified. Food stores are... Kyrie?"

"Continue."

Luca stood across my desk with a tablet full of supply manifests that I should have been reviewing. Listing off our preparations with the same directness of his father. A man I wish could be easily roped back into more decision making... for something other than his own companies.

Backup generators. Short range communications. Securing all I could with every bit of funding I could liquidate and every bit of credit I could take from institutions I trust will no longer exist soon.

And even if they do, protecting the people is more important than... debt. I had been focused on this for most of the past two weeks. I’d made every decision, signed every authorization, coordinated with every department.

I’d prepared this city and my pack with the same calm expertise I’d always brought to any crisis management. I’d just done it all while holding onto two blue spheres like they might also disappear if I set them down.

My fox left her digital trail pointing to a cabin. Though her actual trail... ended where she used the ability that manifested an entire storage container. She took scent blockers there.

At the place I stood from noon till dusk. Staring at the depression in the ground caused by its weight. Because with that many hours and the rate at which a determined werewolf can move, she could be anywhere.

"The other Alphas have already begun camping out for the conclave. The Pineheart and Sandhowl checked their people in this morning on the way through. Cloudtail left with the Stonewater last night. The Duskpaw are expected to arrive at the last minute."

"Tonight. I know."

Of course I did. Their most recent formal challenge couldn’t be ignored, even if the timing was ignorant. I could be using the opportunity to warn those who would have listened about what is coming if not for those backwoods idiots.

"...Claire says they’ve been reaching out to the Shadeclaw and Powdernose packs in the Midwest. Are you concerned they will show up?"

"No. It would be beyond stupid of them. The Sandhowl’s Beta still intends to kill the Shadeclaw’s. And he isn’t above killing their Alpha first if it draws him out."

Honestly, it would be a beneficial move for us if they were to do something that foolish. Because I have no doubt they will become a problem later. They aren’t exactly the friendliest with humans despite having pack sizes that each somewhat rival the Rimecoat.

And there is nothing more important than maintaining the alliances that would keep my wolves and this city safe. A common enemy would go a long way there. It’s a shame.

That some of them seem to be taking myself as the one to worry about. That they think I am preparing for war and not just defending our territory as ever. Defending what is mine to defend.

Looking down at the blue in my hand, I closed my eyes and felt the ghost of her weight against my chest. The way she’d leaned into me while reading that book on foxes. And tilted her head into the action of me petting her hair.

I thought I had time.

"Kyrie."

Luca’s voice pulled me back from her. I opened my eyes, trying not to be annoyed, to find him watching me as he does when he thinks I am about to do something reckless.

"I’m fine."

"You’re holding those things like Claire holds onto her energy drinks. It’s starting to concern me."

"Then stop looking."

He shook his head and slicked back his blonde hair. Not that I expected anything else. If he could agree with me when I am like this, he wouldn’t be useful.

"The job you gave me yourself was to look after you and assess your threat level. So I’m afraid I can’t do that."

"Am I so threatening right now?"

"You’re registering the same as when you came back twelve days ago and held Victoria by the neck in the middle of the pack’s arena."

My wolf snarled inside me at the name he spoke. The evening I came back, I’d found her in the tower lobby in front of a dozen other pack members. Claiming that I’d been giving too much attention to some ’nothing’ rogue.

"She shouldn’t have been running her mouth."

"I know. I was there. But you took that out on her pretty publicly."

I had. In front of every one of them I’d grabbed her by her hair and dragged her to the basement. Ordered Lodestar to send a pack alert. In front of all of them I’d told her exactly what I thought of her xenophobia as she dangled in my hand.

Of how she had contributed to driving my mate away. That Citra Lomdi, formerly Helene Duskpaw as far as they needed to know, was my Fated Mate and was never to be harmed.

I made it public to my pack while detailing every bit of the Damien incident. And then I’d had Claire play the footage that incriminated her, all of the deceased Eschenhorn’s rant. As well as his end, the footage enhanced to be clearer.

Followed by what Citra said that next morning. My assistant keeps listening devices on her person at all times, even when walking into my apartment or office. All of them heard the victim excuse her bully from undeserved punishment with steel in her voice.

Only then did I finally drop her.

It wasn’t far. She wasn’t... that hurt. But she didn’t get up as long as I stood staring down at her from above. Didn’t find the voice to snark back or get the final word in my presence.

Because she has always been a coward. I’d just never proven it to the pack. I never felt the need. And I let it go on so long that I wanted to do worse.

I knew it was about needing someone to blame besides myself. Someone who wasn’t Citra. Who I couldn’t be *angry* at no matter how much her absence hurt.

"The pack needed to know why certain decisions were made. It establishes her status when she returns."

"Not if?"

"No. Not if."

I sounded more confident than I felt. Because she has made this particular chase much more difficult than that night in the forest. And I don’t know why.

However, I knew now. If she was going to run either way - I should have bet on asking the hard questions instead of on being patient. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

I can’t change that now, but next time I’ll be less passive.

Next time... I won’t let her run from this alone.