51: Emma

"Security's been doubled around the hotel," he said. "And I've spoken with the rest of the pack. Everyone's on high alert."

I nodded, grateful for his efficiency but hating that it was necessary. "Any word on who might have helped Benjamin get access?"

"Not yet," Elena answered, her gentle voice at odds with the steel in her eyes. "But we'll find them."

Elijah checked his watch. "It's almost noon. We should get something to eat—keep our strength up." Always practical, my brother.

"The restaurant downstairs is secure," Theo added. "I've had it swept."

Elena slipped her hand into Elijah's. "Brunch, then. And perhaps a moment to breathe before our next crisis."

I managed a small smile at her attempted lightness, appreciating the effort even as my stomach turned at the thought of food. But she was right—we needed to maintain our strength.

"We'll meet you down there," Elijah said, nodding to Theo and me. "Twenty minutes?"

As they turned to leave, a cold sliver of fear pierced through me. I trusted my brother's abilities completely—as Alpha of our pack, he was more than capable of defending himself and his mate—but Benjamin had already proven how far he was willing to go. How easily he could get to those I cared about.

I watched them walk toward the elevator, my anxiety mounting with each step they took away from me.

"Theo," I said quietly, once they were out of earshot. "I know Elijah would never agree to a security detail—his pride wouldn't allow it—but could you..."

"Have them followed?" Theo finished for me, his understanding immediate. "Already planned on it."

Relief washed through me. "Thank you."

We stood in silence for a moment, the bustling activity around us fading to a distant hum. I felt suddenly exhausted, the adrenaline that had carried me through the morning ebbing away and leaving bone-deep weariness in its wake.

"We should join them," I said finally, though the thought of facing a restaurant full of people—their stares, their whispers—made me want to retreat back into my room and lock the door.

Theo studied me, his gaze so perceptive it almost hurt. "We can have something sent up if you prefer."

I shook my head. "No. I won't hide. Benjamin would consider that a victory."

Pride flickered in Theo's eyes. "Then shall we?" He offered me his arm, the gesture formal yet tender.

Instead of taking his arm, I reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his. A small rebellion against the formality of our positions. A need for more direct connection.

Theo's eyes widened slightly, then warmed as he squeezed my hand. "I like this better anyway," he murmured.

We walked toward the elevator, hand in hand. Just before we reached it, Theo pulled me gently to a stop, turning to face me.

"Emma," he said softly, his free hand coming up to brush a strand of hair from my face. "You don't have to be strong every moment. Not with me."

Something in his voice—a tenderness, an understanding—broke through the last of my defenses. I leaned forward, resting my forehead against his chest for just a moment, allowing myself to draw strength from his solidity.

When I looked up, his eyes were dark with emotion. He bent down slowly, giving me time to pull away if I wanted to. I didn't.

His lips met mine in a kiss that started gentle but quickly deepened. I melted into it, my free hand coming up to rest against his chest, feeling the strong beat of his heart beneath my palm. For a moment, the world narrowed to just this—the warmth of his mouth, the comforting pressure of his hand in mine, the way he made me feel simultaneously protected and powerful.

A loud rumble interrupted us—my stomach protesting its emptiness with spectacularly poor timing. I pulled back, feeling heat rise to my cheeks as Theo laughed, the sound rich and warm in the quiet hallway.

"Come on then, my Queen," he said, his voice teasing but his eyes still smoldering. "Let's get you fed."

"My Queen." The words sent a shiver through me, not because of the title but because of the possessive "my" that preceded it. He said it casually, naturally, as if he'd been calling me that for years instead of hours.

Inside me, Artemis purred with contentment, rolling luxuriously in the warm glow of our mate's attention. ‘Our mate takes care of us,’ she whispered in my mind. ‘Strong mate. Good mate.’

I couldn't disagree with her assessment. Despite the danger surrounding us, despite the looming threat of Benjamin Thorne, there was a rightness to being with Theo that I couldn't deny. A sense of belonging that had nothing to do with politics or pack alliances and everything to do with the way his hand felt in mine, the way his eyes softened when they met mine, the way he understood without words what I needed.

As we stepped into the elevator, I allowed myself to lean into him, just slightly. A silent acknowledgment that while I might be falling apart inside, I wasn't falling alone. And for now, for this moment, that was enough.