Chapter 279: Late NIght Talks

XENOIS Lumina and I were both exhausted as we finally made our way back from the pack house's main building toward our residential wing. The emergency council meeting had run long, followed by individual conversations with concerned pack members, followed by yet more tactical planning with Marcus and James. By the time we'd finished, it was nearly midnight.   "I need a shower and about twelve hours of sleep," Lumina muttered, leaning against me as we walked down the darkened hallway.   "You and me both," I agreed, stifling a yawn. "Though I doubt I'll be able to actually sleep. My brain won't stop running through worst--case scenarios."   "We'll figure it out," she said, though her voice lacked conviction. "We always do."   I was about to respond when I heard it----low voices coming from the direction of the kitchen. My first instinct was concern. It was late; the boys should have been asleep hours ago. But as we got closer, I recognized Lake's voice, then Riley's, engaged in what soun