#Chapter 42: The Preparations

Sienna’s POV Asher looked really annoyed, and I couldn’t quite place why. Maybe it was because I’d been avoiding him so intensely? Making sure we never once crossed paths? I studied Asher’s face, noting the way his jaw was clenched so tight — didn’t that hurt? — and his fingers curled in his palms. Lucius seemed oblivious to it all. My eyes moved to Lucius, and I was overcome with thanks for him and all he’d done since this whole mess started. Without him, I wouldn’t have been able to consolidate so much debt like I had. He’d stepped in and so expertly helped me find partnerships and trades that boosted Nightwind’s little economy monumentally. Before Asher arrived, Lucius and I had been talking about Mia, frustrated that none of my accomplishments had been in the report she had submitted to the Elder’s. Lucius had said that, unfortunately, I would probably never be worthy of my Alpha status in Mia’s eyes. I didn’t want to