The Alpha's Fated Outcast Rise Of The Moonsinger novel Chapter 375

Chapter 375: Holding down the fort

Lenny 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

"What do you mean?"

I gestured at the chaos surrounding me, even though she couldn’t see it. I know we’ve just talked about it a while ago, but I still needed to talk more.

"I mean, he just packed his bags and left. Didn’t even pretend to feel guilty about dumping all of this on me. ’Handle things while I’m gone, Lenny. You know how everything works.’ As if running a pack is some casual favour between friends."

"Aw, poor Lenny," Circe cooed mockingly. "Are you feeling unappreciated?"

"I’m feeling like I need a vacation too," I muttered, signing off on a medical supply requisition. "When was the last time I got to just disappear for weeks at a time? Never, that’s when."

"Maybe you should find yourself a nice mate," Circe suggested with false innocence. "Someone to share the burden with."

I snorted. "Right. Because that worked out so well for Ramsey, now he can’t make a single decision without considering how it affects his precious Luna."

"Lenny Stone, are you jealous of their happiness?"

The question hit closer to home than I cared to admit. "I’m not jealous. I’m practical. Ramsey used to be focused and decisive. Now he’s off playing house while the rest of us deal with reality."

"Reality like what? The pack seems to be running fine without him."

I looked around the office again, and she wasn’t wrong—things were running smoothly. Maybe too smoothly. The pack members seemed perfectly content to bring their concerns to me instead of waiting for their Alpha’s return.

"That’s not the point," I said, though I wasn’t entirely sure what the point was anymore.

"Lenny," Circe’s voice grew gentler. "When’s the last time you took a break? Really took one, not just a night out with whatever flavour of the week you’re seeing."

I bristled at her tone. "I don’t need—"

"How is Maya and the baby? And Jessica’s twins? And didn’t Carmen have her little pup last month?"

"They’re all fine," I said curtly. My four children were thriving, their mothers were happy with our arrangements, and everyone understood the terms. No complications, no messy emotions, no unrealistic expectations.

"And Sarah? How’s the newest addition to the Lenny Stone fan club?"

"Sarah’s not pregnant," I said automatically, then caught myself. "And she’s not part of any fan club. We have an understanding."

"An understanding," Circe repeated slowly. "Right. And what understanding is that exactly?"

I knew where this was going. Circe had been pushing the mate bond narrative for years, convinced that somewhere out there was a woman destined to ’complete’ me. The same romantic nonsense that had turned my best friend into a lovesick fool.

"The understanding that we both enjoy each other’s company without needing to complicate things with fairy tale promises," I said firmly. "Not everyone needs to find their ’one true love,’ Circe. Some of us are perfectly happy with variety."

"Perfectly happy," she mused. "Is that what you call it?"

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