Chapter 252: The Endless Questions

"Do you three have nothing better to do than pester me about when I’ll get married?" he asked, a faint edge of exasperation in his voice.

Madam Tyler tilted her head, her expression calm but unyielding. "We have plenty to do, Orion. But curiosity is a virtue sometimes. And everyone in the pack is asking the same thing. You must understand—people are interested in the life of their alpha."

Caspian, leaning against the stone wall with his arms crossed, gave a small scoff. "She’s right. You’re the alpha. Your life is everyone’s business whether you like it or not."

Daniel stepped forward, his one hand tapping on his chest as he shook his head. "Orion, I’m only speaking for myself here, but..." he paused, then turned to the other two. "Aren’t you at all interested in anyone in the pack? Surely there’s one woman who’s caught your attention?"

Orion’s eyes narrowed slightly, and he tilted his head. "And why, Daniel, would I tell you if I was?"

Daniel huffed, shaking his head in disbelief. "You’re unbelievable! You’re just like Ronan—sleeping around, no attachments. No wonder you two are best friends."

Orion raised an eyebrow at him, lips twitching with amusement.

Madam Tyler crossed her arms and interjected, her voice sharp. "Orion isn’t like that anymore. He even told the trainees that his days of debauchery are over."

"But if it is, then he must have someone that he fancies," Daniel spoke up.

Orion was quiet as he watched them speak.

Caspian frowned. "Forgive me for asking, but if your days of debauchery are over, then how are you coping without sex? Because I..."

Orion smirked, straightening his shoulders. "I don’t need to have sex to cope, Caspian. There are other ways to maintain balance."

Caspian’s eyes narrowed. "Debatable," he muttered under his breath, but loud enough for Orion to catch.

Madam Tyler leaned closer, her voice taking on a conspiratorial tone. "Think about it, Orion. A wife... a partner. Someone to share the burdens of leadership with. Someone to confide in. To share a life with."

Daniel nodded eagerly. "Exactly. You’ve spent so long carrying the weight of the pack on your own. Imagine what a wife could do. She could help organize, assist with diplomacy, perhaps even smooth over disagreements. You’d be stronger."

Caspian folded his arms, eyes glinting. "And she’d give you stability. Someone to return home to every night. To remind you why you fight. To keep you... grounded."

Orion shook his head as they spoke, choosing to walk away, but then Daniel grabbed him by the shoulders.

"We are not done talking, young man. Where do you think you are going?" Daniel asked him.

Madam Tyler stepped closer, her gaze locked on his. "Orion, having a wife isn’t just about companionship. It’s about balance, security, and support. The right woman at your side could make your rule stronger, your life more complete."

Caspian gasped. "Wait...could it be you are no longer interested in women?"

Orion gave him a dumb look. "Where did you get that from?"

"I’m just asking. You don’t seem to be interested in any of the women in the pack... at least interested enough that you’d take them as your wife," Caspian told him.

"True, maybe you are into men?" Madam Tyler asked him.

"No, I’m not," Orion said through gritted teeth.

"I heard he was interested in that girl... the one who he brought into the pack," Caspian said.

"She is not a girl, you old fool. She is a full-blown woman," Madam Tyler spoke up.

"If Orion really liked her that much, then he should have wifed her up already," Caspian said.

Orion sighed loudly. He wanted to leave, but it seemed that wasn’t going to happen now.

Mary, who had been quietly observing from a few steps away, chuckled lightly. "Well, my work here is done for the morning. I have to leave." She turned to them and waved. "Goodbye, you three."

The trio waved back, acknowledging her departure without the fervor they had shown Orion.

Orion looked at them, a hint of exasperation in his voice. "Why don’t you treat Mary like this? She isn’t married either. Surely she’s equally capable of taking advice."

Madam Tyler smiled. "Mary will find her own way. She doesn’t need a man or a woman in her life to be complete. She knows her worth."

Caspian nodded. "Exactly. She has what she needs. You... maybe not so much."

Orion raised an eyebrow. "I don’t need anyone either, you know."

Daniel immediately jumped in. "Oh, but you do, Orion. You just don’t realize it yet. Companionship, balance, trust, someone who understands the burdens you carry..."

Caspian nodded in agreement. "A partner could help you face challenges, share in victories, and soften defeats. You’d be stronger for it."

Madam Tyler added firmly, "You cannot always carry everything on your own. Life is lighter when shared."

Orion groaned, rubbing his temples. "You’ve all made your points. Can I please leave now?"

"Not until we settle this issue once and for all," they said at once, making Orion groan loudly.

Orion didn’t believe in the moon goddess and her ways, but at that point, he was so close to praying to her to beg her to help him out so he could escape these old people who seemed so eager to involve themselves in his life.

He had masked his scent, taking Brynhild’s suggestions into consideration. He wasn’t going to tell anyone after all that he and Sophia were together unless she gave him the go-ahead to do so.

"Please, if you guys let me go, I’ll do everything in my power to get you what you want," Orion begged them.

"You make it sound like it’s only us who want a partner for you, and like we are forcing you to get one," Caspian spoke up.

Before Orion could reply, though, a voice called out to him, and Orion almost kissed the ground when he heard it.

"Alpha Orion!"

Orion turned to see Rita running toward him. She skidded to a stop, holding it out to him. "Marta asked me to fetch you. She said she needs you in the medical facility."