Rebirth Of The Rejected Luna Chapter 41: Shutting Everyone Out

**Theo's POV**

After the court had been dismissed, Peter walked up to me. "You have not made time to settle your guests," he said, in an almost accusing tone.

"Guests?" I asked with a raise of my brows.

"The innkeeper and her daughter," Peter said. "The servants have given them a room. But I do think it's rude to leave them just like that. You're the one who offered to bring them here."

"Do you have a problem with that?" I narrowed my eyes.

He raised his brows and shrugged. "You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"You know they are different from Tiana," he said. "They are not helpless. They would have found their way without your offer. Things are too tight for us to have an extra mouth without anything in return."

"I'm not having this conversation with you," I spat. "What is food and shelter that we can't grant two people for minimal time? It means nothing when we have enough leftovers from our royal plates that always go to waste anyway."

Peter only sighed in annoyance and walked away.

The next morning, I prepared to introduce the innkeeper and her daughter to my family and friends after they had breakfast.

Layla, Amara, Tiana, and Fiona were waiting. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the area, and the sound of birds chirping in the trees created a peaceful atmosphere.

"Good morning, everyone," I began, addressing the group. "This is Sera and her daughter, Dana. They were the innkeepers who tended to my father and I on our return. They will be staying with us for a while. Their inn has had issues with rogue sightings, and it’s not safe for them to stay there until travel season when there are enough people on the road to scare off the rogues."

"Welcome to Shadow Claw pack," Layla said with a smile.

Sera smiled warmly and shook Layla’s hand. "Thank you for your kindness. It’s a relief to be among such caring people."

Amara nodded. "If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask. We’re here to help."

Tiana stood back slightly, her eyes meeting mine with a soft smile. Fiona, however, remained silent, her arms crossed and her expression guarded.

After the introductions, Fiona pulled me aside. Her eyes were sharp, and I could tell she had something on her mind. "Theo, can I talk to you for a moment?"

I nodded and followed her to a quieter part of the courtyard. "What is it, Fiona?"

She looked at me, her brows furrowed. "Why are you being so merciful? Taking strangers in at the expense of the pack?"

I sighed, sensing the tension in her voice. "It’s not just about mercy, Fiona. It’s about doing what’s right. Dana and Sera needed help, and we had the means to provide it. They are not a burden."

I could not believe this was the second time I was having such a conversation with someone.

Fiona's eyes flashed with frustration. "What next? Are you going to treat them like royalty, just like Tiana? Or will you let them work and earn their keep?"

I felt a surge of annoyance at her words. "This isn’t your call to make, Fiona. They’re our guests, and they’ll be treated with the respect and kindness they deserve."

"Layla and Amara may be too foolish to realize the extent of what's going on because you men think we women should just sit pretty somewhere but I have some my research and I know what is going on in the pack."

"Fiona now's not—"

"Oh, it is!" She yelled. "We are being plagued by rogues more dangerous than ever before. There's no cure for the pandemic that may be spreading because of the rogues, our defenses are weak and we don't have enough funding to cover it!"

"It still isn't your call to make—" I hissed. "Don't take advantage of the privilege I've given you as my best friend."

"Really?" She scoffed, tears brewing in her eyes. "And I thought you were on my side since my parents passed during that rogue attack."

I opened my mouth to argue, but she turned and walked away, not wanting to continue the conversation. The irritation lingered, but I pushed it aside. There were more important matters to attend to.

And then I saw Tiana...

She had heard everything.

"Theo—"

"What you heard is none of your business," I said coldly.

For the next few days, I was extremely busy. I spent most of my time at the construction site, making sure that the building of the fortified wall was going well.

The site was bustling with activity. Workers were everywhere, laying stones, building barriers, and hammering away. The air was filled with the sounds of construction – hammers pounding, saws cutting, and people shouting instructions.

As I watched the wall take shape, I felt a sense of pride and hope. It was an impressive structure – strong, tall, and secure. The combination of reinforced stone, iron spikes, and a trench with sharp stakes and barbed wire made it a powerful barrier that would protect our pack.

Seeing the wall rise from the ground gave me a feeling of accomplishment and optimism.

I used the whole thing as a distraction so I did not have to think of what I'd said to hurt my best friend and shut Tiana off completely.

On the fifth day, I finally had a moment to breathe. The wall was nearly complete, and the engineers were working on the final touches.

Peter and I had barely had a conversation as well. Whenever we spoke, it was strictly because of work-related things. We were either discussing the wall or the progress our physicians and researchers were making.

I knew I had wronged too many people and it was something I found hard to face. I took a deep breath and approached Peter where he stood, barking off instructions to the men.

Taking in a desk breath, I said; "I'd like to apologize to you, Peter.”