Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-five
Emery – earlier that day
I rolled over in bed, looked at my phone, and sighed.
This was utter crap. I’d barely dozed for the third night now, and I had no clue what to do.
I sat up and turned on the little lamp and considered reading or something.
It wasn’t even six a.m. and the household slept late, of course, because they closed the bar.
I looked up at the quiet knock, and Gemma put her head around. “I saw the light as I came back from the bathroom. Are you okay?”
I shook my head. I really, really wished I could tell her.
“Want a cup of tea?” she offered.
I grinned. “Tea? You?”
She rolled her eyes. “I said I’d make tea for you, Mr. Health-nut. I’m having the black liquid gold.”
I grinned and swung my legs out of bed, grabbing Phoenix’s sweatshirt I might have accidentally packed, and followed her downstairs. I immediately filled the kettle while she started the coffee machine, and we both sat at the table.
“You have it so bad.” She clucked and shook her head. Then she reached for my hand. “I love seeing you, but for fuck’s sake, go back already. He was a complete mess last night. If that’s what two days away from you does, you got this guy wrapped around your pinky.”
I sighed again. I’d been furious last night, but now I was just sad.
“You know I’m a good listener,” she wheedled, and it was true, she was.
It just wasn’t my secret to share. I gazed at her, wondering if I could half-tell her. You know, leave out the claws, teeth, and fur parts.
“I can’t tell you it all because it’s not my secret,” I cautioned.
She nodded. “Understood.” The kettle boiled, and I made my tea, and Gemma got her coffee.
“My dad’s causing trouble.”
Gemma’s eyes widened. “Shit. Why doesn’t the fucker just leave you alone?” She knew my history with both of them.
“Well, basically, he was a bastard and threatened me with something. Phoenix heard, and he didn’t take it too well.”
She stared at me thoughtfully. “I’m guessing this is where there’s a lot more to it, but if you told me you’d be breaking confidences?”
I met her gaze. I didn’t need to confirm it.
She chewed her cheek thoughtfully. “And would I also be correct in saying that you thought a boyfriend of only two weeks way overstepped because you’re a badass who’s been sorting his own shit out since he was practically a toddler, and told him so? So he did his Tarzan routine, and you came here?”
I winced, but she didn’t need that confirmation either.
“Did you know my mom has lived here all her life?”
I frowned. What did that have to do with anything?
“My mom met Phoenix’s dad, Draven? She was about ten, didn’t know who he was then, but they’d just moved into the area, or they’d inherited some land or something.”
I had an awful feeling I knew where this story was going.
“Well, about three years ago, she got a blowout about five miles from town. This guy in a pick-up stopped and helped her. Was charming, polite, said he worked for Colton Construction. She never said a word, but it was Draven, and he looked exactly the same as he did forty years earlier.”
I scoffed, very nervously. “It could have been his dad or—”
But Gemma shook her head and tapped her temple.
“He’s got a tiny scar here. Mom remembered it because it’s in the shape of an L.
L for Leona, her name. Draven has exactly the same scar.
” Gemma held her hands up to ward off some argument I was going to give, but to be honest, I had none.
It was something Phoenix and I had never talked about. I thought. Had we?
“I’m not saying this is some Twilight shit. All I’m saying is people around here know how to keep secrets and know when not to ask in the first place.”
I sat back in my chair, completely stunned. She twinkled. “Look, for the sake of argument, are you saying, bluntly, your dad is threatening you because he thinks he knows something?”
I cocked my head and stared. “You’re not actually psychic, right?”
She grinned. “Okay, so don’t tell me the what. Tell me the when and the why.”
I thought hard. “I met Dad for a coffee on Main Street. Like our annual sighting, except I was surprised because he came to me.”
She sipped her coffee.
“He was upset because he was hoping I was still with Graeme. Graeme’s about to inherit a lot of money, and Dad’s in trouble.”
She nodded. “And I’m betting he was gutted when you gave him the relationship update?”
I made a tiny gap between my thumb and forefinger, and she rolled her eyes.
“Got it.”
“So I thought that was it, but then he texts me again the next morning asking to meet.”
“And because you can’t say no, you do?”
It was my turn to roll my eyes, but I hesitated. Gemma leaned forward and took my hand. “Just tell me what you can.”
“He’s blackmailing me,” I admitted, and I wanted to cry. “He knows about Draven’s scar, or not that exactly, but—”
“Shit,” Gemma said eloquently.
“But what I really don’t get” —I lean forward because this was the bit that annoyed me— “is how he went in just twenty-four hours from not having a clue to blackmail?”
“You’re sure he didn’t know the first time you met?”
“Positive.” I was certain.
Gemma frowned. “Then someone had to tell him.” She tapped her closed lips with her teaspoon. “Longshot, but I think we need to go see Enid.”
Enid? “I’m sorry—”
“The Main Attraction.”
I gazed at her. “Nope, no clue.”
She sighed the sigh of the truly hard done by. “Enid Loveday, although I think that might be made up, but she owns the hair salon next door to The Pancake Place?”
I still wasn’t any wiser.
“She got robbed like seven years ago, but Enid’s memory is better than any elephant.
” Gemma gazed at me, clearly waiting for me to catch up, but when I didn’t, she jumped in.
“She doesn’t forget she was robbed. Alarms, CCTV, like everywhere.
The whole fucking street, for all I know.
If someone called him, then we’re screwed, but—”
“If someone met him, then we might find out who?” I jumped up, squealed, and threw my arms around my best friend.
Gemma grinned. “Go get dressed. They open at eight, but you can treat me to pancakes first.”
“Yes, ma’am.” I saluted, then followed her up to get ready.
Over an hour later, I gaped at the seventeen TV screens in Enid’s office and reminded myself this lady cut hair, not transported gold bullion. Gemma had glanced at me when Enid had been thrilled at our request and obviously wasn’t intending on leaving us to it. I didn’t mind her staying.
She gazed up at me. “You need a rejuvenation mask.”
I agreed and wondered if there was a whole body one I could have. But then I watched as first Dad went in, then me. Then Phoenix’s truck pulled up a little while later, and he and Nicholas got out.
Then Nicholas came out on his own.
Then my dad.
But just as Dad walked past Nicholas, Nicholas grabbed his arm and said something. I didn’t breathe. I doubted I ever would again. I watched as Dad reached into his jacket, handed Nicholas something and, as Nicholas shoved it in his pocket, Dad walked away.
I sat in utter silence for a moment, then turned to Enid and threw my arms around her. I couldn’t speak, but she patted my back.
Then we left. Gemma was quiet for a few moments, but then she said, “I’m guessing you saw what you needed?”
I glanced at her. “You’re miraculous.”
She grinned and turned onto Acre Avenue. Molly’s was at the bottom. “I need to speak to Phoenix.” I knew I did.
“We’ll be home in a few minutes. I’ll go in and leave you to it.”
Or not. Because as we rounded the corner, Kaylan was leaning up against his car. I looked at my phone, but there were no missed calls. We got out, and Kaylan waved his phone. “I just got here. I was just going to call you.”
“What’s wrong?” I whispered as Gemma ducked between us and went inside. He leaned forward to speak quietly. “Phoenix needs you. Nicholas is challenging him for the pack.”
I met his gaze. Over my dead body. “Give me a couple of minutes to grab my stuff, and I’m all yours.”
Kaylan didn’t dawdle, but I felt safe. Once we were in his car, I said, “Tell me.”
So Kaylan did. He explained that how I’d seen Phoenix behave last night was a direct reaction of his alpha wolf to our separation. Then he told me he had a call from Draven an hour ago to say Nicholas was challenging him for the pack, using our mating as an excuse.
I scoffed and explained about Enid and what Gemma and I had seen on the CCTV. Kaylan was silent for a long moment after that, and I glanced at him. “Isn’t that a good thing?”
He wiggled his hand from side to side like maybe and huffed. “Yes, but you’re going to have to do something for me.”
“Of course.” I was full of righteous indignation.
“When I say it’s time to come with me inside the pack house and leave Phoenix and the others out there, promise me you will.”
“What?” I said, confused.
“When I say—”
“No, I heard you,” I interrupted. “I just didn’t understand you.”
He hesitated. “Nicholas has betrayed his alpha, his alpha’s mate, and the pack.”
“And that’s bad,” I said, completely unnecessarily.
Kaylan nodded. “But what you have to understand in this scenario is that Phoenix is the alpha. The law.”
“Judge, jury, and executioner?” I teased. But the look I got from Kaylan sobered me quickly. I thought about what I knew, not that it was a lot, but I had a feeling… “Nicholas isn’t going to get a slap on the wrist, or even be locked up.”
“No jail in the country can hold shifters.”
“And you’re going to tell me to come inside because you don’t want me to see what happens?”
He was silent for a few beats. “Honestly? I don’t think you’ll want to see it, but I absolutely know Phoenix won’t want you to.”
“Because he thinks I’m squeamish?” I wasn’t sure. The reality of what was going to happen was sinking in.
“Because he doesn’t want you to see the monster,” Kaylan said lightly, and I gazed at him, not a hundred percent certain this conversation was about Phoenix anymore.
“Okay,” I agreed. I just wanted this day to be over. Another couple of minutes and we were heading to the pack circle.
As I got out, I could hear Nicholas blaming me for everything, and I made a dramatic appearance and had the pack laughing in moments. The kiss from Phoenix made my toes curl. But Nicholas wasn’t done, and he stopped everyone from leaving.
“If your blood mate really intends on staying then”—Nicholas raked a condescending gaze up and down my body—“why did he put our race at risk by telling his human father of our existence? The same worthless human that’s demanding seven million dollars from the pack to keep quiet about it?”
This would be another good opportunity to insert the word fuck, I thought randomly. I was definitely going to have to up my swearing game.
Well, go big or go home, as I believed Harley Davidson originally coined the phrase.
“And tell me, Nicholas,” I said in my best teacher’s voice.
The one that had every five-year-old on the mat before they’d taken another breath.
“Even though we both know it was, in fact, you that told my dad about wolf shifters, what I’d really love to know is why.
For one single second, you’d think I’d tell anyone about my new family when, in around seven months or so, I’ll be giving birth to the next kick-ass alpha?
” I splayed my fingers out over my belly, you know, just in case the big lout didn’t understand English and needed diagrams.
Kaylan didn’t need to direct me inside. After delivering my last line, I turned and strode up the steps to the pack house. I tried really, really hard not to hear the explosion of snarls and the one gurgling scream that was abruptly silenced just as I shut the door behind me.