Chapter Eleven
The next few weeks flew by. With classes, training, dinners with my mom and the calls with everyone, I was insanely busy.
Most nights, I did my homework, ate a quick dinner, and crawled into my bed.
The calls between Rowan and I became a weekly event.
Usually, on the day of class, we would talk about what was going on in the packs.
He told me about the unrest. More and more packs were being targeted for some unknown reason. But my father’s pack was targeted the most. One Friday, I got a call from Cass. “Hey! How’s mated life treating you?”
“Honestly, it’s been amazing. Greyson has been so supportive.”
“I’m so happy for you.” I truly was. “You deserve the world.”
“Thanks, but I didn’t call to catch up.” Cass’s voice dropped low. “I was told not to call at all, but since I wasn’t commanded, I think Ronnie understood what I was going to do.”
“What’s wrong?” My stomach dropped.
“We have been attacked three times since you left, Amy. All rogues, all knowing our old security runs. Ronnie, Greyson and your dad had to move rotations, run tracks, and pair everyone up. We have been on high alert for the last week.”
“What? Why wasn’t I informed?” I gripped my phone tightly.
“Because your dad wants you there in university. You’re safe there, plus you’re working on figuring out the truth.”
I worried at my lip and nearly screamed. “Why are you calling now?”
“Because your dad was hurt. And I’m worried.” Cass’s voice dropped low. “They are using magic against us. And they’ve been trying to get to the pack house, but I don’t think that’s what they are after.”
“What do you mean?”
“Your dad whispered one word before he was knocked out by the doctor.” I could tell she was looking around. “Gazebo.” I closed my eyes. They were after Carly. But how they found out about Carly already, I had no idea.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah.” Cass answered.
“I have to make a call.” I hung up before she said anything else. I ran to my closest and opened my safe, grabbing my phone. I quickly cast a sealing spell to seal the room, and I dialed Rowan’s number.
“Amy?”
“I need your help.” I rushed out.
“What’s wrong? Actually, give me a second.
” I could hear him pull the phone away from his ear, so I waited.
“Get out. I will call you back once the call is over. No, I don’t care if this meeting is time sensitive.
” He was in the middle of a meeting and he dismissed them for me.
Butterflies were flying around in my stomach, but I shook my head.
Men cannot be trusted. Even Rowan. The thought bubbled up from deep inside of me, and visions from my past life flashed before my eyes.
Brandon stood over me with Shannon, and she was laughing.
Nix and Megan pulled away, silently disagreeing with my sentiment.
Even they had grown to like the man. “Sorry about that. I wanted a little privacy. Now tell me what’s wrong. ”
“It’s my dad’s pack. They have been attacked a few times since I left.” Rowan was a little too quiet, but I just pushed on. “This last time he got hurt.”
“Packs are attacked all the time, Amy.” I could hear the regret in his voice.
“I know. And I can understand your need to stay neutral between pack infighting. But these attacks are rogues.”
“Are they?” His voice was hinting at something, something I never considered.
“You’re saying these rogue attacks have been organized by a pack?” I couldn’t help the disbelief in my voice.
“I don’t know. That’s why I’ve been working at the school.”
His truth hit me like a blow. “You have been teaching here to get closer to the wolves in the packs.”
His sigh was confession enough. “It’s not just your dad’s pack that is being attacked.
He just seems like the biggest target. It’s picked up speed too and I don’t know why.
Normally his pack would be attacked once or twice a year, and this year it’s been four times.
I don’t know what’s changed exactly, but something shifted. ”
I rubbed my face. There was a knock at my door and I froze. But my room was sealed, and whoever was there couldn’t hear me. “I might know the reason.” I whispered. Another knock, louder this time, had me freezing.
“What’s going on there? Who’s at your door?”
“Amy, please talk to me.” The muffled voice had me standing and walking towards the door.
I had just made it there to look out the peephole when a third knock, almost a desperate pounding, hit my door.
“Amy please. I want to be with you. Your sister was a mistake.” I looked through the peephole to find Brandon holding roses outside my door.
“What did he just say?” Rowan’s voice was lower than I had ever heard it. I scoffed when I turned away from the door and walked back to my bed. “What did he just say?” Rowan asked again.
“He said that he wanted to be with me and that dating and fucking my sister was a mistake. The romantic of the year here.” I plopped down on my bed and steered the conversation back to the problem at hand. “Anyway, I think I know why the attacks amped up.”
“We are going to revisit the declaration of this boy. But why?” I could hear he’d settled back into a chair. He must have stood up at some point.
“Because the Shaman and his newly awakened daughter just fled to my father’s pack.” I whispered it. I knew my magic was still in effect because I could feel it, but I still felt the need to whisper it.
I could hear the groan of wood on his end of the call. “Please tell me you are lying.”
“I wish I could.”
“The Shaman had a child?”
“A four and a half year old daughter.” I bit my lip.
“She’s too young.” His voice held disbelief.
“Yet, I held her as she had her first vision before I left Vince’s pack. I sent them to my grandmother’s cabin on the cliff. The one that is connected to the pack lands by a magical bridge under the gazebo.” I don’t know why I was telling him everything. I barely knew the man.
He is our king. Nix’s voice was matter of fact.
He will help us protect her. Megan’s voice was soft but firm. Even Megan, with her hatred of all things male right now, agreed with Nix. Both of my wolves once again believing in the king. My mind was still fighting it, but they were convincing me to try to trust him too.
“Why are you telling me this?” His voice was soft.
“Because, my best friend called me today to say my dad was hurt, but his last word before he passed out was gazebo. She doesn’t understand what it means, but knew I would. Whoever is behind these attacks knows she is there. And I need your help to protect her.”
“Why me?”
“Because you are the only one I trust with this. You are the king, and know exactly what a Shaman falling into the wrong hands will do. I can’t leave school. I have too much to learn.”
“You can leave and come back next year, or after everything is done.”
“I can’t. My dad needs me-”
“To do what?” Rowan adjusted himself and his chair squeezed. “Tell me what you are planning and I will do everything I can to help.”
I hesitated, but something in my gut told me to trust him.
“My father asked me to learn how to hack as I was coming back. He has a feeling Vince is involved in the attacks now, and back when your father was killed.” I heard Rowan inhale.
“He isn’t one hundred percent sure, which is why he hasn’t brought it up to you, but he thinks Vince is a key player.
He’s tried to hack Oakenfang’s servers but the security facing out is too strong, but he thinks the security within… ”
“He thinks you might get close because you are already behind certain firewalls.”
“Exactly.” I huffed out a breath. “I could even get closer if I used Brandon. I’ve been putting off dealing with him because of it. If he thinks he has to chase me, then when I finally relent I can get close.”
There was a growl on the other side of the phone. “No.”
“Rowan, you know it will work.”
“I said no.” His words were final.
“Whatever. That is far off. I am just learning the basics in class right now.”
“That’s why you took computer science?”
“Yeah, I figured it would teach me computer languages, security systems and the best way to set them up. Then I could learn how best to get around them on my own.” Rowan chuckled.
“You are incredibly smart.”
“Thank you.”
“But that won’t work.”
“What?”
“Sorry, what I mean is, it would take too much time.” He clicked a few keys on his side. “I’m at the university Mondays and Fridays for class. After that we can spend another hour or so going into hacking.”
“You know how to hack?”
The smile in his voice was back. “Yeah. Like I said, this is my hobby.” He clicked a few more times. “I hack into human built systems for a source of income for the council. It’s all legitimate, but it’s fun and easy money.”
“So you will teach me?”
“Yes. And I will help you.” I heard him pull the phone away for a second time. “Lorna, send in my Beta, Gamma and second Gamma.”
“You have a pack?”
“Sort of.” He was avoiding the question. But I wouldn’t pry. His life wasn’t my concern. I heard a door open and then close. “I need a contingent of soldiers to be stationed at the Silvermoon pack. I want it to fly under the radar and it can’t be found out by any of the other packs.”
“Okay. But why?” A soft voice came from his side of the phone and I felt Nix’s hackles started to raise.
“The Shaman and his child are hidden in the Silvermoon pack and need protection.”
“What?” The soft voice sounded surprised, and my hackles went up fully.
“Rowan.” My warning was soft but he caught it.
“Go, tonight, and listen to Alpha Gavin as if he was me.” There were shuffling sounds from his end and then the door opened and closed again.
“I know you have no reason to trust them, but I do.” He hesitated for a second before his next words caught me by surprise. “Do you trust my judgement on this?”
I wanted to say no, but the words caught in my throat. Because you do trust him. Nix’s chiding came from deep inside.
“I do…for now. But if anyone hurts that pup.” I allowed the thought to burn through me. “I’ll kill you before anyone has time to stop me.” His chuckle surprised me again.
“You can try Rabbit. You can try.” His chuckle rang out again before the line went dead.
Did you just threaten the King? Megan’s mouth was hanging open.
He deserved it.