Chapter Twenty
Everyone walked out of the auditorium in silence. Everyone was worried that there was going to be the dreaded knock on their door. But thankfully, my father never listened to others.
I checked my phone to see I had over twenty messages from my dad, mom, and Cass.
I was sending back replies when I turned onto my floor, made my way to my room, unlocked the door and, still staring at my phone and kicked off my shoes. I turned towards my bed, and I bumped into a chest.
I froze. This was my room, and no one else should be in here. I slowly raised my head from my phone and I stepped back.
“What are you doing in here and how the heck did you get in?”
Roman smiled. “I’m the benefactor for the school. I have a key that’s a universal key for a hidden lock under the knob.”
“What?” I went back out my door and slid the metal cover over and there it was, the universal lock.
I shook my head as I came back in. “Sneaky. So why are you here?” I slid past him and I felt him vibrate.
I looked at him over my shoulder as I turned and sat down on my bed.
I slid against my headboard and patted the bed.
Rowan smiled and nodded. He slid onto my bed and faced me. “I came here first because I need to discuss certain things with you, and this will actually help with your plan.”
“What do you mean? People are going to assume that the pack I live in is gone.”
“Exactly.” Rowan laid back, but it looked super uncomfortable with his neck against the wall, so I tossed him my pillow.
He just raised his eyebrow and then pulled it under his head.
He tilted his head to face me, but I could see him subtly pulling in my scent.
I watched his brow furrow, but I looked away.
“What the heck are you talking about?” I grabbed my second pillow and put it behind my back. I wanted to stretch out my legs, so I pushed them out as far as I could without touching him. But he just shook his head and grabbed my feet, placing them over his lap.
I tried to pull them away, but he held them there until I settled. I froze. I didn’t know what the hell we were doing, but Rowan seemed so comfortable that I let it go. It wasn’t hurting me.
Rowan smiled, but he turned his head to face me. My breath caught in my throat. I felt my mouth run dry and something low pulsed. I almost squirmed in my seat. I kicked him and he laughed.
“What?” His lazy smile sent another pulse between my legs and I could feel myself growing heated. I bit my lip and shook my head.
“What are you talking about?” I rolled my eyes.
“Right. Can you, um, seal the room?” His voice dropped low as he finished his question, and I nodded.
I focused on my magic and I felt the room seal shut. No noise could leave the room, and we could speak freely. “It’s done.” There was a soft echo to my voice and Rowan shook his head.
“That’s weird.” Rowan stuck a finger in his ear and wiggled it. He looked back at me and pushed up on the bed to sit up higher. He pulled my feet back to his lap and rubbed one foot, but he looked so deep in thought I don’t think he even noticed.
“Your dad’s pack is one of the furthest away from not only the school, but from every other pack.”
“I know. That’s why I fly there. But what does that have to do with anything?”
Rowan’s hands tightened on my feet. “Your father came up with a plan, and for it to work, you have to be a bit of an actress.”
“What is it?”
“We are going to say that there was an attack today during the announcement. I already told the council it happened and I know now that they will spread it to Vince.”
“Why?”
“Because we are moving the pack.”
“Moving the pack?” I leaned forward. “Why?”
“Because we are going to say that the five packs on your father’s land were wiped out. Your father’s plan is to make it seem like the Silvermoon pack was wiped out.”
“But why? And where are they going to go?”
“There are hidden cabins close to the Agora.”
“He’s taking everyone to the Agora?” I felt my mouth drop open. “Wait, how do you know about the Agora?”
Rowan smiled. “Because the Agora is part of my history, too. And the reason? Because we all think that the council and Vince are a part of the attacks. We just don’t know how.”
“What about my grandmother’s cabin?”
“Your dad sealed the way. And I’ll help the Shaman with the supplies for the cabin.”
“I still don’t understand why?”
“Because we need them to think you’re alone.” Rowan continued to rub my feet. It felt amazing, but I needed to focus, so I pulled my feet back and leaned closer to him.
I grabbed his face with my hands, and I squeezed. “I need you to stop being so mysterious and explain it to me. Why do I have to pretend my father is dead?”
I swore Rowan stopped breathing as I leaned in. “Because we want them to think that you are alone other than your mother. Your mother has spent these last years convincing Vince and Morgan that she is weak. Which plays well into our plan.”
“Are you going to tell me the plan?” I was getting frustrated.
“Are you going to hold my face the entire time I tell you?” His voice was soft and his eyes were flicking between my eyes and my nose. I pulled my hands back as if they were on fire and sat back.
“Sorry.” I felt my face flush, and he chuckled.
“I don’t mind, but I would prefer having a mint if you’re going to be that close.” He winked, and I felt another pulse between my legs as reality hit me like a sledgehammer.
I was attracted, really attracted to Rowan. I wanted him. And there was nothing I could do about it.
I felt that reality hit me like a punch to the gut. Eventually, he would mate or marry another wolf and it would not be me.
Nix and Megan rushed to calm me down, to comfort me with my hidden sadness.
It will be okay. Megan brushed down the wall in my mind.
We still have Erubus. Nix’s voice was bright, and I chuckled.
“What?” Rowan tilted his head and I felt my cheeks burn again.
“My wolf said something funny.” I redirected him. “The plan?”
“Right.” Rowan pushed up and adjusted his shirt. “First thing first. We need you to move to the apartment building.”
“Why?”
“We want you to be isolated. And I need you to have a safe space that someone can’t get into.” Rowan looked at me as he pulled the key and jingled it. “I’m not the only one that has the universal key. So does Vince.”
“What?”
“It was a safety feature, but with everything that is going on, knowing Vince and Brandon have access to you and your stuff, has your father and I on edge.”
“I have a lockbox for everything.”
“I don’t trust those to keep everything you need safe.” Rowan’s nose flared. “Plus, I scented another wolf in here when I slipped in. Someone has already been here, but it was too long ago to be sure.”
I felt Nix pushed close. “Someone was in here?” Rowan nodded.
“It doesn’t matter, you’re moving to the apartments. Tonight.”
“I don’t really have everything I need for a one-bedroom apartment.”
Rowan scratched his head. “Actually, knowing that someone was already here, to make my wolf feel better, you’re moving into the other penthouse. So that when I’m in the area, we can be close.”
I felt my eyes widen as I jumped up to my knees. “What? You said it was going to stay empty.”
“And it was, but now, my wolf won’t let me put you anywhere else.” He shrugged. “I listen to him more than anyone else.”
I nodded. “Yeah, I think that is the same for most of us.”
“So you will be safe in the penthouse, but in school, in class, I need you to be isolated. Withdrawn. We need it to get out that Silvermoon is gone and that you are vulnerable.”
“Why?”
“Because men like Vince think women need men to survive and ones that have no men in their life are weak.” He looked at me. “Once he thinks you are weak, it will give you an opening to strike.”
My dad was doing what he had to give me: the space to get closer so I could find out the truth.
“Okay.”
“Play it smart.” Rowan turned his body towards me. “You can’t let them in too close, or too quickly. These next few years they will be lonely, and you’ll be targeted.”
“By?” I felt Nix and Megan stand straighter in my mind. They could handle it.
“The council. The women they will be ‘selecting’. No matter what I say, they think we are close, and that puts a target on your back.” Rowan wiped his face.
“And the rogues. They have been making their way closer to the school. But I am having guards patrol the forest, so running should still be safe.”
“So I’m a target because we are friends…”
“Something like that.” Rowan pulled a second key out and dropped it into my hands. “This is the key to the penthouse on the right. Start packing and move over tonight. You aren’t safe here.” Then he got up, started to say something, then shook his head and left.