Chapter Twenty-Two #2
“Who?” Rowan furrowed his brows.
I opened my mouth, but I realized I didn’t know what pack they were from. “Toya…” I called out and Rowan laughed.
“You don’t know their packs?”
“Look, I met Hanna in the bathroom, but she is the short, unranked wolf from overseas. Wendy is the secretary’s daughter. Micca is a small redhead from a neighbouring pack to Nina’s. Toya’s pack was taken in by my father.” I felt like I was forgetting someone.
“Thora is the Gamma from unranked wolves, but something about her doesn’t sit right with me.” Toya walked out and I pointed.
Thora, I had forgotten Thora. But just as I thought to call her over, I felt a punch to my gut. “She isn’t to be included.”
“Thora?” Rowan furrowed his brows. “You are sure she said her name was Thora?”
I nodded. “Black hair, blue eyes, beautiful.”
I watched Rowan’s face darken. “Don’t speak to her.”
“Why?” I wasn’t going to anyway, but something about the way his face clouded over pushed me to ask.
“She is a Gamma in my pack.” He answered.
“Her parents served my father before he passed, and I kept them on after. Their daughter, Thora, grew into being a second Gamma, but because her parents worked in my pack house, she was close to me. Or she thought she was close to me.” Rowan wiped his face.
“I’m sorry. I thought she got over this… obsession.”
“What?” I laughed. “What does that have to do with me?”
“She probably heard things from Nina. And decided you were close to me.” He grimaced. “Moving you here probably hasn’t helped.”
“She knows I moved in here?”
Rowan shook his head. “But this kind of thing doesn’t stay under wraps for long.” He sighed. “My advice is to stay away from her as much as you can.” He wiped his eyes. “And for goddess’s sake, tell her nothing.”
“I promise. I will even command everyone to keep their mouths shut.” I offered.
“Thank you.” He sagged against the wall and Toya walked off again. “I’m wiped, but I wanted to check on you.”
“Everything is okay here.”
He laughed. “Your things are outside your door, but things are okay?”
I shrugged my shoulders. “The only people up here are us, and I trust us.” I smile as I watch the words land.
“Thank you for trusting me.”
“Of course. You are my king.”
Rowan cut me a look. “That’s not what I meant.”
“I know, and I didn’t mean it either. But I have to poke at you in some way.” I smiled and walked closer. “How are you doing?”
“I’m fine.” He answered automatically.
I focused on the air around us and I felt a barrier snap into place. “It’s just us.” I reached for his hand. “How are you really doing?”
Rowan looked down at our hands clasped together and then back to me and I watched his facade break. His shoulders slumped and his face fell. I watched his eyes take on this haunted look. “Not great.”
“Talk to me.” I stepped closer and wrapped my arm around his, leaning against his shoulder. I didn’t even think of it, but I also did this with my dad, with Ronnie. I could hear Rowan draw in a breath and then let it out slowly.
“I failed them. They are dead because I haven’t figured everything out yet, and telling everyone today that everyone they love is completely gone.” I heard him swallow. “I just failed them. And now I have to go on and face these people like this is completely normal.”
I tightened my arms around his. “In our world, it is.” I looked up at him and I swore I could see tears fighting to spill over, but in one blink, they were gone.
“You haven’t failed anyone. You were handed a tangled mess when you were a child.
And you have been stuck trying to figure it out since then.
I know today was hard, but no one can accuse you of not understanding what they feel.
” He looked at me. “This mess started with you losing not just your family, but your entire race. No one has lost more than you. You haven’t failed. And I won’t let you.”
The knock at the door startled us away from each other. I hadn’t realized just how close we had gotten until I jumped away from him. Rowan closed his eyes and then nodded.
“We won’t fail?” His words were soft, but there was a tiny flare of hope to his words.
“Not if I can help it. I will take these next few years to crack into everything I can.” I thought about what my plan was and I worried at my lip.
“What is it?”
“I need a place I can hack into for practice.” I looked up and Rowan nodded.
“Use my stuff. I would give you the information to find me, but that is half the battle.” The knock sounded again. “Get that?” The hope that flared in my chest that he wanted to spend time with me was pushed down.
I nodded. “The rest of the girls are here and we have a plan to make.” Rowan nodded.
“You can stay if you like.” I offered without thinking.
“What?” Rowan tilted his head.
“I, I, I.” I stammered over my words, but I cleared my throat at his chuckle.
“I mean, you are a part of this, and if you are free, would you like to stay? I have some of the prepared meals from the cafeteria. I know it isn’t much, but I’d like your thoughts on some things I want to talk about.
” He watched me from against the wall, and then a small smirk graced his lips.
“I’m just going to shower, change and then I’ll head back then.” I felt the smile break across my lips and I nodded.
“Sounds great. I’ll take the time to break it to the girls that everyone they love is still alive. That way you don’t have to deal with any more tears.” He sagged.
“Thank you.” I could hear the relief in his voice. “I don’t think I could deal with any more.”
The knock sounded again, softer, and a little confused. I released the spell with a crack and Rowan opened the door. I could barely see around him, but the three girls froze.
“Umm. My king.” Wendy flushed bright red. “We are looking for Amy.”
“And you are in the right place.” He opened the door wider, and I waved from behind him.
“Come on in.” Rowan stood aside as the three women walked in.
“I’ll be back later.” He tossed out before walking out.
Him, naked in the shower, blasted through my mind so fast I nearly hit my knees.
But I shook my head, clearing the thought. He is not mine.
He could be if you wanted. Nix’s voice was full of laughter. Obviously, you like him.
He is quite adorable, for the human side. Megan barked out a laugh and soon my two wolves were rolling over each other in my mind. My face heated, turning me a pleasant shade of red.
“Where is he going, and why is he coming back?” Hanna rushed over next to me to whisper, and I swore I nearly choked on my spit.
I coughed a few times and covered my cheeks with my hands. “He’s going to shower, and then he is coming back to talk.”
Hanna slid closer. “Why is he coming to talk?”
“We have a lot to cover. Let me grab my things and we can talk about everything.” Everyone nodded and helped me pull my bags off the carts. I stuffed the food into the fridge for now and turned to bring everything to the bedroom.
We found Toya there wiping her face. “Sorry Amy.” She smiled, but it didn’t make it to her eyes.
I waved her back down to the bed and I waited for everyone to come into the room. I focused on my magic and slid a sound barrier into place.
“We have a lot to talk about.” Everyone nodded as we dropped my bags. I walked up to Toya. “The first thing I should cover is probably the most important.”
“What are you talking about?” Toya looked at everyone and waved. “Hey guys.”
Everyone said hello, but I was focused on Toya. Her eyes were a little swollen and red. I felt heartbroken knowing that she was in here crying while I was talking to Rowan. I slid on the end of the bed as everyone took a spot around the room. “What’s going on?” Wendy looked between me and Toya.
“Everyone has heard the bad news. I’m not foolish enough to believe you haven’t.”
“We are sorry for your loss.” Micca started, but I waved her off.
“It was a lie. A lie that my father and the other Alphas came up with to force people to make their move.”
Toya furrowed her brow. “What are you talking about?”
I grabbed her hand and I squeezed. “They are still alive, Toya. Everyone is still alive.”
Toya gripped my hand. “Amy, I appreciate the effort, but please don’t lie to me.”
“I’m not.” I went to my lock box and pulled out my secret phone. I called my father’s number and waited.
“Pup, you know you shouldn’t be calling me.”
“I know, daddy but I needed to hear your voice and there is someone here that needs to hear their father’s voice.”
I heard my father huff, and then there was a click. “Ok pup, we can all hear you.”
I clicked the speaker on the phone. “I sealed the room so no one can hear us.”
“That’s good pup. Now, all the Alphas are here. What do you need?”
I looked at Toya and held the phone closer to her. “Say hi.”
Toya leaned in. I could see “Hello? Baba?”
“Toya, my love.” A rich voice called out, and Toya snatched the phone away. She sobbed as she clutched it to her test.
“Baba, they said you were gone. That everyone was gone. Moma, Tiven, everyone.”
“We are still here. We are all still here. Amy there will explain it to you. You weren’t supposed to know.”
Toya sobbed longer as everyone looked on. “I’m sorry daddy, I couldn’t keep this from her. From them.”
“Who is all there?”
I went through the list. “I listened to my gut. They all needed to know.”
My father was quiet, but then there were a few murmurs. “Are you going to tell them everything?”
I thought about it. “As much as the goddess will allow.” My father would know what I meant. I would tell them as much as they needed until the feeling went away.
“Good.” I could hear the relief in his voice. “I’m sorry if you were scared, but it is necessary.”
“Toya, my love, listen to Amy. She knows what is going on and what is happening. I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you anything, but things are not as they seem.”
“Okay Baba.” She sniffled as she wiped her eyes.