Chapter 42
Death Card
LUKE
EIGHT YEARS AGO:
Emerald Pack Town
The recruits and I arrive downtown. My mother, Jessica, and the other girls are shopping. We try not to make it obvious that we’re here to watch over them as we approach the little restaurant where my mother likes to eat.
“Luke! Hey, baby. I missed you so much!”
Shit. I forgot Wills, Elaine, and the rest of their crew are here.
Elaine crashes into me and tilts her head for a kiss.
I turn my head just in time and push her backward to avoid further contact.
This girl cannot take a hint. Any kind word, sometimes even a smile, is instantly taken out of context.
Ignoring her, I shake Wills’s hand. “Hey, man. What are you doing here?” I ask, feigning ignorance.
He quirks his brow. “I texted you earlier. We all arrived a day early for the ball. Haven’t seen you for a while and wanted to hang out, catch up.”
“Ah, yeah, sorry, man. Been busy. Must have missed your text.”
“No worries. You’re here now. We can hang and catch up later tonight at your place. Just like old times.”
How the hell do I always get sucked into their bullshit? The worst part is I never know how to say no.
Darwin clears his throat. “Sorry, man. We’re here to grab some lunch, pick up some supplies, and then head back to the training center. We recruits have plans—last hoorah before the ceremony and ball. You’re gonna have to catch up later.”
Wills narrows his eyes at Darwin. I add, “Sorry, man. Got plans. I didn’t know you guys were coming.”
His face instantly changes from irritation and suspicion to indifference. “No worries. We already ate, but we can hang until you get your shit. We can catch up tomorrow night.” I nod. Elaine pouts, arms crossed over her chest. Wills whispers in her ear.
Cassie, another girl in their group, stares at Liam like he hung the moon and stars.
I huff a breathy laugh. Liam adopts his usual pinched expression and tries to ignore her.
The other two girls have their hooks into Sodie and Stan.
I leave them to their own devices. If they know what’s good for them, they’ll stay far away from this bunch.
The recruits and I grew closer after Jessica’s disappearance. When I first started with the recruits, some kissed my ass while others didn’t like me right off the bat. They assumed, because I was the Young Alpha Prince, I would get away with anything.
They were wrong. I was bullied the most, and expectations were much higher than for everyone else. Slowly, over time, many of them dropped out, fed up with Marcus, Boris, and Dustin’s antics. The ones who remained simply kept to themselves.
I look around the recruits intermingled with the preppy kids from my former private school. True friends stand out among the group, and I feel lucky for the opportunity to be among them in the program.
When Wills and Elaine drift farther away, I slap Darwin on the shoulder. “Thanks, man. I appreciate the interception.”
“Just doing my job.” I raise an eyebrow at him. He smirks. “It’s our job to protect all of the royal family. My gut instincts say these friends of yours, especially your girlfriend, are nothing but trouble.”
I grimace at his reference to Elaine. “She’s not my girlfriend, and yeah, those two are always up to something.”
He laughs. “I think someone missed the memo ‘cause that girl thinks she owns you.”
I shudder at the thought. “Right. So, I roped Emily into doing recon for Mission ‘Keep the Powers Twins away,’” I chuckle.
Darwin brightens. “Emily?”
“For some reason, Elaine is scared of her.”
“I can see that. She’s pretty fierce.”
Poor dude. I can practically see the hearts floating in his eyes. She will break his heart. Darwin and Emily worked together to hack into some of the government’s security systems searching for Jessica. Darwin might not be the best recruit in combat training, but he is wicked smart with computers.
That’s how Shadow found him. Darwin was expelled in his territory for hacking into the school’s system and changing fellow classmates’ grades for a nominal fee. With the rise of technology, Shadow thought we needed more recruits familiar with technical operations.
The leads didn’t agree, until we needed him.
Darwin was the first person Liam thought of when Emily suggested using the airport and port systems. He not only hacked into the LS territory systems but the Northern A ones as well, and then some.
He proved himself, and although we are not best friends, I couldn’t be prouder of him that he stuck with it these past two years and finished.
“So, how close are you and Emily?” Darwin finally builds the courage to ask.
“I didn’t sleep with her, if that’s what you’re getting at.”
He sighs. “I wasn’t, but thanks for the info. I mean, are you close enough to know if she’s dating anyone, met her true mate, that kind of thing?”
I internally groan. Emily owes me big for this. I constantly fend off guys interested in her, so much so that sometimes they think it’s because I’m in love with her.
“No, man. She’s single, as far as I know. But, uh, I wouldn’t hold out too much hope. She’s, um, picky, and she never gets involved for the long term.”
I watch the wheels churn in that big brain of his. “I can live with that. Not sure where I’ll go after graduation. A short-term relationship works for me.”
I shake my head. “Please don’t.”
Darwin’s eyes narrow. “Why? Thought you two were like family.”
I glance around. The other recruits caught up with the girls.
Elaine flirts relentlessly, probably trying to gain my attention.
“Look. Emily doesn’t get involved in relationships because she’s betrothed.
I’m not supposed to say anything, so keep it to yourself.
” His eyes widen. “She was betrothed to the Obsidian Alpha’s son before she was even born.
She knows it. She’s fine with it. She’s accepted it. ”
Darwin frowns. “What about what she wants?”
“Sometimes we don’t get what we want. I know she’s an awesome girl, and you can probably see yourself with her short term or long term. But she won’t go there. There’s no room for what-ifs.”
His shoulders sag. “Alright. Thanks for the heads-up.”
I nod. I feel bad for the guy. He really likes her. But this isn’t my first rodeo, and until Emily becomes mated, I’m afraid it won’t be my last. Maybe I should just tell everyone we’re dating. It might be easier to fend them off.
This time, though, I didn’t lie to Darwin.
The original Blackguard Alpha of the Obsidian Pack created a binding contract to the Obsidian Alpha who migrated to the LS territory after the great war and established the Obsidian Pack territory.
Not sure how the Obsidian Alpha came to be here or how they know each other.
The contract states that the first female born of the true Blackguard family line, or the Obsidian Alpha family, will be mated with the Alpha child of the same blood origin.
For generations, neither of the families had a female child.
When Emily was born, her fate became sealed.
Because of it, she was given the best education and sent to the elite private school in the city.
Her college education is already paid. She also trained in martial arts and weaponry.
She is everything the Obsidian Alpha could ever hope for in a mate for his Alpha son.
Except for one aspect. She doesn’t like men. And she doesn’t want children. I love Emily, and I am proud of her for accepting the situation. She never complains.
I wouldn’t be so compliant. I am grateful for my parents.
As the Alpha King, my father could have set up a betrothal contract to ensure our family’s bloodline.
He didn’t. He and my mother are true mates.
My brothers and I are the products of true love.
Our parents want the same for us—the freedom to find our true mates or at least mate for love.
Elaine flirts with Stan, talking loudly. I roll my eyes. Sometimes, I think Emily has a good deal. At least she can always use the betrothal card to fend off unwanted male callers. I, on the other hand, must deal with manipulative, gold-digging women who only want me for my title.
We finally arrive at my mom’s favorite restaurant. They eat lunch at one of the outdoor tables. Nothing appears amiss. Stan also pans the crowd. When he catches me looking at him, he nods. The girls squeal and make a ruckus in front of an old woman who set up a table outside of one of the stores.
Jessica sits quietly with her baseball cap so low, it hides her features.
Emily and Sixes talk with their hands, as they do.
My mother and Jessica laugh. She looks so petite, compared to the other women at their table.
If onlookers didn’t know better, she could pass for a young teen, until they see her body.
She takes a bite of food, and her face transforms with pleasure from whatever she just popped into her mouth. I swear I see the goosebumps along her arms. She closes her eyes, relishing the taste.
Damnit! I tear my eyes away. She’s eating lunch, for crying out loud. I look up and down the main thoroughfare, but my vision gravitates right back to her.
She smiles and throws a balled-up napkin at Emily. Emily catches it, giggling. Why didn’t I talk to Emily first before I jumped to conclusions?
I wouldn’t be standing here, pining over a girl who hates my guts, not that I blame her.
When I finally told Emily what happened when I came home, she gave me a black eye.
I deserved it. I already felt like shit at the dinner table.
With Jessica’s disappearance and learning about Marcus and his asshole followers, the guilt never really left.
I don’t know how to fix it. She won’t give me the time of day. My charm doesn’t affect her. I was so wrong. Had I given her a chance to get to know me—the real me—we could have at least been friends.