Chapter 31
CHAPTER 31
E mery
The closer we get to my parents’ home the more nervous I feel.
Maybe we should’ve stopped at Ashley’s place first? I tell Chance through our bond.
You said she hasn’t been there in weeks. She’s staying with your parents. I nod at his response. That is true. Part of me just wishes she was staying at the one-bedroom condo my parents bought for her near the university where she attends classes.
That way, at least, I could have a little bit of privacy with her while I tell her the truth about our lineage. Or find out if she already knows.
That’s probably why she hasn’t spoken to me much lately, and why she was so cagey when we did speak. She didn’t want our parents to overhear, out of fear of how they would react.
I look over at Chance.
While he keeps his eyes on the road, he reaches a hand over, taking my left hand in his. He brings the back of my palm to his lips, kissing it.
Not one word is spoken but my nerves settle, nonetheless. I can almost envision my wolf staring at Chance’s wolf with her tongue lolling out of her mouth. The wolf vision of a smile.
While my nerves don’t completely subside, they do settle into the background. I’ll feel better once I get to talk to my sister, alone. I need to tell her the truth first.
My mind twists and turns, wondering how all of this will turn out. After minutes lost in my own thoughts, I peer out of the window to see Chance turn onto the long street that leads to my parents’ home.
A few minutes later, the trees lining the road open up showing off the three-story, sprawling estate that’s been in my father’s family for three generations. One would think a rush of fond memories would befall me as the home I grew up in comes into view.
That doesn’t happen, though.
A sense of dread swells in the pit of my stomach.
“That’s Ashley’s car.” I point to the light-blue sports car out front. It was a gift for her high school graduation. One that she actually had repainted that color. The original was black because my father said black was better suited for her.
However, Ashley never liked the color. She said it was too plain.
That memory actually brings a smile to my face. My sister is anything but plain. Suddenly, the need to wrap my arms around her overcomes me.
She’s here, I tell Chance as he pulls into the driveway of the metal gate that’s open. I frown as we pass through because the doors are rarely open.
But maybe my parents were expecting us. I told my mother we would arrive sometime before dinner.
It’s nearing five thirty and dinner is served promptly at six.
Excited to get my first glimpse of my sister in months, I hop out of Chance’s truck without waiting for him to open the door for me. I ignore the stern look he gives me.
We’re at my parents’ house. I remind him. It’s not like we’re in any danger here.
His scolding look remains, even as he takes my hand in his. Ordinarily, I would feel uncomfortable with my hand in another man’s at my parents’ house, but something has shifted inside of me. He’s not just another man.
Chance is my mate.
I let out a small chuckle as my wolf yips inside of me at this thought.
Chance lifts an eyebrow as he looks at me.
I shake my head as we head up the cobble-stone walkway toward the ivory-painted double doors. The windows on either side allow me to see someone move from the living room area toward the doors.
I ring the bell, anyway.
The bell? Chance asks.
I nod at him. Yes, Mother says it’s rude, even for her children, to enter a home without prior knowledge. According to her, we should always knock.
He doesn’t respond aside from a short nod. But I think over my response. I never thought about how…cold it sounded.
My mind floods with memories of how the pack members constantly wander in and out of Chael and Reese’s home. Especially during mealtimes. It’s as if they have a strict open-door policy, aside from late nights and early mornings.
In fact, most of the homes in the commune are the same way. Doors are hardly ever locked.
I shake off those thoughts, reminding me we’re not in New Mexico anymore. We’re in New York. While my parents’ home is in a very wealthy community, the locked doors are still a form of needed protection from possible invaders.
“Emery,” my mother says as she opens the door.
A smile widens on my face as I take in her slim figure. My mother is a few shades lighter than me, her hair, as always is perfectly straightened and parted on the right side. The silk light-colored button-up blouse she wears beautifully accents the golden undertones of her skin.
All of this is undermined by the frown she’s wearing as she looks at me. I get the urge to clamp my free hand over my hair and almost apologize for the change. But then Chance squeezes my hand and I look up at him.
The sparkle in his eyes reminds me of the way he sees me. The way he can tell me without words that he believes I’m perfect and beautiful just the way I am, is uncanny.
I push out a breath and turn to face my mother.
“Hello, Mother. This is Chance,” I introduce, gesturing with my free hand—because Chance hasn’t let go of my other hand—in his direction.
I’m taken by surprise when it seems that my mother finally notices the man beside me. Her eyes nearly bug out of her head. She quickly schools her features as she runs her hands down the sides of her shirt and looks between the two of us.
“Well, come in.” She steps to the side to allow us to enter. It’s not that I expected her to embrace me in a hug when she first saw me, but it would’ve been nice. I’m forced to remind myself that my family is not a touchy-feely one.
“Is Ashley home?” I ask, looking up the marble stairs toward where Ashley and my childhood bedrooms reside.
“She’s out,” my mother answers, still looking over Chance.
My shoulder slump. “Out with who? Will she be home soon?”
My mother pins me with a sharp gaze. “Emery, you know how I feel about so many questions. It’s inconsiderate.”
“I’m sorry, Mother.” I clear my throat. “You’re right. I’m just excited to see her. We haven’t spoken in weeks and it’s been even longer since I saw her in person.”
“And who’s fault is that?” Her tone is sharper than I expected. She’s still upset about the internship I took. “After months in the wild among animals and rocks, have you lost all of your manners?”
I uncontrollably flinch at her tone. My mother has always had a bit of a biting tone. This was especially true when it came to talking about my hobbies or interests such as anthropology.
It seems to cut even deeper now.
Though, I don’t have much time to think about it when I feel a strong arm link around my waist. Chance pulls me into his firm body as he stares down at my mother.
“Emery was doing excellent work,” he says with a bite of his own in his voice. “And she’s just spent days in a car to return home to see her sister.”
My mother presses a hand to her chest, appearing flustered for the first time in almost ever. She blinks a couple of times and takes a step back. If I’m not mistaken, I see a look of fear invade her eyes, but she quickly covers it.
“A-are you one of her coworkers?” She looks him up and down.
My wolf rises inside of me from the way my mother’s nose wrinkles in disapproval. I’m used to her looking down her nose at me.
It’s not something I even gave much thought to until recently, but to have her look at my mate that way, causes heat to rise in my belly.
“I’m more than that,” Chance answers, his hand around my waist stroking up and down.
My mother doesn’t miss the movement either. Her eyes move from Chance to his hand then up to me.
“What about your relationship with Billy? I did not raise you to be a two-timer.”
“There is no Billy,” Chance answers her before I can say anything.
Neither one of us misses the possessive note in his voice. I’ve told Chance all about my ex-boyfriend, who I haven’t spoken to or even thought of in months. We dated about a year and a half.
Most of the time, he didn’t even seem interested in me at all. To be honest, if it hadn’t been for my mother prompting me, I wouldn’t have dated Billy either. But his parents are well connected in state politics, and my mother believed our relationship would be a political-societal match made in heaven.
“I—” I start to reply in the silence, but I’m interrupted.
“Darling, who was at the door?”
I look toward the top of the stairs to see my father standing at the top. As usual, he peers down, over the rim of his glasses from his position.
“Emery?”
I plaster a smile on my face. “Yes, Father. Hello.” The words sound slightly robotic to my own ears. However, this is always how I speak with my father.
“You’ve returned,” he says, taking one step down and then pausing before looking over at my mother.
“Yes, I told Mother we would be here before dinner.”
“We?” He draws out the question. His eyes slowly drift over to Chance, who still hasn’t released his hold around my waist. That part of me that always attempted to keep my instincts under control, to behave like a good girl and always be presentable, tells me I should step away from Chance.
But then there’s the much larger part of me that finds safety in his embrace. I suddenly realize that while I might be in the house where I grew up, it’s in Chance’s arms that truly feels like home.
“Yes,” my mother says, brushing past me up the stairs toward my father. “Emery decided to bring company.” She links her arm in his.
My father gives Chance a long look as he slowly makes his way down the stairs with my mother at his side.
“Mm,” he says.
“Mr. Clarke,” Chance greets with an outstretched hand.
My father hesitates before taking it.
“Well—” My father’s cut off by the ringing of the dinner bell. My parents are very traditional and still have the staff ring a bell when dinner is ready.
“We should all go sit down,” my mother says. I don’t miss the way she gives Chance another up and down look before tugging my father by the arm and leaving us to trail them toward the dining area.
I give Chance an apologetic smile. I never expected my parents to roll out the red carpet for my return, but somehow their response to seeing me for the first time in months hurts. As I follow my parents, I think of Ms. Elsie and the others at the pack and how they always had a warm welcoming smile.
That’s not fair . I remind myself. Everyone has different reactions and personalities and it’s not for me to judge. I know my parents’ behavior. After being away, and residing among the Nightwolf pack, I just need to re-acclimate to it.
“How was your drive from Colorado?” my father asks in a stilted voice.
Chance turns to me and raises an eyebrow.
Though difficult, I manage not to squirm in my seat. “We didn’t come from Colorado.”
This garners my mother’s attention. “Is that so?” She gives Chance a look. Again, my wolf stands, not liking the way she’s eyeing him. “Therefore, you lied to us,” she concludes.
“What?”
“You told us the reason you were leaving Billy and New York this summer was to do an internship in Colorado. You caused us a great deal of embarrassment with the King family, might I add,” she almost glares across the table at me.
Her cutting gaze doesn’t waver even as the house staff enter and place plates of salad in front of us.
“That was never my intention,” I say before clearing my throat and taking a sip of my water. I place the crystal glass back on the table before adding, “Yet, as I told you prior to my leaving, it was Billy that broke up with me.”
A noise from my right catches my attention. Chance barely holds back his disdain for the name. I lay my hand on his caressing the outside of his palm with my thumb.
You’re my one and only mate . I tell him through our bond.
He turns over his hand so that he can intertwine our fingers. Both of my parents’ attention is drawn to the movement. While, in the past, I would never dare to be this affectionate with anyone in front of them, I’ve changed in the time I’ve been away.
I don’t even think of pulling my hand away from Chance’s.
“Besides, that relationship was doomed from the start,” I admit for the first time to my mother. “I believe I knew it even before I left for my internship. And no,” I continue. “I did not lie to you. I went to Colorado to do my internship with one of the most well-known professors in my field. However…” I trail off and look over at Chance.
“Please elaborate,” my mother insists, placing her elbows on the table and her chin on her intertwined fingers.
Something in her tone sounds off. Not that she’s particularly interested but more so, a mounting anger, and she’s requesting more information to fan the flames somehow.
“Well, Ashley contacted me.”
She turns to my father before turning back to me.
“Yes, go on,” my father says this time.
“She said she was going to Florida for a short trip. Then she called and left some weird voicemail on my phone. I became concerned when I didn’t hear from her after a few days. All of my calls went to voicemail. Eventually, her phone was turned off or something.”
I sit back and shrug.
“Anyway, I went to Florida to look for her.”
“Did you find her down there?” my father asks nonchalantly while placing his cloth napkin in his lap.
“No.”
I tell my parents that I asked around and even contacted local police. “I got a tip she might be in New Mexico,” I lie as I look over at Chance. “That’s how Chance and I met.”
I do my best to omit the details about shifters since Chance doesn’t want them to know about their existence.
Though, I honestly don’t see how their finding out isn’t inevitable.
“Which is why I was surprised when you told me she’s here. Do you know when she’ll return?”
The question falls from my lips at the same time the house staff comes out to retrieve the salad plates, despite the fact that none of us have touched our salads. A beat later, the main course of grilled chicken breast with some sort of bean puree on the side with capers is served.
I don’t give my plate a second glance as I wait for my parents’ response.
“We’re not sure when she’ll be home,” my mother says, wiping her mouth with her napkin, though she hasn’t eaten anything.
“Where is she?”
My body stiffens because the question doesn’t come from me. Chance’s deep, unshakable voice cracks through the air like thunder. The energy around the room shifts as Chance leans into the table, his gaze intent on my parents.
“W-who are you to ask about my daughter?” my father blusters.
“Father, he didn’t mean?—”
“It sounds a lot like he did mean something,” my mother interjects.
“No.” I shake my head. Things feel like they’re getting out of control. “It’s just that she’s also been acting strange. I’ve only spoken to her once in the time she’s been back home. Ash usually calls me every day. And then…” I pause and look over at Chance.
He’s still glaring at my father, who’s avoiding his gaze.
“When I did speak with her, she sounded odd.”
“Odd? How?” my mother questions.
“She said she was ‘fine.’ Ashley doesn’t use the word fine.”
My mother rolls her eyes. “Maybe she’s grown up a little, which is exactly what she needed to do.” My mother tosses her cloth napkin on the table with an aggressive shake of her head.
“Honestly, it’s what both of you need to do.” She rises from her seat.
“Angela, let’s not get upset.” My father takes her arm.
“No, David. This is the perfect time to get upset. When the girl we’ve raised comes into our home with this…man.” She gestures at Chance as if he were gum on the bottom of her shoe. “Asking us questions as if we did something wrong.”
“That’s not at all what’s happening,” I say, rising to my feet in my own defense.
Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Chance rise as well. I can feel his wolf’s protective instincts welling up.
Please calm down. She’s just a little upset and taken off guard. I speak through our bond.
That’s not why she’s upset.
His reply surprises me and I turn to look at him to ascertain what he’s picking up on that I’m not.
He sniffs the air.
It smells like death in the air.
My stomach twists in knots.
Death?
“Then tell us exactly what is happening, Emery,” my mother insists, oblivious to the private conversation taking place between Chance and me.
“Where’s Ashley?” I demand, ignoring her question.
Her eyes widen and her lips part for a beat before she blinks. “W-what?”
Forget the good girl act and being nice. I inhale deeply and I catch a minor hint of what Chance picked up on.
My heart squeezes in fear.
Ashley!
“My sister. Where is my sister?”
My mother reels back in surprise and possibly fear.
Before I know what I’m doing, I run from the dining area toward the staircase.
“Ashley?!” I call out.
Chance is hot on my heels.
In the back I think I hear someone say something like “get the tranquilizers” but I ignore it. My focus is to get to my sister. Her car is in the driveway. She must be here and they’re keeping her from me for some reason.
“Ashley?!” I yell out again as I race up the stairs. I stumble on the second to the last stair but manage to stop myself from falling by grabbing onto the pinewood banister.
“Are you here? Can you hear me?” I call out, my voice sounding panicked.
With Chance directly behind me, I get to Ashley’s bedroom door and go to push it open, but it’s locked. I bang on the door, but it doesn’t budge.
“Ashley?” All I can think about is getting to my sister.
Suddenly, I’m grabbed from behind. I want to lash out at whoever it is but then I hear, Let me.
Mate.
Chance pulls me aside and then with a quick shove of his shoulder against the door, it explodes open.
I rush in behind him and come to a sudden stop about three steps in. “Where…” I pant, my chest rising and falling from my quick intakes of air.
It’s empty.
Save for a few cardboard boxes, a chair with a white sheet thrown over it and an old pair of running shoes, there’s nothing inside of my sister’s room.
Though Ashley had her own apartment, our parents kept both of our rooms the way we’d left it when we moved out for college.
“You said she was staying here,” I say to my parents who’re now standing at the door.
My mother moves to take a step toward me, but Chance blocks her. His broad body keeps both of my parents away from me.
“Where is she?!” I demand. “Why did you get rid of her stuff? You lied to me. Where? How? Where is my sister?”
The questions come out rapid fire. Fear, anger and doubt all mix together, and I can’t tell which one prevails. My heart rate increases and my body starts to tingle.
Emery, you have to calm down.
But I don’t hear Chance above the racing of my heartbeat.
“Where is she?!” I scream once again.
My mother narrows her eyes, and for the first time I notice it. The pure malice and hatred in her eyes.
The realization that she harbored this level of emotion nearly chokes me.
“She’s gone,” my mother says in a voice so cold it could freeze hell over.
That’s when the tingles take over my body and before I know what’s happening, I’m turning from my human form to my wolf.
One second, I’m standing in front of my parents demanding to know where my sister is and the next, my four paws are scraping against the hardwood floors of what should be my sister’s bedroom.
“Ahhhh!” My mother’s loud, hysterical shriek rents through the air. “Kill it! Get that thing out of my house!”
I don’t even realize she’s talking about me until my father attempts to move in my direction. He doesn’t get a full step before Chance wraps a long, thick arm around my father’s neck, easily stopping in.
My mate remains in his human form but he doesn’t even look as if he’s breaking a sweat as he holds my father in a headlock.
Emery! Emery!
He calls out to me, but I can’t answer. My mind is too clogged with the last two words my mother said.
‘ She’s gone .’
“Where is Ashley?” I think I say it, but it comes out in an aggressive growl that shows off my incisors.
“Tranquilizer gun. Give me that!”
I watch as my mother retrieves what looks like a weapon from a silver tray held by the staff.
She aims it at my mate.
Chance doesn’t notice because his attention is on me, while he still holds my father in a headlock.
Chance! I yell out, but it’s too late. She shoots him in the arm, not once but twice.
“Bastard!” my mother yells.
Right before my eyes, Chance’s hold on my father loosens, and both men drop to their knees. My father sputters and coughs as he clutches his throat. Chance’s body sways, his eyelids shutting seconds before his entire body collapses to the floor.
I howl out in pain. My wolf and I can barely contain the pain of seeing him so lifeless like this. I attempt to go to him, but a shadow falls over me.
I look up to see my mother glaring down at me.
I bare my teeth and prepare my body to launch at her, but she aims first.
“Take that, you beast!” she says before shooting me in the shoulder.
Instantly, I become woozy. Though I try to fight it, I quickly lose control over my body.
Within seconds everything turns black.