Filed To Story: In the Shadow of the Past Luna (Lily & James)
Even going 200 miles per hour-or whatever version of that speed Dr. Hyder is going as he navigates bends in the road, other vehicles, and natural barriers- the drive to Black Moon is a long one. I start looking for some sort of me ntal distraction that will prevent me from shifting into Luke or breaking a window in anger.
I briefly consider talking to Dr. Hyder about what the f&&k it was that we heard while Stephanie and Shella were fighting, but Dr. Hyder drives like he fights: rough and nasty. I do not dare interrupt him. Plus, he has been on the phone almost constantly, using an earpiece instead of the car speakers.
So… in between calling and texting Lily, praying, and worrying, I let my mind drift towards the fight at the opera house.
I was both shocked and happy when I found out that Jenny was part of the Movement. She was close enough to the key players that she had valuable inside information. I did not know her reasons for joining the Movement, though; I did not have time to ask.
Until Jenny said it on stage, I had no idea that Nick had cheated on her with Sheila. Does Nick know? That sounds like a weird question, but Jenny mentioned that Nick was drugged and we know how Stephanie and Sheila operated.
f Nick did not know, what is he thinking or feeling right now?
On the other hand, what if Nick did already know? Was that why he wanted me to marry Sheila? To somehow and strangely appease Jenny?
No, that does not make sense. But is there anything about the leadership of West Mountain Pack that makes sense anymore?
I wonder if Jenny is still committed to Nick. They have always seemed like a happy couple. I mean, they were never deliriously happy, but they were happy enough.
However, Jenny knew from the beginning that Stephanie was alive, and it is clear that she never told Nick. She also never told him about her involvement in the Movement, and she still has a lot of rage and resentment about what happened between Nick and Sheila. Can you keep those kinds of secrets and carry that amount of rage inside you for that many years and have it not negatively impact your relationship?
I am not sure, but I seriously doubt it.
I
Something else is bothering me. Sheila told Stephanie that I was a better f&&k than her brother and father. Sheila was obviously lying about sleeping with me, but she was apparently telling the truth about sleeping with Nick. What about Beta Robert? Surely he did not sleep with Sheila. That has to be a lie too, right?
But… what if it isn’t? Oh, Goddess. That adds a whole new layer to this mess.
My head is spinning.
“Son?”
Dr. Hyder suddenly says to me, breaking me out of my thoughts.
“Huh?”
“Brady’s beta just called. The attack is over. No known casualties, but a ton of injuries.”
“Where is Lily? Is she okay?”
“He did not know.”
“Oh.”
“Has she answered you back yet?”
“No.”
“You know it’s strange. Brady did not tell me that Lily got a phone, and I do not have her number.”
I look at Dr. Hyder curiously. “You don’t?”
“No.”
“I thought the two of you were close.”
“We are. Unfortunately, have not had time to go and see her since she got back from Hawaii.”
“Huh.”
7 have a bad feeling.”
That single line makes my heart race again. Dr. Hyder’s bad feelings are never good things.
(An hour later)
“What the f&&k do you mean that you do not know where Lily is?”
I scream as I press Brady aggressively against the wall in his office.
“Get off me, James.”
“F&&k you, Brady. TELL ME WHERE MY MATE IS!”
“I already told you! I do not know.”
“How long has she been gone, Brady?”
Dr. Hyder asks, in a voice even more angry than my own.
“Since the day we got back from Hawaii.”
“What?!?!?!?!?!?!?”
I punch Brady hard, breaking his nose. I then step away.
“How could you not tell us?”
Dr. Hyder demands.
“I did not know for two weeks that she was gone. Once I found out, I immediately sent trackers out there looking for her. That a&&hole over there was not even supposed to know where she was,”
Brady explains, pointing at me, “and I did not want you to come here screaming your head off at me and tipping off the enemies that she was out there in the world defenseless.”
“Two. Weeks. You did not know that Lily was missing for TWO. WEEKS?!?!? I gave you one assignment, Son. ONE! Protect that girl. And you did not know she was gone for two weeks? You do not deserve to call yourself an alpha! What the f&&k is wrong with you?!?!”
Brady runs his hands through his hair, obviously feeling frustrated and ashamed. Too bad I do not feel sorry for him. I want him to feel that way and more.
“Look, she left here voluntarily, okay? You know Rose is special. I think Rose helped her get out of here,”
Brady says quietly, still trying to defend himself. He was doing a horrible job.
He reaches into a locked drawer and pulls out a letter. “Here, look. She left this note.”
Dr. Hyder reads the letter and then gives it to me. I read it a few times, not really sure what to make of it.
“Has she given you any clues about where she might be, James?”
Dr. Hyder asks.
“Why would he know?”
Brady responds, suspicion obvious in his tone.
“Because she has been communicating with him by phone.”
“WHAT? Are you even sure that it is her?”
“Yes, A&&hole. She is my mate. We have talked by text and by phone.”
“And you know it is her? Not some scammer? Not someone pretending to be her?”
“I would know my own mate, Brady. It is her.”
“Really? Because I remember not too long ago in the past you thought your mate was Stephanie.”
I get up to punch Brady again. This time I am ready to kill him. I only get one punch in-surprisingly, Dr.
Hyder does not even try to stop me- when my phone rings.
Everyone in the room freezes.
I pull the phone out of my pocket. It is Lily. Oh, thank Goddess.
“Lily?”
New Book: Veiled Desires of the Alpha King Novel
Dayson was the alpha of the largest pack in North America. Powerful figures from other packs sought to offer gorgeous girls as potential mates for Dayson. He steadfastly rejected these advances, he was not a pawn to be manipulated. But eventually there came a mysterious girl he could hardly say No. Who was she?