Filed To Story: In the Shadow of the Past Luna (Lily & James)
“James? Are you okay? You called me 55 times and sent me 34 text messages.”
“Why didn’t you answer?”
“I was working. I had a double shift at the girls’ home and I do not have my phone on when I am there.
Are you okay?”
“Yes… but where are you?”
“James, I-“
“Please, Lily. Tell me where you are. Black Moon was attacked today. They are still trying to piece. together who did it, but everything so far is pointing to them trying to come for you. Please. Tell me where you are. I will come to you.”
Silence.
“Is everyone at Black Moon okay?”
she asks.
“Yes. There are some injuries, but no casualties.”
More silence.
“Lily?”
“I am here.”
“Please, Lily. I need to see you. I need to know that you are safe. I am here with Brady and Dr. Hyder. They are just as worried as I am. Please. Just tell me where you are.”
Silence.
Finally, after what seems like forever, Lily responds. “Ravenswood.”
“Ravenswood?”
I repeat, letting out a small smile. “Home of the Wolf Packers?”
“Yes.”
“I will be on the next flight out. Please. Stay right where you are, okay? Please. Do not go to work. Do not go anywhere. Just wait for me. I will be there as soon as I can.”
“Okay.”
I hang up and start to leave Brady’s office. Before I can, Dr. Hyder stops me.
“Take our plane.”
I glance at Brady, who is giving his father a dirty look.
“It will be faster. Take the plane.”
I nod. Off to Ravenswood I go
(Nick POV)
After the disastrous wed memorial event, I somehow made it back to the packhouse. I really do not know how I got here. I am sure that I was ushered back by one of the security guards, but I honestly.
cannot remember.
I do know that, ever since I got back, I have been sitting by myself on a chair in the packhouse living room. I also know that it has been several hours since we got back.
Wolves around me are running around. A few-like my mother-seem to be happily rejoicing Stephanie’s return. Others seem confused. Still others, including Sheila and Jenny’s parents, seem worried or nervous.
For their part, Alpha Randall, Luna Jane, and my father are hurriedly gathering information for, and meeting with, members of the werewolf council. They all have their “business faces”
on.
I have no idea where James is. I know that Stephanie has been looking for him everywhere, but she has yet to find him. As far as I know, he left before the end of the showdown between Jenny, Stephanie, and
Sheila. I do not even know if he saw it all, or if he saw how it ended.
As for me and what I am doing and how I am doing?
I am just sitting here, numb. I do not know where to turn or where to go. I do not know what to think. I do not know who to trust, who to rely on, or even what part of this entire mess that I should be most shocked by.
I mean, so many things were revealed today. What part of is more shocking? Is it that:
-Stephanie is alive?
-Stephanie tried to fake her own kidnapping?
-Stephanie has been living happily with a human for the past six years?
-Stephanie has a pup?
-Lily was innocent?
-Lily was mocked and tortured and punished for years for something she did not do?
-I slept with Sheila three times without knowing it? (I do vaguely recall having sex before I marked Jenny and while Jenny was out of town, but until today I thought those were just very vivid dreams.)
Stephanie not only recorded me sleeping with Shella, but also sent the video to Jenny?
I
Honestly, any one of those things would send most wolves for a tailspin. In fact, I suspect half the pack is probably reeling right now.
And yet.. deep down…. I know that I am not sitting numbly in this chair because of any of those revelations.
No, I am sitting in this chair because of Jenny.
Please do not get me wrong. I am shocked and disturbed and upset by what came out today. I do not understand why Sheila and Stephanie have not yet been sent to the dungeons; a part of me wants to take both of them there myself.
But… the betrayal I am feeling from my mate almost feels worse. No, it is worse.
Seven years ago, I committed my heart and soul to Jenny. I fell in love with her the moment that we discovered that we were mates. Stephanie gave me a hard time when I announced the mating, saying.
she would have preferred Sheila to be my mate, but I ignored her. I was determined to be with the she-
wolf that the Moon Goddess chose for me.
Jenny and I marked, mated, and married right after Jenny returned from a pre-planned trip to see her extended family in Europe over the summer. We have barely been apart since.
I have always known that Jenny and I did not have the most romantic of relationships, but I thought that was just the way that Jenny was, and it seemed to work for us. I had no idea that Jenny was holding back so much pain and resentment, nor did I have any idea that she was keeping so many secrets.
Stephanie and Sheila obviously have a lot to answer for. What they did was wrong, and the werewolf council will have to deal with them. Even my mother will not be able to prevent them from facing punishment. (Although they are not in the dungeons, they have been placed on strict house arrest, not able to leave the packhouse until the council finishes its investigation.)
But again, for some reason, I am not angry at them. Well, I mean, I AM angry at them. But I am much, much more angry at Jenny.
How many nights did I cry on Jenny’s shoulder after Stephanie died? How could Jenny sit there and comfort me, knowing how badly I was hurting, and never tell me the truth?
How could Jenny sit there and watch my whole family fall apart? My mother was in agony. My father was too. What did either of them do to deserve that pain? What did I do to deserve it?
And what about Lily? Jenny was there when Lily was mocked and neglected and abused. She knew that Lily was suffering. She knew that people blamed Lily for Stephanie’s death. She also knew that our own nothing? 5
And what about the betrayal pains? How could Jenny keep all of the pain and hurt locked inside her for so many years, and never trust me enough to tell me about it? Or ask me about it?
Why did she even marry me? Or let me mark her?
And why would she choose to disclose everything today, in the most public, embarrassing way? Was she trying to ruin my family? Was she trying to ruin me?
None of it makes sense.
I know that I love Jenny with all of my heart, but I no longer know if I know her. And neither does my wolf.
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?