Whatever he’s up to, I don’t have time to deal with it right now.
I turn and nearly run down the hall before he can stop me again.
“…Thank you!” I hear him yell behind me.
Just as Ruby and I had discussed, I return to the apartment. I’m thankful I took the time to pack everythingup earlier. It’s all neatly arranged, waiting for me.
I take one last look around the apartment.
“It better be the last…” Lucy says in my mind. Her voice is joking, but I know that she’s been through a lot with all this
emotional turmoil.
We both have been through a lot.
15:28 Wed, Jan 1 GGU.
Chapter 20
But that’s all going to change
We’re going to find a new pack. I’ll get a new job–it doesn’t matter to me what it is. I don’t care if I’m a Beta or a Gamma, a Delta, or no title at all.
As long as I don’t have to resort to being a rogue, we’ll be okay. As long as I have a pack, we’ll be okay.
Me, Lucy, and the baby. We’re going to be okay.
The more I let myself imagine our future, the more excited I fee.
There’s a whole world of possibilities out there beyond Pack DarkWood.
Maybe it was Fate for everything to turn out this way..
Lilia
The way Cara held that belly was unmistakable.
I couldn’t believe my eyes at first, but I saw it. And I saw that look in her eyes when I raised my suspicións out loud.
There’s only one reason a she–wolf would cradle herself like that
….Cara’s pregnant!
I just know it!
“You have to believe me! It’s true, I saw it!” I phoned Eamon, trying once again to get him to help me, but he once again
refused.
“Lilia, you can’t possibly know that without any evidence. Just focus on your wedding. You’re getting married tomorrow!” 1 could tell Eamon was trying his best to distract me, but I couldn’t shake my outrage.
Something had to be done.
When Eamon was no use, I phoned Richard. At least he had helped me before. The anti–fertility treatment clearly didn’t work, but maybe we could forge a new plan.
“I’m sorry, Lilia, but there’s nothing more I can do. Anything more and I risk getting myself in the business with the hospital board. This is a new job for me, please just let this go.” Richard said when I asked for his help.
So, Richard wouldn’t help me either. My normally dependable and moldable Richard was against me now, too, just like
Eamon.
She is taking every single man from my life and twisting them around her grubby little fingers!
Cara is NOT getting away with this!
During our phone call, Richard had mentioned that he was going to be away from the hospital for the rest of the day. I decided to sneak into his office. In addition to drugging her, I had asked him to dig up any dirt he could find on Cara.
I need to see if his search had found anything useful. I probably can’t count on him to deliver any more information to me.
I see something with “CARA WILSON” written on it on his desk, Exactly what I’d been looking for! I KNEW it was a good idea to break into his officel
But, looking closer, I see that it wasn’t anything useful at all. It’s just a bag of hair?
And there’s another bag, right next to it, also with hair in it. The bag is flipped over, the label hidden. I turn the bag and gasp.
15:28 Wed, Jan 1. Gu
Chapter 20
“LILIA AUBURN” the label–reads.
How did he get my hair!
What is Richard up to?
I dig under the bags and find… the old Auburn family portrait.
Someone had drawn a bright red circle around my father and Nanny, standing closely next to each other.
¥:87%
Underneath the photo were documents detailing information about Nanny. Former addresses, dates of employment, interviews with people close to her….
Underneath that was a single piece of paper, frayed edges showing it was ripped from a notebook. There were notes scribbled on the page in Richard’s handwriting,
I read:
“NANNY AND FATHER– LONG SEXUAL AFFAIR
CARA VERY LIKELY REAL SISTER
LILIA VERY LIKELY FAKE
SENDING HAIR SAMPLES FOR GENETIC TESTING. AWAITING RESULTS
stare at the page for several long, long minutes. The longer I look, the more my hands begin to shake with pure rage.
I want to scream! I want to rip this paper and everything on this desk to shreds!!
I want to kill her!
Yes! That’s it! That’s the only way to stop this from going any further!
I need to kill Cara Wilson.
It’s the only way.
I know exactly who to call.
“…George,” I say when the exiled Gamma answers. “I need your help.
Cara’s POV
This is it. Alaric’s wedding day is finally here.
My mind is racing with thoughts of my escape plan, the plan that Ruby and I hatched to get me out of Pack DarkWood and away from Alaric.
I’m running through my mental checklist, pulling my fiery red hair into a ponytail when my phone starts to ring. I look down at the illuminated screen.
It’s Alaric. The very last person I want to talk to right now.
My fingers are still, resting on the top of my head. If I just wait… could very easily just let it keep ringing…
But if I don’t answer, he might know something’s up.
He might try to stop me.
No, I sigh to myself, I have to keep pretending. Just for a little while longer. I’m almost there.
“Hello?” I answer, hoping that my voice sounds cheerful, or at least normal enough.
“Cara. Did you remember my cuff—” He starts.
“Your cufflinks. Yes, they’re on your dresser table. I had the villa staff put them there. Red box.” I can picture the exact spot in my mind.
“Oh… Yes. I see them now…” Alaric’s voice trails off. “And the gift?”
