“The bracelet you asked me to buy for…,” I cough, suddenly having difficulty saying his fiancée’s name. “For…. her… is in your tuxedo pocket.”
I hear shuffling then Alaric’s grunt of approval. “So it is. You’ve done well. Seems like you’ve thought of everything, as usual…”
“Just doing my job.” I say tightly. Normally I’d appreciate a compliment like that from my boss, but today is not a normal day. And Alaric and I haven’t exactly had a normal relationship.
And Alaric today is also not himself.
He should be the Alpha king who has always been cold, not the one awkwardly chatting with me about these topics.
Seconds tick by and neither of us speaks. I check the clock, and realize I need to get going.
“Umm… I hope you have a happy wedding… and happy marriage..” It feels like the right thing to say, like a semblance of a veiled goodbye. And at least it fills the uncomfortable silence.
“Thanks…” It seems Alaric feels just as strange.
Well, this is awkward.
“Cara,” Alaric clears his throat, buying time. “I hope this goes without saying, but I must remind you that you are required to attend the ceremony today. Until the very end.”
“Mhmm…” I don’t trust myself to voice a response. To once again lie to him this directly.
1/4
Chapter
He pauses, then says, “Inced you there.”
I close my eyes and pinch the bridge of my nose between my fingers, staving off the headache that Alaric is stirring up.
“I know,” I reply. It’s not exactly a lie. I’m sure at this moment Alaric thinks he does need me.
“See you soon.” He says before hanging up.
No, I think, you won’t.
I slept at Ruby’s last night. I doubted that Alaric would have the time or desire to stop at the apartment we shared, but I avoided it just in case.
I gather my things and head to the car.
I drop one of my smaller bags as I’m attempting to open the passenger side door. The bag hits the ground with a thud, landing next to the tire.
I bend to pick up the bag with a sigh and look inside, hoping nothing fragile was inside. Luckily, everything seems safe and sound, but notice a drop fall from the bottom of the bag.
My hand reaches for the leather on the bag’s underside. It’s wet.
I look down next to the tire and see a small puddle. I drop to one knee, peeking as far under the car as I can see. There’s a piece of tubing hanging next to the wheel.
It looks like it’s been cut.
Oh shit. It’s the brake line.
But the car worked perfectly fine last night. I got to Ruby’s with no issues. I looked around, for something, anything, that could explain how this happened.
Someone must’ve done this.
But who? And why?
It couldn’t have been Alaric. He wanted me to be at the wedding today, and I couldn’t exactly do that with a broken car. Plus, I don’t think he wants to hurt me…
“Lilia on the other hand…” My wolf, Lucy, growls lowly in my mind.
I almost laugh at the ridiculous notion that the pack’s soon–to–be Luna would attempt to hurt a Beta, but the memory of Lilia tripping me at the office silences my laughter.
But that doesn’t make any sense. On the night before and morning of her wedding, Lilia would no doubt be busy with massages and makeup appointments and hair appointments and photo shoots…
No, it couldn’t have been her.
“Doesn’t mean it wasn’t her idea,” Lucy says.
She’s got a point there. But who would do something so reckless, so ruthless…
The image of a face flashes in my mind. Someone who absolutely hates me. Someone who would love to get me out of the
way, at any cost.
2/4
15:29 Wed, Jan 1 GG &
Chapter 21
George.
The former Gamma that Alaric exiled for sabotaging me and speaking ill of me.
The former Gamma who I had witnessed making deals with Lilia
Of course.
My fingers anxiously type a text to Ruby, asking if I can take her car.
She took an early shift at the hospital this morning, which is close enough that she walks to work.
The plan had been for her to follow me after the wedding in her own car, but I’m running out of options. I have to leave. NOW
7%
+5
Relief washes over me as Ruby replies with the location of her spare car keys. She tells me to take the car and go, she’d figure out another way to get to our meeting place outside of pack territory.
1 grab the car keys and my belongings, rushing into the car with fresh vigor, moving as quickly as my body will allow.
My foot presses on the gas pedal, and I watch as Ruby’s apartment gets smaller and smaller in the rearview mirror.
My old life is behind me now. I’m starting a new adventure, finding a new me…!
There’s so many emotions coursing through me as I make my way through town.
It’s both terrifying and invigorating.
The streets are quiet this morning on account of the wedding. Most pack members will attend. Those who be watching the ceremony live on TV.
There’s no one out to see me leaving. No one to report it back to Alaric.
It’s just me and the road.
Ven’t will likely
I take a long, deep breath as I reach the edge of town and let my muscles relax as much as they can. All the pretending I’ve been doing for the last few weeks with Alaric has been worth it for this moment.
I let myself smile.
And it’s a true, honest grin.
I’m sure it’s not picture perfect.But this smile is just for me.
I glance in the rearview mirror, eager to see if I look as relieved as I feel. If I look happy.
I’m so focused on catching the sight that I don’t look at the road in front of me.
I don’t see the strange car speeding towards me. I don’t see the car cross onto my side of the road. But when I noticed it, I knew it was definitely placed there on purpose.
“What is it…?“I confused say.
Only a moment before impact do I notice the car coming towards my car.
But it was already too late.
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15:29 Wed, Jan 1 G G
Chapter 21
“Bang–!!!”
A million pieces of glass fly. There’s a deafening crunching soun
“BE CAREFUL! GARA!!!”
I hear my wolf Lucy scream a terrible, bone–chilling, blood–curdling scream in my mind as I wrap my arms around my belly
I hold my belly, cradling the baby that might never get a chance to be born. The baby that may never cry in my arms.
I’m sure it’s futile but in that one single moment just before impact, it’s all I can think to do….!
CARA- “Lucy screamed.
And everything goes black.
4/4
Chapter 22
Eamon’s POV
“Conference room on the second floor. Meet me there in 5 minutes. It’s urgent,”
I send the text to my five brothers, hoping they do as they’re told
We’ve all gathered at the hotel in Pack DarkWood territory for lia and Alaric’s wedding. At least the hotel staff was kind enough to let me use the room for a family meeting.
I don’t have much time before the ceremony starts. I don’t have much time to tell them what I’ve learned.
