Chapter 0009

Zachary

I release a heavy sigh as I step out of the house.

My feet carry me across the pack grounds, bracing for whatever awaits.

I haven't been summoned since the incident involving Liam.

Children are already streaming out of the small schoolhouse as I approach.

The session shouldn't have ended yet.

The teacher meets me at the door, her face tight with worry.

She silently gestures for me to follow.

I spot Lottie's small trainers peeking out from beneath a desk before the teacher even points.

"I can't reach her," the teacher whispers urgently. "She won't stop crying."

I hear Lottie's quiet whimpers and sniffles.

Her nose sounds completely stuffed.

"How long has she been like this?"

"The tears started and stopped all morning since she arrived."

"I'll be right outside if you need anything."

"Lottie, come out now."

Her little toes twitch slightly, but she doesn't move.

"Lottie, I can move this desk myself, but I want you to come out and talk to me."

The sniffles continue, but she remains silent.

I squat down to floor level and see her clutching her teddy bear desperately.

Her bright green eyes swim with tears.

Her cheeks shine red and puffy from constant rubbing.

"Lottie?"

"Daddy's in big trouble!" she croaks, fresh tears breaking free.

"Luc?"

Her eyes drop to study her shoes.

"A fire...and scary water."

"Come here," I urge, pulling her out and wrapping her in my arms.

I can't promise her that Luc will be fine when I don't know what's happening.

"I think...I think Daddy might die." She chokes out the words while clinging to me.

"How do you know this?"

She shrugs and scrunches her face miserably.

"He told me he loved me and to be good."

"You heard him say this?" I feel confused by her words.

She's so young, but then again, he is her birth father.

Hunters possess abilities others don't understand.

"Uh-huh."

I can't link with Luc mentally.

He refused pack bonds, making him unreachable except by phone.

"Have you tried talking to him?"

She nods.

"He hasn't said anything else?"

She shakes her head slowly.

"He told you about the fire?"

"No." She whimpers, her eyes locking with mine. "I felt it."

What does that mean?

How can she feel something happening hundreds of miles away?

"When did you hear him?"

"During breakfast." That explains why she suddenly lost her appetite and asked to walk to school alone.

"Is he with Theodore?"

She just shrugs.

"Let's go see Athena and Alexander at the new packhouse." I force a smile for her.

"Am I in trouble?"

"No, of course not. I just want you to tell them what you told me. Can you do that?"

"Yes, Daddy."

We walk across the grounds toward the pack house.

Lottie clings to me the entire way, refusing to be put down.

I can feel her fear and worry radiating from her small body.

It's more intense than what you normally sense from other children.

I'm certain she hasn't discovered her full range of abilities yet.

She still has a long way to go before she gains her Wolf.

I step into the packhouse, and Lottie finally relaxes enough to look around.

"Wow!"

Evrin and Logan come charging out from a side door, crashing into my legs just as Alexander appears.

"Boys, try not to knock him over." He pulls Logan from my leg and swings him up onto his shoulders.

"If you're looking for Evelyn, she's in there with Athena." He nods toward the office.

"Actually, we need to talk to both of you."

His eyes shift to Lottie. "She might be a while. Can you tell me?"

Lottie nods as I lower her to her feet.

"Daddy's in trouble. I think he might die."

"Luc," I add when Alexander cocks a brow at me.

"Let's get some ice cream." Alexander winks at her.

Lottie and Evrin immediately chase after him toward the kitchen.

I glance at the office door, hoping they were working things out inside.

Athena

His lips were rough yet soft against mine.

I pulled away abruptly.

He looked annoyed. Frustrated. Possibly even angry as he studied my face.

I couldn't be certain.

His hands dropped from my upper arms as he stepped back.

I had rejected an Alpha.

An Alpha who likely had never been rejected before.

What had I just done?

His crimson eyes lingered on my face until I lowered my gaze.

Mortification washed over me.

This wasn't how I imagined my first kiss would happen.

"Go!" he snapped, turning away toward his desk.

"Go where?" I whispered, fully expecting banishment from his pack.

"Out of my office!"

I paused at the door, wondering if I should apologize.

Glancing back, I found him focused on paperwork.

He flicked his hand dismissively, shooing me away.

Stepping into the hallway, I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment.

"Are you alright?" a deep, curious voice asked.

Looking up, I recognized one of the men who had come to my brother's house with Alpha Alexander.

The more I studied him, the more I saw his resemblance to Isabella.

Same dark hair. Same dark eyes.

"We haven't properly met. I'm Julian." He smiled warmly.

"Alpha Alexander's brother?" I whispered as he approached.

He nodded. "And I believe you've met my twin as well."

"Isabella?" I hadn't realized they were twins, though it didn't really matter.

He leaned against the wall beside me. "That's her. Everything okay? You seem... flustered."

"Just tired," I lied, uncertain who to trust here.

I definitely wasn't sharing details with Alpha Alexander's brother.

"Trying to remember the way back to my room."

"I can show you." His dark eyes drifted down past my face before snapping back up.

I'd seen that look many times before, but never here. Only back home.

"You will do no such thing!" Alpha Alexander ripped the office door open.

"Shouldn't you be training right now?"

Julian frowned, raising his hands in surrender. "Just being friendly."

He mumbled the words but wore a smirk as he turned and walked away.

Alpha Alexander's crimson eyes settled on me.

"I love my brother, but I'd prefer you never be alone with him."

His tone had changed completely from earlier in his office.

I stared at him, confused.

He was the one who sent me away.

Was this some kind of test?

My brother and Beta Marcus used to test me constantly.

I should be used to it, but it always caught me off guard.

"Athena, if you have something to say, say it." Alpha Alexander pressed.

Hold your tongue. Don't say anything. It's a trick.

I shook my head, keeping my eyes lowered.

"You're tired?" He asked, not pushing for more information.

I nodded. Easiest answer.

"This way."

He walked ahead of me again, leading through the maze of hallways.

We climbed a flight of stairs before stopping at a familiar door.

"I shouldn't have kissed you. You were clearly surprised."

He moved into the bedroom as he spoke.

"Though I have control, Titan has a tendency to break through occasionally."

Who the hell is Titan?

"You're lucky I stopped him before he went further. I'm patient. He isn't."

"Titan?" I muttered.

"My wolf."

Now he made no sense at all.

How could his wolf be someone completely different?