CHAPTER 19

Helena

I shouldn’t have answered the call. The fact that the call was from an unknown number and it woke me up at 1:47am was enough reason for me to ignore the call and go back to sleep. But I didn't.

I was in Jarrett’s guest room, lying awake, listening to him move around in the kitchen. He hadn’t slept yet. I don’t think he sleeps anymore.

My phone buzzed again and again. And instead of switching off my phone, I picked up the call.

“Who is this?” I said in a voice that was so low that Jarrett wouldn’t hear.

A man’s voice came from the other end of the call. The voice was deep and smooth like he was used to people listening to him speak.

“Helena Callahan. I’ve been waiting to talk to you.”

I sat up. “Who are you?”

“Alpha Kade Merrick of the North Ridge Pack.”

The air went cold. The North Ridge...a pack. That was the same name I had found in the hidden police reports that said I killed my parents.

“What do you want?” I asked.

“I want to offer you something,” he said. “Something Brent and your little hockey player, Jarett can’t give you.”

I didn't say anything, I just kept breathing heavily into the phone.

“Safety, Helena. And the truth about what happened to your parents and what you truly are.”

My throat closed. “I don’t need anything from you.”

“You’re lying,” Kade said. “I can smell it. You’re scared. And you’re tired of pretending you’re human when you’re not.”

I hung up the phone. My hands had already began to shake.

Jarrett knocked on the door 30 seconds later. “You okay?”

“I'm fine,” I called back. “Go to bed.”

I laid back down, but I didn’t sleep. I couldn't.

The next morning, the same person called again while I was alone at the rink. With cold fingers, I picked the call. I couldn't explain why I had to.

“Don’t hang up,” Kade said before I could. “Come meet me. I just want to talk.”

“I don't want to meet with you.” I said.

“Then we’ll talk here,” he said. “And trust me, you don’t want your team seeing wolves walk into your arena.”

Damn him.

“Where are you?” I asked, gritting my teeth in defeat.

“Meet me at the old freight yard by 8pm and come alone.”

I hung up again.

I told myself I wouldn’t go. This was all a trap and Jarrett would lose his mind if he found out.

But I kept thinking about my parents and the questions I’d had for 8 years.

So at 7:30 I told Jarrett I was going to get files from my old apartment.

He nodded and didn't ask anything else. God, I hated that I was lying to him.

I got to the freight yard. The entire place smelled like rust and rain.

I found the man, Kade waiting by a shipping container alone.

He was tall with a broad chest. Gray at the temples with gold eyes.

He didn’t look like a monster, he looked more like a CEO.

“Helena,” he said. “You came.”

“I have 10 minutes.”

“Fair.” He gestured to a crate. “Please sit.”

I didn’t. “Tell me what actually happened to my parents.” I said instantly.

Kade sighed. “They were hiding you from us and the world. They knew what you were and they were terrified you’d turn.”

“Turn?”

“Become a wolf,” he said simply. “Your mother’s line is old and rare. She had Alpha blood running through her. The council wanted you just so they could breed you for power.”

I felt sick. “So you killed them?”

“No,” Kade said, he sounded honest. “A rogue group did. There were stupid young males. They thought if they killed your parents, they could take you. We came too late.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to not believe him. “Why are you telling me this now?”

“Because Brent is going to get you killed,” Kade said. “And so is Jarrett Brooks.”

That got to me. “What?”

“Jarrett,” Kade said, like he was sorry to say it. “He knew about you when you were 18. He ran because he didn’t want the responsibility. And now he’s back because he smells your wolf waking. It’s not love, Helena. It’s instinct. Fated mate nonsense.”

My chest tightened, “That’s not—”

“He’s using you,” Kade cut in. “To get back in the league’s good graces. To look like the hero. The second you’re not useful, he’ll leave again. Wolves always do.”

I crossed my arms. “You don’t know him.”

“I know his kind,” Kade said. “I also know yours.”

He stepped closer, “Come with us,” he said. “We’ll teach you control. We’ll protect you and you can be what you were meant to be. Alpha.”

Alpha?! The word hit me in the ribs.

For one second I imagined it.

“I can’t,” I said.

Kade’s face didn’t change. “You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Then you’re making a mistake.” He pulled a card from his pocket. It was plain black with a number on it. “When Brent hurts you again and when Jarrett leaves, call me.”

He tossed it at my feet.

“Last thing,” he said. “Tell Jarrett I said hi and tell him we’re watching.”

He melted into the dark and was gone before I could answer him.

I picked up the card unsure if I wanted to keep it. I shoved it into the pocket and looked around, just in case.

The cold air was already seeping into my bones when I walked back to the car and got in.

Kade's words had burrowed something inside my head. I took out the card and stared at it in silence for a long time before I shoved it right back into my pocket and started the car.