Chapter 2

Eric-

“What is up?” I asked Brook after she asked me to come to see her in Tate’s office.

“I need you to be in Blackwater, Colorado by tomorrow night.” Brook said, getting straight to the point.

I tried not to groan. It has been a little over two months and we haven’t been successful with helping anyone. Most that contacted the website had been just a waste of time. Just teens messing around and sending me on a wild hunt.

The few that did need help, it was for help with things that weren’t related to the program. It was either they needed help with money, or they needed a job, or help with their homework. I was pretty sure there were some out there that needed help, but I was rethinking how to find them.

I have scouted a few packs but didn’t come across anyone needing help. This was turning out to be a lot more difficult than either Brook or I have realized. Even she had thought about shutting the program down.

“What is it this time? I swear if it is another prank, I am going to hurt them. I don’t care if they are just a bunch of teenagers.” I told Brook, just before I sat down in the chair across from the desk.

I don’t know why Brook didn’t use her own office, but I didn’t mind being in here either. Leaning back, I kicked my feet up on the desk. Just as quickly as I placed them on, I took them right back down, at the look of warning on Brook’s face.

“This time I think it’s the real deal. I think this girl is in serious danger. I have this feeling that we need to help her.” Brook said, looking down at her laptop that was sitting next to Tate’s.

I wanted to believe her, but the last few times she sent me on a fool’s errand, it had been nothing more than a teen wanting to play a prank. The kid had been very convincing too. He claimed he had been getting beat by his dad and needed a way out.

I had been so pissed that I went to tell his dad what was going on and watched as he got punished. Honestly, I wished his dad would have hit him. I know I had wanted to, but instead, he just had his phone taken away and grounded.

It had been such a human punishment, that it made me sick. Even when I got into trouble growing up, I was beaten seconds from my life by my father and even my brother at times. Kids nowadays seem to have it too easy.

“Tell me about her.” I said, trying to push my thoughts of the spoiled brat out of my head.

“Based on her application, she is a member of the Red Rose pack in Blackwater Colorado. Her name is Leilani Daniel, she is nineteen and an orphan. She is currently living as an adoptive daughter to Alpha William and his mate Luna Trisha. According to Leilani, it is the Luna that is causing her issues, but the rest of the pack isn’t helping her. She became defensive when I started asking questions and…” Brook cut herself off, turning her laptop to face me.

“Here, you read it.” She added, shoving her laptop closer to me.

Leaning forward, I read the conversation that was between Brook and WL0033, which I assumed was Leilani. Unlike the others that have contacted us, this one did seem legitimate. Whoever this girl was though, she seemed to possess somewhat of an attitude.

The last few messages between them seemed a little concerning though, which was probably why I felt this instant need to protect the girl. If she was in danger, I wonder if she was in danger at this moment.

“I will go.” I told Brook, standing up from my chair.

“I told her tomorrow night.” Brook said as I made my way towards the door.

“I know, but I am going to prepare to leave first thing in the morning. Maybe I can scout out the area and see if she is in immediate danger.” I told her, pausing at the door.

“Just be careful. Sounds like the pack is scared of their Luna. Not sure why, but something tells me that it isn’t going to be easy. Would you like me to send Tate with you? I don’t feel comfortable sending you into a situation by yourself. Besides I could use a break from Tate and his coddling.” Brook said, causing me to laugh when I turned back and saw her face was scrunched up.

The closer Brook got to delivering her baby, the more overbearing Tate became. It was almost as if he thought she was an invalid, not pregnant. I didn’t think I needed any help with rescuing the girl, but I didn’t mind taking Tate with me to give Brook a break.

“Have him ready at first light.” I said, laughing as I left the office and made my way to my suite.

The entire walk to my room, I couldn’t help but think about this Leilani girl and just what kind of things she has been through. Part of me still didn’t think it was anything, but there had been something about the messages that gave me pause. If she really was in danger, what kind of danger was she in?

When Brook had been found outside of Lunar Eclipse, it had been pure luck she was found. I hadn’t been here when she first came, but from what I heard, she was in worse condition than when I first met her. From what Tate told me, he didn’t even think she was going to survive the drive back here.

Once inside my suite, I went straight to my bedroom to pack a bag. It wouldn’t take long to reach the Red Rose pack, but I fully intended to be prepared. Since I didn’t know what I was getting into, I thought it best to pack some clothes, in case I needed to shift for any reason. It wouldn’t hurt to grab something Leilani could change into as well.

I wasn’t sure what size she was, but I found a pair of sweatpants that tied at the waist and an old shirt of mine from when I was younger. It was probably the smallest shirt I owned, but if she was anything like the size of Brook, it would still be big on her. I also packed a bit of cash, just in case I needed to get any food or maybe even a hotel or something.

If this was real, I wanted to be prepared for anything. I could sleep outside and fend for myself, but I couldn’t expect this girl to do it. When the bag was packed, I took it out to the kitchen and set it on the kitchen table.

My place was much different from Brook and Tate’s suite. I didn’t have all the upgrades that they had. My furniture was nice, but it was more for comfort than looks. Unlike their place, I had two bedrooms, a large kitchen with an adjoining dining room, a wall that divided the kitchen from the living room, and two bathrooms.

Each bedroom had its private bath. My walls were all painted a shade of white, but I don’t remember what the exact color was. To me, white was white. All in all, now that I think about it, it was kind of plain in contrast to the suite Brook and Tate lived in.

In the living room, I had a sectional couch, that had recliners on each end. It had a brown suede fabric, with black leather trim. I no longer had a coffee table, after the last one broke when Tate and I got a little rough. It had been a new table, but that didn’t stop me from throwing Tate on it and breaking it.

I had a large television hanging on the wall, but I couldn't remember the last time I turned it on. There was a small desk off to the far side of the living room, that had a computer on it. A small end table with a lamp on it, that I used as a catchall for random things.

Overall, it wasn’t the greatest, but it was my home. I had offered it to Tate after I found out Brook was pregnant, but he turned it down. He told me that he was going to remodel his old suite and the empty suite next to it, to combine the two into a bigger place.

He didn’t want me to tell Brook though since apparently it was supposed to be a surprise. Since the suite they were in now used to be his and his first mate’s, he wants to have a place built for Brook and their child, that they can make new memories in.

It took a lot of effort to not say anything to him about the fact that the suite he was living in and going to use in the remodel, had a lot of history as well. Since it was used practically as a brothel for all the women he used after his first mate died. I didn’t want to take away his excitement though, so I kept it to myself.

“Do you really need me to go with you?” I heard Tate ask through the pack link, just as I headed back into my room to attempt to get a bit of rest.

“Yeah.” I responded, not wanting to give him many details.

“Brook could go into labor at any moment, I want to be here when she does. Can’t you get someone else?” Tate asked, using the pack link once more.

I couldn’t help but laugh at him. He was taking this a little too far. Not that I didn’t understand where he was coming from, but he was practically whining in my ear like a child throwing a fit.

“She isn’t due for at least another month, she will be fine. You are coming with me. See you in the morning, be out front by first light.” I told him, just before ending the link between us.

Putting up a mental block, I prevented him from being able to link with me again. Shaking my head, I threw myself on my bed, not even bothering to undress or kick off my shoes. I thought maybe it would be difficult to attempt sleep, but in no time at all, I was starting to doze off.