CHAPTER SIX

VINCE

A legion of questions swarms me on our quiet drive back home. As the car approaches the Alpha house, where I’m supposed to alight, I see Lola standing with Lori outside the door.

I quickly turn away, eyes straight, and gesture forward with my hand to Welsh, who throttles, heading for the parking lot. Lola walks towards us, but the car revs past her. A sour taste fills my mouth—guilt for not offering an explanation, but she’ll forgive me. 

Welsh and Levi stay mute and frozen beside the car as I march to my office. I sit on my chair, my head clasped between my hands as I scramble for an excuse to disobey the Supremes. A gentle knock on the door startles me; it creaks open, and Lola emerges. My gaze moves over her shoulder, but she shuts the door.

“She stayed back,” Lola says, pointing backwards.

I blow a loud breath, an unusual unease filling me as I think of talking to Lori. 

“Garf was there,” I state, gaze fixed on Lola’s.

Lola nods, exhaling softly. “Yeah, Welsh told me everything.” She strolls to one of the chairs and sits. “So what do we do?”

I tap the table with my knuckle. “My hands are tied, Lola. The Supremes are involved now.”

“But you can guess what will happen if Lori returns.” Lola scowls.

“I don't even know if her story checks out.” 

Lola blinks multiple times. “What do you mean by that?” She stands sharply, “Didn't you see the many bruises?”

“That's not what I mean.” 

“It’s obvious she was poorly fed,” Lola's voice rises. “Beaten with God knows what, and she was pregnant.” 

I exhale. “It's more complicated than that, Lola.”

Lola looks away and laughs dryly, blinking like she's holding back tears. “It's always more complicated, Vince.” With that, she walks out, shutting the office door with a loud thud.

My stomach twists because those last words meant more than they sounded. Since my return to Ashmoon, Lola has never mentioned anything about why I left in the first place. The uncertainty of her reaction prompts me to avoid any triggers to it, but I just tripped on it.

I’d deal with it, but Lori needs to leave first. I hurry back to the house with a resolve as strong as iron, but it melts when I step into the house. Lori, who was pacing the sitting area, halts and gazes at me with dread all over her face.

She has both hands under her protruding stomach like she fears it'll fall off her. I can hear her spiked heartbeat, and for a second, I think of reconsidering.

“You’ll have to return to Malrock.” My words are rushed.

Lori places her hand over her mouth as she sobs, shaking her head. “Please.” She whispers, sniffing. “I can't go back there.”

The words stab like multiple daggers shot fast, but I can't let them deter me. 

“It's a Supreme order,” I state. “Garf gave it himself.”

Lori's eyes stretch, and she sucks in a low breath. “Isn't that suspicious to you?” Her tone is steadier.

“Doesn't matter.” 

Our gazes meet for a second, and I see tears streaming down her cheeks. Conan paces in my head, and I shut my eyes to hold control. My wolf has never been this unstable because of any woman, and it makes me more curious about Lori, but I'm like a piece of meat stuck under a tooth.

“Please,” Lori whispers again. 

I swivel slowly on the spot, refusing to meet her eyes, and lift my hand slightly toward the door. 

“Levi will take you.” My voice is low, mirroring how my heart feels.

Lori walks slowly but stops in front of me, and I raise my gaze, breathing shallowly.

“Thank you.” Her shaky voice whispers, and I hear her gulp, silencing a sob.

Bile fills my mouth, and I stomp away to my room. My room door chooses the wrong time to be stubborn with me, and I slam my leg against it, forcing it open after trying the lock unsuccessfully. My chest rises and falls in deep, heavy breaths as I pace the room.

Why is it so magnetic? 

Wait, is this what people mean when they talk about being attracted to someone?

I turn sharply on my heels, shoving the thought. That can never be, not for me. I had given up on it long ago, and being occupied with helping lone wolves has made it easy to avoid it entirely. 

‘It can't be,’ I ponder, two fingers on my lips. ‘She's even pregnant.’

The thought lingers in my mind momentarily before I storm out of the room. If this is what I think it is, then I might not get another chance to know. I hurry to my office to retrieve my phone, and I dial Levi's phone as I head back to the house.

My eyes are fixed on my phone screen, beeping as it rings, and I swing the door open, almost bumping into Welsh. Lola appears from behind him with slightly raised brows as she holds up Levi's phone with its screen facing me, my name in bold letters as it vibrates.

Heat fills my face, and my heart sinks into my abdomen. As the words tumble off my lips, I spin on my heels, heading for the parking lot.

“I have to get her back.”