CHAPTER 18: IT DOESN'T RAIN, IT POURS.

TRAVIS

“We have a series of problems,” Mark says as he strolls into my study. “I suggest you brace yourself.”

“What is it now?” I groan as I lean back in my chair. “Can't a man get one moment's peace?”

“Not if they are an Alpha of a leading pack,” he retorts. “It is the price of greatness.”

“Sure, whatever. What happened?”

“Per your instructions, we followed Gaines to monitor his movements after he left the pack, and guess who visited him not long after he got home?”

“I am not as obsessed with the man as he is with me, so how the hell am I supposed to know that?” I ask. “Who was it?”

“Selene.”

“Selene? Selene Lance? The deranged witch?”

“The one and only.”

“Wonderful,” I mutter. “Just bloody wonderful. What could a self made, important, egotistical witch like her want with a misogynistic and backwards man like Gaines?”

“We don't know that. Yet. Our scouts saw them talking at the pack's entrance clearing-”

“The entrance clearing? She never made it inside?” I ask.

“No. They had her wait for Gaines to show up. But from what the scouts reported they didn't have a nice talk and it seemed like a fight was about to break out before she left.”

“I don't mind that,” I murmur. “Let them tear themselves apart, I don't care. As long as they don't become friends or allies against me. I am good.”

“I will have them watched though,” he says. “Just to be safe.”

“Hmm. You said I had a series of problems. What are the others?”

“Yes, right. A few hours after Selene left, two others came out of the Blood Moon Pack. A man and woman.”

“A woman? They allowed a woman out? Why? And what is that an issue to me?”

“We don't know what the woman was let out and it is an issue because they are heading this way. To our pack?”

“My pack? As in here?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“No idea.”

“Damn it, Mark. This is why I said we need spies in his pack!”

“And I have advised against it. In order for someone to fit in as a spy in there, they have to have a certain mentality, certain characteristics, something that no one in the pack grew up with. They will stick out like a sore thumb and get killed. It is way too risky.”

“But-”

“And an outside contractor is just as risky. We can't be assured of their loyalty.”

“Fine. Do we know who these people are?”

“Not at the moment,” he says as he brings out a file from his jacket and hands it over to me. “Which is not a surprise, really. The Blood Moon Pack members keep to themselves. But we took pictures of them and I am planning on circulating them. See if we get a hit.”

I am looking through them when I catch the sound of heavy footsteps. Angry ones.

I look out the window to see Tammy stomping her way through the pathway, muttering and shaking her head in anger.

“What's up with her?” Mark wonders quietly.

“No idea. She had gone to see Lousia, hadn't she?”

“Yeah. She was very excited to see her. Which is why this is a surprise.”

“Tammy!” I call out and watch as she starts, looking around for who had called her

“Up here,” I call again and watch as she snaps her head up

“Alpha,” she greets, even as a strange look flashes in her eyes before it quickly fades away. “Is there a problem?”

“Can I see you up here for a minute?” I reply.

“Of course,” she says before hurrying into the mansion.

Less than a minute later, there is a knock on my door

“Enter,” I call out

“Alpha,” she gets as she steps in, avoiding my gaze.

Strange

“Come inside and close the door, Tammy. Coen take a look at this,” I say as I slide the pictures towards her. “You are the only one in this pack that has ever sneaked into the Blood Moon Pack. Do you recognize these people?”

She walks to the desk and checks the picture, a look of clear worry crossing her face

“You recognize them,” Mark says.

“Yeah. Those are Lou’s parents,” she answers. “Is this outside the pack? How did you get this? Why are they outside the pack?”

“Our scouts say they are approaching the pack,” Mark replies.

“They are coming for Lou,” she whispers.

“Clearly,” I mutter. “The bastard doesn't give up, does he?”

“What is our play?” Mark asks

“You are sure they are her parents right?” I ask her again

“Positive.”

“What would you say her relationship with them is like?”

“Well, if you had asked me thirteen years ago, I would have said begrudging love and an unwillingness to hurt them. Now… now I can't say. People change. She has changed.”

“What is that supposed to mean? Did you two have a fight? You just met? Is she okay?” I rush out.

“It is nothing,” she rushes to say. “There is no fight. I just… I am just surprised by how much she has… evolved. That is all.”

“Are you sure?” Mark asks her.

“Positive. Now, what do you plan on doing about them?” She asks, pomiyung at Lou's parents

“Nothing,” I say.

“Nothing? What do you 3man nothing?”

“Louisa, whether I like it or not, is a rogue. Hence if her parents want to see her, I can't stop them. She doesn't belong to my pack, hence the only authority recognized over her is her parents. If she doesn't want to obey them, she is going to have to renounce them as family.”

“That sucks.”

“It is the law,” I reply. “I need you to go prepare her for their arrival. I would hate for her to be blindsided.”

“Do I have to do it?”

“You are where friend and the only one she trusts her… is everything okay, between you two?”

“Yes. Everything is fine and you are right. I will prepare her first thing in the morning. I will just… let her rest for tonight.”

“Okay then. That will be all.”

“Alpha,” she says with a bow before leaving the room.

“What is going on with her?”

“You noticed too right?”

“The fact that she couldn't look you in the eye? Yes. I did.”

“Hmm. She will either talk about it when she is ready or get over it. Go prepare the guards. I don't want any surprises tomorrow.”

“Sure,” he says as he picks up the pictures. “But I think ther is one issue you should really think about?”

“What is that?”

“What is she decides to go with them?”

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