Chapter 22: Ada's Mate

Ada

There is a sombre atmosphere hanging in the living room when we enter. Dad is sitting in his favourite chair, brooding with a drink in his hand. My brothers are in the opposite corner talking softly with Reese and Blake.

“Where’s aunt Margo?” I ask as I take a seat opposite Dad.

“In her quarters,” Dad answers in a monotone. “She fainted. Seth should be here any minute to take care of her.”

“Dad …”

“Do you think I was too harsh on him?” Dad cuts me off and looks at me. “Maybe I overreacted.”

“Dad, at one point or another you locked me and my brothers up in the dungeon to teach us a lesson,” I smile gently. “We survived and so will he.”

“And every time I locked you up, I asked your mother the same question,” he smiles sadly. “I can still hear her telling me I did the right thing.”

“You did,” I say urgently, reaching for his hand. “We learned our lesson and behaved. Come on, Dad, you fixed up that cell. It’s clean and safe. It was like a regular room without toys.”

“I wanted to add a TV, but your mother said it will defeat the purpose of punishment,” he says with nostalgia.

“In all fairness, Dad, the dungeon is the wrong word for that cell,” I smirk. “The bed is comfortable, there are educational books to read and it even has its own private bathroom.”

“She’s right, Father,” Tyler joins us. “We called it the motel room.”

“I appreciate your support,” Dad looks at us. “Clyde … his life wasn’t easy and I tried to be a father to him, but I failed.”

“He’s twenty-eight, Dad,” I roll my eyes. “He’s an adult and capable of differentiating between right and wrong.”

“So,” Dad turns to me. “What about the funeral?”

“I’m going,” I sit back in my chair. “I need to smooth things over with Killian. We need him to help with the rogues.”

“It’s a lost cause,” Dad shakes his head. “Clyde and his big mouth spoiled everything. Killian is a proud man. He won’t settle for second place.”

“He will when we tell him she’s rejecting her mate,” Reese says.

“Oh, please,” Tyler snorts. “No disrespect, but a blind man can see that you have the hots for my sister.”

“Well,” Reese grins sheepishly. “And then there’s the time I told Clyde he would have to deal with me if he comes near Ada again. Clyde would’ve told Killian that I’m serious about the mate thing.”

“Not if it’s me that’s going,” Blake smirks and crosses his arms in front of him. “I doubt Clyde will tell us the truth about what he leaked to Killian. But he wouldn’t have deemed it necessary to give Killian descriptions of us. He has names, not looks.”

“So, you’re going as Reese?” Father asks as he scratches his chin. “That just might work.”

Everything in me wants to protest, but I keep quiet. The plan makes sense. I just do not know how Blake and I can be alone without strangling each other. But that point is also the reason why it will work. He might fool Killian with a false name, but his behaviour towards me is genuine and Killian will eat it up.

“Blake and I will keep Killian distracted while Violet and Zoe get more information,” I explain. “We need to know why he lied about the attack. Was it purely to cover his Delta’s death or are there more to it?”

“If she’s going, I’m going,” Cooper says determinedly.

“You can’t,” Tyler shakes his head. “You and Blake look too much alike. If Clyde told him you’re brothers, he will know we’re lying.”

“But …”

“Don’t start,” Zoe cuts off Cooper’s protest. “I’m a warrior and this is what I do.”

“I wasn’t going to say you shouldn’t go,” he mopes. “I was only going to say I want to help.”

“Don’t stress it, Cooper,” I stand up. “There will be ample opportunities. There’s still the matter of the bomb.”

“Okay, Ada,” Dad smiles at me. “Let me know if you need anything for the funeral. I’m leaving the matter in your hands. I will only make matters worse if I talk to Killian.”

“Thanks, Dad,” I peck him on the cheek. “I won’t let you down.”

“You never do,” he smiles as he gets up. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I had enough of this day.”

“And you and I should sort Clyde’s duties while he’s in the naughty corner,” Tyler points at Zayne.

“We should get to the caves,” Cooper murmurs as they leave. “We must be in place before the tide moves in.”

“Be safe,” Zoe wraps her arms around his waist.

“Let’s go,” Blake grunts as he rolls his eyes.

“See you later,” Reese kisses me quickly before he follows.

“Violet,” I turn to her. “Have you and Eric talked after we left?”

“Duh,” she rolls her eyes. “Only every day.”

“And he’s still unwilling to accept my money?” I ask softly.

“Yes,” she sighs. “And I’ve tried everything. He’s too proud.”

“Men,” Willow snots. “You should tell him there’s a difference between stubborn and stupid. And he’s being stupid.”

“Well, then there’s no other way than to kidn*p him or stage his death,” I shrug.

“Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds?” Zoe frowns. “He’s not willing to do the sensible thing and pay off his debt with a legit loan, but he’s willing to commit fraud and stage his death.”

“I never said he’s willing to go for plan B,” I wiggle my eyebrows. “He doesn’t have a choice.”

“No,” Violet shakes her head. “I cannot do that to him. It will humiliate him and he will never forgive me.”

“Violet, even if he pays the debt, can you honestly say that Killian will let him go?” Willow reasons. “You said it yourself, Killian doesn’t allow pack members to leave alive.”

“Violet should give him the choice,” I say. “And if he refuses both options, she must reject him and move on with her life.”

“Ada’s right,” Zoe agrees. “We can’t do anything if he doesn't want help.”

“Okay, fine,” Violet throws her hands defeated into the air. “I’ll give him the ultimatum.”

“Whatever you do, do not use that word,” Willow says sternly. “Men don’t respond well to ultimatums.”

“Zoe,” I turn to her. “You’ll need to speak with the Delta’s family and find a way to make them talk. One of them must be heartbroken and bitter enough to tell the truth.”

“Sure,” she smiles.

“And Blake and I will try and salvage what Clyde f*cked up,” I grunt. “I need to stay on Killian’s good side if I want to get behind what he and Clyde are up to. I have my suspicions but I lack motive.”

“Oo, I love a good conspiracy theory,” Zoe makes herself comfortable on the couch.

“I think Clyde and Killian want to take over Moon Shadows,” I say softly. “I don’t know why but that’s the only reasonable explanation for why they would put our wolves to sleep.”

“In other words, the bomb at your party was only a test,” Willow states. “And there might be more bombs when they attack.”

“Enough bombs to affect the entire pack,” I say. “That’s truly all that makes sense to me.”

“If your suspicions are right, there must be a place where they build it,” Zoe adds. “And I don’t think Clyde is the mastermind or is building the bombs. He’s too …”

“Stupid.”

“Idi*tic.”

“Pathetic.”

We add to Zoe’s sentence before we burst out laughing.

“I was going to say too childlike,” Zoe rolls her eyes. “He cannot even keep a straight face and lie properly. Sure, he’s related to the devil, but more like the devil’s mentally challenged errand boy.”

“Dear goddess,” Violet laughs. “Dumb and evil, what a combination.”

“And another thing,” I change the subject. “Don’t you find it strange that the rogues targeted mostly Opal Moon and then suddenly shifted solely to us?”

“Yeah,” Violet sits upright. “What’s that about?”

“I don’t know,” I shake my head. “But I ask myself the question, what would motivate me to focus on one group?”

“We have something they want,” Zoe suggests.

“Or they are paid or bribed to fixate on us,” Willow adds.

“Or they blame us for the fire,” I sigh.

“We should go out tonight,” Violet looks eagerly at us. “We could get lucky and catch a rogue for answers.”

“Wow,” Zoe looks at her with big eyes. “That’s a bit risky. Ada doesn’t have her wolf and we could get killed.”

“But getting answers from a rogue would be helpful,” I shrug.

“I’m up for it,” Willow smiles. “Let’s go.”

“You know the rules, Willow,” I say. “If we don’t all agree, we don’t do it.”

“Zoe,” Willow turns to her. “Yes, or no?”

Zoe looks at us for a moment before she nods.

“I’m in,” she says softly and I know she would rather not.

“If we do this, Zoe stays,” I say and everyone gapes at me. “Nobody in this household can mind-link, guys. One of you should stay here to get backup if needed.”

“I’ll have warriors on standby,” Zoe smiles at me. “They’ll be there in seconds if you need them.”

“Then it’s settled,” I stand up. “We’re going for a stroll at the borders.”

“Maybe you should stay as well,” Willow looks at my boot frowning.

“Please,” I flip my cane around and start swinging it. “I have this handy number and I’m dying to try it out.”

“Oh, goodie,” Violet claps her hands together and smiles ridiculously. “This is going to be fun.”