Chapter 44: John.

John’s pov.

Something was wrong when I left.

The way she could barely look at me.

The way she could barely speak to me.

I had thought I’d stay and we could’ve spent some time together…

Watching movies, talking and laughing.

I looked forward to it, but when she got back…

She wasn’t angry, no, she was upset.

But for some reason she wouldn’t talk to me about it.

I wanted to ask her but the look on her face made me pause and decide not to. For now.

‘You shouldn’t have waited. Something was wrong and you should’ve made sure she was okay,’ Titan growled in my head, furious that I left so easily.

But it wasn’t easy. It was the hardest thing I’ve had to do.

“She’s going to be contacting you soon,” I said to elder Elian as we walked through the pack lands, watching, assessing everything and everyone.

“I know…” he said quietly, his eyes scanning the area, “I spoke to Garrett before he left the challenge. He wants to dissolve their bond as soon as possible… and he wants to try and take the pack back.”

Titan and I both growled at his words. Knowing we’ll do everything in our power to keep that from ever happening.

He was never a good leader. The pack is doing better than it ever has. And they are all happier with Bella as the leader.

“We both know that’ll never happen,” I muttered, my fists clenched tightly at my sides.

“We know that, but Garrett doesn’t. He’s determined, he’ll do whatever it takes, those were his own words,” he said, looking towards me before his eyes went back to looking around us, “he believes he deserves his title back. That his son deserves to be the heir. He doesn’t see why we let a woman become the alpha, when he felt his ties erased from this pack he was enraged. He even got into my face when he confronted me about it. He’ll be back. Before or after they reject each other, only time will tell.”

My rage only increased with every word he said. The way Garrett thinks will get him killed eventually… he is not a good man.

“I think I will take my leave… Thank you for your time, elder Elian. I- I have to call my father back. He will be coming here soon,” I mumbled before walking away, not wanting to get into that conversation with him.

He’d probably have more questions than I had answers.

And I didn’t want to think about it anymore than I already had to.

I don’t even want to call him back. But he’s called me every day for the last month now and I’m sure he’ll show up unannounced if I don’t call him back soon.

I walked into my room, for what felt like the first time in forever.

I looked around, smiling sadly at myself as I thought about Bella, and what she might be doing right now.

I shook my head, as if that would clear away my thoughts…

I grabbed my phone from my pocket as I felt it’s usual ringing.

Looking down at it I saw it was my father, calling… again.

I sighed while pinching the bridge of my nose, knowing I needed to answer him this time.

“Hello, father…” I muttered into the phone.

The sounds of his breathing and shuffling around on the other side.

“John,” he said quietly… not angry, not frustrated, but… quiet.

“What’s wrong with you, dad?” I asked quickly, a pit in my stomach from the sound of his voice.

“I’m dying, John. You need to come back home,” he said before he started coughing violently, unable to stop.

“Dad?! Dad, what the hell is happening to you? You’re the strongest wolf out there, how are you dying?” I started spiraling, shouting question after question, desperate for an answer.

If I knew, if I thought…

I would’ve never ignored his calls. I would’ve answered.

Even if he made wrong choices, made me frustrated or mad…

He was the king, and he had to do what was best for the werewolf realm. I still love him. He’s my dad.

“Poison,” he wheezed out, still coughing and hacking up a lung.

“How could you have been poisoned?” I said slowly. It doesn’t add up.

“By a siren,” he whispered, making my heart drop to my stomach.

“A siren…” I whispered back, my face scrunching up into a cringe as I thought of a siren poisoning my dad, and how they would’ve accomplished that, “how is mom doing?”

I shouldn’t care, she never cared for me, or did anything for me, ever.

But just like my dad, she is my mom. And I do care for her, even if it’s deep down in my heart.

“She’s your mother. Still waiting for you to find a mate…” he said the last part quietly, almost like he regretted saying it.

“You know how I feel about that topic. I had a mate, and she fucked me over, choosing a title over loyalty,” I growled, wanting to hang up so badly, to not talk about this right now.

“Speaking of her, her wolf disappeared, as if she died overnight. We haven’t been able to find out how… but dark magic is suspected, you wouldn’t know anything about this would you?” He asked slowly, his voice even and calm.

“That sucks, father. But I don’t care about her or her wolf. Keep her out of our conversations or I will stop answering the phone and I promise you I won’t come home. I have a new life now, I won’t be staying when I visit,” I said before hanging up, not wanting him to hear the lie in my voice.

I pushed myself up against the wall behind me, sliding down to the floor.

I put my head in my hands, pulling at my hair slightly as I thought about how much shit I am in.

Just as I was getting into my head I felt my phone vibrate again.

I grabbed it quickly, hoping it was Bella messaging me.

But when I looked at it my face morphed into a frown.

It’s from Angel. And she wants to see me when she and my brother come to get me.