Chapter 83 ~Gathering Storm~
(Fiona's POV)
I ran a wet napkin over Mom's forehead. I could almost hear her pulse thrumming evenly from underneath her pale skin.
I was savoring this moment. Moments like this were rare… and sometimes fleeting. But I wish I could turn back time and stay like this forever.
The sudden creaking of the door startled me.
I turned to see my stepfather peek through the door. He looked unsure whether or not to walk in.
I nodded, signaling him that he could come in.
I almost chuckled when I saw him walk in with two mugs of hot cocoa. He always did this.
I took one of the mugs and I curled my palms around it to keep warm.
He sat down on the edge of the bed, watching me as I changed her IVs with an unreadable expression.
“So this silver-haired lady that you keep seeing in your dreams, you're sure you've never met her before?” he asked abruptly.
“No, I haven't.” I looked up and shook my head. “Actually, I was hoping to ask you if in mom's past, she knew a silver-haired lady. Maybe an acquaintance?”
“I would remember if I saw someone like that, but I honestly can't figure it out. Maybe it's just a coincidence. These things happen.”
I knew it wasn't a coincidence. It was almost as real as life.
“And about the other thing,” he sat beside me on the bedside. “Kiddo, do you think that's what you want to do? Maybe you should think it through.”
I had thought it through, and no matter how many times I did, it was always going to be the same resolve. I had to leave for a fresh beginning. Away from Xander, pack chaos… maybe even away from myself.
I took a sip of the steaming cocoa. “I have decided.”
He nodded. From the tic in his jaw, I could tell he was really trying to hold himself back from pushing the topic further. Finally, he sighed in acceptance.
“I have a cottage in Ontario. It was my grandma's before she died and she left it to me. I used to live there before I married your mom. It was cozy, warm…” he trailed off.
I watched as he reminisced, nodding.
“It would be the perfect place for you and the baby. It would provide space for you to think. It's peaceful and quiet.”
I couldn't believe my ears. “Dad, that's… that's so nice of you. Thanks!”
He shrugged. “It's the least I can do. I'm not in support, but I respect your decision.”
“Thank you.” I gave him a hug. “Thank you very much.”
As I went back to the Silvereign pack, I was feeling a little bit like I was making the right decision. It was a tough one, but it had to be done.
As the guard opened the gate to the private road, a red car zoomed past me. It nearly knocked me off balance.
Was that Nova?
What was she doing in Silvereign?
I shrugged and walked further to get to the main house.
I met Xander in the parking lot. He looked like he was about to go somewhere.
I noticed he also looked jumpy.
“Xander, where are you going?” I asked as I approached him. I was right, after all. He looked jumpy indeed.
I watched him fidget with his car keys. “I… I have somewhere important to be.”
“Somewhere important?” I drawled. “Where?”
“It's nothing, really.”
He wasn't meeting my eyes.
“It's somewhere important… but it's nothing at the same time.” I chuckled lightly. “That's new.”
His phone rang.
He didn't pick it.
“Your phone is ringing.” I felt odd… very odd.
“Oh.” He cut the call. But not before I caught the name on the caller I.D.
Dakota.
First, Nova came here and now, he was acting all jumpy, and Dakota was calling him? Something was definitely wrong.
Xander was normally very collected, even in the face of the most nerve-wracking situations. It was rare to see him riled up, or this shaken. And now he was stumbling over his words…
As much as I didn't want to push it, I had no other choice but to.
“Xander, there's something you're hiding from me.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “What is it?”
A look flashed across his face, but quickly he masked it.
“I have to go somewhere.” He entered his car. “I'll be back.”
I watched as he zoomed off with the car, and slowly realized what the look was.
It was fear.
“Fiona…”
Yara calling my name startled me. I turned back instantly.
“Yara, I wasn't expecting you there.” I tried to give a normal laugh, but it sounded odd even to my own ears.
“I saw you both from the window in the hallway.”
I looked back like I was just noticing the windows there for the first time. “Oh.”
“Something weird is going on.” She said, confirming my fears. “Since Alpha came back from the office, he's been acting strange. And Nova was here as well.”
“I know.” I said simply as I tried to mask my anxiety. “I saw her car. And he was avoiding Dakota's call.”
Yara's face soured. “Are you thinking what I'm thinking?”
That what…
He was cheating on me with Dakota?
“No.” I shook my head. But I did catch him kissing her once. “I don't know.”
Yara’s eyes narrowed. “I have an idea.”
–---------
He knocked, and I opened the door.
I hoped our plan with work and I'll be able to get an answer from Calvin.
I watched as Calvin came into my room. It was definitely his first time here. He looked uneasy, or maybe I imagined it.
I handed him a glass of Tepache.
“Thank you, Luna.” He barely took a sip. He didn't seem to like it.
“It's an acquired taste.” I tried to sound casual as I made small talk. “So, I noticed that Dakota called Xander and Nova visited here. Do you know what that's about?”
He looked surprised. “They did?”
“Yes, they did.” It was unlike him to be unaware. “Xander didn't tell you anything about that?”
“I've not been in the pack all day.”
“Why? Where have you been?”
“I've been working on the mission.” He looked at me like I was supposed to know. “Edgar told me to deploy spies to Ashridge because of Loki and Alpha Beckett's plan to attack Alpha Xander.”
I sat up instantly. “So? What did you discover?”
“Weapons. Thousands of them were sent into Ashridge last night. I think they plan to attack, but I'm not sure where.”
The news came to me as a punch in the gut. And the death threats…
All thoughts of Dakota and Nova flew out the window in the face of real danger.
“Set up a meeting for me, with Edgar and the council now!”
“Yes, Luna.” Calvin bowed slightly and left.
I paced impatiently in my room.
Beckett had a plan, and this time, I wasn’t sure we would survive it.
Whatever it was, I had a feeling it was something awful.