Chapter 25

**CALEB**

Throughout the city, gossip is rife. Everyone is wondering what kind of relationship each of us has with Elena because they have all seen us with her, alone or all four together. After their lunch with Finn's parents, Theo and I joined them and talked about it.

Before we make an official announcement to all the pack members, I have to inform my dad. I need to tell him quickly because he might freak out even more if he hears it from someone in town. Even though, given his popularity rating, not many people talk to him.

This is the third time I knock on his door but he doesn't answer. As I'm about to get back in my car, I hear him talking from the back of the house.

"I'm going to go to New York and find him. I want to know exactly what she knows."

I don't hear an answer, he must be on the phone.

"Why didn't he simply sell James and Moira's house when I made my proposal to him? It would have been easier." He pauses. "It would change everything for me and for my son." He says annoyed. "You lost the right to be his mother the day you left."

He's fucking talking to mom. What the fuck. I push open the little door to the back of the house and he hangs up when he sees me.

"I knocked on the door a few times." I tell him, trying to keep my cool.

"I was on the phone, I wasn't paying attention." He replies with a frown. Surely he must be wondering what I heard.

"I wanted to talk to you about something important."

He looks at me, raising his eyebrows. "Well talk."

"I found my mate. My true mate."

"You have a mate?" He asks me visibly surprised.

"Elena Romano is my mate and she's not just mine, she's Theo and Finn's too."

He snorts. "You also had to share your mate in addition to your alpha position." He mumbles.

"Sorry, what did you say?"

"Nothing. I have to go." He pushes past me and enters the house.

I can't believe it, he's not going to say anything at all. Any parent would be happy for their child to find their true mate but he doesn't care at all.

I follow him inside the house.

"Are you fucking kidding me? This is clearly the best news I could give you and you're not saying anything. Fuck!"

He suddenly turns around, his face red with rage. "First of all, change your tone of voice when addressing me. Secondly, I would have congratulated you if it was anyone other than Romano. Do you want me to tell you what I think? You should have rejected her. She had two other mates anyway, it wouldn't have killed her."

"You know what? I don't even know why I wanted to tell you this in person. All those years I obeyed you." I run my hands through my hair in frustration. "What did James do to you? It must be him because you hate Elena just because she exists." He looks at me impassively. "Just fucking talk! Explain it to me, I have a right to know."

He approaches me slowly. "Everything I've ever done is for your benefit so shut the fuck up, enjoy your mate and stop asking questions, especially when you don't want to hear the answers."

He grabs his car keys and walks out of the house, slamming the door. James is the key and I think the only person he can go to in New York is Arthur.

**ELENA**

As soon as Caleb told me his suspicions about his father and that he was definitely going to visit Arthur, I knew what I had to do. The three boys wanted to come with me but they couldn't leave the pack without telling anyone so Finn stayed, while Caleb and Theo came with me. I think Theo came to make sure things didn't get out of hand between Caleb and his dad. I warned the establishment and Matt not to pass any visitor for Arthur whatever the reason, before I arrived.

I don't think my Monday would work out that way, especially since we won't be able to get there and back in one day, we'll have to stay overnight at my place.

"Matt will let me know if your dad is looking to see Arthur, he sent a team to check on him." I say to Caleb who is in the passenger seat in front of me.

"What does he think you might know?" Theo asks me from behind the wheel.

"If only I knew. Arthur never told me about him so I don't know what he imagines." I sigh, looking out the window. "When I got to his house, the only thing I had was to forget about Lunar, all that sadness and anger. So we never talked about what had happened or even about my parents' murder. He informed me of Alpha Eric's offer for my parents' house when I turned 18 because he suspected he was going to make me one."

"It pissed him off that you turned it down because he was afraid you would come back." Caleb tells me.

He was right to be afraid. When I really started to grow the business, Arthur asked me what the next step would be and I knew I wanted my father's business back. Why did my grandfather and father run it when normally the alpha would be in charge? When my father passed away, it went to Alphas Eric, Cillian and Daniel and then to Caleb, Finn and Theo. Arthur always told me that he didn't know, that he had never asked my father about it.

But maybe he knows something and that's the information Eric thinks I have.