12 pm
Pulling into the lounge parking lot, I pull into my spot, turn the engine off, take a quick look at myself in the rear view mirror and get out of the car. Looking in the window I straighten my outfit, I had on a powder pink soft body on dress and some black square open toe heels, and my red hair was sleeked back into a low side ponytail. As I walk up to the back door, Ryan swings it open, and with an awkward grin I greet him “Hey Ryan”. Stretching his hand out to me, “Hey Saph” he answers. “I really wasn’t expecting this” I say as I place my right hand into his trying to give him an explanation. Pulling me into a hug, “It’s fine, it’s not your fault, we don’t really get to choose with these things,” he says softly. We hug for a good 2 minutes and then I say “Ryan, if you keep hugging me, I’m gonna start crying”. “Sigh, okay just 30 more seconds” he answers.
True to his word after 30 more seconds he pulled back. As if he would be seeing me for the last time Ryan takes a full look at me from head to toe, straightens his back and then turns and starts walking to the dining room of the lounge. I place my bag down and head straight upstairs to Anna’s office.
Walking into her office, I close the door behind me. “Hey babe, you look great” she says looking up from her desk. “Without answering, I walk over to her, sit on her desk facing her. “I need a hug” and without questioning me, she stands and gives me a hug. “Who would’ve thought that the big and bad Sapphire Black is actually a big softie on the inside?” She chuckles as she lets go of me. “Shut up Anna” I chuckle, “Let’s go and make sure everything is set”. Going back downstairs, the 3 of us have lunch and chat.
2pm
While Ryan, Anna, and I are still talking about random things my phone rings. Looking at my phone I see that it’s a FaceTime from my little sister again.
“Wow you actually remembered you have an older sister” I say as I answer the FaceTime, "I've been trying to call you back you little brat". Instead of the usual banter I hear, “Sniffle, sniffle, Saph?" We all stop talking and the anxiousness I was feeling this morning comes rushing back. “Lily?…What’s wrong, why are you crying?” I ask. “Saph, we need you to come back,” she squeezes out holding back a sob. “Lily, turn on your camera, let me see where you are”
Her tear stained face flashes on the screen.
“What’s wrong with pup?” Enya asks, “I’m trying to find out” I answer, “Lily, look at me, I need you to take a deep breath and tell me what happened, why are you crying?” “They tried to kill me” she says in between breaths. “What are you talking about? Where’s dad and Sebastian? Where’s mom?” Wiping her face, “Mom…mom’s unconscious…she got hurt in the attack and she won’t wake up, she just won’t wake up no matter what I do” she says starting to cry again. “Lily, you’re not making any sense, start from the beginning, what attack?” I ask patiently, I feel my blood starting to boil, but I know that if I lose it now, I’d just be wasting time and energy. “Seb, went on a routine neighboring pack check and he got attacked by rogues. He got hurt really bad, he was barely breathing when William got him back to pack grounds. Dad opened an investigation but before he could go and find out what happened, they attacked us. They betrayed us and stabbed dad through the chest and then mom wouldn’t wake up. Dad…he…I think he’s…” she gets out before bursting into tears and dropping the phone.
Closing my eyes, “Lily is mom still breathing?” I ask, “Yes” she chokes out. “Ok good, that means dad’s still alive. Where exactly are you right now?”
“In the safe room” she answers, “Ok, did they attack dad today?”, I ask trying to get more information. “No” she sniffles, “it’s been 2 days. I snuck out and got to my phone upstairs. Saph, they took over.” Sniffle, “We all felt it when they stabbed dad, Seth betrayed us” she sniffles, that bastard, I knew smething was off but I never would've suspected his betrayal.
“Where’s Seb?” I ask, “Him and mom are down here, dad didn’t want to take any chances, and then I dragged mom down here when they weren’t looking”. Nodding to myself, “Do they know you’re down there?” Shaking her head, “Tristan helped me get away when I tried to get my phone, they almost caught me” she says starting to cry again, “Saph, please come help us”. “Don’t worry, I’ll be there soon. Don’t leave the safe room until I get there, do you understand?” “Yes” she answers. “Turn your phone off, and keep those doors shut. I will open them when I get there, okay?”
“Okay” she sniffles, reassuring her, “Kay, love you, I’ll be there soon” I say as I end the call.
“We need to go to pup now,” Enya says. Turning to Anna, “How quickly can you get me to back to my pack?” I ask, “The jet is waiting for you as we speak”. Surprised by her answer, “How…?”. Smiling, “Did you forget that my father owes me a favor or two?” She says as she places her phone on the table. “Thanks” I say, “I need to get through several pack lands undetected”, “already taken cared of, my father is sending over his second in command to get you from the landing strip”. Then getting up from the table and looking down at my outfit, “I need a change of clothes” I say softly. "Your spare clothes are in your locker Anna answers". After changing, I pull my hair straight back into a regular ponytail. "I'm sorry Enya, I know you wanted to spend the day with our mate today. "There's nothing to be sorry about. Our family is more important."
Once I got back downstairs, Ryan and Anna were waiting by the stairs. "Hand this to the guy picking you up," she says as she gives me a ring. "Wear it on your pointer finger on your left hand. He's my dad's second in command but he's also a wild card. He's not the friendliest to wolves. And although he knows better than to try to mess with me, he's known to cause problems when he feels like it."