Chapter 17 Chapter Seventeen
I reach out to grab her hand. If she just let me explain she would forgive me. She snatches her hand away and slams her bedroom door in my face. Tears fill my eyes. “I’m so sorry Leilani.” I whisper as the first tear falls.
Nora comes out of Tiberius’ office arching her brows with concern. “Is everything alright sir?”
I quickly wipe away the tears, nodding to her. As much as I hate to say it there is one person that she will probably let in. Lucas. When we programmed Leilani’s new phone, I got Lucas’ number just in case I ever needed it to threaten him. I pull out my phone as I head to the dining room, I lost my appetite, but I could use some coffee.
Scrolling through my contacts I find Lucas and hit call. It rings three times before he picks up. “Hello?” He says into his phone clearly confused by my number.
“Lucas this is Malakai.” I say in my business tone.
“Malakai?” He questions. “As in the Malakai that broke my best friends’ heart?”
If I wasn’t desperate for his help, I would rip his throat out through the phone. “Yes.” I say through clenched teeth.
“What do you want?” He snaps.
“I need you to come over here.”
There is a long pause, I look at my phone to make sure he didn’t hang up. “Is this a trap?” Lucas asks cautiously.
“Why would this be a trap?” I ask.
Lucas pauses again. “Every time I see you, you look at me like you’re going to murder me. In fact, you did try to murder me at my own house.” He says anxiously.
“It’s not a trap just come over please. Leilani needs you.”
Lucas huffs. “Fine I will be there in a few minutes.”
Hanging up I sigh. I really can’t stand the thought of Lucas alone with Leilani, but I need her to talk to someone or eat or something. She can’t stay in her room until her father returns, she will die of starvation by then.
I inform George to let Lucas in and bring him to me. We are going to talk before I allow him to be alone with Leilani. I need his help but if he tries anything with her, I will murder him. I’m on my fifth cup of coffee by the time Lucas arrives. He slowly walks into the dining room, fidgeting with his fingers. I motion for him to sit in the seat across from me.
Lucas anxiously glances around the room as if searching for a weapon. “Leilani won’t talk to me, she won’t let me explain or apologize, or anything. She also hasn’t eaten since yesterday. Since her father is out of town on business, I have no one else to help, except you. You don’t have to convince her to talk to me, just please get her to eat something.”
Lucas nods and stands to leave. I fix him with a glare, “If you so much as touch her in anything more than a friendly way I will break your hands off and feed them to you. Do you understand?”
Lucas’ eyes widen to three times their original size and he nods frantically. “Good.” I say glaring at him. “I will walk you to her room.”
I stand to leave, and Lucas follows close behind me. I knock on the door. Leilani screams “Leave me alone Malakai.”
“Someone is here to see you.” I say calmly.
Leilani unlocks her door, and cracks it open. She glares at me. “Who?”
I pull Lucas over to me. “Lucas.” She squeals as tears start flowing again.
“Honey, come here.” Lucas says as he barges in her room, wrapping her in a tight hug. She coughs and sputters as she tries to talk through the sobs. It’s all gibberish.
“Shhh. It’s okay. I’m here.” Lucas says patting her back.
Lucas sits her down on the bed and she points at the door. He comes over to close it, mouthing “I’m sorry” as he shuts me out.
I suck in a sharp breath and head to the alpha’s office. Maybe I can get some work done before the conference call. Scrolling through the pack emails I try to pick the most important ones. Members of the pack are told to email Tiberius anytime there is a problem, concern, or if they need something they can’t get on their own. I jot down any and all messages that are of serious concern. Most of the emails are complaints about traffic. Shaking my head I continue scrolling.
A email from the Shadow Lands Cancer Research Hospital catches my attention. It’s an email confirming Tiberius’ stay which started last night and will end in two weeks. My eyes widen. He’s not on a business trip at all, he’s at a hospital getting chemo in our allies’ pack lands.
Why didn’t he tell anyone? The business phone rings, and I answer “This is Beta Malakai of the Crimson Lilly Pack. Who am I speaking with?”
“This is Abel, I was calling to discuss territory lines with Alpha Tiberius.”
“He is away on business; he gave me permission to speak with you.” The next forty-five minutes are spent going over longitude and latitude coordinates, and the ‘important’ or need to know people in each other’s packs. Usually, a new alpha means new Beta, Gamma, and Luna. It’s important for pack members to know each other’s important people in case there is ever an issue amongst the packs. Tiberius likes to settle disputes without going to war.
Through the closed office door, I hear the faint sound of a door opening and closing. Leilani? I fling the door open only to see Lucas standing in the hall. Why is he all alone?
“How is she?” I ask anxiously.
He puts his finger to his mouth shushing me. “I managed to get her to sleep. She is exhausted. I was fixing to go get her something to eat for when she wakes up.”
“Go back in there with her, I will get her something to eat. I don’t want her to wake up alone in case she is upset again.” I say reluctantly, I wish I was the one she was waking up to, but since I can’t be right now she needs Lucas.
Lucas nods his head and quietly goes back in her room. I catch a glimpse of Leilani on the bed, even sleeping she looks like she is in pain. My heart aches from the pain I caused her.
I instruct Nova to cook Leilani’s favorite food. Blueberry pancakes with chocolate chips. She has been eating them since she was about eight years old. Her father and I took her to a diner one morning and she couldn’t decide if she wanted blueberry or chocolate chips, so we told the waitress to do both. Leilani fell in love.
Nova puts the pancakes on a plate and hands them to me. My phone dings I expect it to be Tiberius checking in again. To my surprise it is Lucas.
Lucas:
Leilani is awake. She said she is a little hungry.
I practically sprint up the stairs with the plate of pancakes and knock gently on her door. Lucas grabs the plate and thanks me. Nodding I watch as he closes the door.
Lucas:
SHE’S EATING!!!!
I let out a sigh of relief. Thank God. Now that I know Leilani isn’t going to starve, I think I am going to relax for a bit. Shortly after laying down, I doze off. Around two in the morning I am woken up to the sound of giggling. Leilani’s giggle. I love the way her laugh sounds.