Chapter 31

Adam.

Rays of the early morning sun filtered through the closed blind, letting in just enough light for Adam to find his phone when it rang.

“Hello?” he asked groggily.

With no answer, Adam brought the phone in front of his face. His eyes squinted. The phone continued to vibrate and ring in his hand. Adam realized he hadn’t hit the answer button yet. His thumb hit the green circle on the screen and he placed the cold metal device back to his ear.

“Hello?” he asked again, more coherently this time.

“Alpha,” Gereth’s voice was crisp and clear despite the hour.

Adam sat up straighter in his bed, rubbing the rest of the sleep from his eyes at the sound of the physician’s voice.

“The injured patrolman is stable and awake.”

Adam quickly got dressed as the call ended. His keys jangled together as he picked them off the bedside table and made his way to his car. The streets were empty in the early morning hour. He quickly. The door slammed shut as he closed it quickly once he had parked.

Adam made his way inside, asking for the room number for the patrolman. A nurse showed him toward the recovery ward through the sterile white hallways. Adam strode after the nurse with purposeful steps. He needed answers, and this wolf was the only one who had them.

"Glad you're okay, Theo," Adam said with a grin, hoping to put the man at ease, as he entered the recovery room.

Theo’s smile was weak as he worked to sit up straighter in the angled hospital bed. He grimaced, sliding back down to his previous position.

Adam held up a hand. "Don't push yourself too hard, Theo. You've been through enough."

Theo bobbed his head, relaxing back into the bed with a sigh. Adam stepped around to the other side of the bed, taking a seat between Theo and the window.

"What happened, Theo?" Adam asked, his voice calm but serious.

Theo's lips drew into a thin line and his eyebrows creased as he remembered the attack. "There was a wolf, limping. We thought he was hurt. Drew called out to him, but he didn't respond. Thinking he might have been another poisoned victim, we went over to investigate."

Theo took in a deep breath before continuing. "He took us completely by surprise, slashing at Drew first, sending him down. I knew when Drew didn't get back up to fight that he was already dead."

Theo began tearing up. Adam knew they had been close, but hadn’t known how close. His voice broke as he continued. "I fought the best I could, but the other wolf was large, as if he was alpha-born. But he didn't smell like an Alpha."

Theo looked down at his hands in his lap. A look of shame came over his face, a single tear rolling down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away with the back of his hand. "I probably would have died too if you hadn't come along. I failed, Alpha."

The tears that had pooled in his eyes began to overflow.

"Look at me, Theo," Adam commanded, his voice deep and understanding.

Theo immediately looked up, but wouldn't meet Adam's eyes.

Adam ducked his head down to match Theo's gaze. "I said look at me," he commanded tenderly.

Theo hesitantly lifted his eyes to meet Adam's.

"You did not fail. You did your duty. It's a shame that Drew lost his life, but that's not on you. It's on the bastard that tricked and killed him."

Adam patted Theo's shoulder comfortingly as he stood up. "Rest up, Theo." He turned to walk out the door, but after a second thought, turned back around. "I want you to write down as much as you can remember about the wolf you saw and fought. What did he look like? How did he act? How did he fight? Everything."

Theo nodded. "Yes, Alpha."

With that, Adam left the room and headed for Everett’s home. He needed to speak with Ella. Even though he knew she meant no harm in divulging the information to Cassius that she did, Ella had still put the entire pack in danger. It wasn’t a conversation he looked forward to, but it was still necessary.

It was late enough in the afternoon now that Adam knew the twins would likely be taking their nap. He knocked on the door, just loud enough to be heard, but quiet enough to not disturb the children. Everett answered and immediately bowed in respect.

“Alpha Adam,” he said, “What can I do for you?”

“Is Ella home? I need to talk to her,” Adam answered, his voice low and urgent.

Everett nodded. “Let me go get her.”

Everett left the door open, inviting Adam to come inside. He stepped in, but only barely. His arms crossed against his chest as he waited for Ella. She came around the corner, a look of confusion on her face.

“Adam, what are you doing here?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“It’s best we talk outside,” Adam replied, saying nothing further, but instead opening the door.

Ella shrugged and followed him outside. Everett slowly shut the door behind them, a look of worry on his face. Adam didn’t know how to start the conversation off delicately, so he dove right in. “Is it true you were telling an outsider information about the strength of our pack?”

Ella lifted an eyebrow. “You mean Cassius?” Her voice betrayed her bewilderment.

“Yes. The lone wolf.”

Ella shook her head, folding her arms across her body defensively. “I don’t see the danger. He’s a great person. He’s just curious, is all.”

After a short pause, Ella continued. “Maybe he wants to join your pack. Did you think of that?”

“You mean our pack.”

“Riiight. Our pack,” Ella responded slowly. “Anyway… Perhaps Cassius was asking because he’s tired of being a lone wolf and was trying to gauge if the pack was a good fit for him. Maybe he was trying to get some general knowledge about the pack before coming to you to ask about joining.” Ella lifted her hands in a shrug. “What’s the big deal, Adam? You’re talking as if he’s a criminal.”

“As far as I know, he is.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Ella’s hands dropped down, placed firmly on her hips. Her mouth tightened into a pout.

“It means I suspect he’s more than what he seems. He’s bad news.”

“You just don’t like him because I’m seeing him. You can’t stand that I might be happy with someone else!”

Adam’s head moved back, and he shook his head quickly in surprise. “Is that what you think? That I have a grudge because he’s making a poor attempt at courting you?”

“Obviously, Adam! You haven’t been happy about it since you met him. You haven’t even given him a chance! I don’t even understand why you care. You have your own entourage, not to mention that new one fawning over you at the hospital.”

Adam stared at Ella, stunned. “What are you talking about?” he asked, exasperated, his arms flying into the air.

Ella rolled her eyes. “You know exactly. She was at the hospital doting on your every need. She was even at your house looking for you that day you were renovating your tree house. You guys have been going steady for months. When were you going to tell me?”

Her voice had risen to a shrill shout and their bodies stood only inches away. The tension was thick as Ella’s question hung in the air.

Adam’s mouth gaped open and his hands turned outward.

Then recognition donned on him, his mouth making an O. “Lia?”

“Mmhmm,” Ella replied, bringing her arms back across her chest and settling back onto her heels.

“Lia and I are not seeing each other. I don’t know what she told you, but we’re not in a relationship.”

Ella’s arms dropped to her side in surprise. She was at a loss for words. A look of shock came to her face. Ella hadn’t expected him to deny their relationship.

“If you’re not seeing each other, then why is she always around? And why did she tell me you were?”

Adam shrugged. “I have no idea. But believe me. Nothing is going on between Lia and me.” He took a deep breath to calm himself, hoping it would encourage Ella to do the same. He took a step forward, holding his hands out in front of him.

“The only one I’ve ever wanted is you, Ella. Always has been, always will be.” He took her hands in his, closing the gap between them. Ella’s breath hitched in her throat as he leaned down, kissing her tenderly. “I love you, Ella.”