Chapter 40

Emily.

As I walked down the street to the library, I could feel each pair of eyes staring at me. They were eyes of judgment, accusatory eyes. I knew what they were thinking. None of this would be happening if I weren't here.

The attacks on the Commando Pack had everyone nervous. The warriors were so overwhelmed, Eric and I could only assume since Enforcer agents may have slipped through. Lily and Raina stayed by my side constantly.

I had healed just enough that my foot could bear my weight. Eric would have kept me home if he had his way, but with everything going on, I convinced him I could do this. It was just the library - in the center of town, away from the attacks.

But it was hard to keep my head up as the people I was trying to protect kept staring at me that way - kept making me feel guilty for being here, guilty for surviving. I could hear their whispers too. Whispers of disapproval, wondering if maybe I should be forced to leave so they would be left alone.

As the grand building that was the library came into view, I heaved a sigh of relief. *I made it.”

*Spoke too soon*

My feet slipped out from under me and a piercing pain filled my shoulder. I turned my head and saw an arrow sticking out of it. *Who uses arrows?!*

I couldn't help but yelp in pain as another struck my foot.

“Where are they coming from?” I heard Lily ask.

“The tree!” Raina yelled.

Lily ran to my side as Raina ran to the trees.

“Let's get inside.”

She pulled me up off the ground and practically carried me into the library, my good arm slung around her neck. One inside, she laid me on the floor. I couldn't even take in how many eyes stared at me. Gasps and screams filled my ears as tears flooded my eyes. I could no longer hear Lily.

But suddenly, I felt pressure on my shoulder and a shredding pain ripped through me. I screamed out, agony in my voice to the cacophony around me.

Warm blood flowed from my wound, but increased pressure was placed on it as Lily bandaged it.

“One more. I'm sorry,” I faintly heard before pressure moved from my shoulder and down to my foot.

*No! No, no, no, no!*

But I couldn't get the words out. And pain radiated from my foot up my leg. I howled and whimpered as she finished patching me up.

“I'm calling Eric.”

“No!” I breathed. “No! I can do this!”

I could hardly get the words out, and I couldn't even move.

Lily moved into my line of sight. “No you can't. I know you want to, but you can't. I'm calling Eric.”

I closed my eyes in defeat, letting the last of my tears fall. I didn't think I had closed my eyes that long, but the next thing I saw as I opened my eyes was Eric bending over me and lifting me into his arms. Once again, I was helplessly lifted. Helplessly carried home. My one simple mission completely failed. I rested my head on his chest in defeat and let the darkness of sleep overtake me.

***

Eric.

*I knew it. I knew I shouldn't have let her go!*

I was so angry with myself for letting her leave. But she had made a good argument. So far, all the attacks had been either at the border or on our transports. I thought she'd be safe in the middle of the city at the library.

Only a handful of people knew where she'd be, and from what Lily and Raina told me, the trap had been set and waiting, which means whoever it was knew precisely where she'd be and when.

“Did you catch whoever was shooting?” I asked Raina as she rejoined us.

“No,” she said, slightly out of breath. “Obviously I did not.”

“Did you at least get a good look at him?”

“Only that she was wearing all black and was relatively short.”

My eyebrow quirked up. “How did you know the attacker was a ‘she’?”

She gave me a look like I was impossibly dumb. “How do you think?” And then she gestured at her chest, outlining her breasts.

“Oh.” My cheeks burned with how incredibly stupid I felt, but I shook my head to recover, clearing my throat, and changed the subject. “I'll take Emily back to the mansion. There's not enough room in the car for all of us, but I'll have Roger swing back around and pick you two up.”

They both nodded once and I carried Emily out. I laid her gently across the back seat, laying her head in my lap as I slid into the car behind her.

I called Tyler on the way back to the mansion asking him to meet me there. I needed to get to the bottom of these attacks and soon. I knew Emily wouldn't let me shut her in the mansion forever. Something had to be done. Not just so Emily would be safe, but so my pack wouldn't suffer anymore. The attacks were brutal and many of them cut off vital supplies.

When I arrived home, Tyler was waiting on my doorstep. He opened the front door for me as I neared, carrying a still-unconscious Emily. I laid her in her own bed, shut the door, and went into my home office, curling my arm towards myself to indicate for Tyler to follow me in.

“Shut the door. No one hears a word.”

He shut the door behind him and pulled up a chair.

‘What are you thinking?”

I let out a big sigh. “I don't know what to think. How could Enforcers get through our defenses? How could they know where Emily would be? And why are they attacking her but not taking her back to Dylon? She's the one he wants.”

“Seems to me there's a traitor among us feeding information to the Enforcers. That's the only explanation.”

“But who? The only people who knew where Emily would be today and the day she was attacked on the border were you, me, and her bodyguards.”

“And Daniel,” Tyler interjected. “Emily and him have been talking a lot lately, mending broken bridges. And he's seemed a little overly interested in her new position.”

I leaned forward. “You think Daniel is the mole?”

He shrugged. “Makes sense. He's betrayed her before. Sold her off and then tried to bring her to Dylon after she was brought here. Even attacked her.”

I fell silent. It made sense. I guess I just hadn't wanted to see it because he looked like he was trying to mend their relationship. He seemed genuinely sorry for his actions. I had taken his interest in Emily's role as my assistant as him being happy for her, and showing he supported her. Could it be that it was all a ruse?

I let out a deep sigh. As much as I wanted to believe Daniel had changed for the better, Tyler made a compelling argument. “Have him arrested and sent back to prison. I want him under constant supervision.”