43. Unforeseen Incidents

forty-three

Unforeseen Incidents

*JANICE*

H ave fun today, my love. I can’t wait to meet you later.

I smile when I read the little note Jace left me. We only converse via these little notes, never leave our real names on them and immediately get rid of them afterwards, in case his parents start snooping one day. It’s a risk; everything about our relationship is a risk, and I am not sure if I would have truly taken it if it weren’t for what happened on my birthday.

Flora and Elden are so busy with planning their inauguration ceremony that I decided to celebrate my birthday at a later point. I want them all to be there, and I certainly don’t want to add to the stress, but it didn’t stop the date itself from approaching. A couple days after Flora I turned eighteen. Then I knew.

I liked Jace for a while already. He came off a bit arrogant when I first met him, but soon it was evident how loyal, fun and kind he is. It didn’t take much for me to fall for him. I think what did me in was seeing him defend the omegas who were harassed and assaulted during the party he invited me to. He didn’t hesitate to stand up for them. But I also know his parents and their reputation, and I am not sure the realistic side of me would have agreed on taking this major risk, which could cost my life, and maybe even his.

I have no doubts his mother would get rid of me if she knew that we were together.

On my birthday, only a couple days after Flora’s, everything changed. I didn’t want to celebrate. To me it doesn’t really matter, it’s just a date, but Flora convinced me to at least consider having a party later in summer, and Jace organized a small birthday dinner in my favorite restaurant.

During this night, our wolves connected.

I had hoped for it to happen, although I was terrified. I still am. But now there is no going back anymore. I won’t give up on my mate just like that. Jace and I didn’t tell anyone what we are to each other. The only people who know of our plans are Elden and Flora, my grandmother and Deacon, the future beta. The only four people we trust with our lives and didn’t want to lie to. But even they don’t know the whole truth.

It feels safer that way.

We didn’t mark each other, to make sure that no one will find out until Jace is alpha.

“Janice!” Flora calls out to me. “Sorry, I let you wait too long.”

“Don’t worry,” I reassure her, gesturing at the bags in her hand. “Did you get everything for your Luna Ceremony?”

“Not all of it. The shop has to order some parts, but I got everything I need for Emilia to alter my dress,” she says.

“She really is so capable.”

“Yes, and I am surprised how nice she actually is. Pity she ended up falling for such a useless douchebag.”

“All the more important for us to make good choices,” I say.

“Well, I know I did,” Flora smiles brightly.

I don’t say anything, but I notice Flora’s gaze at me. Sometimes it feels like her eyes are boring deep into my soul, like she sees and knows much more than she lets on, and certainly much more than anyone told her. It’s even more evident now that she has turned eighteen. I have a couple of ideas where her powers might come from, but I don’t ask, just like she doesn’t ask me about my secrets.

“Oh shoot,” Flora frowns. “I forgot something.”

“Let’s head back to the mall,” I offer.

“I only need some basic things,” she points out. “The mall is pretty spacious and crowded. Let’s head to a smaller shop.”

“There is one on the way back to the pack. We can stop at our favorite café, too,” I offer.

“Good idea. I will just briefly call Vincent, so he knows to pick us up from somewhere else.”

Flora uses the pay phone a couple of steps further to call the young beta, before she returns to me. We came by bike to enjoy the warmth and do a workout. Both of us are used to going to places by our bikes, unless Elden or Jace are with us, then it’s almost always with a driver; nowadays, Vincent or Calvin. We just weren’t confident we could carry all of Flora’s purchases back to Silverlake, hence why Vincent is ready to pick us up.

Flora and I ride in silence until we reach a path leading up a hill. We both get off our bikes and push them the rest of the way. “How are things coming along?” I ask. “I mean, with Elden taking over?”

“Surprisingly well,” Flora says. “His alphahole father is moping around, but no one really pays him any attention.” She chuckles. “The pack is obviously happy that Elden is taking over. They love him.”

“He deserves it so much!”

“I know, right? He sometimes doesn’t believe he does, but I always tell him that there is a reason he is that beloved, and it’s not just because of the prophecy and the rank he was born into. He is a genuinely good person and a strong lycan.”

“It’s the same with Jace,” I say. “He is so full of doubts.”

“Yes,” Flora agrees. “He is such a great person. I am sure he will be a fantastic alpha and a wonderful mate.”

She sounds lighthearted when she says it, but her words weigh heavily. “His parents are terrible,” I say quietly.

“The moment Elden and I have stabilized and strengthened our power, we will make sure to help him,” she says.

“He knows that, but he wants to do it on his own, and he knows he can’t fully pull you into his drama,” I point out. “Elden is only taking over now, and you both have a huge pack at hand that hasn’t been ruled well for ages. It will take you years to get it running and to have established your rank and position.”

“I know, all four of us have always had trouble with the perfect timing,” she sighs. “There is always something holding us back.”

I take a deep breath. “Jace and I need to fight for our own future,” I say. “Like you and Elden did it for years. Elden fought for years to reach the point he is at now, and we will need to do the same, or we aren’t worthy of the pack.”

“You two are really stubborn.”

“Look who’s talking!” I chuckle.

“Alright, I get it,” she sighs. “I really do.” By now we have reached our destination, leaning our bikes against the wall and stretching our backs. “We reached the shop. Just wait here, while I get everything,” Flora suggests.

I agree, deciding to take the time to scribble a note for Jace. My wolf is so calm and relaxed whenever we think of him, and so proud to be mated to him. She knows this will be a longer battle for us, but she clearly has the endgame in mind. Jace is worth it.

I hear a cough behind me, turning to look at two human men. One of them brushes through his hair, looking at me shyly. “I apologize for interrupting you.”

“Oh, I am standing right in front of the door. Sorry.” I take a step aside to let them through.

“Are you alone?” the other one asks.

I might be a wolf, but even without one I have always known one thing, namely to listen to my alarm bells whenever I hear this type of question. It doesn’t matter if it’s human men or fellow wolves. “Why-“

“Janice?” I can hear Flora’s voice.

“Stay back!” I call out, like an instinct is taking over. Before I can do or say anything, I feel a sharp pain against my head and a nasty scent filling my nostrils. While I drift off into black nothingness, I can feel my wolf drift away too. Flora yells something, then darkness overcomes me.

*ELDEN*

I have started to plan and organize my office; my own one. I won’t use my father’s, as I want my own space, something that feels like myself. I am still organizing everything, when I can hear the phone of the packhouse ringing. I don’t have a line to my office yet, but fortunately, Emilia is close by and answers it.

Elden, she links me. It’s Vincent. He says he needs to talk to you immediately. He sounds worried, better hurry!

Did he tell you what it’s about? I ask, already dropping everything to rush to the hallway.

For a moment Emilia seems to hesitate. I think it’s about Flora.

Vincent calling for me in worry is already concerning enough, but the moment I hear Emilia say Flora’s name it’s like something else takes over, a primal urge, probably stemming from Regis, and I find myself running so fast I almost knock Emilia over.

“Here!” she says, swiftly handing me the phone.

“Vincent?”

“Yes, man,” Vincent says, sounding clearly concerned. “I wanted to pick up Flora and Janice, but they are nowhere to be found.”

“Are you sure they are not in the mall?”

My first intuition is to reach out to Flora through our mate bond and mind link. I am not the alpha yet, but I hope my royal heritage lets me link her over longer distances. I am just greeted with deafening silence though. As if I can’t even feel her properly!

“No, they wanted to be picked up at the coffee shop they usually frequent. It’s a bit out of town. There is a small shop here too, where Flora wanted to buy something. That’s what she told me when she called two hours ago.”

“Janice is missing too?”

“Yes. Her bike is here, just like Flora’s. But fuck, they aren’t around.”

I look at Emilia, and she nods. “I will call Jace now,” she whispers.

“I will come there immediately! Try to scan the area for weird traces or scents!”

“Got you,” he says.

I hang up, taking a deep breath. “Fuck!” I curse.

We need to get there and kill someone, Regis growls.

No, we need to keep a cool head, or we won’t achieve anything!

But if we find out-

Yes, if we find out that someone hurt Flora, you are the first allowed to draw blood.

“Elden,” Emilia clears her throat. “I already informed Jace.”

“Thank you, I will get there immediately. Please tell Geneva and Samuel where I am and what happened.”

“I will. But remember your bond to Flora.”

I look at her, confused.

“If she were to be hurt, you would be the first to know it. And you have a gift also.”

“Damn,” I huff. “You are right. It’s just so-“ Fuck, I need to keep a cool head and focus on what I can do.

“You are the alpha,” she encourages me. “You know what you and what those around you, your most trusted, can do.”

“Calvin’s strong point is anything security-related and stealth. He is the chameleon,” I say.

“See, you are already getting somewhere.”

“Thanks,” I say. “You believe something happened, don’t you?”

“I don’t believe in coincidences,” she answers. “It's as simple as that. A gut feeling after years in a high rank.”

I clench my fingers into fists. Damn, I don’t know what happened or why, but whoever is responsible for this will pay.

“Flora is not a damsel in distress,” Emilia adds before I can leave her. “She looks like one, but she isn’t. It will come to her advantage. Whatever happens, it’s her trump card and she knows it. She has always known it.”

“Yes, she is strong,” I say more to myself to calm my racing heartbeat. “She is not a doormat and not a damsel in distress.”

She is part deity. She isn’t no one.

Have faith in her; have faith.

Calvin, meet me at the jeep immediately. Drop everything you are doing. You have ten minutes.

I will make it in five, he answers, not even asking what this is about.

Have faith, I tell myself again. She is part deity. She is related to the Moon Goddess in person!

But she doesn’t know her powers yet, she only discovered them recently.

That’s not true. She always had special powers. When the pack got attacked, she was the one with that crazy silver attack.

She is strong.

But she is also alone.

Are you done talking with yourself? Regis asks when we reach the jeep. It’s exhausting! Let’s focus on finding our mate. His eyes darken, so black they almost disappear within his fur. And when we find her, I want to kill those responsible!

So, we agree, it’s an attack on her, I point out. We don’t believe in coincidences.

I don’t, he growls.

Me neither.

“Elden!” Calvin calls out while he runs towards me. He is carrying a huge backpack and a smaller travel bag. I am a tad confused by his cargo. He instantly catches my surprise. “Just to be safe,” he says. “I brought most of my equipment. I always have an emergency bag prepared.”

“You haven’t even asked what this is about.”

“It’s about the young luna,” he says promptly. “Nothing would rile you up otherwise.”

“So, you do care for her?” I ask him, trying to gauge his intentions. “Since when?” He doesn’t care much for Flora, I know that, that’s why his eagerness to help makes me wonder.

He sighs. “It’s not that I don’t care, I just don’t feel a connection to a lot of people,” he admits. “But Flora means the world to you, and you are my alpha and friend,” he pauses. “You know, I don’t have many friends, so I like to do what I can for those I have. I will never disrespect your luna or harm her. Even if you doubt my sincerity towards her, you have to know that my work here is to support you. And a strong alpha needs his mate, especially now that you are marked.”

“That’s good enough for me,” I say. “Had you told me you suddenly care for her and see her as a friend, I would have known it was bullshit.”

Calvin doesn’t seem to be upset at my words, instead he looks at me. “Let’s get the luna back.”