Chapter 25 - Gina

It feels like Bae’s small kitchen is overflowing with people. My mom is making her famous dip, Veronica is flipping through a magazine of nursery furniture, and Tara and Laura are sitting next to me, having an in-depth discussion about diapers and wipes.

Other close friends of mine and Mom’s are on the way. Everyone in the pack is excited to attend the baby shower of the alpha’s mate and show their loyalty and appreciation.

I’m disappointed that Bae isn’t here, but he had something to take care of at the shop and had to leave. He promised to be back in the early afternoon so he wouldn’t miss the shower. After we do some very silly, girly stuff, the party will extend into a barbeque that the entire pack has been invited to.

“Cotton diapers are the way to go,” Tara says insistently. “You can’t even consider disposables.”

“Have you ever used either?” Laura asks her. “Have you taken care of a baby even once? I have three older sisters, and I’ve been babysitting since I was seven. You can get environmentally friendly options these days, so trust me, cotton diapers just aren’t worth the time.”

“Hey, Gina.” Veronica taps the catalog and slides it towards me. “What do you think of this crib?”

Before I can look, my mom drops a huge plate of dip and bread right in front of me. “Eat up, dear,” she says. “You need to keep up your strength.”

“Mom,” I sigh, shaking my head. “You’ve already fed me six donuts and three croissants for breakfast. How much food do you think I need?”

“More,” she says with a grin. “If you’re hungry during pregnancy, that’s a very good thing, and you should feed that baby!”

I shake my head, but take a small piece of bread and scoop up a bit of dip. “I am hungry,” I admit. “Like, all the time.”

“See?” Mom nods. “I’ll keep cooking.”

“Mom!” I shake my head.

“It’s not all for you, dear.” Mom waves at me as she heads back to the bench. “We have at least twenty women from the pack arriving in the next couple of hours, then after that, most of the pack is coming for dinner.”

“Yeah, but Dad will be here to manage the grill, won’t he?”

“Yes, and Jack as well, but I don’t trust either of them with the salad or sides.”

Veronica taps the page again, rolling her eyes, and I take a look at the crib. “It’s a bit flowery,” I say. “Like all white and lacey. I’m not sure I like it.”

“Do you know if you’re having a boy or a girl?”

I shake my head. “No, not yet.”

“That’s making things terribly difficult for us, you know!” Laura cuts in. “Why can’t you just ask at the ultrasound like a normal person?”

I rub my belly, which isn’t that big yet. “It’s a bit too early. Besides, we haven’t decided if we want to know or not.”

“Hello!” a voice calls from the hall. “The door was open, so we let ourselves in!”

Three older women appear in the doorway, and Mom hurries over to greet them. It’s Lorna, Sally, and Jen, Mom’s best friends. They’ve always been like aunties to me.

“Thank God you’re here,” Mom says to them. “We need at least, like, three more bread dips made.”

“Mom!” I groan. “Will you calm down with the food?”

“It’s a hungry pack we have,” Lorna says, hurrying over to kiss me on the cheek. “I hear just about everyone is coming, too.”

I’m excited to have so many pack members come to celebrate the baby, but nervous as well. It sounds like this party is going to be much bigger than I planned.

My phone rings. When I see it’s Bae, I grin so wide, I feel like I might break my cheeks.

“Hello,” I giggle, making all the girls in the room chuckle.

“Hi, beautiful,” Bae says. “I’m just finishing up a few things. I should be heading off in about an hour. How’s the party going?”

“Great! The girls are starting to arrive, and we’ll get going with gifts and games soon. Don’t rush, we’re still getting ready.”

“Okay, no worries,” he says. “I can’t wait to see you.”

“You saw me this morning,” I remind him with a laugh. “A few hours ago.”

“I know, but I miss you already.”

“I love you, Bae,” I say softly.

“I love you, too,” he answers. “I won’t be long, my love.”

“Okay, see you soon.”

We hang up with kisses. Everyone gushes about how sweet we both are, making me blush.

“By the way, dear,” Jen says, holding up a white envelope, “this was in the letterbox.”

“I wonder what it could be,” I mumble, ripping it open. It’s a single, neatly typed page.

Dear Gina,

We have received your inquiry, and we are pleased to inform you that we are currently looking for an experienced pianist to play at our key events. We are impressed by your experience and would like to conduct an interview very soon. We look forward to hearing from you!

The letter is signed by the director of a large establishment at the far end of town. It’s not a place I’m familiar with personally, but I have heard of it. Already, I can feel the excitement of performing coming over me—the hush of the crowd, the sound of my music beginning to fill the silence and echo around me, thrumming through my bones and singing in my blood.

“What is that, dear?” Mom asks.

“It’s a letter from a concert hall,” I say, holding it up so she can read it. “Bae must have sent the inquiry.”

“That’s so sweet,” Sally gushes, taking a look at the letter.

“I have to go and thank him,” I say, getting up.

“He’ll be home soon, won’t he?” Mom asks. “Why not just wait?”

I shake my head. Excitement is sizzling in my bones, and my heart is pounding with anticipation. “I want to see him, right now! It won’t take long to walk up to the store, and he can bring me home.”

“Well, okay,” Mom says, looking over the food. “Guests won’t be coming in for a little bit. I guess I can hold the fort for a while.”

I blow her a kiss as I hurry out the door. It feels good to be out in the crisp, clear air, and I walk briskly along the sidewalk, enjoying the chance to stretch my legs.

I’m walking along, thinking so hard about Bae and my new job playing the piano, I don’t notice the noise right away. It’s a far-off drone, just slightly annoying at first. As it gets louder, it cuts into my daydreams until I’m forced to look around, wondering what it is.

Suddenly, my heart stops in my chest.

Motorbikes.

There is no way of knowing if this actually is the enemy pack or not, but the sound strikes fear into me. I can’t ignore this. The terror I felt fleeing through the forest with Bae, almost losing him, awakens afresh inside me, and I quickly hurry down a side street when I hear the motorbikes behind me.

I pause as the bikes fly past, staying hidden as I watch. The fear inside me doubles as I recognize some of the pack members.

It’s them!

The side street is narrower, with only a few houses. The vacant blocks between them are very overgrown, and I hurry into the thick bushes to hide myself as I pull out my phone.

Bae’s phone rings, but he doesn’t pick up. Cursing softly, I leave a voice message.

“Bae, listen. The enemy pack is here, in town. I saw them just off the main street heading into the village. Call me back.”

I end the call and flick through my numbers. I should call Mom, and Carson, and—

“Gotcha!” a voice yells right beside me.

I feel someone grab at my arms, and I shove them away, turning and running down the street. I trip over a tree root, and my phone goes flying out of my hands.

I don’t have time to stop and look for it, as heavy footsteps are charging up behind me. I pull myself up and run as hard as I can, deeper into the forest.

As I twist and turn through the trees, I figure I can cut through this section of the woods and make it back to the house without too much trouble. These guys might be determined, but I’m really not that far from home.

Then I hear howling from the thick scrub on either side of me.

They’ve shifted.

Now I don’t have a hope of losing them. They’ll track me no matter how fast I move. I slow down as the noise passes me by.

Then the track in front of me fills with wolves. They look like skinny, rabid creatures, as if they are starved and unwell.

I back up a bit, finally turning to run back towards the street. Someone must be around. If I can just get back near the houses, I’ll be able to find help.

I hear the motorcycles before I leave the tree line, and fear streaks through me. I try to turn off back into the forest, but the wolves appear on either side of me, snarling and snapping.

They’re driving me towards the road!

There is nothing I can do but run towards the sound of the bikes. The wolves dart in at me, barking and snarling, making me scream in fear as I run even faster.

When I make it back to the street, the bikes are lined up in front of me, and the enemy alpha is right in the middle.

One of the wolves dives at my leg and snaps, almost closing his jaws on my flesh. I leap away from him and stumble, falling down hard on the soft grass.

“Watch it!” the alpha roars, leaving his bike and striding across the clearing. “I want her unharmed!”

The wolf cowers as the alpha threatens it with his heavy boot. He leans down and grabs my arm, but when he lifts me to my feet, he is quite gentle.

“Are you alright, my dear?” he asks.

“Aside from being chased through the woods and terrorized, I’m fine,” I snap at him. “What do you want?”

The enemy alpha leers at me, his fingers tightening on my arm. “I want you, pretty girl,” he murmurs. “I want your territory, I want your resources, and I want your alpha dead.”

“Bae will come for me!” I swear at him. “He will tear you apart!”

“Like last time?” He grins.

“You didn’t fight fair!”

He shrugs. “Too bad. A win is a win.” He leans towards my face, looking into my eyes and licking his lips. “This time, I’m going to take what I want. You won’t get away from me again. I’m going to kill your alpha, and I’m going to take you home.”

I struggle against him, but he tightens his grip and pulls me against his body. The feel of his hands on me is disgusting, making me feel sick.

The men and the mangy wolves close around me as they drag me back to their bikes. My heart flutters in my chest, and my stomach twists, but I try to stay calm—I have to, for the baby. There is only one thought that comforts me as fear erodes my composure.

Please come for me, Bae. Please.