Chapter 25 - Lena

I never thought our spacious house could feel so crowded. Jack's entire family seem to have come for my baby shower, dragging the majority of the pack along with them.

I'm sitting in the living room, surrounded by wrapping paper and boxes of gifts. I'm barely halfway through the pile. I think the nursery will be literally overflowing by the time I'm done.

"Open this one!" Carla cries, handing me a huge box. I look at the tag, laughing when I see what it says.

"Carla, this is another one from you!"

"Is it?" she squints, looking skeptically at the package. "How did that get in there? I swear, I only bought like one or two presents. Three, tops."

"Carla," one of Gina's aunts rolls her eyes. "Do you really expect any of us to believe that?"

"Not at all," Carla giggles. "But I've got to put on a good show, don't I? Otherwise, I'll embarrass all you cheapskates!"

The group erupts with groans and cries of "oh no, you didn't!" There are at least twenty people in here, and I can't remember a single name. I'm going to have to pull Gina aside at some point and try to learn them all.

"Open it, quick," Gina says, nudging me. "Before she explodes."

I tear open the pretty pastel paper and open the box. It's a musical toy, with buttons to push that make different sounds.

"Thank you, Carla." I'm humbled by every single one of her gifts. This one is probably the most elaborate and not immediately useful, but I'm touched all the same.

"I must admit, I was a bit mad by the time I bought that one," she laughs. "I was on the site going for basics, and then it started suggesting things to me. I couldn't resist."

"Wait until Dad gets the credit card bill," Jack says from behind me. "That won't be pretty."

Carla turns and winks at Jack. "Not as pretty as me, anyway. Do you think, after all these years, I don't know how to handle your father?"

Laughter rings out around the room, and Jack shakes his head, doing a facepalm.

"No further information, please. I'd rather not know. Lena, my love, do you need anything?"

"I'm okay," I smile up at him.

"Are you sure?"

"Well… maybe some iced tea?"

"Coming right up."

As he leaves the room, the crowd breaks out in an "aww" and bursts of gossipy whispers. I can't help blushing. Gina leans in and gives me a quick hug.

"He was a bit of a hitman before," she says. "The aunts were worried he'd never settle, so that's why they are so excited right now."

"But… the marriage was arranged by the pack."

Gina laughs. "It's not the marriage, silly. It's how much he cares for you. He's never paid this much attention to a woman before."

"Oh," I answer, feeling a pang of emotion strike through me. I already knew this, of course—Jack has told me many times—but I'm still surprised when I get outside confirmation.

Jack returns with my iced tea, and the women break apart to let him through. I take my tea and sip it gratefully. Even though I'm barely showing, my need for food, drink, and rest has increased dramatically.

"Open mine next," Gina says, tossing a box into my lap.

"This isn't your first gift, either, Gina," I point out, grinning and shaking my head.

She smiles and hugs me. "And I'm not done, either. You just wait until the kid is born!"

"I can only imagine," I mutter, imagining myself literally drowning in a room full of wrapping paper and boxes.

When I get the box open, I find it's not a gift for the baby at all, but a gift for me. There are a few soft, comfortable nightgowns, some scented oils, moisturizer, and stacks of fancy chocolate.

"Thank you, Gina," I try to smile, but it gets caught by tears.

"Have to look after the Mom, too," she says. "And you call me anytime, whether you're scared about symptoms or if you just need a pint of ice cream."

"Who wants ice cream?" Jack asks, butting in.

"Calm down," Gina laughs. "There's no emergency yet. I'll sound the alarm when we need the ice cream, stat."

"See that you do," Jack says with an air of authority. The ladies all giggle and ‘aw' again.

After another hour or so, Jack starts clearing the party out. He knows I'm tired, but is too polite to start kicking people out.

I fall asleep on the couch, and when I wake, the room is dark and I'm covered with a thick blanket. A quick look around tells me that Jack has already cleaned up the living room. I'm wondering what woke me when my phone vibrates on the table.

Grabbing it, I see Sam's name and happily answer.

"Hello?"

"Hey, big sis! How did the shower go?"

"Great! I think I actually have too many presents."

"Well… it's a shame to hear you say that, because I'm planning another one here."

"What?"

"Your old school crowd want to organize it, so I agreed. We're going to hold it at Gladys' diner—she offered it to us."

"That's really nice of her. Where are you staying?"

"I've got a mattress set up in the spare rooms above the bar. I can't go back to the shack." I can hear the pain in his voice.

"I understand. I'd never want to go back there, either."

"Technically, all of this belongs to you. What would you want to do with it?"

Burn it to the fucking ground.

"I don't know. It's not something I can decide right now. I'll talk to you when I come over. When is this shower?"

"Is tomorrow okay? If it's not, I'll let the others know."

"No, it's fine. I'd love to see you! I feel like it's been forever."

"Me too," he says.

"I'll check with Jack and text you when I'm sure."

"Okay, sounds good! Love you, big sis."

"Love you, too."

We say our goodbyes, and I look around, wondering what Jack got up to after the party. Even though it's dark in the house, the sun is only just setting, and it's not too late yet.

I call Jack, wondering where he went.

"Hey, babe," he answers.

"Hi, Jack. Where are you?"

"I had to run into work for a late delivery. Are you okay, do you need anything?"

"No, it's cool. It's just that Sam wants to hold a little party out at Gladys' diner tomorrow. Are you up for it?"

"Sure! Sounds good. We can leave in the morning."

"Awesome, I'll pack. Thank you, Jack."

"Don't mention it, my love. I won't be late."

"Good to hear it. See you soon."

After we hang up I head to the bedroom to pack. We might end up staying in Silverton overnight, so I want to take a few things just in case. When I get to the bedroom I find that Jack has neatly folded my new clothes and set up my other gifts on the bathroom sink, as well as moving the baby's things to the nursery.

I can't believe how considerate and thoughtful he is!

About halfway through deciding what to pack, I get a text message from Sam saying he's on his way to see me tonight. I stare at the screen for a few seconds, completely mystified.

We're coming over there tomorrow. Why the hell is he driving over here now?

I'm about to text back when there's a knock on the door. Feeling a sharp twist of fear in my stomach, I head towards the door.

Something's not right.

The person at the door keeps banging. I get more afraid with every knock. This isn't just paranoia, either. My every instinct is screaming at me to run. I'm tempted to, but I feel that would somehow be worse.

When I open the door and see my father, I'm not entirely surprised, but the shock hits me hard.

"What are you doing here?" I growl at him. "Jack and Alpha Bailey will tear you apart just for being on their territory!"

"Oh, they really don't wanna do that," Father says in his smooth voice. "Then you'll never find out what I did to Sam."

My fear explodes in my chest, making it feel like huge butterflies are banging against my ribs, desperate to get out. It's hard to draw a breath.

"What did you do?" I mutter, trying to hold in my tears.

"I told you, if you fucked with me, he'd pay the price. I meant what I said. You deserve everything that's coming to you, Lena, and I want you to know that everything that happens to Sam is your fault."

"No," I whisper, shaking my head. "No, please don't."

"Oh, I don't have to," Father says. "If you come with me right now and take what punishment is coming to you, I'll consider letting Sam go."

The butterflies in my chest have gone into warp speed. There is no room in my chest for my heart to beat or my lungs to breathe. I feel dizzy, and sick. I know this isn't good for my baby.

But what can I do?

I turn away from the door and try to run, flicking the screen on my phone to try and call Jack. I barely get two steps away from Father before he grabs my shoulder and flings me against the wall, making me drop my phone.

"No, no, no," he says, tutting and shaking his head. "We won't be having any of that. You're playing dirty here, Lena, and I was trying to be nice, letting you have a chance to save your brother."

"Please," I can barely squeeze my voice out through my tight throat. "Whatever you're going to do, please don't."

He smiles, leaning into my face. His eyes are cold, but gleaming with a sick kind of pleasure. The grin is an expression I learned to fear from a young age. A kind of self-satisfaction that means he has something especially nasty cooked up, and he can't wait to see how I react to it.

"I can drag you out of here," he hisses. "Or you can come with me. I warn you, if it's the former, I will do terrible things to Sam, and I will make you watch."

I'm frozen with fear. I don't know what to do. Jack said he wouldn't be long—could I stall Father somehow?

"Choose!" he shrieks. "Now!"

"Okay, okay," I say, shaking my head. "I'll come with you. Where are we going?"

"As if I'm going to tell you that," he chuckles. "Get going."

I push myself away from the wall, straightening up. I desperately want to leave some sign for Jack, but I don't know what to do.

On a table by the door, there are a few ornaments and a little bowl for keys or loose change. When I get close to it, I slow down a little, bumping into Father.

"Watch where you're going, you clumsy cow!" Father yells, shoving me.

I expected his reaction and make a big show of tripping and falling against the table. I manage to knock several little porcelain animals off the table, including the unicorn. Jack knows it's my favorite, and I often touch it for luck before I go out.

He knows there is no way I'd leave it on the floor. Hopefully, it's enough.

"Get moving," Father grunts in exasperation. "You really are completely useless, and you always will be. It's a fucking miracle that Jack wanted to marry you at all!"

I bite my tongue and walk down the drive towards Father's truck. All my worst fears are coming true. My new life that I love so much is being destroyed before my eyes, and there's nothing I can do to stop it.

I'm terrified for my baby, and for my brother. I have no idea what Father plans to do. But I know that this time, it's going to be the absolute worst.

Please find me, Jack. Please save us. Save us all!