CHAPTER SEVEN
Three of them made the trip to Ashcombe this time.
Jason was busy explaining to his unit what they could expect to be doing in the next few weeks, so it was just Cam, Daryl, and Rachel, with Daryl doing the driving again.
Sitting in the back on her own, Rachel watched the countryside go by as they neared their destination. Nervous excitement threatened to take over, but she managed to keep it at bay. Just.
The thought of seeing Sara again had kept her awake all last night. Thank fuck Cam had only told her about it yesterday, otherwise the week would’ve dragged by. As it was, the hours passed like days and she felt restless in her skin. Would anything get resolved this time? Cam hadn’t mentioned the reason for their visit beyond finalising details for their upcoming pack bonding exercises. She presumed he’d brought her along so she could see Sara again, but had anything been resolved on her part? Rachel had no clue.
Having no communication with Sara was frustrating beyond words, even though she understood why they had to do it.
Cam might know more of what was going on, but if he hadn’t passed it on to Rachel, then it was either bad news or information she didn’t need to know. Either way, she wasn’t going to question him about it.
A few miles out from the pub, Cam turned to face her. “I spoke to Alpha Cornell yesterday. She was hoping to be able to formally introduce you to Alpha Gallen today, but things didn’t work out the way she was hoping they would.”
Rachel’s laugh was tinged with bitterness. “So he’s still against Sara and I being together.”
Cam’s sad smile said it all. “She didn’t go into detail, but I imagine that’s the case. I’m sorry, Rachel.”
“Me too.” She glanced back out the window. “What was he doing there anyway? Did he come to get Sara?” She sat up straighter, panic creeping in as more questions tumbled out. “Is she still there? Is he?”
Cam raised his hand. “Calm down.” He looked pointedly down at her fingers where she gripped the seat.
“Shit.” Quickly retracting her claws, she attempted to smooth over the five claw marks in the leather, but obviously they didn’t look any better. “Sorry.”
He waved her apology away. “I’ve been there, remember. I know it’s hard. Don’t ever feel like you can’t show your emotions around us.” With a glance at the ripped leather, then at Daryl, he smirked. “You aren’t the first shifter to rip up my car.”
Oh, she sensed a story there. Now wasn’t the time, but she was definitely going to try and prise that out of Daryl later.
“And to answer your questions, I’m not sure why exactly he was visiting the council. Alpha Cornell wasn’t at liberty to say. But Sara’s still staying with her grandmother, so if he did come to collect her, she didn’t go with him. If I had to guess, I’d say it had something to do with him using his connection to Alpha Cornell to threaten other alphas.”
“And will he have gone when we get there?” Rachel didn’t fancy running into him any time soon.
Cam smiled. “Yes, I believe so. Alpha Cornell said he was due to meet with the council members this morning and that he planned to leave afterwards.”
Thank fuck for that. “Good.” She checked the time on her phone. 1:15 p.m. “Is that why we’re meeting Alpha Cornell a little later today?”
“Yes.”
The pub appeared up ahead, and Rachel held her breath looking for Alpha Cornell’s car among the ones in the car park. She spotted the Qashqai parked in the far corner away from the others, and her heart leapt into her throat. It’d only been a week since she last saw Sara, but it felt like months. Rachel rubbed a hand over her heart. It seemed she did that all the time these days. If anything, the pull between them had got stronger instead of fading.
Daryl drove into the car park and parked one space over from Alpha Cornell. Cam got out at the same time as Alpha Cornell, and although it killed her to remain in the car, Rachel waited for them to greet each other before getting out.
Sara stood by the passenger door of her grandmother’s car. Way too far away.
“We have lots to discuss today. But…” She smiled as she glanced between Sara and Rachel. “Maybe Alpha Harley, Daryl, and I should go inside and find a table. I suspect we’ll get done quicker if you two get your greetings out of the way first.”
Rachel couldn’t bring herself to be embarrassed, too desperate to get Sara to herself. “Thank you,” she said, gaze locked on Sara.
“I will remind you,” Alpha Cornell added. “This is a public place, and there are humans present. Please behave yourselves.”
“Yes, Alpha Cornell,” Rachel answered at the same time as Sara muttered a “Grandmother, really?”
Alpha Cornell shrugged. “After last time, I don’t believe you have a leg to stand on.”
She had a point.
Daryl smothered a laugh and grinned when Rachel glared at him.
