"Precaution," Jacob replied tersely, opening the door for me. "We can't take any chances right now." I climbed into the SUV, followed by Jacob, my mind reeling with unanswered questions. One of the warriors slid in beside me while the other took a seat up front, effectively sandwiching me between them. Their presence should have been comforting, a reminder that I was under their protection; instead, it only served to heighten my sense of unease.
The drive up to the pack house passed in tense silence, broken only by the quiet hum of the engine. As we pulled through the gates, I couldn't help but notice the eerie stillness that seemed to permeate the air. It was morning, and yet the grounds were devoid of the usual bustle of activity. The ominous atmosphere weighed heavily on me, like an unwelcome shroud that threatened to suffocate everything in its path.
"Jacob, what's going on?" I demanded, unable to contain my worry any longer. "Why is everything so...quiet?"
"Like I said before, there's been an emergency," he replied, avoiding my gaze. "That's all I can tell you right now." His evasiveness only fuelled my growing anxiety, but I knew better than to press him further. We parked in front of the pack house, and without another word, Jacob led the way inside.
Climbing the four flights of stairs to the Alpha floor felt like scaling a mountain, my legs growing heavier with each step. I clung to the railing for support, my heart pounding in my chest as I forced myself to keep moving. It was a struggle but, finally; we neared the top.
"Erica," Jacob said quietly, his tone laced with concern and a hint of regret. "I'm sorry I can't tell you more right now, but trust me when I say that we're doing everything we can to keep you safe."
"Thank you," I whispered, my voice barely audible even to my own ears. Though I still didn't know what was happening, I had no choice but to place my faith in those who were sworn to protect me – and hope that it would be enough.
The moment I stepped onto the Alpha floor, a cacophony of raised voices reached my ears. My heart raced in anticipation as I followed the sound, Jacob trailing silently behind me. When we reached the doorway to the Alpha living room, I paused, taking in the tense scene before me. Alpha Declan stood tall and imposing, his dark eyes narrowed in frustration. Beside him were Beta Gregg, Luna Fallon, and Gregg's wife and mate, Astra. Gamma Gideon and his wife, Jacob's wife Jenna, Kaitlyn, and Damon filled the rest of the room. But it was Liam who caught my attention, sitting on the opposite sofa to his father, his jaw clenched and a storm brewing in his brown eyes.
"Putting every pack member under investigation is not a viable solution!" Declan argued, his voice booming throughout the room.
"Then what do you suggest, Father?" Liam snapped back, his anger palpable. "We have a territory full of spies, and if we don't find out who they are, Erica or someone else could get hurt!"
"Maybe we should consider more subtle approaches," Gregg suggested, trying to diffuse the escalating tension between father and son.
"Subtlety hasn't exactly been effective so far," Liam retorted, his gaze lingering on me for a brief moment before returning to his father.
"Excuse me, but what's going on?" I asked, my voice cutting through the heated argument. Liam was on his feet and by my side in an instant.
"Baby, you should be resting. How are you feeling?"
"I'm fine, Liam," I replied, brushing off his concern with a small wave of my hand. "Now tell me what's going on."
"Nothing for you to worry about, love," he said, trying to placate me. "Everything's under control." I raised an eyebrow at him, unimpressed.
"Liam, if you want me to be your Luna someday, you need to actually tell me things. I'm sick of secrets."
"Ha, that's a Luna right there for you!" Fallon chimed in, her grin wide and proud. Damon chuckled in agreement, earning a glare from Liam.
"Erica has a point," Alpha Declan conceded, his gaze shifting between Liam and me. He shared a knowing look with his wife before turning back to his son. "Liam, tell her." Liam sighed, clearly unhappy with the decision, but he nodded. I could see the struggle in his eyes as he tried to find the right words to explain the situation.
Chapter 50
Liam
Theroomwastense,the air thick with anticipation as I prepared to reveal my family's secret. Erica sat across from me, her green eyes glistening with curiosity and concern. My mother and father flanked her, their expressions a mixture of support and unease. This was the moment of truth.
"Baby," I began, my voice unsteady, grappling with the weight of my words. "There's something you need to know about my family. Something that could affect us all." Her gaze never wavered, but I sensed her growing anxiety. Taking a deep breath, I continued.
"There's a rival pack, originally led by Felix Blackwood, who wants to destroy the Silver Stone pack. We've had... issues with them for years."
"Wait, Felix Blackwood?" Erica interrupted, her brow furrowing. "That name sounds familiar."
"Let me explain," my mother chimed in, her voice soft yet determined. "Felix had a crush on me when we were younger. Our packs were neighbours, and he wanted to bring mine into his and make me his Luna."
"Then Fallon met me," Declan added with a hint of pride, placing a hand on my mother's shoulder. "We were fated mates. I still remember the overwhelming feeling of finding her, like every fibre of my being aligned perfectly with hers." My mind flashed back to the first time I laid eyes on Erica, and I knew exactly what he meant.
"Anyway," my mother continued, "my father agreed to merge our pack with Declan's. That's when Felix became furious. He accused me of betraying him, even though I never intended to complete the mate bond with him."
"His anger turned into an obsession," I added, clenching my fists at the thought of our enemies threatening our pack and Erica's safety. "Which only got worse when my mother became pregnant with me," I began, my voice wavering slightly. "It was far from an easy pregnancy. Her body seemed to be rejecting it, and she became incredibly ill." My father took over, his eyes distant as he recalled those harrowing days.
"We sought help from a local witches’ coven, desperate for any kind of relief or answers. The daughter of the Coven Priestess came to our aid, and after examining Fallon, she informed us that the cause of her illness was magical in nature. There was a curse on our family."
