"Jasper was in Red Bank," Erica revealed, her words sending a shiver down my spine. "The bar I used to work at."Damon chimed in, nodding his agreement. "I remember seeing him there. I warned Erica to stay away from him." My jaw tightened, I had already heard this , but it felt like we were under attack from all sides, and the need to protect those I loved became increasingly urgent. I turned to my father, frustration bubbling beneath the surface.
"We need to clear some more warriors first, so we can protect Erica." But Erica wasn't satisfied with my answer.
"Why me in particular?" she demanded, her confusion evident.
My thoughts raced, trying to find a way to explain without revealing too much. The uncertainty gnawed at me, fuelling my determination to keep her safe. But I didn’t want to overwhelm her with the disaster that was my life either.
"Because..." I hesitated, searching for the right words. There was a sudden mind link from the warrior guarding Grayson, which interrupted our discussion, and I knew we couldn't afford to waste any more time. I looked over at my father and could tell he had received the same message. I shared the information with everyone in the room; their faces were a mixture of shock and suspicion.
"Grayson wants to talk to me. He says he'll name more spies, but only if it's me who goes to see him." Damon frowned, his dark eyes narrowing as he crossed his arms over his chest.
"That sounds suspicious, Liam. It could be a trap."
"Maybe, but we have no choice. We need to know who we can trust." My voice was firm, resolute. Inside, though, I battled with conflicting emotions: anger at the betrayal within our pack, worry over Erica's safety, and a gnawing dread that things were about to get much worse.
"Jacob, don't fuck up this time. Stay with Erica and keep her safe," I ordered, my tone leaving no room for argument. Jacob nodded, his hazel eyes locked on mine as he understood the gravity of the situation.
"Let's go," I said, and Damon, Declan, Gregg, and Gideon fell into step beside me, as we headed to find out how fucked we really were.
Chapter 51
Erica
Thepitinmystomach grew deeper and more nauseating with each tick of the clock. I couldn't shake the gnawing fear that crawled up my spine, making me restless as I paced back and forth across the room. It was suffocating, like a poisonous fog wrapping around me, squeezing the breath from my lungs.
"Erica, you need to calm down," the Luna said, her voice laced with concern. She knew how anxious I was about Liam interrogating Grayson, but there was nothing she could say to ease my mind.
"Sorry, I just... I can't help it," I murmured, pausing for a moment to lean against the wall. The cold plaster pressed against my forehead, offering little comfort. "What if Grayson's information is even worse than we thought?"
"Whatever it is, Liam will handle it," Kaitlyn reassured me, placing a hand on my shoulder. But her eyes betrayed her own worry, and I knew she didn't fully believe her words either.
I let out a shaky breath, trying to focus on the present, on the familiar surroundings of the pack house. But all I could see was the image of Liam, his dark brown hair dishevelled, his strong hands gripping Grayson's prison bars, his intense brown eyes searching for answers.
"Erica, come sit with me," the Luna offered, guiding me towards the couch. My knees felt weak, and I gratefully sank into the cushions, still feeling the relentless ticking of the clock echoing through the room.
"Grayson must have had a good reason to speak with Liam directly," I whispered, my voice barely audible above the oppressive silence. "But what could be so important? Why put Liam at risk like this?"
We lapsed into silence, the tension in the room was palpable, like a thick fog that clung to every surface and stifled any attempts at conversation. Kaitlyn and Jenna tried to fill the silence with small talk, but their voices were strained, their forced laughter hollow.
"Erica," Jenna began hesitantly, her gaze flicking between me and Jacob. "I'm so sorry that Jacob didn't stay with you the other night." Jacob managed a grim smile, his eyes apologetic.
"Yeah, Jenna kicked my ass for that one. I should've been there for you."
"Hey," I said softly, reaching out to touch Jacob's arm reassuringly. "I don't blame you or anyone else. The only person responsible for what happened is Louis." Jacob nodded, grateful for my understanding, but the guilt still lingered in his eyes. We fell into an awkward silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts, the weight of the situation pressing down on us like a suffocating blanket. As the minutes dragged on, we continued to discuss trivial matters, desperately trying to distract ourselves from the gnawing unease that settled in our stomachs. It felt as if the walls were closing in, trapping us in this nightmare with no escape in sight.
Suddenly, Jacob stiffened, his eyes widening. He quickly stood up, his face pale and alarmed.
"I won't be long," he announced, his voice tight with urgency. Without waiting for a response, he rushed out of the room, leaving us all to exchange concerned glances. I watched Jacob's retreating figure, my heart pounding with a mix of worry and frustration. I turned to face the others in the room, noticing their concerned expressions.
"Okay, what's going on?" I demanded, unable to hold back any longer. "Why is everyone so worried?" The Luna hesitated before replying, her voice tense.
"Liam and his father are back from their meeting with Grayson."
“What about the others?” I asked.
“They went off to collect some more names that Grayson had given them,” Jenna said.
"Then why do you all look like someone just died?" I snapped, my patience wearing thin. No one answered, their silence only fueling my unease. It was maddening, being left in the dark while everyone else seemed privy to some crucial information. I knew they had likely received mind links about the situation, but that knowledge only served to remind me of my own inadequacy. The fact that I couldn't connect to them in the same way weighed heavily on me, further isolating me from the pack.
