"Wait," I said, holding up a hand. "This is all too much. We can't just assume this is true without more evidence."
"Perhaps," Audrey conceded, her eyes shining with determination. "But you can't deny that the pieces are starting to fall into place." I rubbed my neck, the tension building within me.
"I need to speak to my dad. He might know more about Erica's lineage." With urgency propelling me forward, I grabbed my phone and rushed out of the room, leaving Audrey and Damon behind.
Chapter 7
Liam
Ipacedthedimlylit room, my heart hammering in my chest as I clenched my phone tightly. The weight of the secrets and lies threatened to suffocate me. Frustration bubbled within me like a volcano on the brink of eruption. Unable to contain it any longer, I dialled my father's number.
"Son," he answered, his voice sombre.
"Father," I started, trying to keep my tone even. "Are you hiding anything else about Erica? Anything important?"
"Like what?" he asked, though I could hear the unease in his voice.
"Like her being a queen of a new hybrid species," I spat out, my patience wearing thin. There was an excruciating pause at the other end of the line. It felt like the very air around me grew colder, charged with tension. Finally, my father let out a heavy sigh.
"I knew," he admitted, his voice barely more than a whisper. "Not the full details, but the basics." My blood boiled, and I fought the urge to scream in fury.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"It was the reason why I pushed so hard for Erica to join our pack," he explained, his voice taking on a defensive edge. "Becca and Marshall didn't fight because they knew who she was too. In the meeting with The Alchemists, Marshall confessed her identity. They insisted that Erica needed to be protected at all costs. We all agreed that the Silver Stone pack could offer that protection."
"Damn it, dad!" I snapped, my anger finally spilling over. "How could you keep something like this from me? From her?"
"Listen, Liam," he said sternly, trying to regain control of the conversation. "I made a choice I thought was best for everyone involved. Don't forget, you're not just my son, you're the Alpha. You have a responsibility to protect this pack and its members, that includes Erica." I took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. "Fine," I muttered, knowing that he was right, even if it didn't make it any easier to accept.
"Erica needs to know," I insisted, my voice tight with frustration. "We can't keep her in the dark any longer."
"Wait until you get home," my father replied, his tone equally strained. "She's fragile right now, and this might be too much for her." I clenched my fist, wanting to argue but knowing he was right. Erica had been through hell lately, and the last thing I wanted was to add to her pain.
"Fine," I muttered, swallowing down my anger. "But we're telling her as soon as I get back."
"Deal," he agreed before changing the subject. "I'm hoping tomorrow night will help lift her spirits a bit."
"Tomorrow night?" I asked, confused.
"Her friends are taking her out for her birthday," he explained. "A little celebration might be good for her."
"Are you fucking kidding me?" I snapped, my fury boiling over. "That's not happening. Anything could happen to her!" My Alpha tone slipped out uncontrollably, causing a shiver of unease to run down my spine.
"Watch your tone, Liam," my father warned, his voice firm. "You may be Alpha, but you don't get to rant at me like that."
"Sorry," I muttered, though I wasn't really feeling apologetic at all. The thought of Erica being out there, vulnerable, made my stomach churn with dread.
"Besides," he continued, trying to reassure me, "I've already arranged a full security detail for the night. She'll be safe, I promise."
"Fine," I growled, still far from mollified. "But if anything happens to her, I'm holding you responsible." With that, I slammed the phone down, the sound echoing through the room like a gunshot. An awful sinking feeling settled in my stomach, and I couldn't shake the sense of impending doom. I needed to get back to Erica, to make sure she was safe.
The sinking feeling in my gut refused to subside as I made my way back to the kitchen, each step heavier than the last. The thought of Erica out there, vulnerable and unaware, gnawed at me like a persistent itch I couldn't scratch. I knew I should be focusing on finding a solution, but all I could think about was her. As I entered the kitchen, I was greeted by an unexpected sight, Damon and Audrey locked in a passionate embrace, their lips pressed hungrily against one another. It was like seeing two animals in heat, oblivious to the world around them. For a moment, I felt a pang of jealousy, but it wasn't directed at Damon; it was because I missed the tender touch of my mate, the fierce connection that bound us together.
"Ahem," I fake coughed loudly, causing them both to break apart with a start. They looked at me, sheepish and flushed, their eyes wide with surprise. "You two might want to take that to the bedroom," I joked, trying to lighten the mood despite the storm brewing inside me.
"Uh, sorry, Liam," Damon mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck in embarrassment. Audrey just smiled sheepishly, her cheeks tinged a rosy pink.
"Seriously though, we need to focus," I said, my voice firm but gentle. "I can't shake this feeling that something's wrong, and we can't afford any distractions."
