Chapter 30
-LANA-
83%1
“Still tailing us,” Isabella remarks dryly while glancing in the rearview mirror. “What exactly did you say to Apollo to get him on our case like this?”
I found myself wondering the same thing. As far as I knew, he’d made it clear he was heading to a hotel. So why was he still shadowing us?
“What makes you think I said anything to him?” I reply, trying to keep my tone casual.
She rolls her eyes. “You two have been at odds for years. Suddenly, the tension ramped up. I don’t know what’s changed since you’ve been so tight- lipped about our stepbrother. This is the first time I’ve ever seen the both of you act so strangely.”
What was her point?
“You’re reading too much into this,” I lie, feeling the weight of my secret grow heavier with each moment.
Apollo wasn’t making things any easier by following us now. He would make her even more suspicious.
“He might just be keeping an eye on us to make sure we’re safe,” she suggests suddenly to my relief. “After all, he was the one who saved us from that psychopath last time.”
The thought of Apollo trailing us as a protector didn’t sit well with me. I wished he were following out of curiosity about where I was headed. I wanted him to feel the same jealousy I felt whenever I saw him with another woman. While I was happy he actually cared about our safety, I wanted more than that from him.
“You’ve been driving for a while,” Isabella points out. “You never mentioned where we’re headed.”
The truth was, I didn’t have a destination in mind yet. But with Apollo still on our tail, I knew I had to find a place to stop soon. I didn’t want him to figure out that! had made up the plans for tonight.
Just then, I spot a restaurant on my right and quickly pull into the parking lot.
“Oh,” Isabella says, craning her neck for a better look. “This place looks nice. What made you choose here? Have you been wanting to come?”
I shrugged and glanced at the rearview mirror, seeing that Apollo was still driving instead of stopping.
My heart sank; it seemed he wasn’t actually following us after all. Maybe the girl he planned to pick up for their hotel trip lived farther down the road, or perhaps she was already waiting for him at the hotel. I hadn’t bothered to ask for the name of the place when expressing my interest in his plans.
“Why do you look so disappointed all of a sudden?” Isabella asks, eyeing me suspiciously.
Why did she pick up on all my little emotions?
“Can we just go grab dinner, please?” I reply, rolling my eyes.
I just wanted to get this over with and head back home now that Apollo was no longer around. I knew that I wouldn’t be able to sleep tonight since he would be out possibly fucking some random girl in a hotel room. I felt sick to my stomach at just the thought of it.
Why was I letting him get to me like this?
~APOLLO~
I parked a little way down the road, not wanting Lana to realize I was keeping an eye on her. Ever since the last attack, I couldn’t rest easy when it came to her safety.
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Chapter 30
1 checked my phone has renting my mother’s tulle This was the third one, and know? had to at soon. If I didn’t, she would definitely come looking for me
“Mom,” I finally respond, my volcz strained.
“What’s taking a long?” she presses. “Don’t you want to spend some time with your mother
Not this again 1 genuinely wanted to catch up, it had been ages since we hung out. But all I could think about was Eana’s safety right now t could easily call my pack to secure the area, yet I knew that wouldn’t work since she already occupied my mind entirely. I would not be able to concentrate on my mother if i knew she was out here and I was nowhere around to protect her.
have a few things i still need to finish up,” explain, trying to remain respectful. “Mom, you showed up without any heads–up about your visit. I had important commitments that I was already handling. Once I’m done, I’ll meet you at the hotel.”
I could almost feel her frustration radiating through the phone before she abruptly hangs up.
Great.
Why did Lana pick tonight of all nights to go out? Was she worried I was bringing some random woman to a hotel and lashing out because of it? I hadn’t had the chance to set the record straight since she stormed off earlier.
I scan the area, ensuring there are no suspicious activities nearby.
Rubbing my hand over my face, I realize I’m digging myself into a deep hole, one that’s going to be tough to climb out of. After all my efforts to keep my distance from Lana, one kiss had turned everything upside down.
I had to regain control. I needed to bury these feelings deep. I had to remind myself that distancing myself from Lana was for her own good.
1 made promises to my mother–promises I fully intended to keep. To honor those commitments, I couldn’t afford to let my feelings for Lana d further, nor could I allow her to have feelings for me. Ever since I saved her, I’d noticed a shift in her attitude toward me, and that was troublin
her to keep disliking me.
top any
eeded
I wasn’t sure if my mother recognized Lana’s voice from the overheard phone call. She was the type of person who picked up on every nuance and detail, especially when it came to me.
Thad to tread cautiously. If my mother ever got even a hint that Lana was my mate, things would spiral out of control.
I had to protect Lana at all costs. She had no idea how ruthless my mother could be when faced with an obstacle. I loved my mother, but I also knew she could be challenging at times. Ever since my father divorced her, she’d changed and had never been the same, She had married for love, and it crushed her when her father suddenly walked away.
My siblings and I were all she had left, as she never chose to remarry like our father did. Yet, she seemed to cling to me far more than she did to my other siblings.
let out a sigh.
As soon as Lana left the restaurant and got home safely, I planned to meet my mother at the hotel, where she intended to insist on me spending time
with Jada.
1 COL
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