Chapter 42
~APOLLO~
After dropping Lana off at home, I drove straight to the pack house. I needed a place to clear my head, and this was the perfect spot that came to mind.
As I drive up the elongated driveway, towering palm trees flank my path, their feathery leaves swaying gently in the breeze. The sunlight filters through, casting playful shadows on the ground, while also adding some much needed privacy.
The gate opened as soon as the pack guards recognized my vehicle. I made sure this location was remote, away from other packs. I didn’t want anyone knowing where to find us and risking an ambush. Our list of enemies was growing every day, especially now that my pack was gaining the upper hand over several powerful rivals.
“You look like you had a rough night,” Jake says as soon as I step out of the car and close the door. “Did you manage to get any sleep?”
I run a hand down my face. “No,” I reply. “No sleep at all.”
He frowns at me, and as someone who has been close to me for a long time, he can tell something is off.
He had sensed it for a while now, but out of respect for his Alpha, he held back from pressing me for details.
Last night, I spent the entire night holding Lana close to me, even after she fell asleep. I never once took her off me, even while driving to a safer location where I knew no one would bother us.
Holding her so close to me for an entire night definitely left a lasting throb in my chest. While I enjoyed every second of it, I knew that it couldn’t happen
again.
This morning, she didn’t know it but I was so close to stripping all the clothes off her body and having my way with her. She didn’t realize how much her sweet scent was tempting me the entire time. Even her little movements were a bit too much for me. Lana didn’t have to do anything at all and I would
follow her around like a lost child.
“You’re acting like a werewolf who just discovered his mate and doesn’t know how to claim her,” Jake jokes, attempting to lighten the mood.
His laughter fades when he sees that I’m not amused by his effort to ease the tension.
A frown spreads across his face as he asks, “What’s with that look? Did you actually find our Luna?”
I’m tempted to tell him the truth but quickly brush the thought aside. No one can know about Lana; it would complicate everything.
“No,” I reply, lying through my teeth.
He exhales in relief as we step into the pack house. “That’s good to hear. I know your mother would freak out if you ever found your mate.”
And he’s not wrong–he’s well aware of how controlling my mother can be.
“Luckily, that’s not the situation,” I say.
He nods, adding, “At some point, you’re going to have to have that tough conversation with her, Apollo. She can’t keep making your decisions f know you feel responsible for what your father did to her and hate it, but you need to start thinking about your own happiness.”
My jaw tightens; I didn’t come here to dive into my strained relationship with my mother. I just wanted to escape from all my problems.
I glance down at my phone and see yet another call from her. Now that she knows I wasn’t at the office last night, despite promising her I would be, she’s determined to uncover the truth about my whereabouts. She can’t seem to understand what could possibly be more important than spending time with
her.
“I know it’s not really my place to say this, Jake comments as he notices my phone lighting up. “But that behavior isn’t exactly normal.”
1/3
20:23 Tue, 15 Jul 3 OG
Chapter 42
I run a hand over my face and place the phone back on the counter.
He raises an eyebrow. “Since when have you ever stopped answering every single call from her?”
Maybe it’s because I’m hiding the truth about Lana from her. The guilt is weighing heavily on me.
Or perhaps I’m just tired of having to explain every detail of my life to her. Whatever it is, I can’t handle this conversation today.
I’m already grappling with these powerful feelings for my mate. All I want is to embrace those feelings, but I know I can’t drag Lana into this mess.
“She’s a bit pissed at me,” I confess. “She organized a dinner. She wanted me to go with her and Jada–the girl I’m supposed to marry. I kind of stood them both up.”
Jake looks surprised, “well good for fucking you.”
I shot him a glare. “It wasn’t intentional. Something came up, and I had to take care of it.”
He looked pleased with my actions. “It’s about time you start doing things for yourself. But what could be so important that you stood up your mother?”
I could hear the curiosity lacing his voice.
“None of your damn business,” I snapped.
He raised his hands in mock surrender. “Hey, you’re the one who brought it up.”
Lana would remain my secret. For as long as possible.
He rubs the back of his neck nervously. “There’s something I wanted to bring up with you.”
I raise an eyebrow, “About what?”
He hesitates before continuing, “Your step–sister. Don’t you think her behavior last night was a bit off?”
I can sense his uncertainty about how I might take this. He knows how seriously I view anything related to Lana.
“I know you told us to keep an eye on her after the last attack, but I wasn’t expecting her to show up at the hotel. I followed her for a while, and it seemed like she was visiting all the spots you usually hang out at. Almost as if she were searching for you. In the end, she ended up at the hotel,” he explains.
Panic courses through me.
I really didn’t want to know that Lana had been looking for me all night. It only intensified the guilt that was already eating away at me.
“She’s been pretty shaken up since the attack,” I respond, lying to cover it up. “I think it’s just a coincidence that she ended up at those places.”
He nods but still seems doubtful. “She looked really down the whole time, like something was weighing on her. I felt a bit sorry for her, to be honest.
I curse under my breath.
I needed to find a way to wrap up this conversation quickly.
“I’ve come to rescue you both!” Adrian exclaimed as he strode in with a broad grin. I was happy about the interruption.
“What’s he grinning about?” Jake asks me.
Like I should have any clue. Adrian was always up to something shady.
“What kind of trouble did you get into this time?” I growl
“Only good things,” he promises me. “I met these two gorgeous women at a bar last night and have convinced them to come give my alpha a good time
2/3
Chapter 42
They’re in the car with blindfolde sin, ea pa don’t have to worry shesh
Jake chuckles, “oh you stupid, fast”
“What?” Adrian asks with wide eyes. ” am only trying to binghamda utang
“Take care of this.“1 order jake ss 1 leve him to get rid of the girts Adnan had brought over without heading th
I was not looking for anyone. Mainly because I knew there wasn’t anyone is the plane that could als get Land But of my
look down at my hands, I wanted to pull her against me once more, just like I did face nigh
I wanted her scent close to me once more. And more than anything, I wanted to feel har bouncing on top of my aching
Ah–fuck
Dangerous thoughts
Think of something else.
Quick
1
