She follows me into the kitchen, and Marge puts the kettle on as she prepares whatever she is making at the counter. She reaches for me, and kisses my forehead. “Hey, Marge,” I greet.
“Luna, you look better today.” She nods before her eyes dart to Angie.
Angie ducks her head, and Marge gives her a disappointed look, then averts her gaze back to what she’s doing.
Opening the cupboard, I grab some mugs, and Mateo walks over to the table, pulling a chair out. He motions to the chair. “Sit,” he orders Angie, and she does before he takes the chair across from her, falling into it and folding his arms across his chest as he watches her.
Angie turns her attention to me as I ready the mugs. “I just wanted to say I am sorry, Kat, I took the first lot of photos, but that was it. I told Jackson I wanted nothing more to do with it. The rest was Madeline, I swear.”
“Why?” I press her, and she lets out a breath while I pour the hot water into the mugs before stirring them.
When she says nothing, I peer over at her. Red streaks decorate her face with her shame. “I was jealous, I know that isn’t an excuse, but once I saw you at school with Jasmine, I realized how wrong I was. I told Madeline I wanted nothing more to do with it, but she said if I told you or the Alpha, she would pin it on me,” she croaks out, running her fingers through her hair before she continues. “I knew you wouldn’t believe me after what I did, so I just hoped Madeline would have a change of heart and realize how wrong it was, but she wanted Ezra. She didn’t care at what cost, she said you took her spot, that she should be Luna. I swear to you, I had nothing to do with your mother’s death. If I had known, I would have told you, that was all Madeline.” Angie pleads her case.
Yet I couldn’t help, but still feel betrayed. She pretended to be my friend, making me question if the friendship we had built was based on a lie. Was she only friends with me out of guilt for what she had done? How would I be able to ever trust her again after what she had done? Yet by the look on her face I can see the remorse. She truly is sorry, whether that was for being caught or genuine I couldn’t be 100% sure.
Mateo glances at me and I grab our mugs, carrying them over to the table, setting one in front of her. “I’m truly sorry, Kat.” she whispers again, barely audible, dropping her gaze.
“So am I,” I reply just as softly. She looks at me questionably. “I didn’t just lose my mother, but a best friend. I’m not sure I can trust you again.” She chews her quivering lip, not sure what to say to me. “I guess time will tell,” I add, taking my seat.
They never managed to catch Derrick before he stepped over the border. I should have known better than to send my warriors after him. Now I am cursing myself, I should have gone myself. Derrick has Beta blood, making him stronger than my warriors. He is also one of the best fighters that Jackson had, just like Shirley, I should have realized they wouldn’t have been able to subdue him. I didn’t think he would attack them when they tried to stop him either.
Pressing my foot on the gas, I drive to the border of my territory. Andrei wanted to meet on no man’s land, in our usual meeting place. He had captured Derrick the moment he stepped over the border into his pack.
Andrei is wanting to negotiate, and now I have to try to get the fool back before Andrei tries to kill him. I don’t know what Derrick is thinking. Did he truly think he could just cross the border and Andrei would welcome him with open arms, and let him on their territory?
Derrick’s actions make no sense to me, he basically went on a suicide mission, or was that his intention? I don’t understand why he is going after Andrei’s pack, yes, he was involved, but Jackson was the real enemy. Pulling up at the rundown building, I can see their cars there in the small parking lot. Swinging the door open, I climb out of the car and shut the door. Moments later, Andrei gets out of his with a smug look on his face and I move toward him.
“Where is he?” I demand, and Andrei laughs, his Beta and another man getting out of the black SUV on the other side of the car. I ignore them, they are pawns, easily taken down, the real threat stands in front of me.
Andrei waves his men back. “He is alive for now. I have him locked away nice and safe,” Andrei taunts. Andrei leans on his car, pulling a smoke from his pocket and lighting it.
“I should kill you for what you have done,” I growl at him, and he raises an eyebrow at me, flicking his zippo lighter shut, he drops it in his pocket.
Smoke fills the air as he breathes out. “Now, now, Alpha Ezra, don’t be foolish.” He draws back on his smoke. If he kills Kat’s father, she will never forgive me. “This can all be sorted. So I suggest that you don’t do anything you may regret. I have Derrick as collateral, you give me what I want, I will hand him over.” he shrugs like it is that simple.
But I knew his requests wouldn’t be that simple. My fists clench, not liking the situation Derrick has put me in. “I am not giving you my mate,” I snarl at him, a growl tears out of me, and Maddox presses beneath my skin. Andrei watches me, and tilts his head to the side when Maddox lunges forward threateningly. Fur grows along my arms as I fight to keep him at bay. Maddox doesn’t like being challenged, and Andrei is pushing his buttons.