“I still have my shadows?” Lily asked, hoping that Jessie’s conversation with Tony didn’t change her role in the whole plan.
“Of course. Nothing has changed, but we need to draw him out. The longer we’re here, the bigger chance we have of losing him,” she replied.
“I’ll see what I can do to make myself more visible. Maybe venture into the woods,” Lily replied.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” She heard James jump in and Jessie shot him a nasty glare.
“Well lycan, that’s none of your concern,” Jessie shot back.
“Actually it is,” James told her and Lily cringed inwardly, worried about what argument he’d use to prove it was his concern. “She’s part of the pack, my pack which as the beta it’s my job to make sure all the members are safe,” he told her and Lily breathed a sigh of relief but was a little irritated that he didn’t act as she expected. Jessie started to argue, but Charlie stepped in.
“I think James concerns are valid Jessie. However, James, Lily has two of our best watching over her day and night so she shouldn’t ever be in danger but if you’re very concerned I’m sure Jessie wouldn’t mind you keeping an eye on her. For extra precaution, of course, and to ease your concerns about her safety,” Charlie stated and Lily gawked at him. What was he doing?
“As long as he stays out of our way I have no objections,” Jessie said instead with a frown on her face.
“Okay I’ll do that,” James said with his arms crossed.
James drove to the Roberts, wanting to spend some time with A. J. and Lily. He thought about talking to Lily about what was going on between them several times, but he always changed his mind at the last moment. James wasn’t sure what exactly what he wanted to say or how she’d react. Before she left, he could predict how she’d act or react, but now with this sudden change James wasn’t sure how’d she handle it.
Would she be more open to the idea of being with him? She had kissed him and didn’t threaten to silver him if he talked about it or wanted more when the kiss ended. James sighed as he pulled up into the driveway of the large white home. When he walked up the porch, James remembered one of the things his father always use to tell him. “The Lacrosse family doesn’t run from their problems James! No, we confront them head on because that’s the only way they can make us stronger!”
Maybe that’s what he needed to do, stop dancing around the issue and just confront it-tell Lily that he wanted to be more than her friend. He wanted to be her mate. Yet as James knocked on the door, he didn’t feel a lot of conviction in that plan of action. “Hello James,” Andrew greeted as he opened the door and let James in. “A. J. is in the living room. Lily’s gone out for a walk.”
His head shot up and he looked at the ex-alpha in surprise. “By herself?” James asked worriedly and Andrew gave a quick little shrug.
“She insisted and reminded me that she does have that fairy and demon as her bodyguards,” Andrew replied. “Don’t worry James. I’m sure she’ll be fine. She’s got the Aquivalere behind her.”
“Yeah but I think I’ll join her anyways,” James decided. Despite Andrew’s certainty, he didn’t trust the Aequivalere as far as he could throw them honestly. When Lily and he had gone after Xavier, the Aequivalere hadn’t been much help. In fact, they encouraged Lily to go on her own to take care of Xavier… just because of some stupid vision a vampire queen had.
James turned around and went back out the front door; tilting his head slightly upward, James sniffed the air, looking for her scent. He picked it up quickly and followed it around the house and into the woods. James gave his head a disapproving shake as he went into the woods, thinking it was a really bad idea for her to be out there.
Picking up his pace, James found Lily rather in about ten minutes. She was little on a boulder, staring out at the little Appleton River. “Hey James,” she said without turning.
“Hey Lily, how’s things going?” He asked, walking up to her, feeling a little nervous. Why was he feeling so nervous all the time when he was around her?
“Not bad I suppose, what brings you to this neck of the woods? Anything in particular or are you simply on patrol duty?” She asked then tossed a small rock into the river.
“Well I came here to see you,” he started, not liking the edge on her voice when she said patrol duty. Lily turned to look at him with a skeptical look on her face. “I admit that some of the reason I came is because I don’t like you being out here all by yourself.”
“All by myself? Why not? There’s nothing out here but animals which present no danger to me what so ever. I don’t think even a bear could offer me any real challenge. Plus this is still Tony’s territory,” Lily said with a scoff and the way of her hand and he looked at her with a confused expression. What about Silvano? She returned his look of confusion with a pointed one then whispered quietly so quiet he almost didn’t hear it, “The whole point of being bait is appearing to be vulnerable.”
Suddenly James understood why she seemed so dismissive of the possible threats to her safety. “Still don’t like it,” he replied, deciding to go along with the whole act and tested the air for any other scents that weren’t theirs but couldn’t pick up any scents that didn’t belong to the forest.
“You worry too much James. It’s going to make you go gray way before your time,” she told him then added in that almost too quiet whisper. “Cesar and Donovan are out here somewhere but close.” He looked at her confused wondering how that could be true if he couldn’t pick up their scents. Werewolves had a powerful sense of smell and James was even better than the average werewolf. “I’ll explain later,” she whispered in reply to his look.
Suddenly she stood up. “Well it’s getting late and we both know how tricky these woods can get after dark even with the super nose,” she said dusting off her jeans even though they were clean and he nodded, walking beside her as they walked back to the house. After several minutes of debating, James cleared his throat.
“Actually I came out here to find you because I’ve wanted to talk to you about some things,” he said, trying not to sound so nervous.