ROWAN
“What name did he give?” I ask as we all head to the cells.
“Louisa Kane.”
His words freeze me in my steps.
No.
It can’t be.
They couldn’t have found me.
Not here.
there is no way they could have known that I am here.
Unless…
Unless that wolf told them
“Are you sure?” Lisa demands as she hurries closer to me and grips my hand, while still watching Gaines. “That is the name he said? Are you sure?”
“Yes. I told him no one by that name existed here but he says he saw her come in.”
No.
No.
No.
This can’t be happening.
They found me
How did they find me?
I was very careful
I changed my name.
I did everything right.
Why is he here?
“Rowan!”
Lisa’s sharp tone brings me out of my spiraling thoughts, causing me to focus on her while bringing the rest of the world into sharp focus.
“Wh- what?”
“You need to calm down,” she says as she begins steering me to the mansion.
“Aren’t you coming to check on him?” Gaines calls after us.
“Not now!” She calls back to him. “Have him detained. Use the silver chains. Also, have the borders surveilled. Any unknown person must be immediately detained. Be discreet.”
“Got it,” he returns before hurrying away.
“Breathe, Rowan,” she coos at me. “Just breathe.”
“Who is Louisa?” Louis’s voice sounds from behind me, startling me and also Lisa.
I had forgotten he was with us when the report came in.
“Not now, Louis,” Lisa says.
“Do you know her? Why did you react like that? Is he a threat? Talk to me, Rowan. How can I help?”
“You can help by giving her some space to think!” Lisa snaps as she ushers me inside.
“What is going on?” Rina asks the moment she sees us hurrying past
“A wolf was caught trying to sneak in,” Lisa answers. “He said he was looking for Louisa Kane.”
“What?!” She exclaims as she hurries over to me. “Rowan, are you alright?”
“Can someone please tell me who this Louisa is?” Louis snaps from behind us.
“It’s me,” I tell him, my voice quiet. “Louisa Kane is me. It is the name I had before… when I was still in a pack.”
“Oh. Oh, I see.”
He doesn’t say anything more as we head into the study.
Lisa quickly settles me on a couch while she hurries to the mini bar. Rina on the other hand comes to kneel before me, taking my hands and looking at me in concern.
“You are okay, Ro,” she tells me quietly. You are safe. They can’t touch. And if they try to, we will kill them. All of us.”
I give her a shaky smile while accepting the tumbler Lisa hands over to me. My hands tremble with it and she has to close hers over mine to steady it.
“Drink,” she orders.
I do as I am told and take a deep gulp, welcoming the liquid as it burns down my theory, filling my body with heat and calming my nerves.
“Thank you,” I say with gratitude.
“You are welcome,” she says. “Now, do we have any idea as to how the asshole knew to find you here?”
I look over to where Louis is standing by the door.
His eyes are unscruitable as he looks at me but he gives me a small smile, almost like he is saying he has got my back.
“I… I saw him… saw a wolf that night. The night of our first date. I recognized him… as one of the… one of the wolves who helped in beating me up.”
Rina inhales sharply at that before squeezing my hand.
“Shit!” Lisa exclaims. “So, we know he is not here for a nice chit chat.”
“What is his name?” Louis asks.
“Uh… Vince? No, Vance,” I answer. “He used to be… a suck up. Always wanting to get into Dom- uh, his good graces. Which meant he was always eager to do what he was asked. He was unnecessarily cruel.”
“Hmm. I will be back,” he says as he turns to the door. “Will you be alright?”
“Yeah,” I say.
He nods and I watch him leave with a determined frown.
“He is probably, most likely going to beat them up,” Lisa remarks as he stares at the door. “Do you want to stop him?”
“No need,” I reply. “Gaines won’t let him get close without my permission. Where is Alden?”
“He was at the armory last time I heard. What do you need him for?”
“To interrogate the man.”
“You don’t want to do so yourself?” Rina asks.
“I… I don’t if I can. I… goddess! I thought I was past this!” I snap as I bury my face in my hands.
“The only way to get past trauma is by facing it head on.”
“Besides, do you want anyone else to know about your past?” Lisa asks. “I mean, I know it is Alden, but still… Are you comfortable with it? Who knows what the asshole might let out. And you still haven’t told Viktor that the man who assaulted you was Dominik, an Alpha.”
“She has a point,” Rina says. “I think it is best you handle it yourself. You can control the outcome.”
“Yeah, maybe. But what should I do about him? If I kill him, that would give Dominik a reason to attack us, if I let him go, he will tell Dominik about me.”
“Send like Dominik is going to find out anyway. Why not let him find out on your own terms,” Lisa says.
“What do you mean?”
“If he tells Dominik, he will come for you, not the coalition, you. He might think he has a right to. But if he is coming to avenge a pack member…”
“He will have no idea who he is coming to face,” I complete.
He will be completely blindsided.