Elaine POV
“Did you tell him what Lucas said?” Rae asked.
“Azaire loves his brothers and I don’t want to put a rift between them.”
“Elaine, Lucas could have known what those people planned and he didn’t say anything! That’s fucked up.”
“It’s just a suspicion. Lucas wasn’t happy about Azaire and I dating in the beginning but I thought he got over it.”
“Elaine that doesn’t help. I’m glad you punched him he won’t try that nonsense again.”
“I hope not. I don’t want more issues between my boyfriend and I. Geez, I think there’s still a lot about Azaire I don’t know. I’m not sure he even wants to get married.”
“He loves you that I know.”
“But do we want the same things?”
Rae sighed. “I guess you have to do more talking and less humping.”
“Rae!” I gasped and laughed. “We do enough talking.”
“Hmm, wolves are very active.”
Heat rushed to my cheeks. “I don’t need to know! He’s my brother.”
She laughed and winked. “You get the idea.”
The front door opened and slammed the door shut. Rae and I stood at once.
“Babe, what happened?” Rae demanded and ran up to her mate.
Lawrence’s shirt was torn at the bottom and an open wound on his right arm.
His hair was ruffled and he had a pink bruise under his left eye.
“You were jumped weren’t you,” I said.
I recalled what Greg and Scooter said this morning before I kicked their asses. They went after Lawrence I doubted them.
Lawrence grumbled. “This is nothing. You should see the other guys.”
“You’re hurt, Lawrence. I’ll get my first aid kit.”
I’m sure her first aid kit consisted of herbs and a spell book.
“Did you get their names?” I asked in a soft voice.
“They weren’t dumb enough to say their names but they won’t forget mine. I gave them a good beating just in case they were part of the people who left you at a cemetery.”
I wondered if Chase attacked Lawrence. I felt so dumb for letting him get close to me. No one wanted to be my friend here.
“Hey, we knew it wouldn’t be easy when we moved here,” Lawrence said.
I nodded. “It sucks for you because you never even lived in the Black Claw Pack.”
Lawrence frowned. “Guilty by association. We’ll keep kicking ass until they get tired of attacking us.”
I puffed out my cheeks. How exhausting.
***
A few hours later Azaire arrived with clean clothes for me to chain into. He picked out a pretty purple dress. He was happy to dress me for once. The dress was just above my knees with thin straps supporting the bodice. Lawrence had no choice but to tell Azaire what happened when he left his job. Lawrence was attacked by three men! He left them all bleeding in the dirt.
It had been an eventful day for the Ryker siblings.
After taking Lawrence’s statement Azaire drove us home. The ride was subtle but I was a little nervous to return home. Everyone knew about the cemetery now.
“What’s going on?” I asked.
“I have no idea,” Azaire mumbled. “I’m not in the mood for visitors.”
I rubbed his thigh. “Did you get some rest?”
He shook his head. “No, I had college kids to hunt down.”
“Azaire what did we talk about?”
“Chaining someone to a crypt is insane and wrong. Besides, I was left with the bill for those damaged tombstones.”
I bit my bottom lip. “I’m sorry.”
He leaned in and captured my lips. “It’s okay. It was sexy. I wish I could have seen you kick ass.”
“Aww, how unlucky for you.”
He barked out a laugh. We climbed out of the car but Azaire’s phone rang and he paused and stared at it.
“Aren’t you going to pick up?”
“Uh… yeah, why don’t you go to our room, get naked and I’ll meet you there.”
“Hmm, nice try Azaire,” I laughed as I walked inside.
Laughter and glasses clinking together grabbed my attention. I slowed down and peered into the living room. It was full of ladies. Janet must be hosting the Blood Moon Pack Women’s Society.
Fran said it was a group of snotty she-wolves with nothing to do with their time and Megan said a lot worse.
“Elaine!” Opal exclaimed.
I froze. I didn’t want to be seen.
Opal ran out of the living room and wrapped her arms around me.
“Don’t ever scare me like that again,” she warned.
“I’m sorry…”
“You left me alone,” she sniffled.
“Opal, I’m sorry. Everything was crazy.”
“Oh, she’s back,” Janet said and frowned at me bitterly.
Janet was dressed in a beige dress and wore pearl earrings and a necklace to match. She carried a glass of white wine and looked at me distastefully I didn’t think she just didn’t like the taste of the wine.
“Hello… Janet…” I trailed.
Opal stuck to me like glue. I couldn’t imagine what she had to endure while I was gone.
“Janet? Is this another one of your… daughters in law?” A woman with a short blonde bob wearing a sharp black pencil dress with a high neckline appeared beside Janet.
The woman was a figure was elegance and grace. She looked like… Zoe. Zoe had her mother’s high cheekbones and pointed nose.
“Actually none of my sons are married. In my eyes, they’re all single.”
I bit the inside of my cheek to prevent my jaw from dropping. Opal rubbed her belly protectively. How could she say that when Opal was carrying her son’s baby?
“Of course, nothing is permanent until you have that ring,” Zoe’s Mother traced her fingers over her massive diamond ring.
I cleared my throat. “I’ll go, not to hold your meeting up any longer.”
The corners of Janet’s mouth remained as stiff as a corpse. Opal gripped my hand and laughed nervously.
“I’m going too. The baby needs a nap!”
Zoe’s Mother made up for Janet’s lack of grace and smiled at Opal. “Get all the rest you need.”
We waited until we reached the second floor to speak.
“She’s furious with you for punching Lucas. She wants you gone. Take me with you!”
“I knew this would happen.”