Jace’s POV
“Please stop moving,” Edith said softly.
She had her hands raised in mid-air and seemed too focused. Sweat was forming on her forehead, and her breath was a little labored. Dominic was still in control and standing behind her. I stood a little further away from him with Harvey, Lillian, Paul, and Light.
After spending one more day with Dominic, I got to see how different he was from Glen. He was more forward, honest, and didn’t show pride. He and I would have been good friends if not for Glen.
Unfortunately, Glen was a part of him. Perhaps if Glen changed his ways and character, then it would work out.
I was snapped out of my thoughts when a portal opened in front of Edith.
We couldn’t see a thing at the other end besides beautiful, colorful waves that were swirling around.
“Alpha, we are here,” Sophie said seriously as she approached us.
We were all expecting her; that’s why we were at ease even when she had crossed the pack’s border.
She bowed low to Lillian and me, then stood beside him with a pretty dark-skinned human I had never seen before right behind her.
“You are right on time,” Dominic answered.
I thought his Beta wouldn’t make it in time. When he asked Edith to open the portal, he was so sure that she was close by after talking to her on the phone. I still had my doubts. That’s why I considered going with him if there was a chance that she wouldn’t show up.
“Molly, thank you so much for coming. Did Sophie fill you in and tell you everything you need to know?” he asked.
The human looked at us seriously, then back at him.
“Um… it was very hard to believe, but after what I saw and sleeping on it, I came to terms with the fact that humans aren’t the only ones in existence,” she answered.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to drag you into this, but you are the only friend Harley has, and if she sees you, her reason to go back would be absolute,” he said.
“I understand, sir. I will do the very best I can to convince her to…” She looked at us again, cutting her sentence short.
I frowned and looked at Lillian seriously.
“What exactly is she looking at?” I asked through our pack’s mind-link.
“Not what, it’s who,” she answered through our mind-link.
Paul sighed heavily and then turned to walk away when she quickly moved and grabbed his wrist.
“Hey,” she greeted cheerfully.
He turned and faced her seriously.
We could all hear her rapid, loud heartbeat.
“Hi,” Paul answered coldly.
“Um… my name is Molly. May I know your name?” she asked.
He grabbed her hand, pushing it away, and then turned and walked into the pack house without a response.
We all stood there, feeling awkward about how he had treated her.
“Is he her type?” Harvey mocked playfully through the pack’s mind-link.
“It kind of seems like it’s more than that,” Lillian whispered.
“More? What do you mean by that?” I asked.
“It’s stable; you can go through. It will lead you right to her,” Edith said and then took a step aside.
“Thank you,” Dominic answered and then looked at me with a warm smile.
“Cousin, I hope to see you soon. Also, thank you very much for opening the door of your pack to me and my men,” he said and then looked at Molly, who stood looking at the pack house.
“Molly, let’s go,” he said loudly.
She looked at her hand and then turned to face him sadly.
“Yeah, we have to go,” she whispered in a low, sad tone.
“What’s wrong?” Sophie asked.
“It’s nothing,” she answered and then moved to where Dominic was.
“Let’s go,” she said seriously.
“Good,” he answered.
They all moved closer to the portal, and Dominic was about to step in when Paul came out of the pack house with a bag in his hand.
“I’m going with you,” he announced loudly, shocking me.
“What?” Harvey asked loudly.
“I said I am going with them,” he answered.
“Are you insane? If Harley is truly with another powerful Alpha who has taken an interest in her, things will turn bad!” Light exclaimed.
“I know, and I thought about that while packing a few things in my bag,” he answered.
Paul was a lot of things but never suicidal. His decision to join them when it could cost him his life meant he was serious and had thought it through thoroughly.
“What’s the reason? Let me hear it,” I said.
“I want to protect my mate,” he answered as we all looked at Molly.
Of course! Now everything made sense! That’s why she went to him and couldn’t keep her eyes off him.
“Sophie, did you tell her about mates?” Dominic asked seriously.
“No, I saw no reason to. I only told her what we were and showed her. I also briefed her a bit about ranks and abilities,” she answered.
Molly looked at Paul and then smiled.
“You are coming too?” she asked in an excited tone.
“Yes,” Paul answered simply.
“I’m glad,” she whispered.
“Yeah, so let’s move; we don’t have all day,” Paul answered.
“Jace,” Harvey called seriously.
I understood what he meant even without words because I too felt the same. If something bad were to happen to Paul, I wouldn’t forgive myself. But then again, keeping him away from his mate after such a hellish experience would be a selfish decision.
“Light, you are in charge of the pack in our absence,” I announced.
“Yes, Alpha,” he answered, then bowed low to his waist.
“You are coming too?” Dominic asked in astonishment.
“Not you, we,” Harvey answered.
“Yes, we don’t have much of a choice, seeing how one of us is taking such a risk,” Lillian said.
“Thank you so much!” Dominic exclaimed.
“It’s not for your sake, Alpha Dominic,” Edith answered and then walked into the portal after sighing heavily.
“Either way, I’m very grateful,” he answered and then looked at Sophie and nodded.
Sophie walked into the portal, and soon he followed.
Molly was about to go in when Paul quickly rushed to her side and grabbed her hand. She looked at him, surprised for a second, but then happily smiled.
“Let’s go together,” Paul said.
“Okay,” she answered and then walked in with him.
I looked at Lillian and then extended my hand to her.
“Things we do for family,” she muttered when she took my hand.
“I know,” I answered and then looked at Light.
“Be on guard and stay safe,” I whispered and then walked into the portal with her.
It was definitely going to be a bloodbath, but I had hoped we would talk things through without being at each other’s throats as long as Harley was his reason.