Elaine POV
“Come here.” Chase dragged me away from the road and into the trees on the side of the road.
“What are you doing?” I hissed.
“Just keep your eyes on the road.”
“What are you on about?” I scuffled against him but he dragged me further into hiding.
“Just watch, Elaine and pay attention.”
I scowled. “Ugh, fine.”
Chase and I watched the room. I noticed a squirrel on the other side of the road. Just as I worried someone would run it over a car came from the direction of the University. Lucas was in the driver’s seat and Zoe was in the passenger seat. I watched the car until it disappeared.
“Okay, so Zoe and Lucas are involved… I mean it’s not weird she’s popular she obviously wants someone on her level.”
Chase ran a hand down his face. “Those two are the poison in the Shaw house.”
“L-Luke did act weird…”
“Of course he did. Elaine, I don’t want to hurt you and I don’t want you to get hurt. Why don’t you go home?”
“Home?” I scoffed. “I don’t have a home. Home is where Azaire is. Where Opal is and my brothers but the Pack House in the Black Claw Pack is not my home. I didn’t even live in that house until after the Luna died. I was an outcast in my Father’s house.”
“What?” he asked bewildered.
“My Dad kept his secrets well. When the Blood Moon Pack attacked our omegas I was in that house and I would have died. The Blood Moon Pack has blood on its hands just as much as the Black Claw Pack.”
“I didn’t know that…”
“If you thought your Pack was innocent then you’re naive. Wasn’t Oliver dealing wolf enhancers at one point?” I challenged.
Azaire had suspicions that Oliver was dirty. Oliver proved not to be loyal when he walked out on his family. He didn’t visit his Father when he was in the hospital after the attack that stole his ability to walk.
“Damn it,” he muttered. “Don’t go back there.”
“I’m not going back to the Black Claw Pack not for a while,” I said rubbing my arm.
“No, I mean to the Shaw house. You’re in danger.”
I blinked a few times. “In danger from Zoe or Holly?” I crossed my arms.
Holly would love to have me out of the picture.
“From Lucas!”
“He is the Alpha’s brother! What could he do to me other than make my life hell?” I crossed my arms.
“Actually poison you, Elaine.”
My throat went dry and I stared across the road as I processed what I just heard. The squirrel decided not to cross the road and scavenged the grass instead.
“H-he wouldn’t do that…”
Chase stared at me intently and pressed his lips together.
I marched away from our hiding spot and walked on the side of the road. Chase followed.
“How do you know?” I called.
“I’m in the group.”
“Group? Excuse me?” I gasped but kept on marching.
“Yes, the group of get this pack back on track. The Shaw family have been in power for too long and things aren’t great with the new generation of Shaw men.”
I scowled. “And Lucas believes that about his brother?”
Chase shoved his fists into his pockets. “He doesn’t like his brothers fraternizing with the enemy nor business deals Richie’s done. There’s been a decline in wolf births in the pack and our harvests aren’t as strong. It’s not so simple.”
I shook my head. “O-Opal’s pregnant…”
Chase nodded.
“Is he going to poison her too!”
Chase raised his hands. “I don’t know.”
“I know that Lucas defeated Henry Titan the man who formed the group. Lucas is a front-runner to take over everything. Some people don’t trust him because of his last name. They think he’s playing both sides.”
I hoped so.
The roar of a motorbike engine made me jump. I turned around as the motorist drove ahead of us and parked on the dirt road. Azaire pulled off his helmet and ran a hand through his dirty blond hair. A smile tugged at my lips. He had time to get a haircut. Gone was the long hair that brushed against my thighs when he ate me out.
“There you are,” Azaire said.
I tugged a strand of hair behind my ear. “I didn’t have a reason to stick around school. This is Chase.”
Azaire nodded at him. “I know Chase. Still have a crush on Fran?”
Chase scowled. “Shut up.”
I cupped my mouth. “You must have been excited when she tried to kill you the other night.”
Chase groaned. “It’s not like that… anymore. I have to go…”
Chase held my gaze for a few seconds and I knew he wanted me to consider what he told me. However, I didn’t fully trust him. I needed proof. Chase marched in the direction of the school to retrieve his car.
“You didn’t have to follow me, babe,” I said.
He leaned on his bike and shrugged. “Maybe I really am obsessed with you. Climb on.”
I happily accepted and climbed on after him. I wrapped my arms around his middle. Azaire started the bike up turned the bike around and drove off into the unknown. Despite my mistrust of Chase, I had to tell Azaire what he told me.
“I have to tell you something!” I yelled.
“We’re almost there.”
A few minutes later Azaire drove off the road and mounted his bike by vast open fields.
“I like the hair, but you should have asked before getting rid of a treasured item.”
He grinned. “I needed a change. I’m sorry about Holly, she overreacted.”
I nodded, recalling Leon’s adorable face. It pained me to think about not having one of my own.
“He’s beautiful, Azaire,” I whispered and stared at the green grass.
He lifted my chin to meet his green eyes. “Just like my mate. What did you want to talk about?”
I cleared my throat. “I think your brother’s trying to kill me.”