Chapter 62

We made it to the eastern territory before Dominic and his pack showed up to attack us. I wasn’t surprised to see him because I knew the necklace would draw him to me.
While he and his gang tussled with my guards, I managed to escape and run to Freya’s house. When she opened her door and saw me standing there, I barged in quickly before she could even ask me any questions.
“Quick, here, destroy this cursed thing now!” I said and tossed the necklace at her.
“Jade, is everything all right?”
“Obviously not. Destroy that damned thing right now!”
She glanced towards her bedroom and back at me. “Please, don’t yell. I – I have a guest.”
Just then, a guy stepped out of the bedroom, looking dishevelled. It was then that I noticed for the first time that Freya was wearing a sexy nightie. I blushed.
“Oh, I’m sorry,” I apologized calmly. “I thought you were alone.”
She smiled at me. “Not anymore. This is Gerald. Gerald, meet Jade. She’s an old friend of mine.”
Gerald smiled at me and said, “Hello.”
“Hi,” I replied. “Sorry for er… interrupting, you know…”
He chuckled. “It’s fine,” he replied. To Freya, he said, “I’ll be inside if you need me.”
“Sure,” she replied with a sweet smile.
I could tell that she was in love with him and it made me happy for her. I wish we could chat about her new relationship and catch up on the happenings in our lives in the past year, but this wasn’t the time for that.
“Look, Freya, I really need you to destroy that thing right now,” I told her urgently. “Dominic is coming after me again and this time, he’s threatening my child too.”
“Your child?”
“Yes. I gave birth to a daughter last year. She’s gravely ill right now and I have reasons to believe that it is connected to this necklace.”
She nodded. “You might be right. I told you Dominic would never leave you alone if you don’t get rid of this thing.”
“Then do it now, please!”
“Sure,” she said and ran inside to grab her robe. Then she retrieved a black steel pot from under her kitchen sink and placed it on her table.
She grabbed a handful of vials and tossed some of the content into the pot. Grey mists rose from inside the pot as the substances combined inside it.
I was so nervous and prayed that she would be done before Dominic showed up. That is if he succeeded in overpowering my guards. I hoped not.
“Spirits, fate and Moon goddess,” Freya began to chant over the pot while dangling the necklace above it. “Heed my call this day and take this – “
The kitchen door was kicked in just then, creating a loud bang. Dominic and two of his Betas barged inside in their wolf forms. He went straight for the pot, knocking it to the ground and startling Freya who screamed.
Gerald came out of the room and the wolves attacked him instantly. Freya continued to scream with the necklace clutched in her hand. Everything was happening so fast and I was frozen on the spot with fear.
“Run!” Freya shouted at me. “Now!”
I bolted out of the kitchen and ran outside. I didn’t know where I was going but I just kept running. It was going to take a miracle for Gerald to survive that horrible attack.
“Somebody help!” I yelled as I ran past the market square. People stared at me weirdly but I didn’t care.
“Freya needs help!” I shouted. “Please, help her!”
A few people ran past me towards Freya’s home but I didn’t follow them. I kept running forward until I reached the entrance of Sahid’s brothel.
I ran inside and glanced around, searching for him.
“Do you need help?” A woman asked me.
I nodded at her as I tried to catch my breath. “Please, where can I find Sahid?”
The woman didn’t respond but instead, she continued to stare at me through squinted eyes. We recognized each other at the same time.
“Lynda!”
“Jade!”
“Oh, my goodness. What are you doing here, Lynda?” I asked.
“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied with a smile. “Gosh, how many years has it been since I last set eyes on you? Nine? Ten?”
“Who cares,” I giggled nervously. “I keep running into people from my past at odd moments. Is this a coincidence too?”
“Who’s this?”
I turned to see Jax glaring down at me.
“Both of you are causing a stir here,” he grumbled. “Take your reunion elsewhere.”
“Sorry, Jax,” I said. He recognized me as soon as I mentioned his name.
“The coin thief!” He exclaimed. “Have you come back for more?”
“What is he talking about?” Lynda asked.
“Long story,” I said to her. “Where’s Sahid?” I asked Jax.
“That’s none of your business,” he snapped. “Now, get out before I throw you out.”
“Don’t make a scene,” Lynda told him calmly. “People are beginning to stare.”
“Don’t you have a client to entertain?” He asked her sharply. “Get lost!”
I bristled on her behalf. How dare he talk to her in that manner?
“I’m the one you have a problem with, not her,” I said angrily.
“That’s right,” he said and grabbed my hair.
He tried to drag me out of the parlour but I wouldn’t let him. I kicked him between his legs and he let me go immediately with a yelp.
“Atta girl!” Some of the patrons hailed me. They were thoroughly enjoying the show.
“What’s all this commotion about?” Sahid asked, coming to see what was going on. When he saw me, his face hardened instantly.
“What are you doing here?” He asked me coolly.
“I was about to throw her out,” Jax replied, still rubbing his sore crotch.
“I’m sorry to disrupt your business,” I said tentatively. “I – I need your help.”
He nodded at Jax and the giant walked away but not after giving me a dirty look. Lynda knew it was her turn to disappear and she slipped away once Sahid’s questioning gaze rested on her.
That was all the explanation I needed. Lynda was working here as a prostitute. I felt sorry for her because I knew that she deserved better than this. She was a good person but life hadn’t been kind to her.
“Follow me,” Sahid said curtly and turned around.
I obeyed him and followed him upstairs to his chambers. It was tidier than I remembered and most of his mother’s knick-knacks were gone.
“What do you want?” He asked me without beating about the bush.
I told him my situation, starting with my relationship with Alpha Rowan and ending with how I landed at his brothel.
“Listen, Jade, I don’t want to get mixed up in your drama again,” he said indifferently when I had finished talking.
“I understand,” I replied. “I just want to ask you a favour.”
“What’s that?”
“Can you send someone to notify my mate that I’m trapped in the east?”
He snorted. “What do you think I’m running here? A messaging service?”
“I know it’s not but I just need you to help me, please,” I begged. “For old time’s sake.”
That got his attention. He strode towards me and stood so close to me that I could feel his breath on my face. He traced a finger down my face from my temple to my jawline.
My body reacted but I remained perfectly still. I wanted to see where he was going with this. Was he just teasing me or did he want me?
“For old time’s sake,” he whispered thickly.
I wondered if it was my imagination or if that was his hard-on poking my belly.
“Yes,” I replied.
He bent down until his lips were only inches away from mine. “We could have had something beautiful, Jade,” he said softly. His lips brushed against mine as he spoke.
“I know, but – “
“I don’t want to hear it,” he said sharply, surprising me. He straightened himself and turned away from me.
“You can stay here tonight but you must leave tomorrow. That’s not open for negotiation.”
He walked out of the apartment and slammed the door behind him. I let out a shaky breath. Good gracious!
What was wrong with me? Had I just nearly had sex with my one-time ex? If Sahid hadn’t walked out now, would I have succumbed to his charm and let him seduce me back into his bed? What a mess!
“Get a grip on yourself, Jade, “ I told myself. “That’s not why you’re here.”
I strode to Sahid’s bar and poured myself a drink. It was going to be a long night here. I knew I was safe tonight but tomorrow was another matter entirely.
If Dominic was still alive and out there, then tomorrow might just be my last day alive.