Chapter 34

***Julia POV***

Although I didn’t know for sure, I started to suspect that Reece had told all pack members to leave us alone as we walked back to the pack house.

I was very grateful, my head was spinning with all the information Dr Wallace had just said in the meeting.

My heart sped up a little when I thought about his request for me to attend his office in the morning.

Reece must have sense my quickened heart flutter, as I felt his large warm hand brush lightly from my neck to my lower back.

Im guessing the gesture was meant to be reassuring, caring, even. It was not. The sparks his touch elicited on my body seemed to be getting stronger. I found this puzzling too.

Sparks only flew, when both people had active wolves. I should not be feeling them at all. Yet, they were present every time he touched me.

I shivered at the strength of  the sparks, once again, Reece misunderstood my response. I watched as he shucked off his leather jacket and place it around my shoulders.

I was immediately swarmed with his scent. It was so powerful. So many different smells hit me all at once. The strongest being that of an open fire, Jasmin and something sweet I just couldn’t put my finger on.

Not really knowing why I did it, I buried my nose in the collar of the jacket and inhaled deeply. I lifted my head towards him, to thank him for his kindness, when he dropped like a stone at my feet.

***Reece POV***

Julia was absolutely shattered. I suspect what she needed right now was some food, a bath and bed. I knew she was over doing it. But our lady is one stubborn little wolf, and refused each time I asked her to go back to the packhouse.

I sent out a pack wide announcement that we should not be approached as we walked back to the pack house. I know my pack members would find this difficult, as they were drawn to our lady like moths to a flame.

Nonetheless, they obeyed and gave us the space I had asked for. I could still see some of them bowing, or lowering their heads. And it made me smile.

Julia was so loved by this pack, already. It made me so proud. She, made me proud.

I sensed her heartbeat speed up and brushed my hand down her back, hoping she would know I was trying to be gentle with her. Instead I saw a shiver rack her body, and I kicked myself. Of course she would be cold. Julia had been in a hot hospital for most of the day. My guards had told me Julia left my apartment without a coat.

Severely reprimanding myself, I quickly recovered my jacket and placed it over her shoulders.

My heart felt like it was about to burst, when I noticed Julia bury her nose in the collar. I was about to tease her gently, when she looked up at me, and although Julia had a smile on her face. What I saw shining from her eyes, had me hitting the ground with my knees.

***Alpha Maximus POV***

‘Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!

It was the only word my brain could manage to string together.

I paced back and forth in the hotel suite we had booked for the night. The Doctor had asked us to stick around. So more tests could be run on Jackson.

Fuck!

I was half way through the second profanity when my beautiful Lilian walked into the room. I immediately felt calmer. I reached for her, and she hurried into my arms.

I held her close, fear coursing through my veins. I looked down into the face of the woman I would burn the world for, and kissed the tip of her nose. Then tucked her head under my chin. We stood like that for a long time, before either of us spoke. It was Lilian who broke the silence.

“It’s bad. Isn’t it? For us, for the pack?”

I didn’t want to disrespect my Luna, My love. So I didn’t even try to pretend or brush the question off.

I wrapped my arms tighter around her. Bringing her as close to me as our clothes would permit.

“Yes, my love. It is.” Was all I said, before the love of my life broke down in my arms.

I lifted her carefully and carried her to the chair that sat by the roaring fire, I sat; then positioned Lilian on my lap. Holding her as her heart broke.

Not once did she place the blame at the feet of the arsehole responsible. Not once did she berate me, or shout or rage. Lilian only cried. And it shattered me.

***Jackson POV***

I clicked off the phone, once again I could feel my rage boil through my veins. Obsidian was barely contained under my skin. He wanted blood. But I needed irreversible proof that Eva was the snake.

We had been asked to stay in Midway, so the Doctor could speak to us again tomorrow. I hoped with all my heart that I was wrong.

‘NO!, Obsidian screamed at me. We do not love that woman. She has been poisoning us. And before you say we have no proof! I DON’T CARE. As far as I am concerned. EVA, is guilty of hurting us, and hurting Mate!”

I took a deep breath in as I reminded my wolf that Julia was no longer our mate. I heard a loud huff come from the back of my mind, before he blocked my contact.

Someone knocked on the door and I opened it, mid curse. It was Daniel.

Usually he would grin at me and ask what the fuck had I gotten myself into this time.

But, the look on my face stopped him in his tracks. I gestured him inside, then slammed the door behind him. I saw him jump out of his skin at the noise, and cursed a bit more.

“Jackson, what the hell is going on?” I stared at my best friend. My beta- to-be. I opened my mouth and all I had learnt at The hospital spilled out. I watched his face Blanche as my words sunk in.

“I have been betrayed. Used and controlled. I need to know why!”

I gave him a grave look then swallowed, hard.

“Find Eva. Take her to the pack-house cells. I don’t care if things get a little rough during her capture. As far as I am concerned, Eva now poses the biggest threat to the moons-wane pack we have ever faced!”

Daniel nodded his head once, then stood. Just before he left the room, he asked a simple question. One that I had been avoiding, one I didn’t want answered.

“If Eva has done this, does it mean she; made you reject your goddess given mate?”

I looked at my beta to be, Obsidian’s presence shining out from my eyes.

“LEAVE!” I barked out. Daniel had the sense to listen and scurried out of my room.