Chapter 40 Outsmart

*Athena*

I had to arrive in New York before my father arrived in Boston. The FAA had already announced the resumption of air travel. I was already at the helipad of the hotel I was staying, waiting for my helicopter ride, as the dawn turned the dark sky into light.

I wanted to go and be with Luke and my niece, however my absence without a decent alibi would definitely make my father suspicious. He already knew of my supposedly secret meeting with Alpha Connor and was already contemplating a number of scenarios as to why I went to Salty Moon to speak with the last known person to have had contact with Luke. Even at his old age, my father was still sharp.

I had messaged my mate to tell him I would be arriving in New York as soon as the FAA lifted its temporary flying ban. Knowing my mate, who worships the ground my father walks on, he would have already informed the household of my return.

All of my alibis were in order. I had my acknowledgment award for attending a conference and a business seminar courtesy of one of my good friends in college. I even had a picture on their website, documenting my participation in the event.

As for Alpha Connor, I will tell my father I made a donation in our behalf finding out what had happened years ago. He thinks I knew nothing of what happened years ago. I will just say I found out and extended a hand of atonement. It'll make my father look like a monster.

I heard the helicopter and hid just in case someone came out of the helicopter who I knew. In my situation, you can never be too careful.

Good thing the helicopter was empty. I boarded it and prayed to the Moon Goddess I wouldn't have anymore problems.

The flight to New York was a peaceful one hour and thirty minutes to the Lockwood New York headquarters. We landed at the helipad, my assistant already waiting with my go-to emergency bag. She had a worried look on her face. I told the pilot to wait.

"Ms. Athena, your brother Chase, he's taken over your position and there are men waiting for you downstairs. Your husband dropped off these for you. He explicitly told me to give you the bag and said you would know what to do." She handed me my bag.

"Thank you. Tell my brother and my father I will be seeing them soon and tell my kids I love them. Don't worry. I will be back." I gave my assistant a hug and ran back to the chopper.

"Drop me off anywhere within the vicinity of Martha's Vineyard." The pilot nodded his head at my instructions and took off.

I opened my bag to check its contents. Two hundred and fifty thousand in cash, a bit of clothing and pictures of my children. I tear up and caressed the photo. I will be back my darling babies.

My father and my brother have been busy while I was gone. Those jerks!

They think they can outsmart me. Well, let's see about that.

____________________

*Ethan*

It was still dark as we all drove up at the Harvard Museum of Art. I messaged my Beta, Colt, that we were all here.

We decided to leave my Aunt Daisy's minivan in the garage of Diana's townhouse. I will make it my own personal mission to keep that townhouse under our ownership. The place where Diana and I first made love so unexpectedly.

Once I had parked the pickup, she jumped out, excited to see Harvard and grab some photos. She said she had applied online and was hoping to get in although she knew it would be like finding a needle in a haystack, almost impossible. Anyway, she had already accepted she would most probably be going to college near home. But it never hurts to try.

"Hmmmm...you smell that? Doughnuts." Diana's cheeks were red from the cold and her green eyes sparkled as the light from the lamp posts shined down on her face. She was so beautiful. I felt myself get hard. Gosh. When will it be legal for me to just do what I want without worrying about her father?

"When the mating ceremony has been done, Ethan. You heard the Elder. She will officiate it herself."

"It's a couple of days away. So near yet so far, Howl." I kicked some snow with my boot.

"Ethan, darling, I'm going to get some doughnuts. You wanna come with?" She grabbed my hand and gave me a tug. I looked down. She was holding my hand.

"Sorry, Diana. I have to wait out here for my men. Get me whatever they have. Okay, my little she-wolf?" I brushed her hair out of her happy face and caressed her bright red cheek.

"Okay." She let go of my hand, blew me a kiss and walked to the doughnut shop, laughing. I smiled at her, but that smile faded when my eyes met Lucas'. He didn't look very happy. He walked up to me and I knew it wasn't going to be good.

"You two seem to be getting along. She even blew you a kiss. I know you two are fated mates and I respect the law of the wolves, but until both of you are not officially mated yet, I want you to be on your best behavior. Understand?" I knew I had pinched a nerve from her display of affection.

"Yes, Alpha Lucas. I will be on my best behavior." I looked down not wanting to be caught in a lie. He gave me a hearty pat on the back.

"Good. You'll understand when you have a daughter of your own." He looked up at the sky. "Sun is rising. Where are your men?"

"They'll be here, Alpha."

We turn our heads to the sounds of two cars headed in our direction. The cars stopped and parked in front of the doughnut shop. I saw two men enter the shop while a man with blonde hair came walking towards us.

"Yup, that's them." Lucas and I walked towards the man with blonde hair. He bows low as we approach.

"Alpha Ethan. Sorry we're a bit late. We went around looking for something to eat. Good thing there's a doughnut shop already open." Colt points to my men who were already pointing at the doughnuts they wished to buy.

"Alpha Lucas, this is my Beta, Colt. Colt, this is Alpha Lucas of the The Lotus Flower Pack." Colt bows to him.

"It's been a while since I have had people bow to me. I have been living the life of an ordinary human for so long." Lucas lets out a sad sigh. Colt looked confused and looked up at the morning sky, obviously thinking.

"I know you. You're the missing Alpha. Dodged death and went into hiding. You and this other one...Alpha Connor. You guys are legends!" Colt had a big smile on his face. The story of the missing Alpha reached far and wide. Who knew we would be able to meet him one day?

"Yeah, we are legends all right, but we had to pay dearly for it." Colt and I stared at him, interested in his story.

"Whay happened to Alpha Connor?" Colt asked, eager to know the truth behind everything.

"His pack was almost exterminated while he and I were trying to save my daughter, Diana." I never knew Alpha Connor aided Lucas and my Diana. I made a mental note to repay him for his bravery. "I have been helping him rehabilitate his pack over the years. I heard he's now doing well, but he's out for revenge. His younger brother died in the onslaught." It was apparently a tragic story for all of them.

"So many what if's in the world. What if I had made Diana's mother my Luna? Would we be happy? What if I didn't pursue Diana's mother in the first place? Would I be happy? What if I didn't have Diana? Would I be the same wolf I am today? I just can't imagine my life without Diana." Lucas had so many regrets, but Diana wasn't one of them.

I saw Diana come out of the shop with her boxes of doughnuts, my men trailing behind her like lovesick puppies. Damn. I had to make the necessary introductions as soon as possible.

"What the-?" Colt scratched his head. He knew what was on our men's minds.

"Hey Dad! I got you a box." Diana hands him a box of doughnuts. Lucas takes the box from her and gives a dirty look at my men who were following her. My men backed away. I chuckled at their reaction. I couldn't help myself.

"This is Diana? Our Luna?" Colt whispers. I nodded my head. "She has the men fawning at her feet."

"Yeah, one of her many gifts." I approach my men who all instinctively bow at me. Diana raised an eyebrow wondering why they were bowing to me.

"Alpha Ethan, we didn't see you. Our apologies." Wyatt, my Gamma, said as he stood back up.

"That's okay, boys. I want you all to meet my Luna, Diana." My men bow to her and mutter their apologies for acting so rashly. They meant no disrespect.

"Diana, these are my men. This is..."

"Wyatt, Nash, Hank, Sawyer and...Billy. We all met a while ago at the doughnut shop when they were trying to get my number." Diana laughed. "That has never happened to me. Thank you boys for boosting a girl's self-esteem." My men all smiled at her sheepishly.

"Diana, my second in command, Beta Colt." Colt bows to her.

"Nice to meet you, Colt. I heard you and Ethan are like brothers." Colt lifts his head and smiles at her.

"Men, this is Alpha Lucas. That is his Beta, Michael," I point at their direction, "and you all remember Aunt..."

"Aunt Daisy?! It's her! It's Aunt Daisy!" All the men bow at Lucas then run over to give Aunt Diasy a hug.

"Oh, my boys are all grown up. Wow! Look at all of you!" Aunt Daisy was happy to see them. When we were growing up, she would always help us out when we had girl problems, when our outfits didn't match and she would always come to our events and watch. When she left, all of us had lost a good friend.

Another car arrives. It was the Tesla from yesterday. Jonathan comes out of the car and whispers something in Lucas' ear.

"Ok, I know everyone wants to do a little bit of catching up, but we can do that later when we get to Martha's vineyard. Since we all have cars, we won't have problems. Make sure to follow me. Now, in your cars and let's go." We all enter our respective cars and wait for Lucas to leave so we could follow.

Another two hour drive alone with Diana. I rub her thigh hoping I could feel her skin on mine soon. She reaches over and gives me a kiss on the cheek. I wanted to kiss her back, but not on her cheek.

I put both my hands on the steering wheel. I need all my concentration on the road.

Martha's Vineyard here we come.

_____________________

*Chase*

"Chase, any word on Athena?" My father was always a pain in the neck, but I hated it the most when he called so early in the morning.

"Her mate said she would be arriving in the morning." I looked at my bedside clock. It was already 8AM. I sat up quickly. I was supposed to be at the office at 8AM. Shit!

"I am headed to Boston to meet with someone. Call me once she arrives." My father hangs up and I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth. I'll just take a shower later when I'm free.

Good thing there were living quarters in the building. If I was at the mansion in New Jersey, it would probably be after 10AM before I got here. But because I was already at headquarters, I just needed to get dressed and take the elevator downstairs.

Athena must be at the office by now. I'll just have my men scoop her up and lock her in one the rooms here.

When I exited the elevator, our employees were all looking at me weirdly, some even snickering. I looked down at what I was wearing. Did I forget to zip up my fly? I checked and no, it wasn't that. So why were they all acting like I was the biggest laughingstock of all New York?

I entered my office to find two of my men inside.

"Why are you here?" I ask them.

"Ms. Athena, she just flew off in a helicopter a moment ago."

"What?!" No wonder everyone was laughing at me. I had opted for a room near the helipad so I could catch her myself.

"Alpha Chase, your room is near the helipad. You could have stopped her. Your father-"

"Doesn't have to know about this. I'll make an excuse. Now go. Find out where that helicopter has gone. We can still find her."

My sister thinks she can outsmart me.

Well, let's see about that.