Chapter 17: Sneaking Out

Zander POV

After I let go of Cleo, she looked at me and started heading back towards her suite. I followed after her and gently grabbed her wrist.

“What are you doing?”

“Isn’t it obvious? I’m going back to my suite.”

I shook my head and gave her a stern look. “You’re planning something. I can tell.”

Cleo gave an ashamed look and said, “Okay. You caught me. I’m leaving the Full Moon pack and going home.”

“You shouldn’t go alone. I'll come with you.” I paused and added, “Can you wait a little longer on going home? I could use your help with something else.”

Cleo gave a thoughtful expression to me and held a finger up. I had patience to wait for her decision. It seemed she was eager to go home. I knew she wanted to see her fiancé again. Part of me wanted Cleo to forget him. She could do better.

Finally, she said, “I’ll help you. What is it you need help with exactly?”

“I want to find out who really killed my parents.”

“I’m in. You deserve to know the truth.”

She had a brief faraway look, as if she was thinking about something. I was thankful she had agreed to help me instead of heading home. How selfish was that? I pushed that bit of guilt out of my system.

I went back to pack up my things and do it as discreetly as possible. Nobody needed to know we were leaving. The Full Moon pack would make us stay there and keep training. We had to go tonight. I’d wasted enough time trying to solve this horrible crime.

When I came to Cleo’s suite, I knocked on the door loudly. She opened the door and had an unreadable expression on her face.

“I wonder who the Rogue wolf is. I’ve been thinking about it, and something doesn’t add up.” She paused and said, “Why would this Rogue kill your parents? Wouldn’t he or she want to go after the Alpha instead?”

“I don’t understand that either. That’s why I need to investigate my parents’ murder where it happened.”

Cleo stepped closer to me and said, “We should leave tonight when everyone else is sleeping.”

I thought about how excited I was to exact my revenge on my parents’ killer. I wasn’t going to let the asshole get away again. The killer had already taken away my loved ones and wouldn’t take anything from me ever again.

Suddenly a realization hit me. I’d have to be in close proximity to Cleo on our car trip. I felt a little nervous at the thought of being alone with her. I wouldn’t be able to avoid her either. Something in my heart had awoken at being around Cleo.

I pushed thoughts of Cleo away, as I faked going to sleep. There was no curfew, but the elders didn't trust the younger members to behave themselves.

Cleo and I snuck out of our rooms after midnight. We quietly crept down the hall. I led while she followed close behind me.

When we got near my truck, the damn car alarm went off. My ears picked up the sound of sudden footsteps
running out of the house. We had mere minutes before their heightened speed caught up to us.

I quickly unlocked the car, and Cleo climbed in. I got in and started the car before backing out rapidly and driving away. It was too close of a call. My heart raced really fast.

As we got farther and farther away, my heart began beating normally. I put on music to help calm my nerves even more.

When we got to a red light, I leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She looked over at me with shock in her face.

“Why’d you kiss my cheek?” Her face turned a light shade of red. “You can’t just do that to a girl.”

I smiled and said, “It's my way of giving appreciation for your help.”

“You could’ve said thank you like a normal person,” Cleo said in a flustered way.

“I know, but this was more fun to do.”

She got quiet, so I didn’t try to press her further on the subject. I drove in silence for a few miles.

When we got near a rest stop, Cleo spoke up. “I’ve got to go to the bathroom. Could we pull over here?”

I pulled off to enter the rest stop area and parked in an open space. She climbed out of the car and hurried inside.

Seconds later, I decided to go in after her. I turned off the car and took out the keys before getting out.

My stomach growled loudly as I pushed open the heavy doors. I spotted several fast-food places inside.

I got in the line for the burger join and thought I’d buy Cleo some food too. While I waited, I checked my phone for any messages.

I ordered the food, paid, and waited for it to be done. Cleo found me pretty quickly and came to stand beside me.

Cleo found a table far from other people. Before she sat down, I pulled out her chair. I don’t know why I felt the need to do that.

She gave me a funny look and sat down. I almost wanted to push in her chair but held back from doing that.

Suddenly, it occurred to me I had forgotten to mention something important. I sat down and thought of how to word this. Cleo didn’t need to be frightened of going to my old pack.

I looked at her and said, “I forgot to tell you something important. It’s going to be dangerous at my old pack.” I paused and added, “I haven’t been there since I got kicked out.”

She smacked the table and said, “You couldn’t have warned me before we left?! I would’ve grabbed weapons for us.”

I scoffed and said, “We don’t need weapons. I think you and I could handle any danger together.”

Cleo’s expression softened and she said, “We are stronger together, so I agree with you. But just this one time.”
I smiled at her and thought of what was to come. No way would this trip end well for me. It was a big risk returning to that horrible place.

I hoped that nothing would escalate to bloodshed at my old pack. Everyone hated me after I upset the Alpha. I wished I didn’t have to return, but I needed to bury the ghosts of my pasts.