Showtime

-Eve POV-

*8 hours later*

I sigh while I step out of the car and close the door behind me. I stretch my legs and take a deep breath. It’s always good to be back in our woods. It’s cold outside, in just a week it’s Crhistmas. Although I don’t think we’re having a snowy one, it definitely is freezing in the evening’s and early mornings. I look at my watch, it’s 6.PM. I hope dinner is ready!

“Miss Eve, do you want me to put your stuff in your room?”

I turn around and look in the face of Zeke. I nod, “That would be awesome, Zeke!”. Zeke Jones is really a man with a golden heart. He’s true to himself and was a big help, today. The moment we arrived at the Ember Pack, we were surrounded by werewolves. Although Luna Avery warned the pack with our arrival, it was too last minute to have a warm welcome. I was nervous, off course. But we were welcomed nicely by their Alpha. We had a nice talk, but he was not buying it. I understand, I would be sceptical too. It was until Zeke interfered. He explained, and him having there - as a former Shadow Pack member - was enough to persuade him.

I look in the car and I see Joshua still sitting inside. I knock on the window and I see his face goes up. He smiles, softly. He opens the door and I ask: “Are you OK, Josh? You must be tired. Please, go upstairs and have a nice warm bath or something. I’ll bring you some food, OK? Don’t bother to come and sit with us downstairs. This was a long day for you, after all.” I paused for a moment. “But I’m glad that you were with me, brother.” I whisper, while I give him a nice hug.

He hugs me back and without saying anything, he walks upstairs.

I hurry inside too, my hands are freezing at this point, and I flip my head around the kitchen door. A nice smell hits my nose. “Steve! That’s amazing! How much time do you need?”

Steve turns his head and smiles at me. “Around 30, Eve. Adam is not back, yet. Hopefully he’ll make it on time.” I frown, I thought I was the one having a long talk. But I guess I was not the only one.

I run upstairs. I want a long and hot shower myself, too. I’ll have to make sure to be back in 20 minutes, I want to bring Joshua a nice and fresh plate of food. He deserves it.

---

I’ve brought Joshua the food, and I could tell he was glad I brought him some. He looked very tired, but at least he’s clean before he enters his bed in an hour.

I walk back into the kitchen, and Luna Avery smiles at me. “Look who’s back! I already thought I heard some engines half an hour ago. How did it go?”

I walk to her and give her a side hug, before I take a seat. “It went fine, Luna. I’ll explain the details later on. I want the others to hear it as well.”

She nods. “That's fine, Eve. I understand. How was Alpha Dominic doing?”

I smile, off course she asks about him. They’re the same age, and I bet they have a history when you look at their leadership of the packs. “He’s fine, Luna. It’s a very nice man. I think the fact that I came in your name helped a lot.” and I wink at her. It’s true, I think that Dominic is secretly in love with our Luna. I can’t blame him, to be honest. Luna Avery is a gorgeous woman, without an Alpha. Why shouldn’t he?

Luna Avery starts to laugh out loud. “Oh, that Dominic. He will never change. He indeed had a crush on me when we were younger, we didn’t have spoken with each other in a few years though. I thought he went over it.”

I shake my head. “Nope, I don’t think so.”

“But it is at least a good sign that the Ember’s are going to help us. I’m glad, we need the manpower to be honest. We’re not going to make it on our own.”

I can see she’s worried. I hope she’s not starting to panic, ‘cause when she does, I’m going to freak out. “So, now we wait for the others?” I ask.

Luna Avery nods. “I haven’t heard from them, I was hoping they would have been home at this point.”

I was hoping that too. “Should I mindlink them? Steve is already serving the food, and I like to eat the food hot. At least we know then if we need to wait for them.”

Luna nods. “That sounds like a plan. I don’t like mindlinking, and yours is better too. That’s great.”

*Adam? How are you doing? Are you already on the way back?*

Silence.

*Cowboy? Is everything OK?*

No response. I start to worry. I look at my Luna and shake my head. He isn’t blocking me, is he? He couldn’t do that before! He said my mindlinking is too strong to block.

*ADAM! Listen! I’m worried. Say something, please…*

No, he isn’t blocking. I can feel it’s arriving in his mind. It’s not lost in the surroundings.
“I don’t understand.” I say to Luna Avery. “But he’s not responding..”

“He isn’t? But I thought you could mindlink him anytime? That he couldn’t block your links?”

“He can’t. And the links have arrived too. I can feel it. There’s something strange going on.”
I’m not sure what to think, right now. I’ve trouble feeling his emotions, to connect with him. I guess it’s the distance. “What should we do now?”

“I’m going to make a phone call to the Black’s. You, eat with your mom and Steve. Two warriors are joining dinner as well. I want you all to be safe. I’m not sure what’s going on, right now. I’ll be back soon..” And Avery is gone. I guess to her office.

This is not good. This is not good at all. I can feel it. I’m not sure if I’m hungry anymore. “Eve? Are you alright? Shall I make you a nice plate of food?”

I look at him. “I’m not sure, Steve. But you’re the sweetest. Give me some, I’m sure I’d like to eat when I see and smell the food in front of me. I’m going to get myself a hot choco.” And I’m already standing up.

“No! Sit down, please I’m going to take care of you tonight. It’s been a long day for you too, I guess.” Steve says.

“You truly are the sweetest, Steve. Thanks.”

I watch him serve me food. It’s delicious looking chicken, marinated in a sweet honey and mustard dressing. Still with some thyme on top of it. He serves it with green beans, also covered in the same dressing. And last but not least, a potato gratin is completing the dish.

I feel how my mouth waters. “Steve, this is great. I love it. Thanks!” At this point, mom is walking into the kitchen and Steve starts to serve her too. “Hi mom! Please, sit down. Tell me about your day and enjoy this amazing food!”

Bonnie laughs. “You’ll never change, my dear. Alright! But then I want you to tell me about the talk with the Ember’s as well, OK?”

“Off course” I say, with my mouth full of chicken.

After we ate and talked, there was still no sign of the others. The moment I stood up to walk into Luna’s office direction, 2 patrollers hurried into the kitchen. Immediately the warriors who were guarding mom and I, reacted. They pulled me behind their backs but the moment they realized the wolves were their own, they relaxed. One of them said: “Jeez, guys! It’s not funny to run into the Pack house in wolf forms. Especially not this time around. What’s going on?”

I hear one of them shift, and turn my gaze down. “We’re surrounded. They are everywhere!” he yells.

I feel how my body is frozen in place. I look up and say with a solid voice: “Go get the Luna. It’s showtime!”