“I don’t think that’s entirely true,” Liam said.Hey, this fool what's he up to! Is he going to stand up for Lucian in front of me and hazel?I shot him a look that said ‘shut up’! Hazel was in a pretty fragile state right now. I didn’t want Liam to cajole her.“Is that so?” Hazel asked slyly. “Go on then. Tell me your opinion.”“You were using him,” Liam said matter of factly. “To get ahead in the competition. And even if you WERE friends, he’s under no obligation to help you.”“I did no such thing,” Hazel said haughtily. “I only asked him about the competition FORMAT. I wasn’t using him at all, despite what HE thinks.” “Well, in any case, you don’t need him.” Liam glanced at me. “Trista can win this all on her own. She doesn’t need any one’s help to succeed. So you, my dear,” he glanced at Hazel in the rear view mirror, “were barking up the wrong tree, so to speak.”Hazel shot Liam a dirty look, which made Liam chuckle.Seeing them together like this, I realized how close Li
Trista’s POV“I believe in you.”He said it so matter of factly, so off-handidly. It was blunt. Blunt and honest. This had nothing to do with his feelings for me. He really thought I had talent. I could tell by the tone of his voice.I didn’t know what to say.“Look, I have something to confess,” he smiled. “I saw some of your sketches. You left them behind when you left the pack.”Left? That wasn’t the word I would use. I was exiled. But I didn’t interrupt. I let him keep going.“I didn’t mean to invade your privacy or anything,” he explained. “But I couldn’t help it. There were a couple sketchbooks full of designs and drawings. Trista, I knew as soon as I saw them that you are really, REALLY talented.”A thought hit me then.OMG!My drawings? In a sketchbook? That I’d left behind? My cheeks burned with embarrassment as I remembered some of those drawings.There were sketches of Liam in there! Drawings I’d done right after we got married. Portraits. Intimate ones.I slunk down into m
Liam’s POVHe was cute, the little boy. Huge grin, brown, tousled hair.So that was Trista’s son?I didn’t get a good look at him, though. Trista whispered something to the boy and then pushed him back through the door. She and Hazel side-eyed each other. If I didn’t know better, I’d say Trista seemed a bit nervous.A bit stressed, even.Maybe she was afraid I wouldn’t like the kid?That was silly though. I loved kids.“He’s a handsome young lad,” I commented. “What’s his name?”Trista completely ignored my question though. Instead she said, in a rushed ramble:“They were supposed to be out for the afternoon but they came home early. I’m sure they’ve completely destroyed the apartment. Isn’t that right, Hazel?”Hazel nodded quickly. “Yes. They’re little terrors! Naughty naughty naughty!”They both laughed, an awkward, forced, high-pitch laugh.I narrowed my eyes.They were acting strange, these two. But why?“That’s okay. I know what kids are like. I don’t mind a mess.” I went to push
Liam’s POV“Yes,” I said. “Then I want you to go directly to my safe. Take all the gemstones, Jules. Package them up carefully, and YOU, send them to me here, in Milan.”“ALL of them?!” Jules was shocked. His yelling made my eardrums hurt a bit. “But that’s your mother’s private collection, Mr. Stonewood. She spent years collecting those gems from auctions all over the world! I thought she wanted to use them for the next Luna’s Crown!”“Nevermind any of that,” I snapped. This was none of his business. “Just do as I say and package them up. I expect them to be here by tomorrow morning.”Trista had less than three days until they closed entries to the competition. That wasn’t much time.Jules agreed to both my requests and we hung up.I felt a little disoriented after the phone call. It wasn’t like me to make such quick, brash decisions. I was acting strangely and I knew it. My behavior was unusual. Was it guilt driving me to behave this way?I’d always considered myself a no-nonsense s
Trista’ POV“Billy,” I said, grabbing him by the shoulders and kneeling down to eye level. “What were you doing, coming all the way down here like this on your own?”We were safely inside the building now, out of Liam’s sight. But my heart was hammering in my chest. Liam wasn’t supposed to see Billy! What if he got suspicious? Recognized him as his son?“I told you,” Billy said in a small voice. “I heard you and I snucked out.”“It’s snuck out, not snucked. And you can’t do that, Billy,” I said.“It’s okay, Trista,” Hazel said, tossing me a reassuring look. I stood up. “He didn’t recognize him,” she whispered. “And he was too far away for Liam to pick up his scent.” I nodded.Hazel was probably right. But I was still worried. Billy was the spitting image of Liam. It wouldn’t be hard for Liam to put two and two together. “Who was that man?” Billy asked, cocking his head to the side.“Oh, just a friend of Aunty Hazel’s,” I told Billy.This sucked. I hated lying to Billy. I hated
Trista’s POV“Pasta?” I asked, leaving the window and heading to the cupboard. “How’s that for dinner?”Hazel knew I was changing the subject. But she didn’t prod any further. “Pasta sounds perfect. We ARE in Italy, after all.I set some water on the stove to boil.“So,” Hazel said, also leaving the window. “Three days to prepare your entry for the competition? Is that enough time, Tris?”I sighed. “I sure hope so,” I said. But deep down, I honestly didn’t know. I had yet to see the raw materials that Liam was giving me. I had no idea what sort of shape they were in. And they needed to be delivered all the way here, to Milan. What if they were held up for some reason.Three days was really tight. And it was a lot of pressure, since both Liam and Hazel had done a lot for me already. If I didn’t make the deadline, all their efforts would be in vain.That was the last thing I wanted.Just then, I had an idea.“Hazel, where’s the wedding gift I gave you?”“It’s damaged, remember? That a
Trista’s POVI woke up bright and early the next morning. The sun was streaming through my window. Hazel and I were planning to go and check out the studio first thing that day since I hadn’t been there in a while. I sauntered out of the bedroom and yawned. Hazel was already flipping pancakes for the kids.“Coffee?” she asked, handing me a steaming mug of cappuccino before I even answered. I smiled gratefully. But we were both surprised to hear a knock on the door.“Who could that be this early in the morning?” I asked as I went to answer the door.“Beats me,” Hazel shrugged.I opened the door to find Jules – a very disheveled and tired Jules holding a small safe.“Trista?” he asked. I wrapped my housecoat tightly around me. “I’m not sure if I have the right address.” He was clearly perplexed. Liam had tasked Jules with delivering the precious gemstones in person but Jules hadn’t expected I’d be the recipient.“You’re in the right place,” I smiled brightly. Poor Jules. There were dark
Trista’s POVI walked into the studio, a genuine smile on my face. It had been so long since I’d been here. I was instantly flooded with memories. I didn’t realize how much I’d missed it!I planned to hole up here, in the studio for the next three days. Between Hazel and the next door neighbor, Billy and Belle were taken care of. I must admit, though, when I said good-bye to Billy and Belle, I thought they would cry. They used to throw a fit whenever I went away. But instead, they both kissed me on the cheek and said, “good luck, Mamma.” I had to blink back a tear; they’ve grown up so much and I was so, so proud of them.“Wowza,” Hazel said, setting down my luggage. “This place is gorgeous! Where should I put this?” She motioned to a box full of food. Hazel had insisted on bringing everything edible from the house to the studio. “You know I can’t cook,” she said. “Besides, I’m looking forward to taking Billy and Belle to as many restaurants as we can possibly squeeze in while your gon
I was so shocked that I couldn't speak, let alone know how to comfort him.“That’s… awful,” I told him. I didn't know what other words to use. Poor Darren. It was one thing to be threatened by the Alpha, but it was another thing to be stabbed in the back by your mate. Mate is our closest family member. Because of the bond of the mate bond, we instinctively trust and support our mate and would never betray them for the sake of simple gain. From what I know, this is also why wolf families usually have a stronger bond than humans.Betrayal from our mate is enough to shatter a wolf's faith. I've felt it once. Darren's experience was even worse than mine. “What happened after the accusations?”“Everyone believed her, including Alpha Jeremy. So I was permanently exiled from the pack.”“I know how that feels,” I said sympathetically.“It gets worse though,” Darren said. “Alpha Jeremy issued a wolf hunting order against me. I was a good doctor, but no pack dared to accept me. Not with an or
Trista’s POVIt was awhile before we could all breathe again. I kept looking in the rear view mirror, convinced I’d see a slew of black cars tailing us. I couldn’t believe it. We’d somehow narrowly escaped a really dangerous situation.But we weren’t out of the woods yet. At least, I didn’t think so. We drove on, fast, down the Italian roads, leaving Milan behind us. Eventually, I realized that no one was following us.“I think we’re safe,” I said. “Liam, you can sit up again.”Liam emerged from under the blanket.“What the hell was all that?” he asked, his eyes flooded with worry.“I have no idea,” I told him.“I don’t know either,” Darren said. “That man was definitely Jake, but I have no idea why he was there.”Was that other man Johnson? I wasn’t sure, although I had a sinking feeling it was. I couldn’t think about it right now though. I had to focus on the task at hand – getting Liam safely to Dagny in France. I really hoped that once we were there, she’d have some answers for m
Trista’s POVI could tell by the looks on their faces that they weren’t going to let us go without searching us themselves. It reminded me of scenes I’d seen in movies, where underground organizations usurped government officials and conducted searches of their own.Is that what these men? Were they part of some underground mafia? They looked an awful lot like the men from the VIP room. Their clothing was similar. My eyes flashed to their waists. It looked like they had guns underneath their coats, even though they were standing right behind the police.The police were frozen in place. They seemed to fear these men. Or at the very least, it didn’t look like the police were going to do anything to stop them.They approached our car. My mind raced. They men looked menacing and dangerous. We had a disabled wolf, an injured wolf, and an elderly medical wolf. How would we get out of this situation? Our odds weren’t looking so good.“Get out of the car,” one of them ordered. My heart sank.
Trista’s POV“Get in the car,” Darren urged me.“Hurry,” Serena said. Her fur was bristled and she was standing on all fours in her defensive position.“What is it?” I asked Serena. She sniffed the air.“I’m not sure,” she said. “I don’t smell anything. But I can sense danger in the air.”“Go,” I said to Hazel. She nodded curtly and took Billy and Belle. They climbed into the cab. Jules was already in the front seat.“Wait,” I called to them. I ran to the cab.“I love you very much,” I said to the kids.“We love you too, Mama,” they both said. “Don’t worry. Aunty Hazel is a good babysitter.”I chuckled. Then I blew them each a kiss and shut the door.Darren was getting into the driver’s seat when I got back to the car. I checked Liam one more time. He had put on a brave face but I could tell he was in pain. Werewolves heal faster than humans, but we feel pain pretty much the same way. The wound in Liam’s stomach was deep and even though it was stitched, I could tell it was bothering h
Trista’s POVJules had parked Liam’s car out front. It was a luxury business car. I was grateful it wasn’t a flashy sports car like the one Johnson had. Fortunately, Liam wasn’t as childish as Johnson when it came to things like that; Liam had nothing to prove. Liam’s car was spacious and it would be far more comfortable for all of us during this long trip to France.We helped Liam into the back seat and set him up with some pillows and a blanket. Darren handed him a thermos.“It’s my wife’s special herbal remedy. It might help you heal, but at the very least, it will make you drowsy so you can get some rest.’“Thank you,” Liam smiled at Darren.I glanced at my phone. I hoped that maybe Johnson had sent me a text, but I knew deep down that he hadn’t.I missed him. Where was he, I wondered. Was he okay? Was he hurt? Was he with all those dangerous men?I tried texting him but I knew he wouldn’t receive it. I’d tried calling him a couple time but his phone number had been disconnected.
Trista’s POVI wished I could watch Liam and Billy talk more. It warmed my heart to see Liam being so gentle and fatherly with Billy. But time was of the essence.We had to hustle.“Billy, love,” I said, coming into the living room. “I have an important job for you.” I knew it was going to be hard to pry Billy away from Liam. The way Billy looked at Liam told me he was enamored with this brave, injured man on the couch who had save his precious mama.“But I’m talking man talk,” Billy said.“Listen to you Mama,” Liam intervened. “If she says she has an important job for you, then you must accept it.”I flashed Liam a ‘thank you’ smile.“Okay, Mama,” Billy said, standing up.“I need you to go all the way upstairs and get Belle. Can you do that? Do you remember the way?” I asked.Billy’s eyes grew wide. The thought of being entrusted to fetch his sister was very appealing to him.“Yes, Mama,” he said, his voice serious. “I will get Belle. I won’t let nothing happen to her.”“Anything,” I
Trista’s POVI decided to let Belle keep sleeping. I needed to go back to my apartment and pack some things. I brought Billy with me.“Where are you going, Mama?” Billy asked on the elevator ride down.“I have to help my friend,” I smiled sweetly at him. “But don’t worry, love. I’ll come back to our home in Summerset soon.”My mind turned to thoughts of Johnson. What was wrong with him? What was causing him to act so strangely? Johnson was not an aggressive man by nature. Could he be helped? Cured even of this odd affliction?“Trista?” Hazel asked worriedly as we opened the door to my apartment. Liam was awake and sitting up on the couch. He had another fresh, white bandage wrapped around his stomach. My eyes darted to the sink where there was a blood-soaked bandage.His wound was still bleeding. He really needed help.“Billy!” Hazel said, extending her arms to him. Billy rushed towards her and Hazel hugged him tightly. Billy side-eyed Liam on the couch.“Billy, this is Liam,” I said.
Trista’s POVI held Billy tight and inhaled the sweet scent of his hair. I’d been so distracted with everything: preparing my entry for the auction, the auction itself, Liam’s injury – I hadn’t been able to spend much time with Billy and Belle.I didn’t realize how much I missed them.After everything I’d been through, holding my son in my arms was heavenly.“Did we wake you up?” I asked him as he pulled away.“Shhh,” he said, putting his finger to his lips. “You’ll wake up Belle. She’s very tired. We have to whisper.”“Oh, okay,” I said, and we all nodded.“Are you hungry, sweetheart?” Darla asked. “I think I still have some coconut cookies left?”“Yes, please,” Billy said, but his voice wasn’t as enthusiastic as it usually was at the mention of cookies.He sat silently on my lap for a bit, picking at the fluff of his cotton pajama pants. I could tell something was wrong.“Billy?” I asked. “Is everything okay?”He shook his head sadly from side to side. Then he looked up at me.“I kn
“I’m from the Red Moon Pack.”“What?”This surprised me. The Red Moon Pack had a terrible Alpha, Jeremy. My mind flashed back to Hazel’s wedding, when I’d found the alpha’s son in a tent having sex with his sister. There was incest in that pack.I frowned.“I know what you’re thinking,” Darren said. “I’ve heard the rumors. But I haven’t been a member of the Red Moon Pack for a long time. And back when I was, the pack was different.”I nodded.“Then how did you know my parents?” I asked.“The Blue Moon Crescent Pack and the Red Moon Pack were friendly back then. I was young, and I was the doctor of the Red Moon Pack. But I often helped with medical concerns in Blue Moon Crescent Pack, too, since I was very skilled and knowledgeable. In fact, I gave your mother all of her pregnancy examinations.” “You did?” I asked, shocked. Then he really HAD known my parents. He’d been their doctor!“Yes,” he confirmed. “Both your parents were in excellent health. All through her pregnanc