The Ultimate Betrayal

             “Hi, Evan. I’m fine. Everything is fine. I need to take a few days away from the pack. I just need to get my head on straight. You’ll need to complete the deal with Alpha Haden. Just get him to sign the paperwork and keep Annabelle from making anyone else’s lives miserable.” James disconnected his call. He’d been lucky and got Evan’s message machine. That was perfect. He wouldn’t need to answer any prying questions for now. They could leave messages on his phone.

             He leaned over and looked at Emily’s sleeping form in the passenger seat of his vehicle. Now he just needed to get them settled in the old packhouse and then they could finally talk about this. James wasn’t sure what he’d say yet. All he knew was that whatever he felt about her leaving, it felt wrong. It hurt as bad as or possibly worse than when Rebecca died. He’d almost lost both that night. He’d ripped apart that mad wolf only to discover that wolf bit several members of their pack, including Rebecca, his soon-to-be mate, and Emily, his childhood friend.

             They’d all be part of a close-knit group of friends. But that night ended. Their group fell apart, never to come back together as they’d once been. Emily stayed with him, probably because she’d been fighting for her life and her recovery took so long. Rebecca didn’t survive that night. The night that should have been the night they mated. Eva left for medical school and later to veterinary school. The pack used to joke about James and his harem. But the three girls were best of friends too. Little wonder that Emily became his beta. Eva made it her mission to find a cure or treatment for the virus. James wasn’t exactly sure what she talked about, but he’d support it if it would stop the death and disability.

             James couldn’t think about that now. Later, when they were up at the old packhouse. Maybe Emily would have an explanation for his confusion. If anyone understood him, it was Emily, and when she’s done explaining this, she could explain the hurtful things she’d said to him earlier.

             James couldn’t stop thinking about Rebecca and the last time he saw her alive. She was everything opposite to Emily. Rebecca was strong and full of life. She was always right there, ready to take on a challenge. She was a fighter through and through. Emily was quieter, the one that picked up the pieces behind everyone. She’d always been there by his side after Rebecca died. Emily was always James’ right hand. She was the one there who handed him whatever he needed to do, whatever he wanted. If he went drinking, she was there to drive him home. Emily was the one to make sure he studied.

              James couldn’t lose another one. Eva would come back soon. But it wouldn’t be the same. The close bond he’d once felt wasn’t there anymore. Rebecca was the one he kissed and held. Emily was the one who there went things went south. His mother never disapproved of Rebecca outright, but she’d made it clear to James she felt he’d chosen the wrong female.

             After Rebecca died, she’d let the subject go until they were sure Emily would survive. Then once she’d healed and got back to doing most of the things they did, his mother dropped hints maybe he should look for another mate. That an excellent mate might be closer at hand than he expected. Both he and Emily balked at that idea. They avoided speaking of it, and even now, James wanted to avoid thinking about it.

             He needed to concentrate on driving up this old road. No one came up here anymore. They did not use anymore the old packhouse as the pack outgrew it decades ago and the land around the building wasn’t something they could build on anymore. A rather bad series of storms hit and washed out a good chunk of land, leaving the packhouse overlooking a cliff.

             The pack made sure the build didn’t fall into disrepair and vagrants didn’t take up residence. It would be hard to explain the extremely large wolves in the area.

             Once there, he carried Emily into the house and laid her on a bed upstairs. Then he left, closing and locking the door. James made sure he took the key with him. After that, he brought in the supplies he took from the lake house.

             James looked about the main floor of the old house. Sheets lay over what little furniture still survived, which surprised him at how much didn’t end up being reused elsewhere in the pack’s territory.

             So, he pulled sheets from furniture and mopped up the dust from the floor. It’s taken days to get the dust from the air. The windows in this place wouldn’t open. After years of paint and the shifting land, none of the windows would open and the air smelt dusty and a little stale.

             Once he revealed everything in the room, James needed to step out for a bit. So, he moved on to the old kitchen. They didn’t have electricity here, so he’d need to find the generator and see if it still worked. He could see the old fire pit from the window in the back door. At least that looked like it was functional.

             He tucked away the canned goods he’d brought with them. Surprised to find cans already in the cupboards. Someone stocked this place already because the dates were good on the cans.

             Once done there, he went to open another bedroom for himself. James stopped outside the door to Emily’s room, and he heard nothing on the other side of the door. He assumed that meant he’d bought himself a little more time to get settled into the house. He still needed to deal with the bathroom. See if he could get the water running, too.