Chapter 102

Julian’s POV

I didn’t want to frighten Alice, so I kept my hand on her shoulder firm but light. Yet, every other muscle in my entire body was ready. I felt coiled like a snake, ready to pounce the minute Chase showed any sign of suspicion.

I didn’t trust him on the best of days, and today, right now, was far from that. After what Amber had told me, with someone, likely Olivia, having showed up at Alice’s school to try to take her out of it, I was on edge.

This only made the instances I saw of Chase and Olivia interacting during our celebration more suspicious.

I thought I knew Olivia better, and would have never thought that she’d target a child. Even now, despite Amber having been so sure that it was Olivia who had done the act, I struggled to wrap my mind around it.

Yet, with Alice, I wasn’t willing to take any chances. Not with Olivia. And certainly not with Chase.

Chase held his arms out, as if expecting Alice might run into them. Maybe she even would have if Amber and I weren’t holding her back.

Chase, noticing, lifted his gaze to Amber, ignoring me entirely.

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“Nothing,” Amber said quickly. “We’re just being a little cautious today. You can say goodbye without touching.”

Chase laughed like she was joking. “Cautious? Of me?” A moment later, he must have realized she was serious because he abruptly stopped laughing. “I don’t understand,” he said.

“Just say goodbye from there, Chase,” Amber insisted. “Please.”

“This is ridiculous, Amber,” Chase said, his smile starting to waver. “If you want to accuse me of something, you can do so, but don’t punish Alice for whatever you think I’m up to. I just want to say goodbye. Who knows when I’ll see either of you again?”

Never, if I had my way.

“You don’t need to hug her to say goodbye,” I grumble.

“Stay out of this, Alpha,” Chase said. “This doesn’t concern you.” He was dismissive of me at first, but then seemed to realize something and shifted his gaze to me. When he did, it turned into a glare. “This is your doing, isn’t it? You’ve turned Amber and Alice against me.”

I neither confirmed nor denied, just glared right back.

“Amber, whatever he says, you can’t believe him,” Chase said, returning his attention to Amber. “I know I have a reputation back home, but that’s a version of me that’s riddled with gossip and untruths. You know me better than that. Hells, I’ve told you all of my dark secrets.”

Glancing at Amber, I saw some conflict on her face. Alarmed, I quickly told her, “I suspect he knows Olivia more than either of them are admitting to.”

That seemed to steal Amber’s resolve. “Just say goodbye from there, Chase. If you are genuine, this will not be a forever goodbye, and we can hug on a happy reunion.”

“Why wouldn’t I be genuine?” he asked. “It’s one hug. What could be so wrong about that?”

“Alice, I’m sorry, honey,” Amber said. “But you will have to say goodbye to Chase like this, okay?”

“Okay…” Alice said, confused but obedient to her mother. She was looking at Chase somewhat strangely now too.

It was odd that he was so insistent about hugging her. I was glad I wasn’t the only one to think so.

“Goodbye, Uncle Chase,” Alice said.

For a moment, Chase just grinned at her. He otherwise froze, as if he was thinking through something. Gods knew what that could be.

I stood at the ready though, uncertain and cautious.

Maybe he was just offended. Maybe he was saddened to have to say goodbye like this to Alice and Amber. Maybe he was being entirely genuine right now.

But I didn’t think so. Neither did my wolf, crouching in the back of my mind, ready to fling himself to the front at a moment’s notice.

Then, slowly, Chase’s grin took on a harsher edge. His eyes went a little wild, shifting from friendly to desperate in a flash. His gaze dropped from Alice’s face down to the necklace around her neck.

In a blink, he pounced.

Using his werewolf speed, he was quick, but he wasn’t an Alpha.

I moved quicker.

Shifting midair, I slammed into his side with the full weight of an Alpha werewolf. He flung to the side like a ragdoll – but not before he hooked his fingers around the chain of Alice’s necklace.

But the chain he tugged already shattered, bits of medal scattering across the floor of the concourse.

People panicked, running in all directions.

In full-wolf form, I squared up, standing protectively in front of Alice and Amber, even stepping on some of the medal pieces.

Chase was on his side on the other end of the concourse, clutching his ribs as he struggled to stand up.

The pendant of Alice’s necklace was there beside him on the cement. Chase brushed it aside as he rolled over onto all fours, shifting into his own wolf as he did so.

His wolf was smaller than mine, likely slower too. He couldn’t hope to beat me in one-on-one combat.

If that was his plan.

Chase wasn’t a fool though, and he didn’t strike me as someone brave enough to fight me head on. I had to stay on my guard, as he likely had a few more tricks up his sleeve.

Slowly he started to move, as if trying to circle around me, but I cut him off again and again, always keeping myself between my family and this threat.

My vow to Amber hadn’t been one of deception. I would protect her and Alice with my life.

Though I didn’t anticipate anything so dramatic here. Chase was a weakling and a coward. With a few well-placed bites, he should submit.

Then we would have our answers.

What had Chase hoped to accomplish here? Was he trying to kidnap Alice? Why?

Was Olivia involved?

Those answers would come later, once Chase was subdued. For now, I growled and pushed my wolf body to his full intimidating height. I showed my teeth, growling and snarling, showing Chase I meant business.

He had no chance of coming out ahead here. One way or the other, he was going to submit, whether willing or with my teeth digging into his neck.

My vision was nearly red, my wolf so close to raging. Wanting to protect our family, it only wanted to eliminate the threat against them.

While I could agree with that, the Alpha in me, the man who had run the pack for years, knew that information was also an important means of protection.

Killing Chase wouldn’t give us any answers. I needed to know who he was working with, to discover all the dangers lurking in the shadows and keep my family safe once and for all.

That promise of further protection was the only way I could hold my wolf back at this moment. If Chase made one more wrong move though, that light tether would snap and my wolf would break free.

Hopefully he knew that. Hopefully he wouldn’t do anything stupid.

For now, we just scowled at each other, growling as the concourse fully cleared out, with the expectation of Amber and Alice behind me.

For a moment, everything was silent except for the growling and the pounding of my heart, ready for a fight.

Then, a scream shattered that quiet.

My heart shattered too.

That pained scream – belonged to Alice.