Chapter 192

Amber’s POV

I checked to make sure Alice was occupied. “I just need to make a quick call, Alice, okay?”

“Okay, Mom.”

“I’m going to step out into the hall.”

“Okay.”

I went out into the hallway. Closing the door behind me, I made sure that I had a clear view of Alice inside. Then, I pulled out my phone and dialed Rafael.

He answered right away, with some surprise in his voice. “Amber, I didn’t expect to hear from you. A nice surprise. I’ve seen things on the news that are troubling. Are you alright?”

“I’m okay,” I said. “Alice too. And Julian.”

“He’s in a bit of hot water,” Rafael said.

“He’ll make it through,” I said.

Rafael hummed, non-committal.

“I was wondering, if it would be alright, if Alice and I came back to visit,” I said.

Finally, the smile filled his voice. “Amber, you are my sister. This pack is your home and you are always welcome.”

“Thank you,” I said, relieved. If I could get to his pack, then I could follow the leads back to this address and maybe find someone who was in a similar situation as Alice. If I had another case to study, maybe I could find a cure for anyone suffering the same affliction.

“Though,” Rafael said, the one word cutting through all my good feelings. “Do not forget the dangers and public you left the pack to flee remain here, and will be here on your return. In fact, with how you and Julian have been on the news, there might be even more of a crowd.”

I hadn’t really considered that, but I understood. I’d left Rafael’s pack to try to avoid the spotlight, yet, even with my best efforts, I found my way back into it while here.

“I would be pleased to see you, of course,” Rafael said. “And I will do my best to protect you and Alice both. But I want you to be prepared for what you might face.”

“I would face anything to try to help Alice,” I said.

That surprised him and he was quiet for a moment before asking, with a very soft voice, “Oh?”

“I finally have a lead,” I said, and explained the situation in broad, basic terms. “I’ll give you the specifics when I land.”

“For well,” Rafael said. “For Alice, yes. We will do this. I’ll make the arrangements to have security meet your plane. Just send me the details.”

“Thank you, Rafael.”

“Of course, sister,” Rafael replied. “Out of curiosity, what did Julian say when you told him you were leaving him behind?”

“I… well…”

“You have told him, right?”

“Uh… no,” I said sheepishly. “Not yet.”

“Don’t you think you ought to?” Rafael asked. It was unusual for him to want to try to give advice to fix things between Julian and me, but he quickly resolved my wonder by adding, “I wouldn’t want him to think I tried to kidnap you or something. Please sort that out before you arrive.”

“Yeah,” I said. “Okay.”

I had my reasons for not going straight to Julian with my plan. First, I wanted to make sure it was even possible to visit Rafael at this time.

Or many I was just telling myself that was a reason. In truth, I knew Rafael wouldn’t turn me away.

The real reason was that I wasn’t sure how Julian would react. He had so much going on already, he didn’t need even more to deal with.

I also worried about leaving him alone. Without me to help calm him down, would he start a fight with Tony after all?

But I couldn’t stay and miss this chance to help Alice. As much as I wanted to be there for Julian, he was an adult and would survive on his own. Alice, meanwhile, needed me to find her a cure. It was crucial and not something she could do on her own.

As her mother and someone who loved her dearly, it was my obligation to try to save her. I’d already put it off for too long, trusting in the power of the necklace rather than working tirelessly to develop a cure.

No more.

No matter what else was happening, I would help her now that the chance has revealed itself.

Julian’s POV

I stayed at Mom’s bedside even after Aunt Kathy left. I stared at Mom, wishing she would wake up and give me some insight on what to do next.

My claim over my pack had never been challenged quite like this before, and not by family. With the family split, some supporting me, some supporting Tony, I felt a bit of worry, wondering if the split of the pack looked the same.

Or if it was even more one sided.

If I didn’t have the support of the pack, did I even have a right to hold onto it?

But… no. I couldn’t let this feeling of defeat win me over. Surely the people could see for themselves that pack stability had been at an all time high, even with me not present within the pack. I was still checking in, still making decisions and judgments that helped lead us to prosperity.

If the people looked at their lives now, and how they had improved from the past several years, they would stand behind me. Even if they didn’t agree with my personal standpoint about love.

Could that alone convince them, though? Especially when Tony was whispering Tony into every reporter’s microphone who would give him the time of day?

I just didn’t know.

“Alpha,” one of the enforcers said, drawing my attention upwards. He motioned to Amber standing at the door.

“Let her in,” I said. As Amber came in, I noticed she was alone. “Where’s Alice?”

“Out with Aunt Kathy,” Amber said.

That was strange. For her to not want Alice here meant we were about to have a very adult conversation. And from the way Amber was tightly holding herself, and the paleness in her face, I braced myself, realizing this was probably not a conversation I was going to like.

“Julian,” Amber said. “We need to talk.”

The four most dreaded words in all of relationships. What could she possibly want to say?

We had made moves forward in that car, not just physically but with the closeness of our hearts, and the strength of our bond. For her to say these dreaded words now…

They couldn’t be all that bad, right? Unless she wanted to take it all back.

No. I couldn’t think like that.

Yet, now that the thought was free in my mind, it coiled up and around in my stomach, making me a little sick.

Amber must have seen that, maybe I was turning green. She walked closer and took a breath, likely about to put me out of my misery one way or another.

It can’t be that bad. Whatever it is, we will deal with it together.

That was my pep talk as I waited for her to speak.

She waited another moment, giving me even more dread in the waiting.

Then, finally, she opened her mouth and said, “I have to leave.”

And my stomach dropped.