Chapter 191

Cara’s POV

I was willing to do anything to get Lucy back, but this seemed like a longshot, even to me. Alaric and I had rejected each other years ago, and though some affection remained, I couldn’t imagine it would be enough to somehow heal me through our old bond.

Still, Richard and Grayson were looking at me with utmost seriousness. This wasn’t a joke or some ill-advised plot to get Alaric and I back together. They were being entirely genuine. They really thought this plan might work.

“We wouldn’t suggest it if we didn’t think there was a chance it could work,” Grayson said. “Even for rejected mates, the wolf remembers the old bonds. Being near your old mate might help rekindle those bonds. Your wolf could follow the call of her mate straight back to you.”

“While it’s never been done, there is some precedent of shared healing factors,” Richard said. “Surely it’s worth a try while we continue to research other avenues? I can’t imagine that Alaric would refuse to help.”

He wouldn’t. Of that I was certain. But after our last meeting, and how unkind I had acted…

No, I wasn’t a diva like they said at rehearsal. I could swallow my pride, apologize to Alaric, and ask for his help. I wanted to apologize anyway. This was simply giving me the opportunity.

“You have to move quickly though,” Grayson said.

“Grayson,” Richard scolded.

Grayson shook his head. “She needs to know the truth, Richard. No matter how dire that is.”

“What’s going on?” I asked.

“The timeframe I gave you,” Grayson said. “It was… generous.”

My stomach started to sink. “How generous?”

“By half,” Grayson said.

Dread prickled at my fingertips. I truly didn’t have enough time.

“Move quickly, Cara,” Grayson said. “If you wait too long, your wolf could disappear entirely, and if that were to happen, I’m afraid we’d no longer be able to prolong the inevitable.”

“Talk to Alaric,” Richard said. “Today.”

As much as I cared for Alaric, even with our recent points of tension, I wasn’t opposed to the idea of spending more time with him. What troubled me though was his side of things. I hated the concept of having to force him to spend more time with me.

That being said… he did stay in town when he could have just as easily left it. And he had been so quick to support me when I needed comfort after the brunch.

Did I truly think he would deny me? Or that he would resent me for it?

I was the one keeping him at arm’s distance. He’d only ever, since our reunion, been trying to get closer to me. To love me. To pursue me. To make us a family again.

I wasn’t sure I was ready for all of that, especially while dealing with these health concerns, but perhaps it was time I stopped fighting against him so hard.

I loved him too, and valued his closeness. Would it be so wrong to accept his help?

With my mind made up, I excused myself from Grayson and Richard. This conversation was one that I wanted to have at home. There, I picked up my phone and called Alaric.

Alaric’s POV

When I saw Cara’s name show up on the screen of my phone, I thought about rejecting the call. After all, I didn’t want a repeat of the last time we’d seen each other, where my overprotectiveness had only suited in hurting her further.

But, like most things with Cara, I was utterly unable to resist.

Grabbing the phone, I answered it. “Hello?”

“Alaric,” Cara said. “I don’t suppose you would be willing to sit down for a talk with me?”

“Is everything alright?” I asked. “Are the kids okay?”

“The kids are fine,” she said, and I noticed she didn’t make mention of herself. “There’s something really important I want to talk to you about, and I’d prefer not to do it over the phone.”

Given how things played out last time, I would be within my rights to reject her outright. But, I’d never do that to her. I could understand where she was coming from, not wanting to be treated differently, even though things were different.

She was going through a lot, and I wanted to be there for her. I only hoped this meeting wasn’t a front for her to find new ways to push me away.

All I wanted to do was love her and be by her side.

Since our last meeting, and even before that, I had been debating with myself whether to stay in BloodyMoon or return to DuskWood. Discovering Cara’s secret had shaken me to my core.

I had made promises to the elder council about commuting during the week, but that was before I knew that Cara was facing such difficult health problems. How could I leave her here to face all of this on her own?

The weeks I had gone had been torturous. Always I felt like I would be too late if she needed me. I hated the thought of leaving her on her own.

But she wasn’t on her own. Not really. She had her brothers and the kids and Noel, as loathe as I was to admit it. It was possible that she just didn’t want me around.

In that case, shouldn’t I respect her wishes and just go home? But what if something happened? What if I was needed and was too far away to be there when it mattered?

I was torn in conflict, unable to decide whether to stay or to go. I’d bought plane tickets but kept canceling or switching to later flights. The airline was likely tired of hearing my voice or seeing my number in their caller ID.

Yet, in my heart, I knew I would never be able to leave her. Her efforts to push me away had never felt entirely genuine. Honestly, though she hadn’t admitted it, likely not even to herself, I believed she was just scared.

She had plenty to be scared about. But my leaving wasn’t going to be one of them.

That was why I continued to stay. Why I kept making excuses for the elder council and to myself.

I was here for her always. Even if she didn’t seem to want me.

“Where?” I asked.

“My house,” she said. “As soon as you are able.”

“I’ll be there,” I said. In front of me, spread out over the hotel desk, I had all of my work that needed to be done that day. Glancing over it, there was nothing that couldn’t wait. “I’m on my way now.”

“Thank you, Alaric,” she said. “I mean it.”

“I know you do,” I told her. “See you in a few.”

Hanging up the phone, I stood from the desk. My work would still be waiting for me when I returned but my time with Cara, at present, was finite. I wasn’t going to waste even a few moments of a chance to see her and spend time with her.

I hated to think of the coming end, but there was no telling how soon it could be.

When she called for me, I would be there. No matter what. Simple as that.