BOOKSDRAMA Chapter 32
Chapter 32
Chapter 32
“Running away is easy. It’s the leaving that’s hard.” Samuel T. Herring
Alessia’s “theory” stuck with me for the entire five-hour plane ride ~ long after we stopped talking
and she fell asleep again. Her words sent a chill down my spine. Was Griffin really going to hunt me
like prey?
A couple of hours into the plane ride, I ended up falling asleep too
but it was plagued with nightmares.
In my dream, I was a fox sprinting across the foggy forest. I was running away from something – I
didn’t know what — and tried to hide in a hollowed-out tree. I could hardly make out my
surroundings while I was tucked in my little hiding spot, but then I saw it: the monster that was
chasing me.
It was a large black wolf, bigger than anything I’d ever seen with piercing dark eyes and sharp
canines. Its familiar dark eyes met mine, and I knew it had me trapped. There was nowhere to run,
and all I could do was watch as it stalked closer and closer. And then it pounced, razor-sharp canines
headed for me as I – I shot up in my plane seat, heart pounding. That was a hell of a dream. But it
wasn’t real — it was just a dream. *)
I normally wasn’t one to dissect dreams, but even that nightmare felt a little too on the nose to me. I
had been running in the wolves as a literal fox — which was Griffin’s favorite nickname for me —
and the predator chasing me had been a wolf. Could the meaning get any more obvious than that? (°
Clearly, I’m freaked out about what Alessia told me before I fell asleep
and now my fears are manifesting in my dreams.
My heart continued to pound. Although Griffin and I were probably hundreds of miles apart by this
point, the thought of him still managed to put me on edge.
“Passengers, please make sure you’re seated with your seatbelts on. We’re beginning our descent,
and we’ll be wheels down at LAX in minus twenty minutes,” the pilot’s voice croaked through the
speakers.
The feedback from the speakers roused Alessia from her own cat nap. Judging from the way she
lazily stretched out, it looked like her dreams had been a lot better than mine.
“are we already there?” she asked me. “They said less than twenty minutes till we get to the
airport,” I said.
“Thank God,” she muttered, smiling. “I hate flying. I want to put my feet — and my paws — on
some solid ground.”
“Me too. Not the paws part, of course — but definitely my feet.”
At my response, Alessia looked at me, her smile vanishing. “Well, since we’re almost there, it’s time
“Fess up? About what?”
Her eyes burned into mine and I could feel a shift in the air. The light friendliness between us was
gone and I was suddenly reminded of who I was sitting next to: Alpha Alessia, who had slaughtered
a member of her own pack to rule it. She meant business.
“It’s time to tell me about my mate, Clarke,” she said, her face blank.
Oh, that’s what she wanted. Did you forget about your own deal, Clarke? Geez, I suck at this stuff.
Mark that down for reason #497 for why I wouldn’t make a good q ueen. I suck at negotiating.
It’s not that I was trying to withhold information or act coy, but I’d been so wrapped up in my own
escape attempt that I’d almost forgotten what I had agreed to divulge for that escape attempt.
“Right,” I said, “Sorry, I just woke up like you. My brain is still a little fuzzy. I’ll tell you who it is.”
body was tense, and it wasn’t hard to understand
And not just for her. For Lily too.
ultiple times,” I told her, “You said it the
scent on my clothes yesterday too.”
as faint but it was there. It w
to be someone I interacted
st get to the point, Clark,” she rolled her eyes, “No offense but
throat out. So, jus
“Oh, right, got it,” I said, eyeing her white knuckles, “In that case, I’m about 99% sure you’re mated
to my sister.”
There was silence. Alessia paused completely, like she was frozen in time. “Your sister?” she
repeated, raising an eyebrow.
“Hear me out. Remember the night we met?” I explained, “I was sharing a room with my sister,
Lily. We had also spent all day together too — she sat next to me on the plane and next to me at
ense why we’d smel
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ed like she was trying t
nt most of the day with Griffin, you were still able to smell her scent on me.
ced that she was no longer clu
that I had seen before, but never on Alessia. It was the look that my dad an
ght now, Clarke. He’s part of the past now, yo
d she just turned eighteen. Had you gone to the dinner part
d, “Of course it makes sense. You didn’t com
it out sooner. I could
just like I used to, I guess. Our pack is in Washington, they live on Blacktooth territory. And hey,
“Lily,” she repeated again, “in Blacktooth territory. And you’re sure about this?” I could see
suspicion in her eyes. “You’re not trying to screw me over, right?” There was a dangerous edge to
her voice as she spoke that last part. I guess I couldn’t really blame her for being cautious, but since
Alessia wasn’t shy about violence, I also didn’t
ogether until yesterday, but based on what you’ve told me, it’s got to be her. There’s nobody else I
came in close contact with at
definitely got to be the sister. I’m not int
“Well, that settles it,” I said, “You’re mated to my sister...and I guess that makes us family.”
Although I’d known Alessia was mated to my sister for about a day, the information felt like it was
just now sinking in.
Her connection to my sister would forever tie us together. Images of Alessia at family dinners and
pack events ran through my brain like a movie montage – and honestly? I didn’t hate it.
ad dreaded it. I didn’t want to see my sister transform into some s
n’t like the rest. She hated the traditional Alpha system as much as I did. Truthful
sia smirked, “Then it’s a good thing I’m helping
huck
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“although I highly doubt I’ll be seeing you at any family functions anytime soon,” Alessia added, “I
mean, have you thought this through? Long-term? Or do you just plan to be on the run from your
mate forever?”
I shook my head. “No, not forever...but definitely for awhile. I can’t go back to my dad’s place for
awhile either, I know that. That would be the first place Griffin would look, but it’s not like I plan to
never see my dad, sister, or brother again. I just got to stay away long
enough for Griffin to lose interest and move on.” .°)
And to make sure I don’t get stuck living in Blacktooth pack forever.
Alessia rolled her eyes. “I’d tell you that you’re delusional, but I don’t think you’d believe it,” she
said, “I’ve already told you — there’s no way your mate is just ‘losing interest’ or ‘moving on.’
rks, but whatever help
ffin would hold onto someone he didn’t even know forever. He was
eat dies down, maybe I can
and the rest of the Blacktooth pack.
n to experience a little
d, “Can you promise
“I assume now that I’ve told you about my sister,” I said, “You’ll be going to meet her soon, right?”
g? I’ve got my mate’s name and location — as
ass is on the first f
’s side of the family — not for a little while. And on the off-cha
I’m
o worry either. I want