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Chapter 10
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2020-11-13 02:42:32Chapter 10
“What the hell do you think you´re doing, Nolan?” “Relax, brother. It´s all in good fun. I mean, can you blame me? Laura here is a stunner.” Nolan playfully growls at me. I slap Nolan across his face. He simply smiles. “Feisty. I love it.” I frown at him.
“You´re an ass.” “I´m Nolan Knox.” He offers his hand for me to shake. His devilish smile is rather disarming. I just gaze at his hand and roll my eyes. I inhale a deep breath, attempting to calm myself down.
“Finally, I get to meet your twin brother, Luc. Where have you been keeping him?” “Far away from you, obviously.” “What are you doing here, Nolan?” “What´s with the twenty questions, Luc? Am I not permitted to miss my twin brother? I wanted to see you. And Amelia. Have you two made up yet?” Lucas just stares at Nolan. “I´ll assume that´s a `no´.”
I marvel at the uncanny resemblance between the two of them. I´m aware they´re twins, however, they look so alike that I´m unable to tell which is which.
“A visit from you typically means trouble.” “Oh, I´m not in any kind of trouble.” “I mean trouble for the people around you.” Nolan laughs. “Brother, how I´ve missed our playful banter.” Evidently, Lucas is not being playful. He crosses his arms and just stares at Nolan. Nolan´s smile disappears. “Fine. I´m here because I want to assist you. You and your little pack right here in Wolf Springs.” “I´m not sure what you´re talking about.” “Oh, please, brother. Do you really intend to keep secrets from me? The cat´s out of the bag. Or should I say, the wolf is.”
“Whatever. Why would we need help from you?” “Because you have a traitor in your midst. I´m here to weed them out.” Lucas shakes his head. “Don´t do this Nolan. Not right now.” However, I want to know what Nolan is talking about. “Who are you referring to?” Nolan runs a finger through my hair. “Sweet Laura. The light of the moon is supposed to bring light to the darkness, chasing away the shadows. Although it seems that you remain in the dark, oblivious to the truth. I intend to change that.” Nolan touches my nose with his index finger. He then stands up abruptly. Gather your pack. I´ll be waiting at the house.”
Nolan leaves us staring at one other. I perceive the worry behind Lucas´ eyes.
>Lucas´ house. Living room. Night<
I call Patrick, and he picks me up at Knox Bar. As we enter Lucas living room, Liam and Lucas are already there. Nolan is lounging on the sofa.
(Liam) “This is the pack. Tank and Amelia are unable to come, because they´re on a mission.” “That´s okay. I was just thinking that we have a larger audience. However, this number will suffice. I´m feeling slightly theatrical.” “We have no time for your theatrics.” Liam evidently doesn´t like Nolan. “Indulge me, Liam. For old times' sake.”
(Laura) “That´s enough! Stop wasting our time, Nolan.” (Patrick) “Laura, don't tell me you´re taking this guy seriously?” “Just let him speak.” Patrick appears upset. “I don´t want to be part of this. I´m out.” “But you are part of this, Patrick White.” Nolan stands up, stepping purposefully towards Patrick. “Or should I say, Patrick Grayson.”
A confuses look characterizes Liam´s expression. “Grayson?” Patrick is rooted in his place. I stare at him perplexed. What´s going on?
“Laura, Patrick isn´t who you think he is.” “Patrick, what is he talking about?” Patrick remains silent, unable to respond. “He hasn´t been truthful with you from the moment you met.” I turn to Nolan. “Nolan, what are you saying?” “What I´m saying is, he´s not Dr. White.” What?! “He inserted himself into your life by working in the hospital. Granted, he´s a genuine doctor, which is rather impressive. However, it was all engineered to get closer to you.”
“So, everything you told me was a lie? You don´t really know me from university? Your parents?” Patrick doesn´t respond. “His parents are not divorced, as he likes to keep telling people. His parents were werewolves, killed by humans during the war.”
Liam gazes from Nolan to Patrick, as if he´s even more confused about what´s occurring. “Wait a minute.” “Yes, Liam. Patrick also had a sister. Her name was Maggie Grayson. She´s dead. Killed by a vampire.” Liam is approaching tears now. Maggie... Isn´t that...? I turn to Liam. “Your ex-girlfriend´s name is Maggie.” “They´re one and the same.” Nolan added. “Wait a moment. This is a great deal to process.” I turn towards Nolan. “How did you even obtain this information? Did you have Patrick investigated.” “I didn´t. Lucas did.” All eyes turn to Lucas.
“You´ve known Maggie was dead the entire time?” Liam bursts out. Lucas simply nods his head. “How could you keep this from me?” “I´m sorry, Liam. I was simply attempting to protect you. I knew that if you discovered this it would crush you.” “Luc, that was not for you to decide. I have the right to know. How could you?” “I´m sorry. I´ve been particularly suspicious of Patrick since the outset. However, the deeper I delved into his origins, I realized that he´s more connected to us that I previously thought. When I obtained the information about Maggie, I didn´t know what to do with it. All I knew was that if you discovered this, you would be devastated all over again. I didn´t want that to happen.” “How is this any different?”
This is terrible. I stare at Patrick. My heart begins to break simply by looking at him. What is Patrick´s real motives? I turn to face Patrick. “Are you here simply because you wanted revenge?” “Laura, allow me to explain.” “Then explain, Patrick.” “It´s true. I inserted myself into your life. What Nolan said about my parents and my sister, that´s all true. I didn´t count on you having a connection with someone from my past. My lies have now caught up with me. However, it´s really not to seek revenge on anyone in this pack. Rather, I´m here due to the oracle telling me that I would become more powerful if I mated with you. I am seeking to hunt down the vampire that killed my sister. He´s an old vampire, and he´s too powerful for me to take on all alone.” “So, basically, you marked me because you want greater power and are seeking revenge?” “I wanted power and revenge. Not anymore. I may have marked you for the wrong reasons. Yet the feelings I developed towards you are genuine. I´m not seeking power or revenge. I only want you, Laura.” “And I´m supposed to believe you just like that, after all your lies?” “Laura, I--” “Get out.”
I struggle to hold back the tears welling in my eyes from falling. “Laura, please...”
Patrick moves toward me, although Liam steps in, cutting him off. “From this moment on, you are no longer a member of this pack.”
“Please Patrick, just leave now.” (Nolan) “You heard her, Grayson.”
Patrick stares at me for a long time. It feels like an eternity. Without a further word, Patrick walks away. I watch his retreating back, consumed with disappointment and regret. How could he do this to me? I feel like my heart is about to explode.
Lucas turns to Nolan. “Are you content now, Nolan?” “I´m simply doing what is right. Something you should have done a long time ago.”
Liam pinches the bridge of his nose as he closes his eyes. I can see the tears rolling down his cheeks, while the tears that I´ve been holding back fall as well. I hate seeing him like this.
Liam turns to Lucas. “Where is she buried?” “Her ashes have been scattered in Midnight Harbor.” “Her favorite falls.” Lucas nods. Liam lets out a mirthless laugh. “I´ve been there numerous times. I wasn´t even aware she was already there. I´m going to be gone for some time.” He turns to me. “I have to go.” Lucas grips his shoulder. “Do what you have to do, Liam.”
I step up to Liam, placing a kiss on his cheek. “We´ll be waiting for your return.” With a heavy heart, I watch Liam walk from the living room.
“Laura. I´m sorry that I didn´t tell you sooner.” “These secrets that you keep. It may appear that you are protecting the people around by not telling them. However, you just end up hurting them instead. I hope you realize that.” “I´m so sorry, Laura.”
I know he means well. However, I can´t just instantly accept his apology this time.
I heave out a sigh. “I´m tired. We'll talk tomorrow.” “Stay the night. It´s late.” “All right. I´ll see you in the morning.”
I leave Lucas and Nolan in the living room, heading for the guestroom upstairs.
>Lucas´ house. Guest room. Night<
I´m unable to sleep that night. Aside from the hurt I´m feeling at Patrick´s betrayal, some of the things he said still bother me.
Patrick said that he´d become more powerful if he mated with me. How? And more importantly, why?
I recall the time that Seven told me I was important, implying that I have a greater role to play in the grander scheme of things. Yet what could it be? There are numerous questions in my mind that are keeping me awake.
I decide to go downstairs to get a glass of water.
I pass the living room; I see Lucas standing by the hearth, staring into the fire. Not Lucas. Nolan. I can detect the distinction between their scents.
I walk into the living room, barefooted, barely making a sound. “Can´t sleep?” Nolan says, without even turning to me. “You´re still here.” He turns to me, smiling. “This is my house too, after all.” He beckons for me to come closer. “Come. Join me.”
There´s something about Nolan piquing my curiosity. I know that face all too well, yet he´s a complete stranger to me. There is a mysterious air about him that is drawing me closer. Yet I decide to stay away. “I think I´ll pass.” I am about to leave when Nolan´s words stop me.
“I know you have questions.” I stop in my tracks. “I can answer them for you. I´m not going to lie. You´ll always have the truth with me.” I walk towards him cautiously. There is only silence between us, as we stare at one another. Should I trust him?
I look deep into his eyes. They´re kind. Just like Lucas. Maybe I´m mistaken. Maybe he´s not this asshole that he wants to appear to be. There´s something about him I just can´t explain. Like I can trust him somehow. “I see you, Nolan. You´re not here to cause trouble, are you?” He smiles at me. “I´m here to tell you nothing but the truth. But only if you are ready for it.” “Maybe I´m not yet ready. I can see you, Nolan.” Nolan´s eyes narrow at me. “You´re the guy who´s trying too hard to appear like an asshole. Yet in reality, you´re only here to speak your mind and tell the truth.” “Sometimes the truth is so painful for others to hear that they begin to resent others for it. However, don´t get me wrong, I am not that innocent. I am the black sheep in my family, after all.” “I imagine I´m going to get in so much more trouble with you around.” The smile that Nolan offers me is full of mischief.
>Robert´s home. Day<
The following day, I discover myself knocking on Robert´s door. After all that´s occurred, I feel like I need a reprieve from my life as a werewolf. I need to feel something familiar. And Robert is a window to an old life that I had previously. The sole connection that I have to my old self.
Robert opens the door and he´s surprised to see me. Then a smile spreads across his lips. “Laura, what a pleasant surprise. Come in.”
I step inside and Robert walks me down the hall leading to the living room. “How are you? What brings you here?” “I´m fine. I just thought that I needed to see you.” We sat down on the couch. “Is everything all right?” “Yeah.” “I´m sorry if I wasn´t able to call you. I´ve been really busy down at the lab.” “Right, you´re head of research now. How´s that going for you?” “It´s everything I´ve ever dreamed of. And more.”
I study Robert´s face. He looks really contented. Although I still can´t help but worry that he´s working for a company that is experimenting on werewolves.
“However, enough with me. I want to know what´s up with you?” I look away for a moment. “Are you sure everything´s all right?” I smile softly at him. “I just missed you. I miss being around you.” Robert holds my hand. “Well, I´m here now, Laura.” “You are.” Robert moves his face closer to mine. Our lips are barely an inch apart. I look away before Robert is able to kiss me. “What sort of game are you playing, Laura?” “What do you mean?” “You come her, seeking my comfort, then you just shut me down. This is bullshit!” “Robert, I didn´t mean to upset you.” “I am beyond upset. I´m sick and tired of playing second fiddle to the other men in your life. When are you going to choose to be with me?” “You know it´s so much more complicated than that.” “You know I want you, Laura.” Robert grabs my wrists. “Robert, you´re hurting me.”
I look at his hands gripping me, and that´s when the realization strikes me. This is impossible. How is he hurting me so much?” Robert is so much stronger than he was previously. “Robert, please! Let me go!” As if shaken out of trance, Robert stops. “I´m sorry, Laura. I´m not sure what came over me.” Without another word, I run away.
>Lucas´ house. Night<
I walk into the foyer of Lucas´ house. I pass by the living room and Nolan´s there. “Laura. Where have you been.” “Out.” “You look upset. What´s wrong?” I hesitate for a moment. “It´s my ex-boyfriend.” The concern is apparent on Nolan´s face. “What happened?” I step into the living room and move closer to him. “Well, he attempted to hurt me.” “That´s it. Tell me where he lives.” “No, it´s okay. I´m fine. I don´t think I can say the same thing for him however.” Nolan smiles. “That´s my little wolf.” I smile at the endearment in spite of myself. “A you certain you don´t want me to rough him up a little bit?” “No. Just--”
Suddenly, the French doors leading out into the garden burst open, and Amelia limps inside. “Amelia!” Amelia collapses to the floor; she´s wounded. Nolan rushes to her side. “Amelia, what happened?” “We were attacked...by black wolves...Tank...” Amelia coughs up blood. “Tank is dead.”
