FULL NOVELXO Chapter What Is Going On
After a stressful couple of days, my wolf still wasn't talking to me and I couldn't blame her. I hadn't listened to her and now the elders and my mate were out searching for some wolf that may or may not exist, thinking that he was the reason behind all the attacks. If I didn't find out if Anderson really was the cause, more innocent people could get hurt.
I waited until the men left for their rounds and then made my way down to Bishop's office to call my father. I had to find out if Anderson was up to something. I dialed his number and after the sixth ring I was about to hang up when he answered roughly.
"What is it now?"
"Hello father." I said as I furrowed my brows at the way he picked up the phone.
"Uh, Ember, h-hello."
"Is everything alright?" I asked in a concerned tone.
"Yes, yes, you just caught me in the middle of something. I'm sorry but it is a bit hectic around here right now, what can I help you with?"
Not wanting him to sense my uneasiness at how he was acting, I had to think of something quick to ask him. "Bishop and I are planning my Luna ceremony and we would like to invite you and mother."
I shut my eyes and internally palmed myself as soon as the words left my mouth. Of all the things I could have asked him, I chose that?
"That sounds terrific. How about I get your mother and you give her the details?"
"Are you sure everything is okay over there, you seem a bit flustered?"
"It's nothing I can't handle."
"Why isn't your new advisor Anderson helping you?" I asked in full brat mode.
This wasn't how I imagined this conversation going but he was hiding something from me and if giving him a smart ass response made him tell me the truth then that's what I was going to do.
"He isn't here right now, he left, and I don't need him to tend to problems within my pack. I am still the Alpha you know." His tone was getting harsh and I could almost feel his anger through the phone at my accusation that he couldn't handle things.
"I'm sorry I didn't mean anything like that father, I know you can handle things." There was a long pause between the two of us but I needed to find out where Anderson was in order to know for sure if he was responsible for the attacks. "Where did he go?" I asked nonchalantly.
"I don't know, he just left. He does still have his own pack to run and he doesn't need a reason to be here all the time, he has things to do."
I knew I couldn't leave him on the phone much longer without it causing a fight so I said, "I will let you go, father. Please tell mother about the ceremony and when I have more details I will call you back. Give her a kiss for me and tell her I love her."
"I will, Ember. Goodbye."
He quickly hung up the phone and my intuition about there being trouble took over. I needed to find out if he was hiding something as well so I called the only other person who knew more about the pack on goings than my father, my friend Celeste.
Running back to our room, I found my cell and searched through the contacts landing on her number. I hit dial and waited until she answered and just like my father she picked up in a foul mood as well.
"What?"
"Sheesh, is everyone at the pack in a bad mood?"
"Oh, Ember, am I glad to hear from you." Her sassy tone changed to a desperate one as soon as she heard my voice and everything I was worried about while talking to my father, heightened ten fold with her statement.
"Celeste, what is going on?"
"Ember, it's horrible around here. Your father is being taken advantage of by that terrible man and he doesn't even know it."
"What do you mean?" My grip on the phone tightened and I was on the verge of breaking it when she started talking again.
"Everything started out great. We were all being trained as part of his plan to stop the rogue attacks. He told us that everyone should take part in keeping the pack safe so we believed him. Then things started to change, some of the members began talking about a revolt against your father, saying that it would be easy because he was getting old and losing his Alpha abilities. They were saying he was too soft and we needed someone like Anderson to be our leader. They said they were glad you left because if you had taken over, we probably would all be dead." She lowered her tone and said, "They said Anderson wanted to make you his mate. Is that true? Is that why you left?"
I could feel my throat beginning to close from her question. How could anyone have known what Anderson wanted from me? Was he telling people that was the reason I left?
"It's complicated, Celeste but now is not the time to talk about that. Thank you for telling me what's going on and if anything else happens, call me immediately."
I ended the call before she could answer and I still couldn't believe what I had heard. Some of my father's members were thinking about taking over because they were unhappy with the way he was running things. They never had a problem before which made me think this all had to do with Anderson and that I had been right about him all along, he was there to take over.
There was so much to do but first, I needed to find Anderson and talk to him. Maybe we could arrange an agreement that kept my pack safe and took his mind off making me his mate. Getting out of this house was the only way I could clear my mind enough to figure out what to do but with everything being locked down, there was nowhere I could go that I would be alone.
Just when I began walking down the stairs, a thought popped into my mind. If I could convince Bishop to let me go to Chase's pack for a few days I could sort this whole mess out. I was just about to mind link him when I heard footsteps on the front porch and the door open.
"Get some rest, men and thank you all for putting in the extra hours to keep everyone safe."
Deacon and the elders said goodnight to Bishop and I before retreating upstairs to their rooms.
"How did it go?" I asked.
"Still nothing. I feel like we've been running around in circles. There isn't a single trace of anyone, wolf or human for miles. Something just isn't adding up."
My whole body tensed as he stood there scratching his head. I knew I should come clean about everything but the more I thought about it, the more I couldn't and it was because I would never forgive myself if anything ever happened to him while he tried to save my father's pack from my stupidity.
"Bishop, I was thinking. Maybe I could stay at Chase's pack while you and the elders search. I could really use some time away and I would be completely protected there. What do you say?"
"No one could ever protect you like I could, Red but I would feel better knowing you weren't stressed about things here. I'll call Chase."
He hung his head and walked towards his office and I began to feel horrible all over again. Here I was running away from my problems instead of facing them and on my own, again. I followed him to the second floor and waited in the doorway as he spoke with Chase. After he hung up, he walked towards me and pulled me into his chest.
"Chase will be here tomorrow morning to pick you up." He kissed my forehead and walked past me out the door towards our room while I stood there with tears falling down my cheeks. I knew I was letting him down and leaving wasn't making him feel any better.
So Anderson really is a piece of work! Now Alpha Watson's members are turning against him and he has no clue.
I hope Ember has a change of heart while she's at Chase's and decides to tell Bishop the truth before it's too late.