Chapter 134: Chapter 28

LEXI

This is such a shit show. I never wanted to be someone’s second choice… or is it a tie for first…? Whatever, I don’t want to share the man I fell head over heels for the first time I met him.

I thought I loved him, but when Dara told me we’re both his mates, I was heartbroken. It was at that moment I desperately wanted Cole to pick me with all my heart.

I don’t just love him, I’m in love with him.

Dara is so beautiful and she’s a Starlight Sister. How can I compete with that? Love shouldn’t be a competition; it should feel natural, as natural as it felt waking up beside Cole from the start.

Why would the Goddess do this to us? I can’t blame Cole for the situation, nor Dara.

I am the wrench that got thrown in their mechanism. I feel a bit guilty, but I didn’t do anything. It completely sucks.

I wish Cole would’ve told me that he has another woman in his life though. Who am I kidding? I would’ve pushed him away if I had known.

No one wants to be a third wheel, especially a Starlight Sister.

The way they interacted was so odd though. Does she even love him? Does he have feelings for her?

I just left them both at his truck… together. Oh, Goddess, what have I done? Does he kiss her? Does he... Nope, I’m not going to do it. I’m not going there. I don’t want to know.

Oh Goddess… He’s drawn to her, and she to him. They can’t help it. I feel like I’m going to be sick.

A howl calls out from the woods beside the road I’m walking on. I stop, excited to be so close to a wolf, or several wolves.

Wait a minute, these aren’t wolves, Lex, they’re wolf shifters. Part human, part wolf.

So far, Cole’s wolf is the only one I’ve seen and he’s larger than the timber wolves. Holy shit, Cole’s wolf. I still can’t get over this.

There are wolf shifters and I am one. Well, I’m supposed to be one, but my wolf is repressed. Why is my wolf repressed?

I’ve always dreamed of being a wolf. I guess it’s not just a dream.

I remember the wolves that were in Montana when I grew up. They were so beautiful. There was one in particular I remember seeing several times.

He wasn’t as large as Cole’s wolf, but he would hide in the woods just outside of my school.

I would watch him in the mornings before school. I always felt safe when he was around. I wonder if he was a shifter…?

Oh holy Goddess… that couldn’t have been…

I stop walking and look around me. I don’t remember how to get to the mansion, but I think I need to talk to Cole’s mom, the Oracle.

~Turn right at the next road, then the first left.~

I gasp, startled by my thoughts being intruded upon.

~Um, Mrs. James? Are you able to read my thoughts?~

~Call me Haley. I saw you wandering around. I’ll wait for you in the study.~

Okay, another thing to add to the crazy that has taken hold of my life. Who knew that telepathy could actually be possible?

I shake my head then follow the directions Mrs… Haley gave me.

The roads are all surrounded by beautiful trees and the air is cool albeit a little sticky. Oddly, I feel like I do belong here of all places.

Montana never felt like home. Hell, my home never felt like home. Something was always missing.

Princeton was a temporary home. My place here feels like it was made just for me.

The mansion, or pack house, is so massive, so grand. It’s even more beautiful than the pictures Ethan sent me.

I can’t believe I’m here. I wonder if Cole lives here or if there’s another grand mansion somewhere on the property… territory. I’ll get the hang of this at some point.

“Alexis, come on in. I wasn’t expecting you so soon, but I’m glad you’re here,” Haley welcomes me.

She has sweet tea, all the fixings for sandwiches, and some side dishes on her little table.

“You didn’t eat, so I had Jas bring a few things in. Help yourself.”

She begins piling a plate of food. The pasta salad looks delicious as she stabs at it, assembling the perfect bite.

My stomach growls. “Thank you.”

I quickly make a sandwich and load my plate with the salads.

“So what’s up?” she asks between bites.

I cover my mouth while I finish chewing, then try to figure out where to start. “You know my parents?”

She shakes her head. “Not in the sense that we’ve actually been in the same vicinity, but I’ve become acquainted with who they are and their lives. I try not to be intrusive. I do respect that everyone has boundaries. If that makes any sense at all.”

“So why do you think so highly of my dad?”

“Yes, that was him watching out for you. Your dad stayed away because your mom needed him to. He was always there for you though.”

Haley’s eyes go far off. Then suddenly I’m staring at myself as a little girl playing with my dad. We’re smiling and we look happy.

The scene changes and my mom is freaking out on my dad. Another scene of dad watching my school play from the very back row.

A new scene, dad gives my mom money then kisses me and Ethan good night while we’re sleeping.

We skip to my mom coming on to my dad and I gag a little. Ethan gets his wolf and mom takes me away, but dad is there to put Ethan in bed and press a cool cloth to his forehead.

Scene after scene appear in quick succession of my dad there and I had no idea. I wipe my eyes and Haley hands me a napkin.

“He was supposed to be the alpha of your pack in Montana, but he gave it up to his younger brother, your Uncle Cooper Drake. Ethan would’ve been an alpha, which is why he’s so strong and a natural fighter. Your mom has a lot of demons in her past and your dad understood that. She needed him, you all needed him more than the pack did. His future is iffy.”

I wipe my nose and take a deep breath. “What do you mean?”

She takes a bite of her sandwich and shrugs her shoulder. “I see different scenarios. It’s up to you and Ethan to change it if you want to.”

I flick my pasta salad around my plate as I think over everything that I saw. “He really was there, wasn’t he?”

She pops a cherry tomato into her mouth, then nods with a “mhmm.”

“I can’t tell you more, because I can’t see anything more. Choices have to be made. As far as Cole and Dara, I can’t see a thing. Cole and his sisters are kind of off-limits for my sight. I try to work around it using other people, but it rarely works,” she says with a huff.

“I told Cole that you’re with me. I hope you don’t mind.”

I shake my head. “Not at all. That telekinesis thing must come in handy. Do you have that because you’re the Oracle?”

Haley shakes her head. “I can reach anyone because I’m the Oracle, but packs and families have links. Parents to children and packs to the alpha.”

“That’s incredible. So Ethan can talk to my mom and dad?”

“Ethan cut your dad off as soon as he learned how and your mom denies her wolf side so she has no connections at all. She’s what we call a rogue. Also, distance plays a role in the clarity. Your dad is still part of his pack, but lives outside of it, close to your mom. Wolves need the connection to other wolves, especially our mate.”

“So my dad has always been close to my mom because of their mate bond?”

Haley finishes her sandwich then wipes her hands and face. “That’s correct.”

I finish the last few bites on my plate. A woman comes in to clear the table. Haley grabs her tea then sashays to a comfortable-looking armchair. She kicks her sandals off then pulls her feet under her.

I follow her lead and take the chair opposite her.

“There is something you haven’t asked yet and I’m waiting to tell you until you do.”

I sip my tea then look up to her knowing hazel eyes that are the same shape as Cole’s. “What happened to my wolf?”

She slightly smirks. “How much do you know about your mother’s past?”

I shake my head. “Not much. Only that she was abused.”

Haley softly squeezes my hand. “Your mother had a horrific childhood. She is traumatized from her experiences forced upon her by her pack. Those that hurt her have been punished or killed. Your mom kept your dad away because she feared he would do to you what they did to her. Of course he never would. You are his princess.”

I vaguely remember him calling me that. Haley lets go of my hand and leans back, more comfortably in her chair.

“I would never show you what she lived through, but it’s important to understand. Her pack were nothing but monsters. When your brother got his wolf it scared her. She sought the help of the Earth Goddess Gaia. Since the Moon Goddess is the one to give us our wolves, only she can remove them, but Gaia was able to put yours to sleep.”

My mother has always had issues, but I never understood the depths of them. I understand why she would not want to be around a pack if her pack hurt her. I don’t understand how she could think my dad would hurt me though. He’s my dad.

He was never around because she was traumatized.

“My mother did this to me. I can’t really blame her, can I? She thought she was protecting me.”

Haley swirls her tea as her eyes go far away. I’m not taken with her in visions this time. Her eyes clear and she nibbles her lip before taking a sip of tea.

“Haley? Did you see something?”

“I see a lot of things, but I’m not one to share other’s lives.” I feel like she’s not saying something, but she’s obviously not going to say anything.

“Do you know how to wake up my wolf?”

She slowly shakes her head. “I don’t. I don’t even know how Gaia repressed her. I can’t see it. She is a Goddess after all. The only one that knows that answer would be your mom. She’s at Kalispell Regional Medical Center.”

I nearly drop my glass. “What?” Haley doesn’t say anything.

“Why is my mom in the hospital? What happened to her? Cole told me she’s dying.”

I get to my feet and I’m not thinking straight. All I can think of is my mom. I start pacing because I have no idea where to go or what to do.

“She has the answers I don’t.” Haley gets to her feet and holds my upper arms. She waits for me to look up into her eyes. “You have time.”

She drops her hands then goes behind her desk. “Do you want to drive or fly?” She doesn’t look at me as she types away on her computer.

“How long would it take to drive? I think I need some thinking time.”

“A day and a half to drive, but you’ll need to stop for rest.” She prints up a few papers then pulls an envelope from the drawer of her desk. She folds up the papers and stuffs them inside.

“The metallic gray Prius out front is all ready for you; full tank of gas and a travel bag in the back seat with everything you need. Have a safe trip. Don’t worry about Cole, he has work to do. We’ll talk when you get back.”

I’m stunned as I receive the envelope.

“Get going.” She kisses my cheek then opens the door.

I take the hint and look for the Prius, but I don’t have to search because it’s right in front of the door. The key is in the envelope along with maps, hotel reservations, and a credit card. I look in the bag and see clothes in my sizes. There’s also toiletries. Haley is the Oracle, I guess I should get used to this.

COLE

Some of the prisoners in our dungeon have been here since before I was even born. I’ve executed four already and there are still six other prisoners.

“Are you all right, Cole?” my dad asks as I move to the next cell.

“I’m fine. The Goddess made it so I don’t feel any remorse for these guys. It’s her doing, her choice.” I skip this cell then move to the next. I look the guy over then move on.

“Open this cell.” This guy is old and couldn’t care less. He sits up on the cot and allows me to place my hands on both sides of his head. The Goddess’s energy flows through me and the guy falls dead into the cot.

“I don’t know that I could do that job. I’m grateful it didn’t fall to me,” my dad comments.

“The Goddess created me for this purpose. Before, I thought I shouldn’t exist, ya know. I thought that’s why I didn’t have a mate.” I look over the next cell then move on.

“I know you’ve always struggled with that. I’m glad you know differently. What are you going to do about your mates?”

“Open this cell,” I command. Stepping inside, the guy fights me, but my alpha strength is enough to put him on his knees.

“I’m not sure yet. Lexi is just finding out about everything and Dara… I’ve known her my whole life, but I really don’t know much about her. Lexi is incredible and I’m so relaxed and comfortable with her.”

The guy falls dead at my feet. I look into the last cell.

“He lives.”

Dad and I walk out of the dungeon. A few guards go in to handle the bodies of the dead.

“It sounds like Lexi is your choice,” Dad observes.

“I know her better. I don’t really know Dara. I need time to actually talk to her. I’m going to take her with me to other packs. She has work to do too.”

“You might as well head to the Blackburn and Castleton Packs for the next few days. Lexi already left.”

I stop at the top of the stairs to look up at my dad. “What do you mean she left? Where did she go?”

“She went to talk to her mom. Your mother sent her about an hour ago. She’s driving to Montana.”

“She’s driving!” I exclaim.

Dad just shrugs his shoulder. “Yeah. Your mom said she needs time to think. Don’t worry about her, she needs to speak with her parents. You have work to do. Go do it.”

I hate the idea of Lexi being so far away, but if she needs alone time with her parents, I’m not going to get in the way.

“Right. I’ll grab Dara and head over to Blackburn.”

“Tell Anna I say hi,” Dad adds.

I nod. “Will do.”