Chapter Thirteen
Evan was near the park when his phone buzzed. Auden, who was keeping his phone for him while he was on his date, forwarded a text from Alphonse.
Stavrik and the others will be waiting at the back gate at one a.m. Be there to let them in.
Did you text him back? Evan asked, using the navigation system to respond to his brother’s text.
Yes. I showed Joss the text and he told me to text back that you would be there and everything was set.
Okay, thanks.
Sure. How was your date?
Really great. Thanks for the outdoor movie idea, it was a hit.
Jess really loved it when we went. It’s hard to believe sitting on the ground is romantic but ladies love it I guess.
Lark sure did.
Are you moved into the apartment?
Almost. I’m grabbing some things when I get home tonight. I’m going to stay up there tonight so I’ll be close for the meetup with those assholes. Thanks for keeping my phone for me.
Anytime. See you later.
Evan reached the park and left the unmarked SUV in the employee lot. He waited until Benjamin and Javan were out of their SUV.
“You guys had a good time tonight?” Javan asked as they caught up to him.
“Yeah, it was neat.”
“You look bummed,” Benjamin said.
“I am. I miss Lark.”
“It’s okay, you’ll see her tomorrow,” Javan said. “You need to focus on tonight. Those jackasses are showing up in a few hours.”
“I know. I’ll be ready.”
“So will we,” Benjamin said. “We’ll send them packing back to Virginia.”
Evan certainly hoped so. He parted ways with the males in the employee cafeteria, then grabbed the two bags he’d packed for the apartment and headed there.
The alphas had an eight-unit apartment complex built at the back of the park. It wasn’t accessible to patrons. There was a side path that the shifters could take to get to it, and it also had an access road that was gated and locked. The whole park was enclosed with a tall, stone wall that had security alarms, cameras, and motion detectors all around. The apartment complex had been built so that if a shifter-human couple needed a place for their family to visit, they could say they lived in the apartment complex. Then there was no need to try to explain living situations when no one but shifters and their mates could know about the underground living quarters.
His phone rang, and he saw it was Lark. “Hey, beautiful,” he said as he pushed the key into the apartment lock. He’d taken an apartment on the first floor. He didn’t know how long he’d have to say he lived there before she’d know the truth, but he didn’t care. It would be worth it to get to spend the rest of his life with her.
“Hi. I miss you already.”
“I miss you too. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.”
“I agree. I’ll just point out that it was your idea not to stay over with me tonight.”
He let out a grunt, his wolf practically butting his head from the inside. “I’m trying to be noble.”
“I cleaned for you. And shaved my legs.” Her voice was teasing, and he could imagine her eyes glinting with humor.
“You’re killing me.”
“Not trying to. Just hoping you’re as miserable as me.”
“I am, trust me. Tomorrow can’t come fast enough.”
She let out a gusty sigh, and he heard fabric moving. “This is weird, isn’t it? Weird but right.”
“Because it’s fast?”
“Yeah.”
“It is, but it’s exhilarating. I’m so glad I met you.”
“I’m tired because I slept like crap last night, and I think I will tonight too. But I wanted to say goodnight to you again.”
“I probably won’t sleep well without you either. And now I’m adding in wondering how soft your legs are.”
“Very.”
“Thanks,” he said dryly. “Maybe I’ll find out tomorrow.”
“Maybe.” She paused for a moment and then said, “Goodnight, Evan. I wish you were with me.”
“Goodnight, Lark. I wish that too.”
He was smiling when the call ended, even though his wolf was pacing and wanting to go to her. He loved that she’d wanted to call and tease him. Letting him know that she was missing him as much as he missed her? Well, that was icing on the cake. He was glad she was feeling connected to him. It’s what happened with soulmates. Even though humans didn’t seem to believe in love at first sight or soulmates, when a shifter and a human got together, it was an undeniable connection that was more than surface attraction.
Putting his things away in the master bedroom, he locked up and went to meet Auden in the treehouse to get his phone back and spend some time with his brother before they met up with Joss, the other alphas, and the security team to await Stavrik’s arrival. Evan was in a bad mood because of the male. If it weren’t for him coming to try to break into the park and take over, Lark would be snuggled up in his arms right now.
He took his phone from Auden and checked the messages. They had to keep the conversation light because Alphonse was listening, so they talked about the aviary and the park. The time eeked by. Evan couldn’t handle more than ninety minutes of small talk because he was too antsy to sit still, so he went for a walk around the park before meeting up with Joss.
Alphonse texted Evan.
They’re on their way. Are you at the gate?
Yes.
Evan stood at the gate. The alphas and security team were behind him in the shadows so that Stavrik and the others wouldn’t see anyone but Evan.
Be sure that you do what you’re supposed to do or Tris won’t make it through the night.
Damn, he wished that Joss had been able to get her free. Hopefully they’d get her free while Alphonse was distracted with his people’s plan.
He didn’t want to think about what might happen if she wasn’t free when the plan went all to hell and Alphonse’s males were faced with the park’s shifters.