CHAPTER 51

Luke

I couldn’t remember the last time I laid around all day and did absolutely nothing. I mean I literally didn’t do anything, except feel sorry for myself and check my phone every five minutes for an update from Cade. Yesterday morning, Cade and Gage took off for Crescent Hills to see if they could find any sign of my father or information regarding the impending attack of our pack.

I demanded that they let me go with them, but Cade insisted that I stay here, claiming I was too “emotionally invested” to not do something stupid. Asshole. After Gage and Aiden had to physically restrain me from beating the shit out of Cade, I finally relented. Cade was right. I’d likely jeopardize the mission the second I saw anything suspicious. So I was left here for Aiden to babysit, though he thankfully chose to stay out of my hair 99 percent of the time.

After Cade’s last text, which said they were heading back and had come up empty, I had pretty much given up hope of ever seeing my father again.

The pain in my chest from Scarlett’s betrayal had only been getting worse as each minute passed. I’d never thought in a million years that it would be her who broke my heart. I was so worried about hurting her, about doing something that would cause her to hate me that I never stopped to consider that she had the power to do the same to me.

I’d only made it downstairs once all day today. My mouth felt like sandpaper, and I desperately needed a bottle of water from the kitchen, maybe two. Otherwise, I would have stayed put. I didn’t know why, but I just felt tired and weak and had no interest in getting up, especially since there was nothing I could do to help find my father. Maybe this was what depression felt like. I would have stayed downstairs if there was still a couch down there to lie on. It took all the strength I had to walk back up all those stairs. I didn’t remember making it back to the couch in the TV room, but somehow, I must have because I woke up there a while later when the doorbell rang.

I waited for a while to see if whoever it was would just go away, but no such luck. If the incessant ringing was any indication, the person outside was obviously growing more and more impatient. Taking a deep breath, I pushed myself up and let my feet fall to the floor. A weird wave of dizziness flowed through me as I stood up, and I had to sit back down and lower my head to my hands.

“Luke? You up there, man?” Aiden yelled. Apparently he just decided to let himself in. I could have sworn I’d locked the door, but it didn’t matter how he got in. At least I didn’t have to make it all the way down the stairs again.

“I’m upstairs,” I called out. As soon as I lifted my head, an unfamiliar feeling rolled through my gut, and I felt as though I may throw up.

When Cade and Aiden turned the corner, I tried my best to appear normal.

“You look like shit,” Cade announced as soon as he saw me. So much for looking normal.

In response, I just huffed and then tried to lie down and turn over to get comfortable, but my body didn’t want to cooperate. I ended up on flat on my back after letting loose a series of moans and groans.

Then I noticed Cade and Aiden exchanging a couple of looks that I didn’t understand, and it pissed me off that they were leaving me out of their silent conversation. “What? Just say it.”

“Say what?” Aiden asked, playing stupid.

“Whatever you guys are talking about with your eyes,” I said.

Aiden smiled, but he pretty much always smiled. Cade, on the other hand, looked grim, even more grim than usual. I didn’t like that. It made me feel like things were about to get worse and really, how the hell could things get worse?

“You realize what’s wrong with you, don’t you?” Aiden asked as he plopped down in a chair.

I looked back and forth between Aiden and Cade as the realization struck me. It can’t be true. No way! We can’t be.

“Breathe, Luke,” Cade demanded. I automatically obeyed and filled my lungs with air but instantly started choking on it. Cade reached down and pulled me up by my arm. Sitting up, I was able to catch my breath, but my head kept spinning.

“This can’t be happening?” I mumbled.

Aiden shrugged. “You feel sick?”

“You haven’t had any contact with Scarlett for a few days, right?” Cade asked.

I nodded in answer to both questions. Cade sighed as he sat on the other end of the sofa and said, “It seems so, but there is only one way to know for sure. You have to go see her. If you feel better just being near her, then I’d say you found your mate.”

“But she lied to¬—”

“Doesn’t matter,” Cade interrupted. “Do you love her?”

I did not want to have this conversation with Cade and Aiden right now. I closed my eyes and laid my head back on the sofa behind me.

“It won’t go away just because you want it to,” Aiden stated, propping his feet up on the coffee table like this was no big deal. “It doesn’t work like that.”

“How exactly does it work then, Einstein?” I asked, sounding harsher than I intended.

Cade’s furrowed his eyebrows and replied, “Look man, if you two are true mates, then you have to be together. Period. And you didn’t answer my question. I realize that it’s not very manly to sit around and talk about your feelings, but it’s a fairly simple question when you think about it. Do you love her?”

“Yes,” I reluctantly admitted.

“Then that’s all that matters…”

“No, it’s not. She lied. She betrayed me and our pack,” I argued.

“Do you really think she had a choice? Luke, come on. You know how things work in packs. We’ve all had to do things we didn’t want to do for the sake of our pack,” Cade reminded me.

“That doesn’t make it any easier to swallow,” I muttered. This couldn’t be the only way. Yes, I loved Scarlett. Even after everything she did, I still felt it deep inside my chest. If she walked through that door right now, I honestly didn’t know what I would do or say. I’d felt empty for two days, but along with that empty feeling came hurt and betrayal. I didn’t know if I would ever be able to trust her again.

“You need to go to her,” Aiden said.

When I shook my head, he urged me to reconsider. “You look like shit, and I know how badly you must be feeling. Cade and I have both been there, and she’s probably just as bad off as you are. I remember seeing Alli so sick and thinking that she was going to die. It scared the shit out of me seeing my sister like that.”

I looked over at Cade and the look of absolute guilt and horror on his face tore at my insides.

Aiden’s eyes shifted to Cade’s as he said, “Sorry man, but it’s true.”

“No, he’s right. I let my dad keep me away from Alli when I needed her and, more importantly, she needed me. She suffered because of me. Don’t be that stubborn, Luke. Go to her. She has no one. If you are mates, you will know it instantly. It will haunt you for the rest of your life if you let it get any worse because eventually, you will have to face her,” Cade said.

Shit! It didn’t seem like I had a choice in the matter. I had to go to her. I should have never left her alone for the past two days in the first place. Honestly, I wasn’t sure I would have, but Cade saw Brain and Drew in Crescent Hills, so I figured she’d be safe while they were gone. However, there was a good chance they’d be back soon, and I needed to make sure they didn’t find out what she’d told us. I’d never forgive myself if they hurt her.

My decision made, I struggled to sit up, and as I took a moment to allow the room to stop spinning, I asked Cade, “So what happened in Crescent Hills? Why do you think Brian and Drew were there? You really didn’t find out anything?” Aiden shot Cade another one of those looks that spoke volumes. Unfortunately I didn’t speak the language, so I threw a pillow at him. “Damn it! Will you two stop that? It really pisses me off.”

Aiden chuckled to himself. “Cade thinks he saw Kendall there.”

“Shut up, man! I should have never told you that. It wasn’t her anyway, so just drop it,” Cade snapped.

I smiled for the first time in days, but I couldn’t help it. Seeing Cade’s cheeks redden was priceless. “Kendall, huh? You sure it wasn’t her?” I asked, unable to hide my amusement. I wished I could have seen it. I bet he almost shit his pants.

Cade grimaced. “Positive. And I have no idea what Brian and Drew were up to, but how about we go see what we can find out? I’m pretty sure they are heading back today.”

With a bit of renewed energy at the thought of seeing Scarlett and maybe getting some answers, I forced myself up off the couch and threw on some jeans and a hoodie.

“So you’re going over there?” Aiden asked as I headed for the stairs.

“Yep,” I answered without stopping.

“You gonna wait for us or what?” Cade asked as he trailed behind me. “I think it’s about time we had a word with Drew and Brian. Don’t ya think?”

Aiden, following close behind Cade, said, “First thing’s first. Let’s find Scarlett. Luke isn't in any shape to help until we do. Then we can make a plan to interrogate Brian before we beat the living shit out of Drew.”

Cade chuckled. “Good idea, Aiden. Come on. I’ll drive.”