I couldn’t stop crying as I sat there. My whole body shook with fear as tears ran down my face. Rory whined inside me, just as scared of the mean threat.
“Caroline! What’s wrong?” Ava ran into my office, hearing me cry. I gave her the card without speaking and pointed to the scary flowers. Her face changed from worried to angry in seconds.
“”Who would do this?” Ava yelled, grabbing the awful flowers. “Actually, I know which bitch sent this!”
“What’s going on here?” Ryan came to my door with Kyle and Draven behind him. “Ava, why are you yelling?”
“Why am I yelling?” she said angrily, waving the card. “Look at this! Someone sent Caroline these ugly flowers with a threat, and we all know who did it!”
Draven’s face got angry as he read the card. I felt Alaric’s power coming from him as he knelt in front of me, holding my shaking hands.
“Caroline, look at me,” he said softly. “You know what we have is real. I never used you. I’m so sorry this is happening.”
I looked into his violet eyes and saw real pain there. He was hurting too. I took a deep breath and asked what I needed to know,
“Are you really going to mate with her?”
“Sweetheart, they’re making me do this,” he said, his voice full of pain.
I couldn’t take anymore. I got up fast and ran from the room. I heard Ava following me and Draven calling after me,
“Caroline, please wait! Let me explain!”
I ignored him, just wanting to get away. Even though I told him to be there for his child, knowing he would mate with another woman hurt too much.
I ran into the women’s bathroom with Ava right behind me. She locked the door and hugged me tight as I cried hard. I lost track of time crying in her arms.
I still loved him, loved him so much that I couldn’t bear the thought of him marrying another woman. Why, Goddess, why would you do this to me? Every time I truly loved someone, they would leave me and marry someone else.
Was this my fate? Didn’t the Goddess say she loved all her children equally?
“Honey,” Ava said when I stopped crying, “I think you should listen to him. Everyone knows he hates Ella. There must be a big reason he’s saying yes to this mating now, he really didn’t want to before.”
“I told him to give his child a real family,” I said, wiping my eyes. “He’s just doing what I said.”
I was the one pushing the man I loved into another woman’s arms, but what choice did I have? My conscience wouldn’t let me be someone who breaks up a family.
“I don’t think that’s all,” Ava said doubtfully. “Come on, clean your face and let’s get some tea in the break room.”
Rose looked up when we came in, knowing right away I was upset. “Regular tea won’t help today, dear,” she said, getting different herbs. “I’m making you my pack’s special tea for sadness.”
After drinking Rose’s tea, I went back to my office trying to work despite feeling so bad. But I started feeling really sleepy, and I couldn’t keep my eyes open as I started to fall asleep.
Draven’s POV
“How’s Caroline doing now?” I asked, stopping at Ava’s desk, trying to control my anger.
“Really bad! She’s been crying so much! But Rose made her some special tea that helped her calm down,” Ava said with an angry look. “She’s finally resting after crying a lot. I’m busy with work now, but I gave her stuff to do and haven’t heard crying, so I haven’t checked on her.”
“I need to talk to her. She needs to know why I have to do this,” I said as I walked to Caroline’s office.
“Draven, don’t make my friend more upset. I don’t think anything can make this okay,” Ava warned me, clearly protecting Caroline.
“I’m sorry, but I need to talk to her,” I turned and went into her office.
Inside, Caroline had her head down on the desk, eyes closed. I said her name softly, but she didn’t move. I tried again, but nothing. I picked her up, she was completely asleep. Alaric whined worried about how light she felt in my arms.
I opened Ryan’s office door; he was working and just looked up at me. I put her on his couch carefully, kissed her forehead. I waved for him to come outside.
“I didn’t take her to my office; she might get scared if she wakes up there. I came to talk to her, to tell her everything, but found her sleeping at her desk,” I told Ryan.
“It’s okay, Alpha,” Ryan said quietly. “I’ll watch her for you. Let her sleep. Elle said she hasn’t slept well for days.”
We left Caroline’s office and I went to Ava.
“Ava, what tea did Rose give Caroline? She’s totally asleep. I tried to reach her mind but couldn’t. Should I worry?” Ava looked surprised.
“Wait.”She sent a mind-link to Rose. “Rose, what did you give Caroline?” She smiled at the answer. “Yeah, she needed it. Thanks, Rose, she’s really sleeping now.”
Ava hung up and smiled a bit at me. “She made a special tea to help Caroline sleep. She said Caroline needs good sleep to help her wolf, and I agree.”
“But what’s in that tea? Will she wake up or is she in some kind of deep sleep?” I asked, worried about her.
“Chamomile, lemon balm, passion fruit, valerian, and some secret herbs only pack healers know!” Ava said. “That, Alpha, works better than any human sleeping pill. Caroline might sleep all day. But she really needs it.”
“Okay,” I sighed, fixing my hair. “Watch her for me.”
“What did you do with those ugly flowers?” Ava asked, her eyes angry.
“They’re in my office, but I’m dealing with them now. I kept the card for proof,” I said, my jaw tight as I made my plan.
Thirty minutes later, I parked at Howard’s house. I got those awful funeral flowers from my car, Alaric growling as I walked to what felt like enemy ground.
When I went into that ugly house with its bad decorations, my body got tense. The place looked awful. I stood in a room with dark green walls and gold furniture with leopard print. Moon Goddess help me! Who has such bad taste? There were too many colored vases, photos in fancy frames, and dark red curtains. My wolf felt as sick as I did. I froze when I heard Ella’s sharp voice behind me.
“Draven, honey! You came to see me! I knew you’d come back.” Ella nearly yelled while walking to me, her strong scent hurting nose. As she came closer, I stepped back twice and held out the funeral flowers.
“I just came to give these back and tell you something,” I said, my voice turning to an Alpha tone that made her jump.
“If you or your family threaten Caroline again, these are the flowers I’ll put on your graves.”
“Ugh, those awful flowers.” She said with a sick face before understanding my words. Her eyes got big. “Don’t talk to me like that because I’m having your pup and I’ll be your Luna. Always Caroline! You’re mine now, get it? MINE!” She screamed.
My eyes changed to wolf eyes, the purple light showing in her now scared face as I stepped forward. My Alpha power made her step back.
“Listen good, I’ll say this once,” I growled. “I said yes to this mating ceremony only if you and your father stay away from Caroline. Don’t even say her name. That’s our deal and you know it. So don’t threaten her again, or I won’t just end our deal, I’ll end you.”
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