Chapter 35 - His Replica Mate

“How so?” she asks.

“Well, it’s a long story that I’ll explain to you, but first, there’s something you should know,” I reply.

“Why do I feel like I’m not going to like the next words coming out of your mouth? What is it?” She gives me the ‘mama’ face, the one she wears when she’s about to scold me.

“I invited Leo and Zeo to dinner,” I tell her. She goes silent for a few seconds, but the vein on her forehead is throbbing.

“You did what?”

Lena’s POV

Yes, she’s definitely pissed.

“I invited them for dinner,” I repeat.

“Yeah, I heard you the first time. Why would you do that?” she asks, looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.

“Okay, let me start from the beginning. It’ll make sense when I’m done explaining,” I tell her.

“Alright, I’m listening,” she says, her arms folded over her chest.

“Leo and I went to get some samples and check around the area where the first kid that got sick lived. When we got there, we found this black sludge. It turns out it’s running underneath the ground, but we don’t know how far it has spread. Leo and Zeo are looking into it, but I’m pretty sure that’s the cause of the disease. I took a sample back to the lab, along with some water and soil samples, and they all came back inconclusive. The same thing happened with Brie’s labs; all the tests we ran on her were inconclusive. I was stumped, staring at my computer screen for hours, until it finally came to me. This isn’t just any random disease. It was engineered to attack werewolves, specifically this pack’s wolves, and the only way that can happen is with the help of magic. So there’s no way I can find a cure without the help of a witch,” I explain.

“Wait a minute. If I understand you correctly, this disease wasn’t just brought in by someone mistakenly. This was a planned attack against this pack, and whoever did this had the help of a witch or warlock, am I getting that right?” she asks.

“Yes, that’s right,” I tell her.

“So Leo pissed someone off so much that they decided to commit genocide? Why the hell are you inviting him to dinner then? Why aren’t we packing up and getting the hell out of here?” Her voice rises in pitch.

“Lower your voice, you’ll wake the kids,” I tell her.

“I’m sorry, but what the hell are you thinking, Lena? You have the kids to think about,” she says, and it pisses me off.

“You don’t need to remind me. I always think about the kids, and if I thought for a second that they were in danger here, we would have left immediately,” I tell her, and she immediately looks remorseful.

“I’m sorry for saying that, but I’m just trying to understand, Lena,” she tells me.

“I know that. Like I said, for me to make a cure, I need a witch or a warlock, and you know their kind hates our kind. But it turns out Leo knows a witch who might be willing to help us. The problem is, she lives all the way in New Orleans. Before you say anything, I asked, and he can’t just call her. Both of us need to go to New Orleans to convince her to help us. So that’s why they’re coming to dinner. If someone is targeting the pack, I need to make sure the kids are safe before anything else. Leo and Zeo are going to shore up the pack’s defenses, and Zeo has offered to stay here with you and the kids until we get back,” I explain, and a look crosses her face that I can’t decipher.

“No, there’s no need for that. Me and the kids will be fine here on our own. It’s not like this is the first time you’ve had to travel and leave us alone,” she points out.

“Yes, that’s true. But the situation is different this time. Hopefully, nothing will happen, but it’s better to be safe than sorry. That’s why I invited them to dinner, so we can talk this all out and the kids can get used to Zeo-and you too,” I tell her.

“Does it have to be Zeo? Can’t someone else come and stay with us?” she asks, and I get the feeling her reluctance to have Zeo around is about something more.

“Zeo’s the only one I trust around the kids and you,” I tell her.

“Fine, but you better get that witch and make the cure. The sooner we’re out of this place, the better. But wait a minute… you have no problem with Leo being around the kids?” she asks.

“I’m pretty sure he knows he’s their father, and I’m sure he won’t say anything. I think he’s trying to show me that he’s changed, and I can trust him. So yes, I’m fine with him spending time with the kids. Luke seems to be the only one who’s figured it out, and we’ve talked, so everything is good,” I explain.

“Fine. I don’t like any of this, but fine. They can come to dinner. But I’m not promising to be on my best behavior. They’re lucky I don’t poison them,” she mutters under her breath, but I still hear her.

“Zoey!” I say, giving her a warning glance.

“I’m just playing. I won’t actually do it, but it’s nice to think about. So, is it just the two of them, and what are we cooking?” she asks, at least seeming to go along with the dinner plans.

“No, I invited Emmett too. For dinner, I was thinking baked chicken, lasagna, and some greens, whichever we have. Then I could make a chocolate cake for dessert,” I tell her.

“Yes, that sounds doable. Chocolate cake? Trying to spoil the kids because you’re leaving?” she says.

“You know me too well. It doesn’t matter how many times I do it, I always feel bad every time I leave them,” I tell her.

“You’re a good mother, Lena. Your kids are healthy, happy, and loved. You leaving for a few days isn’t going to change that,” she says, as she starts bringing ingredients from the fridge.

“I know that; it just takes some time for my heart to catch up with my brain. Thank you so much for doing this,” I tell her, and she gives me a small smile.

“Go change and come help me. I’m not doing this alone,” she says.

Alpha Leo’s POV

After we left the land, the feeling faded, but it still shook me. That must’ve been the same thing Lena felt.

“Are you good, Leo?” Zeo asked as we made our way out of the house. It wasn’t seven yet, but by the time we drove down to the house, it should be.

“Yes, I’m fine,” I told him, still a little distracted.

Just as I was about to open the front door, there was a knock.

“Who could that be?” I asked Zeo.

“It’s probably Elijah,” he told me. Then I remembered him saying Elijah was coming over to give his report. With everything happening today, I had completely forgotten.

I opened the door, and the shock on his face was evident when he saw that I was the one who answered. “Alpha Leo,” he greeted, bowing his head.

“Come in, Elijah. We were just about to head out,” I told him as he stepped into the foyer.

“Okay, then I won’t keep you. I just came to give my report for the day, and then I’ll head out again,” he replied.

<< Previous Chapter

Next Chapter >>