Valen POV
I could tell something was wrong with Everly, feel her stress through the bond. I could also feel she
didn’t want to worry me about whatever was bothering her. She was so used to dealing with her
struggles herself, I think she forgets she can actually share them and that she was never a burden to
me.
“Are you going to stop by the homeless shelter today?” I ask her as she gathers her handbag and keys.
“Yes, I will stop by after I see Emily. Any news from the patrols about any more forsaken sightings or
anything on her son?” she asks me. I really wish I had an answer for her, but I didn’t. We had no leads,
no scent trails, nothing. It was like they vanished altogether.
” No , but as soon as I hear anything. J promise you will be the first to know . There have been talks
about a city meeting in the coming weeks to figure out something to do about the forsaken sightings
and missing rogues ‘ situation . Pack members are becoming nervous , and it might also be a good
time to bring up the rogue issues ? ” I tell her , and Everly nods . ” Yes , let’s hope the petition goes well
and I get a date to be heard sometime today .
” Everly sighs and rubs her temples when her phone goes off in her handbag . She pulls it out , glances
at the screen , and shakes her head . ” What’s wrong ? ” I ask , watching her as I tie my shoelaces . ”
Nothing , mum has been pestering me to pull the petition and drop the rogue issue , ” she says and I
noticed she sounded tired . Everly did look tired , actually . And I noticed she was tossing and turning
all night in her sleep . ” What did she say ? ” ” That I would start a war , ” she says with a shrug . ”
Funny , your father said something along those lines at the hospital , ” I tell her .
Everly chews her lip nervously . ” What war , though , ” we say simultaneously , and she giggles . ” Jinx
, ” I tell her while getting to my feet . ” I have no idea . Mum rang me last night , ” Everly explains . ” So
that is why you have been in a weird mood then , ” I tell her while wrapping my arms around her
shoulders . ” Maybe I can try to get a hold of Ava . I am not sure what is happening , but even your
father thought something was going on behind the scenes with my father , ” she tells me . ” Try your
sister and come see me at the homeless shelter when you aren’t busy . I will be there all day . I have
contractors coming to assess the damage , ” I tell her . However , I was dreading the bill for that . ” Well
, you are going in the opposite direction , so I will run Valarian to school , ” she tells me before calling
out to our son.
” Yeah , I am coming , ” Valarian growls , making me raise an eyebrow at his grumpy mood . ” What’s
wrong with you ? ” I ask him . ” I don’t want to go to school . I wanted to come to the homeless shelter ,
” he pouted . ” Not today , maybe on the weekend . Besides , there is too much machinery and people
working there at the moment . It isn’t safe , ” I explain , and he sighs . Everly quickly fixed his tie and
blazer while I placed his lunch in his bag .
Waiting for them to leave , I quickly cleaned the kitchen , packing up the school supplies Everly left out
. I didn’t want to say anything , but when she is rushing around , she tends to forget to put stuff away
and leaves it out . It was a pet peeve , but damn , it made me flustered . Finally leaving , I caught the lift
to the underground car park . I didn’t go straight to the homeless shelter . Instead , I went to the jeweler
. Valarian said Everly didn’t like diamonds , which I wanted to put in my mother’s ring , but Valarian
wanted to pick .
And he chose Serendibite . He liked the color of it . The only issue is sourcing one to fit in the ring
because Serendibite is a rare mineral and hard to source . The jeweler only had one , but it was tiny ,
and the ring I wanted i t in would need to be altered to hold the stone . Once I get to the plaza , I walk
up the side alley where the jeweler is , pushing the door open .
The bell sounds to alert Dion of customers . He was around my age , and we went to school together . ”
Hey Dion , any luck ? ” I ask , closing the door behind me and walking toward the counter . Dion was
looking at his laptop , chin propped on his hand . His glasses perched on his nose as he stared at the
screen . He sighs , pulling his glasses off and placing them on the glass display cabinet ” Your son had
to pick Serendibite , ” he . chuckles while shaking his head and running his hand through his gelled hair
. He leans back in his chair , folding his tattooed arms across his chest . Dion looked more like a biker
than a jeweler . ” Can’t source one ? ” I ask .
” Oh , I can get one , but are you sure you want to use that ring ? Your mother’s ring , I can melt it down
and remake a nicer one using the gold ? ” I shake my head , and he sighs . ” Well then , you best get
your wallet out then , Alpha . Serendibite is $ 18,000 a carat , and the earliest I can get it is in six weeks
. Then , I will have to cut it to fit .
I can only find raw material so far , ” he tells me . However , I already researched it last night while
Everly was asleep and knew it would be costly because they were in scarce supply and rare . ” Invoice
me , and I will transfer it . Also , the band , you said it was thick enough to engrave ? ” I ask . Dion nods
. I pull the piece of paper from my pocket and hand it to him , and he reads it . ” So much for big bad
Alpha , big softy , ” he smiles . ” Send me the invoice and ring when it is ready , “
I laughed while turning and heading for the door . Driving to the homeless shelter , I was prepared to
get my hands dirty no matter how much that thought made me shudder . I was not ready to find the roof
completely ripped off from the storm . My jaw dropped when I stepped out of the car to see a huge
cleanup . The roof ripped off a s if it had been peeled away . The structure stood . However , the inside
was flooded , and I groaned with annoyance . Just what I needed .
The storm was the worst we had had in years . The damage I could see on the main street was
shocking enough , but this side of town seemed to take a more brutal hit . I t made me wonder how
Everly’s Hotel was . No doubt it would have been smashed by the wild weather . Walking over to one of
the project managers , he ordered around his leading hand and a few supervisors and designated
specific areas to start the cleanup . When he notices me , Bill turns around to face me . ” Alpha , ” he
nods to me , stroking his beard before twirling the end through his fingers . ” So do you want the good
news or the bad news first ? ” he asks .
” Is there any good news ? ” ” There is . The building didn’t collapse , ” Bill states . ” Is that the good
news ? ” I ask , and he laughs . ” Yep , now the bad news . This just added another month to the
timeline and raised the cost . ” Anything else ? ” ” Yep , the sewer overflowed out the back , and it
seems the entire city’s shit washed into the far playground out the back , ” he tells me .
And there was my queue to leave because , shit ? Naah , I ain’t touching , smelling , or going within the
vicinity of the sewers out back . ” Got you some gumboots , ” Bill says and I shake my head . ” Nope ,
just remembered I have an emergency meeting , ” I tell him , and he laughs . ” I thought you were
willing to get your hands dirty for once , Alpha ? ” Bill taunted . ” Important meeting , ” I tell him .
” Yeah , with who ? ” he knew I was full of shit , no pun intended , and was determined to call me out on
it . ” With someone important . ” 11 . ” More important than the Blood Alpha ? ” he asks , scratching his
chin and squinting at me . I swear he twirls that beard on purpose because he knows it irritates me . I
wanted scissors to cut it off .
” Of course , far more important , ” I tell him . ” Name ? ” he challenges , and his eyes crinkle around
the edges while he watches me try to get out of helping . ” Luna ! ” I tell him . ” Ah , nice save , Alpha . I
see , hiding behind our Luna now , ” he laughs . ” I’ll be sure to tell her that next time I see her , ” he
laughed before motioning for me to go . Yep , blood , puke , I can kinda manage shit , nope ! I draw the
line at fecal matter . ” I will be sure to send Marcus over . He would love to help .
” I tell Bill as I climb back into the driver’s seat . Marcus had rung me early this morning when he was
on his way to get Casey from Macey’s . Zoe’s heat had finished , although she would be remaining
home today to rest . Marcus said he was ready to come back to work , and I now have the perfect job
as m y replacement . ” Siri , call Marcus ,
” I tell my car stereo as I pull away from the curb . Marcus answers as I pull into traffic and stop at a
traffic light . ” Hey , what’s up ? I was actually about to ring you , ” he says . ” Can you do me a favor ? ”
I ask him . ” Depends , ” he says warily , and I try to suppress my laughter .
” I am supposed to help at the homeless shelter , but something has come up . Bill needs extra men ,
so can you grab Tatum and a few others and go help him in the rear playground and help clean up ? ” ”
” Yeah , sure thing . Just give me an hour . ” ” I will let Bill know , ” I tell him . ” Sweet . I don’t suppose
you are going anywhere near the council chambers ? ” Marcus asks .
” No , I was headed to the hotel . Why ? ” ” Everly got a rejection letter . I just dropped Casey off to Zoe
, and she said Everly is on the warpath . I was about to head over there , ” ” I will go ; I am turning
around now , ” I tell him before ripping a U – turn and earning some blaring horns from other cars . I
curse . This was not good .
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