Four Days Later We held the funerals yesterday , and today I couldn’t cope with work , so I started the
mural at the homeless shelter .I designed the sign and sent it off last night to my manufacturer .So
when I walked into work to find everything handled and for once the sky showed no sign of rain , I got a
head start on the mural on either side of the door leading into the old school .I had two days until the
council meeting , and two days after that , I had the challenge for my father’s pack .I was a little
nervous about exactly what it was I was getting myself into with his pack , especially if it was bankrupt
like Ava believed .
Yet if I could restore a hotel to its former glory , I had no doubts I could dig them out of the hole my
father dug .I forgot how much I enjoy drawing and painting , though the old rendered brickwork was
making it a bitch to stencil out the design with my paintbrush .I had done the background white like a
canvas , though standing on a ladder while it was windy wasn’t ideal .
Hearing a car pull up along the road behind me , I glance over m y shoulder to see Valen’s car .He
hops out , walking over to me .
"Everly , the wind is hectic today .Get down before you fall off , " Valen scolds , coming over and
holding the ladder .
I shake my head but climb down , unclipping the harness as I reach each step on the ladder .
"I have a harness , " I tell him , but he shakes his head .
"Harness won’t do much if that unhooks from up top .It’s only hooked to the guttering .That’s not the
sturdiest thing , especially those old crumbling ones .It would be best if you had told me you were doing
such a gigantic mural ; I would have had a cherry picker brought over .Don’t use the ladder .I will get
one sent over tomorrow , "
Valen scolds , and I shake my head .
He had a point , though , and the site supervisor also gave me a lecture about the same thing , making
me wonder if he called Valen .
"The site supervisor called you , didn’t he ? " I tell H Valen , and he smirks .
"Of course , " he says , and I roll my eyes .
"I thought you had your meeting today with your father over pack business ? " His eyes darken slightly ,
and he sighs .
"I sent my accountant instead , " he says while bending down to help pick up my supplies .
I pack them into a box and put them in the cleaning closet just inside the school doors .
"You can’t just avoid your father , " I tell him , following him out to his car .
"Unless it has something to do about Valarian , I don’t want to hear it , " Valen growls , opening the
driver’s door .
"Valen , he is your father , and he is a wonderful dad , " I tell him .
"He lied to me , ‘ " Valen states .
I sigh , climbing into the car .
"Your mother wouldn’t want you to toss your father away .He fucked up , but he is trying to make up for
it .The petition got pushed through by him .He drops everything he is doing whenever we need his help
with Valarian . " I tell him , and he starts the car , nodding his head .
We head to school to pick Valarian up .When the bell rang , he came running out excitedly , jumping up
and down to show the painting he had done
"Wow ! " Valen says , looking at it .
Casey came over to show us her painting , which was covered with glitter and swirling scribble .
Valerian , however , was all straight lines of paint that looked like he used a ruler to make sure he didn’t
go out of the lines .
I smiled down at him , and he grabbed his father’s hand as we crossed the road to the car .
Once in the car , we headed home while listening to the radio talking about the upcoming council
meeting .
My attention turned to the news reporter as her nasally voice spoke about a n upcoming war .
"It appears war is brewing between Alpha Nixon and Alpha Valen .Alpha Nixon was spotted today
leaving the council chambers in a rage after learning Alpha Valen’s mate , Everly Summer’s , the
infamous disgraced daughter of Alpha John from Shadow Pack , petitioned to have the laws involving
the unfair treatment of rogues changed .Alpha Nixon refused to speak to the media today after h e was
spotted in an argument with Alpha John just in the front of the council chambers before reversing into
Alpha John’s car .It appears tensions among the packs are high , and in the next few weeks , we will
either see change within the city or war between packs" Valen turns the radio off , glancing at me , and
I sigh .
Great , the media was going to blow this right up , and if there wasn’t a war , they would ensure one
starts with the hysteria they would cause .
"Would the City really go to war over mum’s petition ? " Valarian asks , and Valen glances in the mirror
at him .
"Hopefully not , but unfortunately , people don’t like change .Greed and entitlement start a lot of issues
, " Valen tells him .
"But Rogues have nothing .They aren’t even allowed to own housing ? " Valarian says .
"And that is why your mother is petitioning to have the laws changed ."
"...So , Alpha Nixon wants to take more from the rogues when they already have nothing .What’s left to
take ? " Valarian asks .
"Their lives , that is all that’s left , and people like Nixon think they deserve to play God and dictate how
people should live and what laws they should live by , " I answered with a sigh .
"But isn’t your dad on his side ? "
"He is on the wrong side , " I agreed .
"Does that upset you ? " Valarian asks , and I look at him over my shoulder .
"No , because that shows his character , not mine , " I tell him .
"But you’re his daughter ? "
"Yes , that’s true , but I am not my father o r my mother .I am my own person , just like you are your
own person , " I tell him .
"So I shouldn’t be like you or dad when I a m older ? " he asks .
"No.Strive to be better , surpass us .One day be a better Alpha than me , "Valen says .
"What if I don’t want to be an Alpha ? " Valarian asks .
"Then I will find someone else to take over the pack , "
"What if I want to be Luna like Mum ? " Valarian asks .
"Then you will be Luna Valarian , " Valen chuckles .
"Doesn’t sound very cool , no offense , mum .I think I will stick with Alpha Valarian , " Valarian says ,
and Valen snickers .
"What ? The Luna is more important than the Alpha , " Valarian says ..
"Is that so ? " Valen asks .
"Yep .The Alpha keeps the packs in line , the Luna keeps the Alpha in line , " Valarian shrugs , and I
laugh , glancing at Valen .
"You think this is funny ? Our son just de manned me , " Valen chuckles .
"Alpha’s , so sensitive , " I tell him , patting Valen’s shoulder while shaking my head .
We headed home , and on the way , I texted Kalen to come over for dinner .
It was time these two had a chat .
Kalen was trying , but Valen had to put in some effort on his end .
Dinner was awkward , and Valen and Kalen only spoke about Valarian until Kalen helped Valen do the
dishes while I sat on the couch with Valarian , watching some kid’s show while I tried not to listen .
Around 8 PM , Valen got a call and walked outside to take it before returning , saying he had to head
out .
Kalen also said he should head home since it was a school night .
Valen was gone for hours , and eventually , Valarian went to bed after reading to him and tucking him .I
heard m y phone ringing in the living room only after I closed the door .
Walking out , I noticed the call was from Zoe .I answered it , thinking it was unusual for her to call so
late .
When I answered and heard her frantic voice , I knew instantly something was wrong and the sirens in
the background made my heart thump in my chest .
All the air was sucked from my lungs as her following words left her .
"Everly , " she sobbed into the phone .
"Zoe ? What is it ? "
"Can you hear me ? " she asked .
"Zoe ? "
"It’s gone , Everly .It’s gone ! " she sobbed into the phone .
"What’s gone ? "
"The hotel .It spread so fast .You need to get here , " she cried before the phone cut out .
I tried calling her number again , but all I got was her voicemail .I instantly called Valen’s number ..
Valen POV my I stood awkwardly in the elevator with father .
"So , where are you heading off to ? " he asked .
Thanks to Everly , it was bad enough that I had to sit through an awkward dinner .
Though I knew , she was only thinking about mine and my father’s relationship .
Yet I couldn’t complain to Everly about m y problem , so I told him .
"Going to see Dion The jeweler ? " he asked , and I nodded .
"Wait .Are you proposing to Everly ? "
"Why else would I be going to see him ? "
"Well , it’s about bloody time , " my father says , and I can’t help the tug of my lips .
I knew if he had his way , I would have married her the day I met her .
"So the ring is ready .What sort of ring did you get her ? "
"One of mum’s rings .Valarian picked out the stone ."I tell him , and my father nods and glances away .
He swallows .
"So you are picking it up ? "
"No , there is an issue , so I am stopping over there .Apparently , the engraver isn’t working , " I tell him
.
The doors finally open , and I step out , heading for my car , wanting to get this over with .I pulled up
out of the plaza walking to Dion’s jewelers .
He had called , saying there was something wrong with the engraver .
What I wasn’t expecting was for my father to follow me .He pulled up behind me .
"What are you doing ? "
"Coming to see if I can help ? " he says , though I know he was trying to spend more time with me .
He was always extra clinging when I was upset with him , and this feud of ours had lasted weeks .
Though I would be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy his company a little .
We walked to the jewelers and knocked on the door .
Dion comes over and unlocks it , locking it behind us and we follow him out to the back of his store .
"What’s wrong with it ? " I ask him .
Dion shrugs , picking up a rag and wiping his forehead , which was covered in sweat from the lights in
here .
"No , idea .I’ve been pulling the damn thing apart , but I am a jeweler , not a bloody technician , and the
ring holder won’t spin , " he grumbles .
My father shrugs his jacket off before pulling a stool over and sitting in front of the laser machine .
They spent hours trying to fix it before deciding it needed some part .
Dion then spent a few hours on eBay and various sites trying to find the part for the specific engraver
he had , only to tell me shipment would take another two weeks on top of the time it would take for the
stone to arrive .
"What is with shipment these days ? " I growl .
I was already impatient to get the ring back , let alone now adding more time .
Dion shrugs apologetically .I sigh , knowing it isn’t his fault when my father speaks .
"I can go pick it up ? " he offers .
"It’s a four – day drive , " I tell him , and he shrugs .
"Better than waiting .When does the stone arrive ? " he asks Dion .
"Hopefully , next week , they were able to ship it off on the next flight , so it’s arriving early , " Dion says
.
Well , at least something good came of this the part
"It’s settled then .I will go pick up t and bring it back here , and you should have your ring earlier than
expected " my father tells me .
He looks down at Dion’s computer , and Dion fills out something about picking it up .
My father then jots down the address on a piece of paper .
Leaving , my father followed me out , and w e walked back to the car .
"You didn’t have to pick it up .I know you are only sucking u p , " I tell him .
"Is it working ? "he chuckled .
"Kind of , " I laugh .
We stand there awkwardly when my father hugs me .
After I stood there for a second , I wrapped my arms around him .
"I miss you , son “ he says , his voice cracking .
I rub his back before he lets go and nods , racing to his car .He leaves before I get in my car .
The moment I did , the mind – link opened up , and Marcus ‘ voice was in my head .
"Hey , what’s up ? "
"You need to get to Mountainview Hotel , "
"Why ? "
"It’s not good , Valen .The whole place is gone .It’s just a shell , "
“ I….I "
“Excuse me ? "
"Someone cut the water off and the power .We were trying to figure out what was going on when we
heard an explosion in the kitchen , an hour after closing , and the entire place went up , "
"Fuck ! I’m on my way , " I tell him .
Hearing my phone ringing , I grab it from my jacket pocket .
It was Everly .
I was about to answer when I saw my father’s car come abruptly to a stop at the traffic lights before he
turned the car around and drove back towards me on the opposite side of the road .
He stops on the opposite side of the road just as I answer Everly’s phone call .
She was sobbing hysterically , and I told her I was on my way there when she said she was trying to
get a hold of my father .
He is with me .
We are on our way , "I tell her before hanging up .Dad winds his window down , and I do the same ."
“Want me to take Valarian ? It’s all over the radio , "he calls .
"Head to the Hotel .Everly is on her way there with him , " I call back , and he nods before taking off .
I rip U – turn , following after him ..
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