Chapter 85
LEAH Wait, what? He knew my father, how? Tala came forward at his words, which made me stand up tall. “Start explaining, wolf,” Tala and my voice combined came out. What the hell? Malcolm looked a little taken back, while Josh came closer to me and seemed proud at what I did but we just glared at him. Then spoke again. “Don’t make us come over there and beat you.” That made Malcolm laugh, which made me still. “Just like you father described you,” he said, his laughter calming down. “And as for knowing your father, we worked together before your accident. We worked with some other rogues, and your father was one of nine humans working with us. It was a construction job, which paid well till it was then rigged.” Tala moved back, while his words made me stare at him blankly. “What do you mean rigged?” “I mean, the money was coming from somewhere, but I didn’t realise where till earlier when that wolf mentioned that they had been watching this house for years, not days. They know all your daily tasks and even more. They offered your father money, knowing he was struggling.” “He wasn’t struggling,” I said, clenching my teeth. Malcolm didn’t say anything, but Dani spoke softly. “Actually Leah, he was way over his head in debt. He couldn’t even pay for the house let alone what you wanted to do.” My eyes went to hers, while a lone tear escaped. Why did he never tell me? “He was a proud man,” Dani said again, but I looked away. “I only found out due to the bills on the counter. I offered him and you a room at our home, even money to help with the bills but that damn man was too proud to take anything.” I could sense the tension in the room, which made me look up to see Dani glaring at Josh. “All this was because of your mate, her mother. She left Larry for you, leaving her daughter behind while you play happily families.” Josh stilled but said nothing while she continued. “She left him with nothing. No money. The man had to do three jobs to keep the roof over their head.” Her voice was getting louder, making sure everyone could hear. “Larry had to do whatever he had to, to give his girl everything she needed. He loved her more than anything. And now look this is all happening, this is all to do with her and her ways.” Josh let out a growl, which made me tense up. “He’s conflicted, his feelings toward his mate and now you,” Tala whispered, but already could sense I wasn’t listening now. This was what it was like when I moved in them, now it is like I am reliving it all over again, but this time someone is standing up for me. Tears welled up in my eyes, not wanting to hear anymore of this. Without saying anything, I move away and head upstairs away from what was going on. I could hear my name being called out, but I ignored them. I needed space. After everything that happened, I didn’t need to deal with anything other than keeping safe and this is not what I thought would happen. I could hear movement behind me, like someone had followed me. I knew who it was before I got to my empty room. Moving to the door, I opened it quickly and headed to the window. Her footsteps came to a holt in the doorway, but she said nothing. She knows how to proceed when it comes to me, we have been best friends for years. “Mum’s just angry for you,” she said suddenly. “She can’t hold it all in, not even for a moment. She watched you be taken away in an ambulance and no one spoke or even told us what happened to you.” That part had me spinning around toward her. Her eyes met mine. “I’m sorry.” I let out a breath but frowned. “Why are you sorry? You were there for me. I had to—” I started to say but stopped till I got my emotions in control. “I haven’t even spoken to her,” I whispered, looking at my best friend. She said nothing, only watched me while I let the tears fall. She had seen worse than this, but this was something I needed to do. “I couldn’t,” I whispered, spinning back around to look out the window. There were no rogue bodies out there. “I hated her for so long and now I learn I am a wolf.” “When did you find out?” she asked, which made me laugh. “Yesterday but I have been hearing Tala’s voice in my head for a few days,” I said, which made me look at her reflection in the window. Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. “I bet that’s weird.” I laughed. “I thought I was losing it.” Tala was close but she seemed to have moved back when all the talk switched to my mother again. She clearly could sense what was going on with me. “I do and I think when we get back, talking to her and telling her exactly how you feel is the way to go.” I said nothing, knowing she was right. “I wish I could have a wolf,” Lucy said, which made me look back at her confused and look over my shoulder to see her moving toward me with a smile. “To have someone there for you when you need it. To make sure you are safe.” Everything she said was right, because that’s how Tala has been with me. I did gain her but now I had to prove we were perfect together. “We are,” Tala said, sending warmth my way. “You’re my human and I love you. You may not have felt me, seen me or even heard about me but I knew from the moment I came to you that you were special.” I said nothing to either of them. We both stood by the window for a while, not saying anything and just watching the outside till the room become more silent like there hadn’t been a wolf fight outside. A knock on the door came, which made us both look around to see Josh and Malcolm. “Are you okay?” Josh asked, but before I could say anything Malcolm stepped into my room and looked at Lucy. “Your mum has gone to your home to start packing. She asked me to get you and walk you over.” Lucy looked at him but didn’t move. I knew that look—she didn’t believe him. Hell, the man just announced he was a lone wolf moments ago. “Don’t worry,” Josh said to her, then looked back at me. “He won’t hurt you. Lucian is outside waiting too.” Lucy still said nothing, but she looked toward me for conformation which I did by nodding. I believed them both, somehow. Lucy moved away but kept her eyes between Malcolm and Josh till she was out of the room. Josh looked at me again and gave me a small smile. “I—” he started to say but stopped himself. His eyes lingered more than I cared but he continued. “I know sorry is not what you want to hear and the only person who can give you all the answers to everything is back at the pack. Just know I am here for you in any way you need me.” “I don’t need a dad,” I muttered, which made him tense at the word. “I know,” he whispered, but without saying anything else he walked out of the room but stopped. He never turned around. “I am sorry Leah. This has nothing to do with you. All this is because the old generation believe in something that never should be.” Anger swirled around when he walked out. He was right, which I would never agree to, but he was. Mum was the only one I could talk to about everything which is one thing, but then it was the people he brought up again. The ones who supposed to be my grandparents. They caused this. My anger got worse till all I wanted to do was hit something and I charged toward the nearby wall and punched it hard. My fist went straight through the wall, which made Tala come forward to see. “Feel better,” she whispered, while I pulled my fist from the wall. “It would be better if it connected to someone who deserve it,” I gritted, which made her let out a breath. We were about to talk when the board on the bottom of the wall, fell off. What the hell? Bending down, I go to put up when Tala shouts to for me to stop. “Stop, Leah. Look there is something there.” Looking closer, there was something sticking out—a piece of paper. Well, some sort of paper. Grabbing what was sticking out, I pulled it out gently till it came out whole. It was an envelope. What the hell? Looking at it, it looked like it had been in there for years with the colouring of the paper. I slowly turned it over and collapsed on the floor—the envelope was addressed to me.