Chapter 23
A Desperate Plea
Qiana knelt outside the den for a day and a night before collapsing. She awoke in her apartment, her parents arguing outside.
“Let’s take her home. She won’t listen. She’ll flee again. Let’s take her home while she’s still unconscious!” her mother urged. Her father agreed. The moment the door opened, Qiana fled, barefoot, grabbing her communicator. She didn’t know who else to turn to; Benjamin and Adam had been so cold. In desperation, she remembered Lanie.
“That’s it! Lanie is kind and compassionate; she’ll forgive me!”
She boarded a transport to the Blood Moon pack to find Lanie. Benjamin and Adam learned of her plan and dispatched trackers to intercept her, preventing her from reaching Lanie. They hadn’t had a chance to approach Lanie yet; Qiana couldn’t get there first.
Benjamin and Adam’s trackers discovered several teams of enforcers Zoe Jackson had sent to monitor them. They were on their own territory.
Adam’s trackers, in a defiant move, ambushed Zoe Jackson’s men, injuring them and sending them back to Jackson’s territory as a warning. Benjamin also deployed trackers to the Blood Moon pack to ensure they wouldn’t be caught off guard again.
This was Benjamin and Adam’s fifth attempt to apologize to Lanie’s aunt.”Aunt, we’re truly sorry. We’ve realized our mistakes. We’ve let go of Lanie. We just want to attend her Blood Bond… as her older brothers, that’s all,” Benjamin said, his words lacking sincerity. His wolf felt the weight of his deception.
Adam nodded earnestly, attempting to appear innocent.
His Shadow Wolf worked to mask his true intentions.
“Aunt, please grant us this small wish. We’ve known Lanie for so long; we don’t want to miss her Blood Bond.”
Benjamin continued, his voice carefully modulated.
“Not being together is fine; we’ve accepted that. Even if she chose between Benjamin and me, one of us would be heartbroken.”
“But we don’t want to miss her Blood Bond. Please, Aunt, help us.”
Adam’s plea was heartfelt, even as his wolf plotted behind his carefully controlled mask.
Lanie’s aunt hesitated. She knew about their actions. She couldn’t make decisions for Lanie. But she’d watched them grow up and couldn’t remain completely unmoved. Their repeated pleas had worn her down. She sighed deeply.
“You two… I can only ask Lanie. I can’t guarantee her response.”
Grateful, Benjamin and Adam thanked her profusely. After they left, Lanie’s aunt hesitated before sending Lanie a message.
“Lanie, Benjamin and Adam want to attend your Blood Bond. What do you think… should they come?”
