Chapter 35 +8 Points 2 They weren't even an hour into the meeting and Kent had already decided that this was going to be a long day. Luckily, they had decided to start the meeting in the afternoon, giving Kent and Leo time to get settled in their rooms, shower and take a quick nap after a long night of driving. Kent had struggled to nap, plagued by the same anxiety that had been with him since he left Red Moon. He had called Max to let him know that they had made it safely and to ask about Riley, but Max had no updates on her. He hadn't seen her apparently, which did little to settle Kent down. He had called back again at lunch time and all Max would say was that she had been resting today. Everything else with the pack was fine. All patrols ran normally, no scouting reports had come in this morning and training was running without a hitch. Max had gone over the list of to dos on the phone, explaining how Penny was handling most of the food storage and building winterization, all the details that had been slipping from Kent's mind lately. He tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair he was seated in as they worked through the preliminary work for the alliance. It was standard agreements before they started working out the specifics and decided on what support New Dawn would provide. The beta, a tall, lithe man with close cropped hair and dark gray eyes named Callan had been handling most of the basic information. His deep, monotone voice grated on Kent's nerves. The man barely looked up, his face basically emotionless. The gamma, Russ, was stretched out in another armchair, his fingers laced behind his head. His curly red hair fell across his forehead, his brown eyes almost closed. He was clearly bored. Then the alpha, Jake, sat behind his desk. He appeared to be barely listening, his shaggy brown hair cast down over his green eyes as his fingers absently traced the wood grain on his desk. "So that about sums it up," Beta Callan finally said, turning the last page over. "Thank the Goddess," Alpha Jake said, looking up with a smile. "Can we agree to the basics so we can get going on the details?" "Yes," Kent said with a wave of his hand, not even making an effort to return the smile. "Tell me about the issues at Red Moon," Alpha Jake said. "I see you have council representation with you as well." "Yes," Kent sighed, sitting up slightly. "This is Leo Anderson, the head warrior who has been working with us." "Do you have an advisor?" Beta Callan asked, jotting down notes. "Two actually," Kent replied. "Two?" The gamma straightened. That's not normal protocol with the council, is it?" "No," Leo answered, "but the situation at Red Moon is unique so the council made an exception." "So who are the advisors?" the beta asked in that same monotone drawl. "Wesley Crooks and Riley Atwood," Leo said. "Riley?" Alpha Jake's right eyebrow moved up. "She was out here last year. Why didn't she come instead of 1/3 Chapter 35 Mr. Anderson? I'm very familiar with her." Kent gritted his teeth as Pax snarled in his mind. The lilt at the end of the alpha's statement was suggestive, sending a wave of fury through Kent. Leo glanced at Kent, his eyebrows pulling together before he replied. "Call me Leo, please. And Riley has only been at Red Moon for about a week. She wanted more time at the pack to work on the situation there. Her and Wesley are working in tandem and they don't want to lose momentum." Jake nodded. "That's disappointing, but understandable." He looked at Kent. "You're lucky, Alpha Kent. She's the best in more ways than one." He smirked. Kent's fingers dug into the arm of the chair. Pax's hackles were up and Kent's mind was swimming in red hot rage. "Can we get back to the matter at hand?" the beta drawled, casting an annoyed look at his alpha. "Of course," said Jake with a wide smile. ** Her dreams were full of Paul, his blond hair shining in the sun, his smile with the gap between his two front teeth. She dreamed of thè taste of him, the way his chest had felt under her hand. She could hear him. laughing as he rolled them over, pinning him under her. But the dream shifted. His laughter changed to yelling, his smile twisting into a sneer. She wasn't under him willingly, pushing him away from her as he pinned her arms down. "You're mine," he kept snarling, baring his teeth. "You don't get to just leave." She twisted, sweat pouring down her forehead, screaming. But it didn't matter. They were too far away. No one was out here to hear anything. No one was coming. Suddenly there was a pounding at the door. The dream faded as Riley twisted. She forced her eyes open. The room was dark. She was drenched in sweat, her whole body shaking. Her legs were tangled in the sheets, and in her daze, she was unable to free herself. She suddenly thought of Kent and how she wished he was here. "f*****g hell," someone yelled from outside the door. "Where is the f*****g extra key to this door?" "Penny is getting it," another voice replied, sounding further away. "It's in Alpha's office." Her whole body ached. Her breath was coming in short, painful bursts. She was pretty sure her heart was going to come out of her chest from the way it pounded. "Riley!" A fist slammed against the door. It was Patrick, she realized. "Can you hear me? Please f*****g answer me!" He sounded panicked in a way she had not heard. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out. Her throat was dry, her lips chapped. She managed to twist to see the clock on the bedside table. 9:13PM it read. There was the sound of the key in the door and a moment later Patrick rushed in, Max only a step behind him. "s**t," Patrick muttered, quickly unwrapping the blankets around her legs. "Get a car, Max. We need to get her 2/3 Chapter 35 to the hospital right now." He finally succeeded in getting the blankets off her legs as Max rushed out of the room. "Can you talk to me, Riley?" "I don't feel well," she whispered as he picked her up. She looped her arms around his neck, resting her head against his shoulder.. "I got that part," he murmured as he straightened up. "How is she?" Penny appeared in the doorway. "Bad," he answered. "Mindlink Lana and let her know we're coming. And then call Kent." "No," Riley gasped, "don't." Patrick carried her towards the elevator. "He needs to know." "Please," she whispered. "We'll discuss it once she's at the hospital," Penny said sharply to Patrick. "Don't stress her out right now." "Ok," he muttered as the elevator doors opened. Comments Get Bonus (Ad) > 543 H Vote