About a half hour later , Blake pulls up at the Blackwood Mansion to pick me up on Kael's orders . Other than himself , Blake is the only other person Kael allows to drive Liam and I anywhere . " Laila . " Grandfather Blackwood calls , I turn to find him standing on the porch , leaning heavily on his cane . " You should stay away from public spaces for a while . Until the dust settles . " He suggests out of the blue . " That might be best for Liam . " I frown in confusion but nod . " I'll be counting on you for the anniversary moon gala . " He finishes and then heads , back into his home . As Kael predicted , his grandfather leaves me in a predicament . The anniversary moon gala is a yearly banquet celebrating the Blackwood Pack . It's a prestigious occasion , and all the top ranked Alphas will be present , including the councilors of the werewolf committee and the werewolf chairman himself . For an occasion of such importance , it's always been the duty of the Luna of Blackwood Pack . That is Sarah . But Grandfather Blackwood has just left the preparations for the occasion to me . Not only is he pitting his sons against each other , he's doing the same to Sarah and I. Kael's test has also become mine . But I returned especially for this . Cameron was Kael's target . But me ? I'm here to ruin Sarah . She'd made me into a vicious woman that poisoned Kelly ... this is only the first of what I'll be taking away from her . Steve holds the door open for me and I get in . As the door closes , I exhale a breath I didn't realize I was holding . My phone buzzes again . I pull it out of my purse , scrolling through the missed calls . Most of them are from home . My Dad and cousins . They must have heard about my return by now . I'd asked Kael to withhold the article from publishing , he'd told me he'd consider it . But it's now all over the news . ' Kael Blackwood returns to Thorneville with a mystery woman ! ' Mystery woman exposed to be Ex Wife of Alpha of Blackwood Pack ! ' Blackwood Pack in turmoil as a seductress remarries Ex husband's brother The headlines become progressively absurd . 14:15 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 14 52 E55 vouchers This must have been what Grandfather Blackwood meant when he said I would need to stay away from public spaces . When Kael said he intended to make me the most dazzling diamond , he meant it . I'm literally on the cover page of everything now . Knowing Kael , leaking this to the media is his first step to exposing Cameron's affair with Sarah while we were married . Even if that means ruining my reputation in the process . " Diamond ? More like the most pathetic woman in Thorneville ." I murmur beneath my breath . I've been getting calls back and forth . There are a few texts from unknown numbers . As well as clients , and finally , there's one from Kael . I tap on it , reading through the two words . " Come here . " It doesn't read like a request . But then again , Kael doesn't make requests . At this hour , Kael would be at work in Blackwood Co. The reporters would flock the corporation , and that's the last place I want to be . Whatever he has planned , I can't deal with it right now . I've had enough of Blackwoods for one day . I sigh quietly , tossing my phone aside . I sink into the leather seat . Blake stares at me through the rearview mirror and I meet his gaze . " Drop me off at Axis Loft . " " Kael said ... " Blake begins to argue , but I cut him off . " I'll take a cab if you won't Blake ." I murmur , " I don't care what Kael said . " Blake hesitates for only a moment . But finally , he concedes and we're soon on the highway . It's a short drive to the loft and I get down before Blake can get the door . Thankfully , the reporters don't know my face yet so I can still move around unnoticed and attempt to get a semblance of a normal day . I intend to enjoy it while it lasts . Tll be here for a while . You don't have to wait ." I say to Blake . " Mrs Black ... " Blake begins to protest but I interrupt him again . " Just Laila . " He purses his lips , but nods . " Laila , how am I to report back to Kael ? He's expecting you ." " Then he should have told me I'd be making headlines before he went ahead to publicize it . " My voice is tame , the anger bubbling within me is well suppressed through years of experience . " I can't interfere with his plans . I'll even let him use my name as he pleases ... but I won't come and go at his word ." I murmur , audible only to Blake . 14:15 Sat , Oct 11 Chapter 14 55 vouchers I don't wait for his response . I step into the lobby , my heels clicking against the marble floor . Axis Loft is one of the few places in Thorneville untouched by the Blackwood name , which makes it the perfect location to move my practice to . The elevator ride up to the penthouse passes by in silence . I'm soon greeted by the faint scent of lavender and sandalwood . The space is exactly how I left it three years ago . The floor to ceiling windows spill the daylight across the polished floorboards . My phone buzzes again . I ignore it . I can already guess who it is . Kael's the last person I want to talk to right now . I glance around , taking in the space but a low voice sounds behind me . " Laila . " I freeze , my spine stiffening . Then slowly , I turn . Cameron is leaning against the window , suit jacket unbuttoned , tie loose . Like he's been here long enough to make himself at home . His eyes find mine , his gaze complicated . My heart stutters uneasily within me but I quickly suppress it . I had thought I'd have some time to prepare to face him after what happened at the gala , but I was wrong . I don't ask how he got in . I know better . If anyone knows about this place , it would only be him ... Cameron . " What are you doing here ? " I ask in a slow breath . He pushes off the window . " You ignored my texts . I knew you would come here first . So , I came to you . " He then glances around the space , his eyes scanning every inch , a complicated look in them . " Don't you think you owe me an explanation ? " AD Comment