PARIS'S POV

I was having a hard time believing my eyes, but to doubt my eyes was to doubt myself, and I wasn't ready to live in such a way.


But how was she here? Who had invited her? Surely Christina could not have done it, I made sure to keep close tabs on her, and my intel kept me notified that she spent most of her time in her room. 'recuperating'

Whatever the hell that meant. So she couldn't have had the chance to send an invite to Ember. Unless she had actually gotten someone to get it done on her behalf. There was still that as an option.

Or maybe, it was my mother. That option was wild. But so was my mother, and the truth was, such a thing was not beyond her.


In the end, I decided I would simply ask Ember myself.

Not yet though. At the moment, I was too busy watching her with William, and it made me ache, the way he held her close. The man had zero discretion. He obviously wanted Ember in every way and did absolutely nothing to keep that hidden.


In any case, the night I had decided that was not so meaningful, suddenly held a meaning and I found myself watching Ember and her pet, for as long as it took, until I got an opening that allowed me the chance of a conversation with Ember.

In the meantime I was stuck with having to watch both Ember and the guy William have a good time together. They leaned each other most of the time, as though the music was too loud for them to hear clearly and my blood hummed at the sight of them being so close to each other .

Then there were moments William said God knew what to her and she laughed like he was the funniest man in the world.

I didn’t think William was that funny though, but well, whatever pleased Ember. Although, what seemed to please Ember definitely made me feel pissed off within.

For nearly two hours they stayed in each other’s company and I had to wonder how ember didn’t simply tire of the lawyer. When did she being to find things under the law funny?

And I couldn’t help but think about our divorce. It had been a while since she brought it up and the William Bloke was the one helping her to deal with it.

And I considered the possibility that they were discussing it. Then I tossed it aside. Ember looked too pleased, her eyes too bright to have been discussing such a thing.

It took quite some time, but I finally got it. when she got up at some point and headed in the direction of the female's bathroom, I took my opening.

KATE'S POV

I wasn't attending the party. I mean I got dressed up and everything, ready to walk in with Paris, but at some point, he had gone off to heaven's where, and as much as I longed to be where he was, I had a plan that required everyone's attention to be somewhat divided.

The last time I came into this forest, I had come here to wait for someone, but Paris had found me here, and so waiting after that would have been asking for trouble, and perhaps the person had noticed because he had not called back. And I wasn't able to call back, because he used a private number to call most of the time. Perhaps because he didn't want to be tracked.

I suppose that was smart of him. I used instincts and the light of the moon to find my way through the forest because I feared that using a torch would be asking for trouble. I had only just managed to convince Paris to let me stay, I didn't need a new one to make him want to chase me off again.

I waited, the way I had waited the last time, but this time around, I waited deeper into the forest, and when I caught the first whiff of him, I rose to my feet and listened for his sound. I turned to the sound of twigs breaking underfoot, and turned to its source,

"Hello Kate." said the man, and I heard his voice before I saw him, and only when I saw him did I finally reply,

"Hello, uncle."

He stepped into the light of the moon, and had a mediocre smile on his face,

"I didn't think you would show up, considering what happened the last time."

"I had to think about it for a very long time and only made up my mind about an hour ago. But then, I suppose I wanted to see with my actual eyes that it was actually you. So tell me uncle, how did you do it? How did you get out? And I Sebastian out too?"

"Too many questions at once girly, which one do I reply to?"

"take them one after the other," I said firmly and crossed my arms in front of me,

"Alright then. It was a breakout. So I guess you can say I'm a bit of a wanted man at the moment."

"and if Sebastian is out too?"

"He isn't. troublesome as my boy is, he doesn't have the gallbladder for such a thing. But that's fine because you're going to get him out." my uncle said, and I heard the malevolence underneath his words.

"me?" I asked, pointing to myself and he nodded,

"it will give you a chance to finally redeem yourself. Don't you think?" he asked coolly, and I stared at him deadpan,

"I don't owe you or your son anything. I came here, for one reason, to see you with my own eyes and be sure that you are really the one who has been troubling me night and day and to ask you, once and for all, to leave me the hell alone." I said firmly and coldly and hoped that my point got through.

"Kate, Kate Kate." he said, kissing him and clicking his tongue, "you've become so bold, but I recall you a couple of days ago begging to stay in this pack. 'Please, I have nowhere else to go. My family hates me because of my uncle and cousin'' he was mocking me, and I could do nothing but stand there and listen to his rubbish,

"But who would have thought that my beloved uncle had mastered the act of breaking out of a prison? I suppose they don't make wolfsbane as they used to… or perhaps they simply did not use enough of it on you."

"you watch your tongue, girlie," he said taking a step forward, and I supposed the action was supposed to malicious, but I didn't flinch,

"don't threaten me, uncle." I said gently, "Or I just might scream and gather the attention of everyone, and I'm sure I would finally redeem myself in Paris' eyes when I present you to him."

He burst into laughter that had no mirth,

"do it then. Scream. But who is going to hear you when everyone is at that party?"

"Try your hand at anything that makes me uncomfortable right now, and perhaps you're going to find out," I said with a tilt of my head. I was possibly bluffing now, but I wasn't going to back down, otherwise, this man was going to constantly think I was at his beck and call, and he wasn't going to leave me the hell alone.

He blew out a breath and nodded slowly, "I didn't come here to test the higher powers"

"So why are you here?"

"for payment."

"payment?" I asked, raising a brow, "I don't owe you anything."

"you don't? Don't you dare forget that you and my son worked hand in hand, but he only ended up behind bars. Now my Peter is behind bars, and it's all because of you. Every misfortune that has come to me and my boys, all of it has come because of you."

"Peter begged for what befell him. Don't blame me for any of that. And for your information, I'm only just recovering from being foolish enough to partner with him."

"but the point is, you partnered with him, and yet all you got was a bit of embarrassment. My boy was almost killed. I could say to hell with people at that party rushing toward this place when I wrap my hands around your neck and be done with you."

It was his eyes. The dead way they looked at me right then made a sliver of fear run up my spine. I hoped my fear didn't show, but I finally gave in,

"What the hell do you want?" I asked,

"30 million dollars," he said without batting an eye,

"What?" I asked scandalized and he shrugged,

"you heard me. Get me that, and I disappear. I find a way to save my boys on my own, and I disappear. You don't, and I'll forget that I'm supposed to be worried about your beloved Alpha. And I swear you're going to hate the outcome."