Chapter 238

Noah and I sat on the couch watching the news. Over the past few days since Bob’s ultimatum, we had hardly discussed the incident. We had tried to just push the matter out of our minds and continue on with our lives as we had been before.

It proved difficult, though. I was starting to constantly look over my shoulder again, and my nightmares were becoming more frequent. I didn’t want to bother Noah with these problems, but my lack of sleep would start to affect my daily life soon.

A news segment on vampiric intrusion preparation threatened to send me into flashbacks. I clung tightly to Noah’s arm and buried my face in his shoulder. He patted my back and tried to soothe me, but nothing helped.

I was about to ask Noah to change the channel when a new segment came on.

“From on trial to on the Council, Bob Barbier is having one roller coaster of a month,” the newscaster announced.

I removed my head from Noah’s shoulder and sat straight up.

“What?”

I snatched the remote from Noah’s hand and turned up the volume.

“Head Wolf Antoine Boucher announced this morning that Bob has taken the deceased Louis Beaumont’s seat on the Werewolf Council,” the newscaster continued. “The news comes just days after Bob was found innocent of the murder of the accountant John Brown on the grounds of self-defense. Sources close to the Council and the Beaumonts say that Bob has received the Beaumonts’ full support in this political pursuit…”

I could feel the color rushing out of my face.

Bob was now on the Werewolf Council. If his reach was beyond my comprehension before, I had no way of even beginning to grasp it now.

“…When asked about his recent trial, Bob explained that the entire matter was just a misunderstanding brought on by a vengeful ex. He also requested that people give him and his new wife some privacy in that regard as they adjust to this new part of their lives—“

The TV turned to black as Noah switched it off. When I glanced over at him, Noah’s face appeared as pale as I felt.

I grabbed Noah’s hand and squeezed it gently. He squeezed back, but he did not look away from the blank TV screen.

“It’s going to be okay,” I said, even though I didn’t feel it myself.

Noah shook his head.

“No, no it’s not. Bob’s power is growing out of control,” he said. “We’re in a lot of trouble here, Crystal.”

“Maybe…maybe this could be a good thing. If he’s on the Werewolf Council, then Andrew might be able to keep a better eye on him—”

“A better eye than when he lived under the same roof as him?” Noah ran his hand over his face. “Face it, we’re screwed if Lisa’s mother’s family is really backing him in his endeavors.”

“Just in his pursuit of Louis’s old seat. Who knows if they support him otherwise?”

Noah laughed dryly.

“I appreciate you trying to keep me calm, but I understand what’s going on here. My focus might be in financial law, but I have a rough idea of how politics work.”

Noah turned to face me. He grasped my other hand and held both of my hands in his lap.

“We need to get out of here,” he continued, “immediately.”

I lowered my head.

“Noah, we talked about this. There’s too much that goes into a move like that. I need some time to think about it.”

“We don’t have time to think about it anymore. We need to get out of here before something happens.”

He looked me straight in the eye.

“Do you want another attack?”

I sighed and pulled my hands out of his. He knew exactly what to say to push my buttons.

Of course, I didn’t want another attack. I didn’t want anyone to get hurt, especially not myself. What we both didn’t want to admit was that this time, I wouldn’t have Andrew to protect me if I was attacked again.

I stood up and walked into the kitchen. I wasn’t sure what I was going to get; I just needed some space away from Noah at that moment. He just didn’t know when to stop talking.

Noah exhaled loudly.

“Crystal, come back,” he called after me. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to pressure you.”

“Funny because that’s exactly what you’re doing.”

I stuck my head in the fridge, looking for something drink. I only found some soda and nasty beers inside, so I grabbed myself a bottled soda and leaned against the counter.

Noah walked into the attached dining room and sat down at the table, exactly where he had been the first time that he had proposed to me. He watched me as I twisted open my soda and took a sip. I could feel his eyes burning a hole into me, but I wasn’t going to break the silence first.

“I just think that Crescent Moon Pack will be a good fit for us,” he finally said after a few minutes of silence. “It will be a chance for us to get away from everything, to have a fresh start.”

“Don’t you understand?” I asked. “That’s the problem. I don’t want to have to start all over.”

“But what kind of life could you have here with Bob on the Werewolf Council?” he countered. “You were worried about him hurting people you cared about before. Imagine what he could do now…and get away with it.”

I ran my hand through my hair.

Noah was right, of course. Bob could ruin my life, and no one would be the wiser. Worst of all, I wondered if anyone would even care, if they believed me in the first place.

I just had so much that I didn’t want to leave behind: my friends, Ever After Weddings, Andrew…

I hated that so much of this decision hinged on the fact that I didn’t want to leave Andrew behind. I certainly didn’t want to admit that to Noah. All Noah wanted to do was to keep me safe, and there I was thinking about another man.

Still, if I was even going to think about leaving everything behind, I had to do it on my terms.

“Fine, I’ll go to Crescent Moon Pack with you,” I said.

Noah leapt to his feet and rushed over to hug me.

“Thank you, Crystal, thank you!” He gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I promise that you won’t regret it.”

He pulled away and headed toward the living room.

“We should start packing tonight. I’ll need to give notice at the practice, and you’ll also need to make arrangements at Ever After Weddings—”

“Wait just a minute,” I said, although I felt a little bad about slowing his roll. “I wasn’t done yet.”

Noah turned back to me, his brow arched.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that I have one condition behind me going to the new pack with you.”

He stopped in his tracks and crossed his arms over his chest.

“Okay. What is it?”

“I get to see Andrew one last time.”