Chapter 104

Almara’s POV

Not knowing where to go, I head to the only place I feel safe. Bess’s house. Technically this is on my search party route. Bess’s house is a nostalgic place for both me and Arthur.

I knock on Bess’s rounded white door and hear feet shuffling about inside. I take a step back and feel the warmth of Bess’s cottage-like home welcome be as she opens the door.

“Oh, goodness dear. Come in. Come in.” Bess urges me inside. I didn’t even have to open my mouth for her to be able to read my demeanor.

I’ve been in Bess’s home many times before and always thought it was a simple, cute, grandmother home. One that’s cozy with knitted blankets, wicker baskets, and a faint smell of cookies.

It’s so wholesome which is why I never associated her being related to the Hurricane Pack, which is the way she intended it. Knowing her real identity as the fearless female alpha warrior who led her pack to victory during the great war with the vampires only makes me respect her humble choices all the more.

The hissing of a tea kettle increases to a piercing whistle. “Just in time.” Bess tells me. “We can have tea while you tell me what troubles you.” I smile in appreciation, though don’t know if I necessarily have time for a tea break.

I look around her entrance and focus in a collection of framed pictures. I’m surprised to see the old classic wooden frames. Most werewolves and people have the live-action pictures. The ones that capture what people where physical doing for a short moment in time.

Bess has the old ones. The still shots. These pictures wonderfully capture a precise moment in time and this case, it’s Arthur as a young boy seated before a birthday cake. Instantly I see Grace’s eyes in him and my heart tugs at the thought of her.

I’m still standing by the doorway when Bess returns with two tea cups. “Sweetheart, what are you doing? You’re no stranger here.” Bess looks at me with confusion as she sits on her plush blue couch.

“I just needed to see a friendly face.” I tell her, “I’m not sure I have time to stay long.” Bess frowns at me.

“Well, that’s all the more reason to slow down. What is going on?” Bess sets down her tea cup and motions for me to sit. Seeing as this will go faster if I listen to her, I let out a sign and join her on the couch.

“It’s about Arthur.” I say and it’s clear that if I didn’t before, I have her full attention now. I choose my next words carefully. “He’s missing and there’s a search party for him,”

“Missing?” Bess cuts me off in alarm. I stiffen at her sudden reaction,

“Yes, but I think he’s okay.” I lie and Bess sees right through it.

“Well, how do you know that if he’s missing?”

I wince at her quick comeback. “Okay. I’ll explain everything.” And I do. I tell Bess of Noah’s lair and weird obsession with me. I explain how he trapped me and Arthur came to my rescue which unfortunately led to him becoming bit.

Bess listens to every word in horror, except for the part where she discovers she’s a great-grandmother.

“I’m sorry, Bess. This is not how you were supposed to find out. It’s not how any of this was supposed to be.”

Bess nods in agreement. “I know that sweetheart. Unfortunately, being a highly sought after pack comes with its downsides. That doesn’t mean we can’t celebrate our normalcy when we get the chance.”

“And when will that be?” I ask half-joking. Bess stands up with a new air of control about her as she reaches for her phone.

“Right after we get Arthur, we go introduce me to by great-grandbaby.” I stand up next to Bess wanting to know what plan she has in motion. “First, I need to call Roman. How dare he not inform me of the trouble my grandson is in.”

“Oh, well I don’t think that was his intention.” I try to smooth her anger over, but I don’t think she’s listening any more with her phone raised to her ear.

“I know where he is, by the way.” Bess tells me as if it’s obvious.

“What?” I ask, hope soaring through my veins, bringing back a sense of life in my heart. I want to ask her where or how she knows, but before I can do that she starts speaking into the phone.

I can tell Roman has picked up when Bess begins to reprimand him, but stops short. I look on with curiosity.

“Roman, are those reporters?” Bess demands. My heart sinks.

“Roman if you so much as notified the public before your own mother, so help me Moon Goddess.”

I sink back into the couch and as I wait for Bess to finishing yelling at Roman, I reflect on the poor decisions that I made.

This has to be because of Emma. How could I have been so stupid? Next time, let me handle the aggression. Lily points out and I quickly shut her down, not needing to be kicked while I’m already down. Even if she may be right.

Though maybe since the journalists have picked up that the Alpha is missing more people will be on the search. It’s possible Emma left out the detail about him being bit by a vampire.

“How does the media know he was bit?” Bess’s shrill voice cuts right to conscious. Yeah, that hope was short-lived. “We’ll meet you there.” There’s a short pause and Bess adds more sternly, “I said I was coming.” She hands up and I swallow the lump in my throat.

“Damn media. They’re like vermin that thrive on the decay of society.” Bess says aloud, but I don’t think directly to me, so I say nothing.

I go to ask her where Arthur is, but then she looks me directly in the eye and I clam up. “Do you have any idea how the media found out? Roman says to ask you.” Well, there’s no denying this is directed at me.

I let out a shaky breath. “Yeah, that probably is my fault.” Bess’s face falls to disappointment and I would much rather prefer her anger. “I didn’t mean to let it slip. This girl at the restaurant kept poking fun that Arthur probably left to be with another woman, and I let it get under my skin.”

I realize how stupid it sounds now that I say it aloud and I could kick myself for letting my emotions get the best of me. If it’s one thing that Arthur has taught me, it’s to keep emotions especially high strung ones in check.

Bess shakes her head. “Look, I’ve far outgrown my days in petty girl drama but what I can tell you is that the Almara I knew when we first met wouldn’t have stood up for herself like that.”

I bring my eyes to meet Bess’s and am relieved to see her disappointment has been replaced with something more akin to compassion.

“I’ll deal with Roman. But right now, we got your husband to rescue.” Bess nods to the door and I follow at her heel.