Chapter 41

Viviane's POV

This isn't happening. Please tell me this isn't really happening

I was so preoccupied trying to get Mom through the alley I didn't realize we weren't alone until it was too late. Kiera saw him first, freezing in place and dragging Mom and I back like an anchor.

James looks exactly as I remember. Average height, average weight, average looks; overall a pretty shabby example of his kind. He boasts none of Caspian's strength or charm, none of his authority or edge. Yet he frightens me all the same.

His devious eyes light up when he sees me, sending ice through my veins and pulling me to a stop every bit as sudden as Kiera's.

"Hello Viviane." He says, striding towards us with a cold leer, "Did you miss me?"

"What are you doing here?" I blurt without thinking.

"I may not live here any longer, but there's no rule that says I can't visit my brother-in-law." He answers smoothly, "You may have turned my nephew against me, but Jasper is still family."

"She didn't turn anyone against you." Kiera jumps in protectively, "You kidnapped her!"

James throws his hands up in exasperation, "Gods you people are dramatic. One little abduction and you act as if the sky is falling." Rolling his eyes, he continues, "I don't know why you're so upset, people pay hundreds of dollars for the experience of staying in that hotel – you got it for free."

"The locked doors and prison guards might have had something to do with it." I snark, acting much braver than I feel. Unfortunately I think James can probably hear my pounding heart and racing pulse, he'll be able to smell my fear no matter how desperately I try to hide it.

James raises his palms in supplication, "Alright, I apologize." He proclaims, sounding completely insincere. "Truly, I want to move past this. You're clearly very important to Caspian, I'd hate to let one mistake permanently rend our relationship. Can we please let bygones be bygones?"

"That wasn't much of an apology." Kiera snaps.

"You're right." James agrees with a heavy sigh. "Viviane. From the bottom of my heart, I'm sorry I kidnapped you. The contest was between Caspian and I, and I should never have involved you." His expression is thoroughly contrite, but nothing can hide the glint in his dark eyes. "I was wrong to put you in the middle of us and believe me, I am paying the price."

"I'll consider your apology." I promise. At this point I'd agree to anything in order to make him leave. "But as you can see, I'm sort of in the middle of something at the moment. We need to be on our way."

For the first time, James pulls his attention from me long enough to absorb the grim tableau we make: My mother's limp body, slumped between Kiera and I; our own exhausted limbs, straining with the effort of carrying her uphill; and more than anything, the helpless expressions on our charcoal-stained faces.

It's been a very long walk, but the closer we got to the Pack House, the more we realized the reality of our circumstances. We snuck out of the house in direct defiance of Caspian's orders, travelling to a corner of the city where Mom and I were bound to be at risk.

If we're caught we're going to be in very big trouble with my mate, but I don't have the faintest idea how to sneak back in with mom in this condition.

"Let me help you." James offers, heading off my next response by adding. "You're clearly in trouble."

"We don't need help from you," Kiera hisses.

"Please, let me show you how sorry I am, let me make it up to you." He implores, taking a step closer.

I stiffen instantly, not buying his act and extremely wary of letting him get too close. "Why should we trust you?"

"The question isn't why you should trust me, but whether you have any other choice." James asserts, sounding just a bit too smug for my liking. "I don't know what you've been up to, but I'm guessing you're not supposed to be out of the house. Now, I can sneak you back in without being seen, or you can try to do it on you own – but I guarantee you'll be caught without me."

Infuriatingly, he's right. Our chances are better with him than without him – assuming he can be trusted. Kiera is clearly thinking on the same wavelength, because a second later she says, "We might be caught without you, but at least that way we'll be home safe. What's to guarantee we actually make it back if we trust you?"

Shrugging he admits, "There's only my word, and I understand why that's difficult to accept." His voice is low and steady, calming despite his hard expression. "If it helps ease your concerns, I would have to be suicidal to lay a hand on any one of you again. Caspian would rip my throat out – family or no."

"I want to make amends, and from what I understand, you're not that much better off in the Pack House than you were in the Hotel." He points out, "It's a different cell and a different warden, but you're not free to leave, are you?"

I hate how strongly his words resonate with me. I hate how persuasive I find him. It's as if he knows exactly what to say to get under my skin. "How stupid do you think we are, wolf?" Kiera scoffs, "this manipulation is pathetic."

James ignores her, staring straight into my eyes. "What do you think Caspian is going to do if he finds out about this little excursion of yours?" He asks, gesturing towards my mother. "Especially when it went so awry."

His words circle around my head with dizzying effect. No – not his words. It's him, he's circling our bodies while he speaks; a vulture closing in on its dinner. "And if you tell him you ran into me?" James prods. "How much is your freedom worth to you?"

"Viviane." Kiera's voice breaks through my confused thoughts. "You can't be considering this."

I turn my attention to my friend, taking in her wide eyes and flushed cheeks, the clear concern painted across her countenance. "How else are we going to get back inside?" I whisper, as if the low volume will prevent the shifter from overhearing.

Kiera narrows her eyes on Caspian's uncle, bluntly assessing him. "How do you propose to help us?" She interrogates, "Is there another way into the house?"

"There might be." He concedes.

"Then help us by telling us where it is." Kiera demands. "There's no need for you to actually come with us – or vise versa."

"I would." He frowns, "But you'll never find it without me, and you may need more help distracting the guards once you're inside."

My friend vigorously shakes her head. "This is insane. If we get caught, we get caught." She states simply. "Caspian loves you, he wouldn't do anything that would truly make you miserable, even for the sake of safety."

James's laugh is cold and unfeeling. "You don't know what you're talking about, lynx." He drawls. "Caspian is an Alpha who attacked his own father for getting between him and Viviane. He very nearly killed another wolf for laying a hand on her, and has kept her locked up in that mansion for weeks."

"He's the sort of wolf who would go to war over his mate, who would go to any lengths to keep her safe." James explains, "Her happiness is nothing compared to her safety. Not in his eyes."

Gods. As much as I want to argue with him, as much as I want to defend Caspian, I can't. I know Caspian cares about my happiness – James is wrong about that much – but everything I've experienced so far confirms the rest of his statement. Caspian considers my safety paramount, and he's already proved the lengths he'll go to in order to guarantee it.

I love him, but his Alpha genes are too strong. He bulldozed over my wishes when it came to moving into the Pack House, just like he refused to listen to me when I rejected his advances after we met. I trust that he'll take care of me, but I don't trust that he'll give me what I want.

Maybe Kiera's right. Maybe I am stupid. Maybe I've lost my mind.

Or maybe I've simply been through too many changes to comprehend in the last few weeks, and I can't bear to stand passively by while another storm sweeps me off my feet. I know I didn't have many opportunities or choices before, but at least they were mine to make.

I think I really will go crazy if I don't find a way to take some control back in my life – even if my decision is a mistake. What's more, I'm so angry with Caspian for taking over my life this way, that I can't help rebelling.

Inhaling a deep breath, I square my shoulders, and face James head on. "Show us the secret entrance."