Chapter 57

Alyson's POV

I received a note from Ryan: The Elders shared important news with me today. I need to see you and tell you everything. If I've learned anything from our history, it's that secrets create walls between us, and I want nothing between us.

I clutched the letter to my heart as I paced around my apartment. I wished we could write to each other with love, but we always kept anything written short and to the point without any obvious romantic inclinations.

I could not stop thinking about Diana, feeling sure that the Elders had called Ryan to tell him about her.

The other night, when I'd been with Ryan, I felt more in-love than ever, more desperate to hold on to him. He made promises to love me always plenty of times, but I still fretted over what he might do if he could live as a full Alexander with a blood provider. He could have a Clan Clark she-wolf of his own and be like the rest of them.

While it suited me that he be an Alpha candidate while we take down Jacob. There was something really bothering me about the whole pact between Clan Clark and Clan Alexander. Maybe it was the best way to live peacefully, and I should respect the choices made from the elders over generations. But it all seemed unfair.

Maybe because I was supposed to be honored as a mate, but I was used up and discarded like a dirty pig for blood. That was probably why I had little trust in the pact. It had not protected me.

And now, it seemed likely that somehow Diana had fallen into Jennifer's trap. She really had looked unwell. It didn't seem possible that she could be generally sickly and have the quality blood Elder Fritz boasted about.

Even after his note, I was too anxious to sit around and wait for Ryan to come to me, so I headed out, telling Michelle I wouldn't be gone long if he came. One area of Crowalt Pack territory that I'd avoided completely was the neighborhood I'd grown up in.

Ever since the other day when I'd met Jacob on the private road, I'd taken less walks around the town, and I'd kept to more public spaces where such encounters would be less likely.

I'd never fully comprehended as a little one; how modest the neighborhood of Clan Clark was. It had been normal for me. Now, I walked through seeing faces of relatives I'd long forgotten. I even wandered by my old house.

Another family lived there now. I saw a mother she-wolf with three little she-wolves playing out front. making me ache with wonder at what had happened to my mother and the rest of my immediate family, and Jennifer's cold words that she "did" have purple eyes.

I watched the joy and laughter of these four playing some kind of chase game, shifting to their wolves and wrestling. I wondered what fate these sisters might have, and how they would do at the games to test their blood. Would there be jealousy? Competitiveness between them?

As I watched their joyous play, I reflected on Jennifer and I as little ones. Playing out with our mother like this, having no idea that someday we'd be enemies. It seemed that on some level, the competition for Jacob had started that young, and look where it led us.

Once, Jennifer had been especially mean to me after I tried to keep my toy for myself. She had eventually stolen it away, and called me names when I tried to pry it from her iron grip. I was crying, and mother pulled me on to her lap with a big hug, saying, "You and your sister may look alike on the outside, but you are all heart, and she is all spirit. You are the sweetest little one that a mother could ever have."

Reflecting back, I hated that mother always painted Jennifer's entitlement and bullying as being "spirited." But that was my mother, she loved her daughters more than anything. I wonder what she had thought happened to me.

The family playing out in front of their house had stopped. The mother was walking towards the edge of her yard, "Hello? Are you looking for someone?"

I snapped into focus, realizing that I'd been watching them with glazed eyes as my mind guided me back to moments from childhood. I didn't know what to say at first, but then I asked, "This is a very nice house. Have you always lived here?"

She smiled, but looked a little confused by me. "No, we moved here only a few years ago."

"Who was here before?" I asked, hoping that this was not too obvious.

She said proudly, "Can you imagine? The Luna herself grew up here."

"Oh really?" I tried to sound amazed. "Where did her family move to?"

"When Alissa married Jacob, they moved them closer to his lair. The Luna wanted them nearby, I believe," she said thoughtfully as one of her young pups in her wolf form pulled at her dress.

I didn't know how to respond to that. "Do you know Diana Clark?" I asked.

"Oh yes, she's a favorite of the elders, winner of the games, and companion to the Luna," The lady narrowed her eyes at me. "She's my second cousin in fact."

I could not expect her to think that my presence and random questions were not strange. "Is she in good health?"

"Do you know her? Why are you asking these questions?"

"I used to know her better, but I also met her a few days ago," I said. "She seemed kind of sick."

The she-wolf looked alarmed. "I'm sure the Luna is taking care of her. She's always been of outstanding health, so perhaps she just has a cold."

That confirmed at least that she had not always been a sickly sort.

"Thank you for speaking with me," I said as I turned away from her. "Nice to meet you."

"What is your name? Why these questions?" The she-wolf called after me. Her little ones were howling for more play.

But I had already shifted to Ariana, and we trotted fast away from there. I suspected that she would not try to follow me because of her children. No need for her to know who was prying around. I worried that my curiosity could seem suspicious if Jennifer ever heard about it.

I arrived home and confirmed with Michelle that Ryan had not called on me yet. She was in the midst of cleaning the kitchen floors.

In a matter of minutes, there was a knock at the door and my whole body tensed. Since Michelle was already busy, I answered. Ryan had come. He entered without a word.