Chapter 64

Chills were still sweeping down my body as I approached Ryan's. I made sure that no one was following me, but I was extremely paranoid after how Jennifer was staring at me. What had she seen? What could she guess?

Ryan opened his door to me as soon as I was about to knock. I breezed by him with a delicate kiss, but I could sense that something was bothering him too. We circled each other, both of us wound up and ready to talk.

"What happened?" Ryan finally said.

"Jennifer invited me over again, and she wants me to be a blood provider for Jacob. She's a little desperate now, so I think his health must be really bad." I did not mention the last part of the conversation about my mother and how Jennifer seemed suspicious of me.

Ryan was nodding, the severity of his gaze lightened. "I was offered Diana. They had this embarrassing spectacle to present her to me…"

My forehead was burning hot all of the sudden.

Ryan continued, "I refused officially because I said I would find another, and I felt nothing about her. Apparently, they also were very concerned to have an Alpha candidate in place. It seems that they know Jacob is on the down turn as well."

Even though relief spread through me at his words, I still asked, "Was Diana ok?"

He was shaking his head, "She looked in poor health. I did see a strange vision of her… there was a golden bowl and her blood draining from her wrist. But she doesn't appear imprisoned. Could they have her consent? Or have bribed her somehow?"

The image of my death with the golden bowl beneath me flashed through my weary mind. I could not imagine that anyone would agree to be a secret blood provider, but I had refused the offer. "Clearly, Jennifer is not above bribing. That is what she did to me, and Diana is always with her, so I would guess it must be like that."

It all unsettled me. I had wanted to swoop in and save whomever they imprisoned, but it was more complicated if they'd bribed her or convinced her that it was a good idea somehow.

He added, "It's against the pact. If we could prove it and tell the elders, Jacob would not have to die before he was no longer the Alpha."

"That would be better for me. I want him to know his wrongdoing." I said. "Dying would be fine, but he would never know any justice for his ways."

"Do you think that we could prove it?" He asked.

I shrugged, pacing in front of him. My mind blurred to consider how the elders or the entire pack could turn against us if they assumed we falsely accused their Alpha. Jacob and Jennifer would deny anything. It could turn out badly for us.

"I think if we have absolute irrefutable proof. We should bring it up to the elders. But only in that instance. I do not want them to turn against us at the last minute, and risk everything we've been working towards. You finally have a place in the pack of your birth and with your family."

I touched his face- the face I'd grown to love so much. I did not want him cast out again, banished for life on account of my revenge.

"How could we get that kind of proof?" He asked, leaning his head into my caress.

"I can visit him. I met him on the road that one day. Maybe I can convince Jennifer to allow it, and then I can see firsthand how ill he actually is. I can see if he will confess anything."

"Yes, but if no one believes that he confessed to you."

"We will need to get someone else there who they will believe."

"An elder? I can't imagine that anyone of them would escort you there. No offense." He said.

I was shaking my head. "I agree that no elder would come with me, but what about a certain granddaughter to an elder? Know any of those?"

He glanced down. "Last time I saw Stephanie, she was very upset. I'm not sure why, but she might agree to go with you."

"She would if you ask her." I urged.

He was shaking his head. "I'm not sure about asking her for that."

"Wouldn't she be a credible witness? Her grandfather might believe her."

"Probably." He said. "I'm just not sure about putting her in any kind of danger."

"I won't let anything happen to her, besides with her social standing, you really think Jennifer might do anything to her?"

He eyed me, "She did to her own sister."

"Good point. Well, do you have anyone else in mind?" I said, a little disappointed. "I don't think that me going there alone and hope that he confessed will do us any good. It's not like I'm anyone to most of the Pack. The elders would not likely believe only me."

"What about Dylan?" Ryan said. "Isn't he still in town?"

"He is…" I said thoughtfully. "And while he's not part of the pack, he is highly regarded. That might just work!" I said excitedly. In reality, I liked Dylan's company far greater than Stephanie anyway.

"Does he know anything about this?" Ryan asked.

I shook my head. "He will be shocked. He knows we wanted some revenge on Crowalt Pack, and he saw a lot when we were back in Starstream, but he doesn't know anything of my history, and only a little of yours."

"He doesn't know that you've been poisoning Jacob?" Ryan confirmed.

"No, I never told him that. I doubt he'd approve."

"Better that he never knows, especially if he will be our key witness."

"And I won't feel strange about asking him to come with me at all either." I said happily.

A tinge of jealousy clouded Ryan's expression for a moment, before he agreed.

"The harder part will be seeing if I can actually visit Jacob. I'm not sure how protective Jennifer will be, perhaps I can tell her that I'm considering her proposal, but first I want to see the Alpha."

"That could work if she's as desperate as you said."

"She is," I added. "I will have Michelle deliver her a message later today, and we will see if we can arrange this meeting for as soon as tomorrow. Dylan can come with me as a witness, and we can hope that Jacob will show his true colors.

"Will you be afraid to face him?" Ryan asked.

"Yes and no," I said. "Yes, because I always feel terror and hatred to my bones at the very sight of him, but no because I need to do this. I want to face him and hear it from him directly. I want him to go down before he dies. I want him to know who I am and who brought him down."

"Those are intense wants," Ryan said. "Risky too. I wish to be there with you."

"Yes, that would be great, but you two are such enemies, I think it would be odd, especially since we've kept us a secret for this long, I think we must just a little longer."

He smiled sweetly at me, grabbing me around the waist, he pulled me over to him. "Just a little longer?" His inquiring eyes were ablaze with passion as he began to kiss me all over my face.

I laughed. "Yes, just a little longer." And we stared expectantly and lovingly into each other's eyes.

"And then what?" Ryan asked as he pulled my body against his.

"Then we can tell everyone. And I will come out as Clan Clark."

"Does that mean?" There was an edge to his voice as if he might cry from happiness.

I nodded, but I could not make myself say it. Still, we both knew that meant I would be his mate. And surprisingly, I was content about it.