Page 76 of Villainous Fate

“Any questions?” Luca asks, glancing down at his watch before meeting my eyes.

“Is there a phone I can use? I have some things I’d like to get sent up here since I’ll be here for a while,” I stop my sentence, not wanting to burden him with questions I can figure out myself.

“Of course. We have two lines in the house. One is in the Alpha’s office for business calls, and the other is in the main living area. Early mornings are the only times you have any sort of privacy there, though, so if you got a girl back home, you might want to let her know,” he says, a smile forming on his face.

“Thanks. There's no girl, though. I've got my little sister and my parents to check in on. Speaking of girls, though, Deacon gave me a letter for Grace. Is she staying in the pack house? Can you point me to her room?” I ask, looking back toward the main stairs.

He had written a quick note to her before his flight, knowing he would need to find a routine that worked with Grace’s schedule. With the time difference, both of them working, and the cost of out-of-state calls, he would be lucky to talk to her a handful of times over the next few months.

I promised I’d look after her.

“Grace stays off-property with her parents closer to town. She’s probably working at Mel’s diner off Garson Road right now. I don’t think I’ll be able to take you down there today, but if you can wait until tomorrow, we can head out after lunch?” he offers.

“Sounds good, Thanks,” I answer. “I appreciate you picking me up and giving me the tour.”

“You need anything, I’m in 304,” he says before turning and heading back down the hall.

After shutting the door, I look at my new space and mentally prepare myself for the political ping-pong I need to play.

Day one. Check.

Chapter 38

Grace

Luca'snewsthatDeaconhad won the final trial has had me floating on cloud nine for the last two days. I knew he could do it. He spent his last few days before leaving, worrying about getting through each piece of the retreat. The internship is more like what he has been doing here for the last year, so he knew that part would be fine.

We both wondered if Giovanni would be twisted enough to target him while in the trials.

Thank The Fates, he didn’t.

I’ve had to keep myself busy by taking extra shifts and studying in the library to avoid getting bogged down in a what-if game.

What if he dies?

What if he is hurt in a way he can’t heal?

What if I lose him?

The quiet and alone time has been enough to make me lose it.

Thankfully, school is back in full swing, and I’ve been able to distract myself with classwork since returning.

I miss him.

The places he fills in my soul are empty in a way that no Elvis song or cologne smell can replace. Part of my heart is missing, and until he returns, I don’t think I’ll be able to feel whole. Even escaping into my book has become problematic because every love interest bears his face, every passionate kiss is the ghost of his lips on mine, and every happily ever after feels like a sad song playing on repeat until I can hold him again.

Walking to work today makes me wonder when I will get his call. Hearing his voice over the line would make me feel better. I haven’t even sent another letter because I worried it wouldn’t get to him before he left, and he hasn’t given me the new address yet.

Luca mentioned that Stone would join our pack for his internship later this week, so maybe he will come with Deacon’s message. I know they formed a friendship over the last few weeks. Deacon even gave him a nickname, his way of attaching himself. I got Tails because of the braids I plaited every day. Marcus got Captain after Captain America because, from the sounds of it, he’s got a big heart for doing the right thing.

I’m happy that Deacon found someone to lean on when he couldn’t have me. I’ve always known Deacon has some darkness in him. Whether his father put it there or The Fates did it to allow him to be strong enough to survive the life they handed him. He did an excellent job pushing that part of him away, but I’ve always known it's there.

Part of me loves him more because of it. He has the propensity to be just like our Alpha but chooses not to be every day. He decides to love music, to run under the moonlight, and to love me.

My eyes see it as I approach the diner, ready to start working my night shift. Greg’s stupid truck sits parked just outside the front door.

Dang it.

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