Page 4 of Knot in My Wildest Dreams: Part 2
“Yes, the guy who got canned from Harringday. The docs are legit, and I’m sure with all the proof you have that everything will add up.”
“You got them from him directly? Is there any way you can get me in contact with him? The reason I ask is because he could be a witness to what she’s done.” I said, pacing slowly. Elijah ran a hand through his hair, frustrated.
“Yes! But I don’t know where he is currently. Anyway, it shouldn’t matter! You have more than enough evidence already. I mean, come on Dante, she killed your family!” He was getting agitated, and I bit back the pain that threatened to take over my chest. “Seriously, what are you waiting for? Get it out now before she finds out and figures out a way to get around this! She could put a target on you next! You know that!” He said, his voice exasperated as he watched me.
“Elijah, I get it more than you could possibly know. But I have to do this right. I’m struggling with the pack right now. They found out the truth about the kidnapping.” I said, letting the bomb drop as Elijah stood up straight, his face cringing.
He’d been instrumental in helping us procure a pack of mercenaries to prevent Celeste from making it to the vote. I’d kept the others in the dark about the plan, letting Elijah handle everything. The less we knew, the better. If we were caught, their knowledge of the plan would have put all of us in legal jeopardy. Elijah was willing to organize it to take the fall.
But I knew more than I let on to my pack. All they knew was that she wouldn't make the vote. I’d been okay with her being kidnaped, and I wanted to make sure it was done right. Despite the whole ordeal having gone wrong, I never admitted to my pack that I was more knowledgeable about what happened than I let on. Now that they found out I’d withheld information, we were fractured.
“Fuck. What did they say?” Elijah softened at my words, and I hated the pity.
“Well, they aren’t happy about it. Now it’s even more important to have a plan before branching off again on my own.” I said, trying to calm my alpha side, which was increasingly more anxious every moment that I was away from Celeste. “So, I need you to get me a meeting with Arnault. Find him, I want to get more information before we act.” I could tell my words bothered Elijah.
“I can’t guarantee I can find him in time. Even so, what will you do in the meantime? If she finds out you know, she’ll destroy all the evidence.” He said, grinding his teeth. He didn’t know Celeste found our documents, that she’d left us. He still thought we hated her.
“She won’t. There’s too much to cover up now.” I replied, and Elijah looked perplexed. I couldn’t blame him, and I felt awful for lying to him for so long.
I thought back to when we were kids. After my mom moved us to the Eastern Province, he’d been one of my first friends, loyal and supportive. We’d been through so much together. And when I lost my mom, he was the only person I had. It wasn’t until I met my pack that I had anyone else to rely on. I watched him now, pacing and giving me a look like I’d lost my mind. I thought back to when he’d become like a brother to me.
I was eleven the first time someone tried to mug me. Back when I was new to the Eastern Province, I took a shortcut through an alley. It was a bad idea. A few older boys, street-hardened and seeking easy prey, cornered me. I swung first. Even though I was big for my age, my designation hadn’t presented yet. I was stupidand reckless, and soon received a split lip and a kick to the ribs as the three piled on. Then suddenly, Elijah was there.
He was just a kid too, barely my size, but he knew the alleyways like the back of his hand. He didn’t waste time talking - he just crashed a broken broomstick into the ringleader’s back with a furious yell.
Even before that moment, I knew he’d have my back always, and this time was no different. He sighed. “Let me see what I can do. I’ll track Arnault down. But try to stay safe in the meantime, alright?” He asked, and I sighed in relief. Soon, I’d be one step closer to the truth.
“Alright. I’ll keep you updated. There’s a lot of moving pieces.” I said.
“She doesn’t suspect, does she?” He asked, his eyes boring straight into mine. I hid my shame as I lied again.
“Of course not. She’s oblivious.” The lie rolled off my tongue so easily that I felt shame. Once this was over, once I could prove she was innocent, I’d tell Elijah everything. He’d then understand why After hating her for years, that I’d come to care about her to the extent that I did.
I got ready to head out, still silently worrying about how to keep the news of Celeste leaving us quiet and still find a way to reach her.
“Thanks, brother.” I said, pulling Elijah in to hug him.
“Always.” He replied, opening the door as I left his place. Now, I needed to focus on finding a way to save my pack, and potentially my mate.
Chapter 5
Celeste
After learning everything I knew was a lie, I had choices to make. I could wait for Pack Lockwood to release the files to the press, watch my name be dragged through the mud and likely take the fall for crimes I didn’t commit. My legacy would be over, and I didn’t know what would become of me.
Or, I could find the truth, fight back, and take back my name. The chances of my doing so on my own were astronomically low, but I wasn’t going to give up.
My uncle had been calling me, and since I didn’t want anyone to know what happened between myself and Pack Lockwood, I’d devised a plan. I couldn’t trust anyone, or let anyone know what was going on until I figured out who was sabotaging me. So, I told him I was fatigued by all the stress from the fake courtship,and that Pack Lockwood and I were at each other’s throats. That I needed to take some time off for a few days. I knew he would be alright with that - he always thought omegas weren’t cut out for work.
I told him I was seeing the doctor and that I would be out of town at one of the most exclusive and private spas in the province. That lie would at least buy me some time. I decided to go silent on social media, put an out-of-office note on my calendar, and make it seem that nothing was amiss. Everyone at Harringday would think I was out of town, and that would make it easier for me to do my investigating. Somewhere, there had to be hard copies of these under the table documents. If the pack was able to find the digital ones, then I needed to find the source.
My first stop would have to be home. If any unaltered documentation still existed, it would be there, tucked away in my private study or one of the other offices. I needed to find any evidence that contradicted what I had found. I still had photos of the paperwork in the pack’s clubhouse, and knew that at least one date didn’t add up, so maybe there would be more. Finding more proof that I couldn't be in two places at once to sing documents would be the first step in clearing my name.
So, home it was. Going to Harringday HQ in broad daylight was too risky. I didn’t know who was working against me yet, and I needed the emptiness of a closed office at night to do my searching in private. I could check the files on the servers there, but I was suspicious about that as well. No one would keep these documents anywhere that would be easy to find. As a last resort, I could ask the Lockwood pack to help me find the originals, butI felt a shiver of disgust even thinking about it. They were the last people I’d ask for help right now.
I checked my uncle’s schedule, and it looked like he’d be in a meeting all day, and when that happened, he was always unreachable. I figured this would be as good a time as any to start investigating. Julian bid me good luck as I put on sunglasses and drove away from their house in the direction of my family’s compound.
On the way, I felt the pull of need from deep inside. It was my omega side, begging to be close to my scent matches. It was awful - my body craved to be near them, and my hormones didn’t understand why I wasn’t claimed yet. Having a scent match without the bonding was going to be a lifelong ache. But when I remembered their words, how they lacked any trust in me - I knew that I had no other choice. I’d live in this ache for the rest of my life rather than be with a pack that didn’t trust me, who didn’t want me to have my own power.
