"I can't help it," Henry muttered. "He brings out the worst in me."
Edric hid a laugh. He wanted to say the same thing to Henry.
Jillian walked in then, her face worried.
"Dad, please calm down. We could hear you outside, I think the neighbors could hear you, you were yelling so loud.”
Henry flushed. "Okay, I will calm down, but you must promise me something, Jillian."
"What is that father?"
"That you will save yourself for your wedding night. Do not let this scoundrel try to talk you into something you shouldn't be doing."
Jillian frowned at her dad, while Edric hid a smirk.
"Dad, that scoundrel is paying for your dig, if I remember correctly, and without him, you wouldn't have work. He is also a King, and you just insulted him.” Jillian was trying to control her anger, she really was, but the power started to ooze from her again. Edric put an arm about her waist to calm her. She smiled at him gratefully.
"Well," her dad stuttered.
"Now, if you are done throwing a five-year-old tantrum, can we go have dessert? “
“Fine,” he sighed. “I am sorry Jillian, I am just worried about you.”
“I know father, but I am okay, I really am. Come on, I heard Carla makes a killer cake for her strawberry shortcake," Jillian said and dragged her dad by the hand and outside again.
Nadine put her hand on Edric's arm as they walked outside. "I am sorry about Henry. He is just so overprotective."
"It's all right Mrs. Everett, I would feel the same way if it was my daughter."
"You know one day, you two are going to have the most beautiful babies," Nadine smiled.
Edric nodded, watching Jillian who had turned totally pale.
Edric hurried to her side. "Are you okay Jillian?" he asked in concern.
Jillian had heard her mom's remark, and it had made her suddenly sad.
"I'm okay," Jillian whispered. "Maybe I just need to go lay down for a bit."
"Of course love," he said, and picking her up, he carried her inside and up to his room.
He gently laid her on the bed, as she wiped at her tears.
"Jillian, love, I know it still hurts," Edric said, sitting by her and pulling her into his arms, "but like I said, we have many more years to practice making babies, right?" he asked, kissing her softly.
"I know," she whispered, "it just still breaks my heart, even though I was only a few weeks along."
"I know love, I know," he said. He made her lay down and took her shoes off.
"Don't leave me," she whispered.
"Never," he assured her, laying down by her and pulling her close to him as she cried herself to sleep.
It broke Edric's heart to see Jillian so broken. He didn't know what it was like to lose a child, but he knew that he would do all he could to help Jillian recover, it was the least he could do for his Luna.
He went back outside to tell everyone that Jillian was weary.
“I am sure she is, she has been through so much lately,” Nadine sighed. “But I am glad you are all here for her, especially you, your Highness.”
“I love your daughter Nadine, she is my life now.”
“Good, she has needed someone like you in her life. I can see how good you are for her. I can tell she adores you also.”
She then looked at her husband. “As much as you don’t approve of his Highness, you have to admit that they are good together.”
He sighed. “Yes, I suppose they are.”
Carla handed out the plates with the strawberry shortcake. “I will save some for Jillian. I am sure she will want some.”
She knew that Jillian had been crying over losing the baby. She didn’t blame her. She had miscarried several times, that was why they didn’t have any pups. She wasn’t able to carry them full term.
They sat around visiting, but Emerson kept glancing up at Jillian’s window, and shaking his head.
“Emerson, what’s going on?” Edric mind-linked.
“Your Luna, I have never felt such power. To make us bare our necks to her and it hurt.”
Edric chuckled. “I know, even I wanted to bare my neck to her. She is something else, isn’t she.”
“Have you called your friend yet?”
“No, I will tomorrow. He is always really busy.”
“Knowing him, no surprise. Good thing her parents aren’t wolves,” Emerson chuckled.
“They wouldn’t believe it if we told them what she can do,” Edric responded.
“I wonder if they know about her powers?”
“I don’t know, but I’m not going to ask.”
“You’re right, don’t want to open that can of worms,” Emerson chuckled.
Chapter 24
Jillian woke later, restless, and noticing it was only 9:00, she got up and went in the search of Edric. Not seeing him in his office, she decided to head out back. Emerson and Carla were sitting on a porch swing, visiting.
"You okay Luna?" Emerson asked her.
"I am, I was just a bit sad over my mom mentioning having kids."
"You will have more, I am sure of it," Carla smiled softly.
“About earlier,” Jillian said. “I am sorry.”
“Don’t be,” Emerson chuckled. “I didn’t realize how incredibly powerful you are.”
“When I get mad I can do that,” she sighed.
“You can also make people talk,” Carla pointed out.
“Plus you can heal, and you can see the future. What don’t you do, Luna?” Emerson teased her.
“This,” she said, pointing to her head. “It drives me crazy that I can’t mind link with Edric to see where he is.”
"He went to the airport to make sure that his men were guarding the planes, and to make sure nothing happens to them."
"Planes?" Jillian asked.
"Oh yeah, he owns a whole fleet of them," Emerson said.
"Of course he does," Jillian replied, sitting on an outdoor wicker chair that was next to the swing. She just kept being surprised over how much Edric owned, and how wealthy he was.
"Want to go swimming?" Carla asked Jillian. "The pool is lit up so we can see."
"I'm not much of a swimmer," Jillian admitted.
"That's okay, you can sit in the shallow end," Carla assured her.
"It does sound nice," Jillian admitted, "I'll go get my swimsuit on."
She stood and headed inside, but as she headed inside a vision flashed in front of her eyes. Carla wasn't a strong swimmer either, Emerson knew it, but teasing her, he threw her into the deep end of the pool, and Carla didn't resurface.
Jillian gasped and turning around, she ran back outside. The two of them were headed to the end of the pool, Carla screaming for Emerson to put her down, but she was laughing.
"Emerson put her down now!" Jillian screamed, but it was too late and he threw her into the deep end.
Carla screamed as she hit, and went under.
"Get her out now, before she drowns!" Jillian screamed at Emerson, running to the end of the pool where he had thrown Carla.
"She can swim Jillian, don't worry," Emerson grinned, but then his face turned to a frown as Carla didn't surface.
"She's drowning, get her out, now!" Jillian yelled at him.
"What's going on here?" Edric said as he headed to the backyard.
He watched as Emerson dove into the deep end and moments later pulled Carla out of the water.
He laid her onto the cement and knelt by her. She wasn’t breathing, so he started mouth to mouth.
"Edric, get an ambulance, now!" Jillian shouted at him. He nodded and pulled out his phone to call for one.
“Breathe dang it,” Emerson said, tears leaking down his face.
Carla suddenly took a deep breath, then spit out a whole bunch of water.
“Thank goodness,” Emerson wept, holding Carla to him. “I am so sorry my love, so very sorry. If Jillian hadn’t warned me, I wouldn’t have jumped in after you.”
He then looked at Jillian. "You helped save her Luna, thank you."
"Yes, thank you," Carla said weakly. She then glared at Emerson. "You are in so much trouble."
"Forgive me, love," he whispered to her.
Two men walked into the backyard then with a stretcher and began to check out Carla.
Jillian frowned. The men didn't look right. They looked too scruffy to be paramedics, their outfits too small for them, and why were they there already?
"Edric, those men are not real paramedics," Jillian warned him.
Edric frowned and hurried to the men, who were strapping Carla down. One of them had a needle he was about to insert into her arm.
"Stop, right now!" Edric yelled, his Alpha power emanating from him.
The men whimpered, unable to disobey him. The one with the needle dropped it, and fell to his knees.
"Forgive us Alpha," he moaned. "We were sent to kidnap her when we heard the call you made for the ambulance."
"How did you know?" Alpha growled.
"Your phone has to be bugged," Jillian said.
"There is no way my phone could be bugged, I keep it on me at all times, except at night.”
"Check it Edric," Jillian insisted. He nodded, wondering how such a thing could have happened.
She then looked at Orson who was ready to step in. "Call the cops, tell them to come pick these two up, and let's hope that the real paramedics show up."
Orson pulled out his phone to call for help, as Warren walked to the backyard, the real paramedics in tow.
"Edric, here’s the real paramedics.”
"Good,” Edric said, as he tied up the other two men with the straps they were using on Carla.
The two real paramedics headed to Carla and transferred her to their stretcher, checking her vitals and putting oxygen on her.
"Luna, thank you," Emerson hugged Jillian. "You saved Carla twice tonight. I will never be able to repay you.”
“It’s the least I can do for my friends,” she said, as two officers walked to the backyard. They sure had shown up quickly, but then again, when the Alpha calls you, you had better drop everything and come running.
"Alpha, more trouble?" one of the officers asked him.
"Yes, those two men were trying to kidnap one of my wolves, and I found my cell phone has been bugged. I don't know how, but it has been," Edric said angrily. "I keep my phone on me at all times except at night, when I am asleep. Someone must have come into my room and bugged it."
“Who let the fake paramedics through the gate?” Jillian asked then.
Warren frowned. “Sorry, it was me, I thought they were the real ones.”
“Really Warren? I didn’t know you were that stupid,” Jillian growled. Jillian was mad, mad that he hadn’t been able to tell, mad that her friend had almost died.
“Jillian,” Edric said.
“No, Edric, it is ridiculous. Those men were in stolen uniforms. They didn’t even fit, and didn’t it cross your mind that they were a little too unkempt for paramedics?”
Warren bared his neck to her. “Luna, I am sorry,” he gasped out.
Edric put his arms about her. “Luna, ease up.”
She took a deep breath and then released it, releasing Warren from her power hold over him.
“Sorry, I’m just extremely ticked.”
“Understandable love, but please don’t take your anger out on my men.”
“I really am sorry Warren.”
Warren nodded at her. “Forgive me also, for not realizing those men weren’t the real paramedics.”
Edric was proud of her though. He had never made Warren bare his neck to him like that.
“Why would those men kidnap my mate?” Emerson asked as the real paramedics headed to the front of the house with Carla.
“That is a good question, and I will find out,” Edric promised.
"And how the hell did someone bug your phone?" Orson frowned at the Alpha. "You have that thing on you 24/7. This is not good Alpha.”
"You are telling me. It really ticks me off. I might have to install cameras in the halls to see who is getting into my room."
Warren frowned. "I don't think we need to go that far Alpha.”
"Then tell me Warren, how am I going to protect my Luna and all of you?"
"I am sure we can figure something out, but spying on everyone might not be the answer."
"Well, if you can think of something better, let me know, but for now I want someone to install cameras around the perimeter. Warren get on that for me.”
"Yes Alpha," he said, heading to the house, but letting the officers through the house first, their prisoners in tow.
Wes frowned at the Alpha, watching him.
Jillian noticed his frown. "Wes, what's wrong?"
"Just worried about this whole mess, wondering what the purpose of trying to kidnap Carla is."
"I don't know, but we need to get it figured out.”
“I hope it wasn’t that they thought you were her,” Orson said to Jillian. “Those fake men might have thought Carla was you.”
Edric growled. “That would make sense. Orson, I want a camera on the gate also. This is getting ridiculous.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Jillian yawned then, she was suddenly really tired. Even though she hadn’t physically saved Carla, she almost felt like she had.
Edric saw her yawn.
“Head to bed Jillian, I will be up in a bit.”
"Orson, Wes, watch her room. I trust no one," Edric said.
"Yes Alpha," they responded, following their Luna.
Edric sighed. He was all alone in the backyard. He looked at the moon. “Why her?” he whispered as if the moon would answer back.
Chapter 25
Jillian walked down the stairs the next morning, her backpack on. She had slept soundly the night before, but it helped that she had a handsome man in her bed.
“Warren, do you think the Alpha would kill me if I snuck out to school?” she asked him when she saw him standing in the entryway.
He chuckled. “Probably, but you do need to graduate. I say go for it, just take Wes and Orson with you.”
“Thanks, Warren, just let the Alpha know where I am, he’s still sleeping.”
“Of course, Luna,” he nodded. Wes and Orson were waiting outside for her as she climbed into the limo, Emerson winking at her.
“Sure about this Luna? Don’t want you to get into trouble.”
“What’s he going to do, ground me?” she chuckled.
He grinned and climbed in to drive, Wes and Orson scooting in with her.
Edric woke up a bit later, but Jillian wasn’t in bed. He figured she was in her studio, and he had some business to attend to, so he headed to his office after he dressed for the day. Warren was headed into the house as Edric walked down the hall. Warren walked up to him. "Good morning Alpha."
"Morning Warren, are the men coming today to put in cameras?"
"They are."
"Good. I know Jillian won't like it, but I want some installed in her studio. I don't want her out there if something happens to her and I don't know about it."
"Yes Alpha," he nodded.
"I suppose I should go talk to her about it," Edric said.
"She's not in her studio," Warren told him.
"Oh? Where is she?"
"School."
"What?" Edric roared in anger. "Who took her?"
"Emerson. Don't worry, she took Orson and Wes with her."
"I specifically told her not to go back," Edric growled.
"You can't keep her a prisoner Edric," Warren pointed out.
Edric sighed. "Fine, at least she took Orson and Wes, but I don't like it."
"I understand Alpha, but she is getting restless here."
Edric nodded and headed into his office. "Let me know when the guys with the security cameras show up."
“Yes Alpha,” he said and walked away, glad the Alpha hadn't been too upset over Jilli
an going back to school.
Edric knew he couldn't hold Jillian back, but it ticked him off that she would go to school and not tell him. He hated not being able to mind link with her. She did have a phone though, didn’t she? He would have to ask her about it later.
"We can always go check on her," his wolf said.
"No, I know she needs to trust me, and that won't help. I don't need to be a babysitter," Edric pointed out.
"But she is always getting into trouble," his wolf said.
"Not by her doing," Edric replied.
"I still think you should go check on her," his wolf said again.
At school, Jillian was sitting in class, her guards in the back of the room. The teachers didn't mind having the men there, their presence seemed to be keeping the students in line. Jillian tried her best to ignore them, she did a better job at it than the girls in class who kept turning around and winking and giggling. Orson and Wes tried their best to ignore the girls, but it was hard to do so. There were some pretty nice looking female wolves that the Luna went to school with.
When the bell rang for lunch, Jillian headed to the lunch room. Kimberly and Ruben were in line getting their lunch.
"Hey you two," Jillian said from behind them.
Kimberly squealed with delight and hugged her friend.
"How did you escape the Warden?" she asked, looking around.
"I had to bring those two," Jillian nodded at her guards.
"Of course you did," Kimberly shook her head. "I am glad you are here. You would not believe who is coming to concert here, at our school, in a few weeks, and we have to come!"
Jillian laughed. "Okay, who?"
"Maroon 5, of course," she squealed.
"You are kidding me."
"Nope. Our school is the biggest place to have it, and their group wanted to come and perform a charity concert to benefit homeless pups."
"Wait, what?"
"They are werewolf children, Jillian," Ruben laughed.
Jillian smiled. “I know what they are, Ruben, I just didn’t realize we had homeless ones. Does the Alpha know?”
“We don’t have any homeless pups here, but there are some around the territories, and Maroon 5 wants to help out.”
“Maroon 5, huh? I have had a crush on Adam forever," Jillian admitted.
The Alpha King and his Human Mate Page 20