Jillian sighed as she wandered the mall, she wished she could go back to before she met Edric. She wished her parents hadn't moved there, she wished so many things. Sure, she did love Edric, but at the moment, he terrified her. She was pretty sure that he was going to attack her. He had shifted he was so angry. Jillian took a deep breath and headed back outside. She needed to clear her head, and the mall wasn't going to help her. She just hoped that the mall security wasn’t watching her escape, but it’s not like they knew who she was to tell Edric. She climbed into the car and left the mall. She wished she had Kim to talk to, oh wait, she did. But if she went to Kim's house, then Edric would find out where she was because he would see it in Kim’s head. She was glad that Edric couldn't read her mind right now. He didn't need to know where she was at the moment. It wasn’t like he cared anyway. He was too busy with Jessy. She wondered if he was going to let her live if he would take pity on his ex-lover.
Jillian drove for a while before the car started to sputter. She cursed. She forgot that Edric only filled the tanks half full, and the tank had only been at a quarter. She sighed and pulled off the road under some trees, next to a huge pond.
She sat in the car for a few moments, looking at her bare fingers. Edric had promised her a ring, but she wasn’t sure she wanted one now. She was sure that Jessy would love a ring on her finger from Edric. She had told him she still loved him. Would Edric come looking for her eventually? She didn’t really care at the moment. Jillian got out of the car and started walking. She heard a creak behind her moments later, and if by fate, the car started rolling backward, and turned right into the pond. Jillian just shook her head as she watched the car sink under the water, only the roof showing. She must not have put the car all the way into neutral since it was a standard. "Dang it, oh well," she sighed and started walking again. She knew she was being careless, she knew she was being selfish, not letting anyone know where she was, but she was so done with everything. She had almost died how many times, her life threatened how many times, all because she had to go and meet Edric and be his stupid mate. She was sure he would move on, that if he didn't kill Jessy, he would hook up with her. Jillian frowned at the thought, did she really want that? Did she really care? Yes, she cared, but maybe Jessy would have her life threatened instead of her. Maybe the creeps would stop looking for her, instead of Jillian, but then again, Jessy was the one who was causing all the problems at the moment anyway.
Tears fell silently down Jillian's face as she headed into the woods. She didn't want to stay on the road, she didn't want to be found, not yet, although if the wolves came this far she was sure they would sniff her out, stupid wolves, stupid life, stupid Alpha.
“Okay, it’s been ten minutes,” Gerald told Carla. She nodded and the three of them headed outside, shifted and took off down the road, following her scent. It ended at the mall. The three sniffed around the mall, knowing they couldn’t go inside as wolves, and they didn’t have extra clothes to change into.
“I think she’s still in there,” Gerald thought to Carla.
“She has to be. But we can’t go in like this and scare the humans, we will wait and until she comes back out.”
Gerald nodded and the three sat down to wait. If only they had known that Jillian was on the other side of the mall, and that was where she escaped from.
Darkness was settling in when Jillian happened upon a small house in the middle of some fields. She wondered if they would take her in for the night, but then again, would they find out who she was and call Edric? Perhaps she would just turn around and find somewhere else for the night, but where?
Her mind was made up for her when she heard a dog bark, and suddenly a dog was in front of her, barking, but wagging its tail at her.
"Shh," Jillian said to the dog, but it only barked in response.
"Joe, who's out here, old boy?" came a man's voice as the front door to the home opened.
The dog barked in response. "Shh," Jillian said, again, but the dog again barked, and licked Jillian's hand.
An older man approached Jillian. "Well, I'll be, a young lady. What are you doing out here in the middle of nowhere?"
"I think I am lost," Jillian told him.
"I would think so, you’re practically out in the middle of nowhere. Come on in, we have a phone you can call someone if you need too."
"I don't know anyone's numbers," Jillian confessed. She never memorized numbers.
"Well, come in anyway, let's get you out of the chilly night. We can figure things out later. My wife Helen just cooked a lovely meal, perhaps you can join us?"
"I would be forever grateful," Jillian smiled and followed the man through the field onto a paved walk and into a small but cozy home. Jillian sighed as the warmth of the home hit her. She hadn't realized she was cold.
"Helen, I brought home a stray," the man chuckled.
"Albert, what mangy creature did you find this time?" Helen asked, walking into the small living room. She stopped short and chuckled. "Well, I suppose you definitely are not a mangy creature."
"No ma'am," Jillian grinned. "I just seem to have lost my way."
"I invited her for dinner, and we can figure out where she needs to go later," Albert told his wife.
"Very well then, I will set an extra plate, come into the kitchen," Helen said and led the way. Jillian followed and smiled as she walked into the modest kitchen. It reminded her of home, not Edric's cold castle, but her parents home, warm, cozy, and comfortable. A small dining table sat by a window, where there were two place settings, and soon to be three. The kitchen was bright, the cupboards white, with bright yellow walls. Jillian looked around as she sat at the table.
"I apologize for my humble home," Helen said, watching Jillian.
"Oh, please don't, it is so lovely," Jillian sighed. "It reminds me of home."
"Do you live far from here?" Helen asked her.
"I'm not sure. I was driving to get away and clear my head, and next thing I know, I run out of gas, and ended up here."
"Well, we can have Albert fill your car up if you aren't too far down the road," Helen said, setting a huge roast with potatoes and carrots onto the table.
"Well, the thing is, the car kind of ended up in the pond," Jillian blushed.
Albert chuckled as he sat down after his wife did. "How did that happen?"
"I'm not sure exactly," Jillian replied. "I thought I put it into neutral, and I got out, and the next thing I know, it is turning into the pond, it was the craziest thing," Jillian shook her head.
"There is a bit of an incline there," Albert nodded, helping himself to some food, "the car could have slipped gears.”
“It probably did,” Jillian nodded, not caring at all. Edric had plenty of cars.
"Well, I have a friend in the next town over who can come and tow it out," Albert said, as Jillian put food onto her plate.
"No, that's okay. I am sure my boyfriend will find it eventually."
"Is that why you were running? Boyfriend troubles?" Helen asked her.
"You could say that."
"He's not abusing you, is he?" she asked in concern.
"Not exactly. He just gets angry a lot," Jillian said.
"Oh, dear, one of those. One of these days he will probably get angry and take it out on you my dear, it is probably good that you are leaving that life behind."
"I was kind of thinking the same thing," Jillian replied as she ate.
"You can stay here with us," Helen told Jillian, "for as long as you need. You are a bit smaller than me, but you can borrow some of my clothes if that is okay with Albert."
Albert chuckled. "Why not, we never had children of our own, it would be kind of nice to have someone here for Helen to visit with while I work in the fields."
"How big are your fields? I didn't see since it was getting dark out."
"Over two hundred acres."
"Do you hay?"
"Yes, and barely squeak by. The taxes are so high, I can barely
manage my house payment and food on the table. I have talked to the Alpha King, but he is so busy with everything else, I think he has forgotten about us little folks.”
"You know the Alpha King?”
"Yes, I take it you do also?" Helen asked her.
"Yes," Jillian frowned.
"Oh dear, you sound unhappy, don't tell me you were one of his concubines."
"You knew about that?" Jillian gasped.
"Every wolf knew about that," Helen shook her head, "but then we heard he found his mate, and got rid of them."
"Yes, that is what I heard, and no I wasn't one of his concubines," Jillian shook her head.
"Oh, that is a relief. So how do you know him?"
"My parents have worked for him," Jillian said.
“But you are human, you smell human, but a very nice smell,” Albert smiled at her.
“You are a wolf then?” Jillian asked him.
“Yes,” Albert nodded.
"What do you know of the King?” Jillian asked them.
“He is a nice and fair king, but he seems to forget about his people sometimes.”
“More than likely because he found his mate,” Helen chuckled. “That woman would have to have balls of steel to put up with him.”
Jillian choked on her potatoes, and Albert patted her on the back.
“Helen, we are eating,” Albert chuckled.
“So honey, what is your name?” Helen asked her, smiling. What she had said was true. Any woman would have to be strong to be a Luna.
“Carly,” Jillian said, that was her middle name.
“Do you go to high school?”
“I do. It was weird finding out the whole school consisted of wolves.”
Albert chuckled. “I bet. But hopefully, you have made some friends?”
“I have,” Jillian smiled. “I am just glad that the King found his mate and quit coming to the school to find girls for his harem,” Jillian shuddered, thinking of Jessy.
“Yes, we heard about that,” Helen frowned. “Imagine being in a harem, that is so wrong. If I was his mate I would be getting rid of those girls so fast.”
“He did, from what I heard,” Jillian shrugged.
“Good, that is just so wrong.”
“What’s wrong is that the secretary dressed as bad as the other girls, hoping to be chosen for the harem,” Jillian snickered. “She was as old as my mom.”
The two laughed. “Oh dear, that is awful. Speaking of parents, where are yours?”
“Home,” Jillian shrugged.
“Do they know you are here?” Helen asked.
“I am sure they do,” Jillian told her, “and knowing my boyfriend he is out looking for me. But he can stew for a while.”
“Did he hurt you?” Albert asked, getting angry.
“No, just scared me to death. He got really angry with me, and so I ran so he wouldn’t hit me.”
“Smart girl. You can stay as long as you like,” Helen told her.
“Thank you,” Jillian sighed, then yawned. "I'm sorry, it was a long day."
Helen scooted back her seat. "Come on, we have a spare room, and you can borrow a nightgown of mine."
"Thank you, Helen, and Albert, a lot." Jillian gave them both a hug and followed Helen out of the kitchen and down the hall into a modest bedroom.
There was a twin bed with a blue and white comforter on it, with a small nightstand next to it, and a few nature pictures on the wall.
"It's humble, but it's home," Helen said.
"It's lovely," Jillian replied.
"The bathroom is across the hall, we share," she said.
"That is fine, and thank you once again."
"No problem,” Helen smiled, then left the room for a moment, and then returned with a nightgown.
"Thanks," Jillian said, and once Helen left, Jillian stripped down, put on the gown, and climbed into bed, sighing. The bed felt like heaven. She wondered as she drifted off, if Edric was worried about her, or if he was still obsessing over Jessy. She didn’t really care at the moment. She was still ticked off at him.
Chapter 32
Carla was done waiting, Jillian couldn’t still be in the mall, could she? She padded around the mall parking lot, hoping no one would see her and call the cops. She didn’t need to terrify anyone. But she couldn’t find the car.
“You two find the car?” Carla mind linked them.
“No, it’s not here,” Gerald replied.
“We had better see if we can pick up her trail then,” Carla said and headed out of the parking lot, the two other wolves right behind her.
Edric was not happy that Jessy wouldn’t confess and tell him who had sent her to kidnap Jillian. She was too terrified, and so he had killed her. He didn’t want her hurting his Luna, again, and then he felt guilty for getting so angry, and Jillian thinking it was directed at her. He had seen the look of terror in her eyes as she had turned and ran. He hoped she had gone back to the hospital room, but something told him she hadn’t. Good thing she had Carla and two guards with her.
He walked into the hospital room, and sure enough, she was gone. “You did terrify her,” Orson pointed out to him.
“I know, but I was so ticked off.” He sighed.
“Carla, where is the Luna?” he mind linked her.
“At the mall, Alpha.”
“Very good, keep an eye on her and bring her home when she calms down.”
“Yes, Alpha.”
Carla wasn’t about to tell him that they had lost her scent. They would just have to find her and fast.
The three of them ran down the road, but Jillian’s scent was gone. All they could smell was exhaust from cars.
“We had better keep looking, she can’t have gotten far,” Carla thought to the other two.
But five hours later, still no sign of her. They had searched the city, and Carla was getting worried. She was going to have to admit to the Alpha that Jillian was gone.
“Come on, we had better head home,” Carla told the other two.
“He is going to kill us.” Gerald said.
“I know,” she sighed.
They went back to the palace and shifted, then hurried into their rooms to change. They walked back out, to see the Alpha, Warren, Emerson, Orson and Wes waiting for them.
“Where is she Carla? And where is the car?” the Alpha growled.
Carla hung her head. “I am sorry Alpha, she left the mall without us knowing, and we lost her scent.”
“You what?” he roared in anger, making everyone drop to their knees.
“We are sorry Alpha,” Gerald whimpered. “We didn’t know she would leave the mall without us.”
He growled again. “We have to find her.”
“Yes Alpha,” everyone said.
Jillian’s parents walked into the hall then, as the men and Carla were getting off of the floor.
“What’s going on?” Henry frowned. “I heard you yelling, and where is Jillian?”
“She’s missing again,”Edric growled in anger. He was more upset at himself than he was with Carla and the two guards.
“What?” Henry yelled. “Are you kidding me? She went missing yesterday too! You need to reign her in better your Highness, or I am taking her home, and you can forget about marrying her.”
“We are going to go out and try to find her.”
“You had better,” Henry replied, glaring at Edric.
He looked to his men. "Warren, come with me, Orson and Wes, head south. We'll head north. Look for the BMW. Carla, you take Gerald and Tom with you.”
Edric’s phone rang then.
"Alpha, it's Detective Campbell.”
“Detective, what can I help you with?”
“I found one of your cars.”
"What was it?”
“A BMW, black.”
“Where?”
"At the bottom of a pond, about 50 miles down the road."
Edric went totally pale. "Was there a body?" he whispered.
> "No sir, there was nothing in the car. But we picked up your Luna’s scent inside.”
"You said 50 miles south?"
"Yes, sir."
"I'll be there in less than a half hour."
"Yes, sir. We'll be waiting for you."
Edric hung up. “You heard him. He found the car. We need to meet with him.”
“What’s going on?” Henry asked, he hadn’t heard the conversation.
“Sorry Henry, they found the car Jillian was in.”
“Oh? Where is it?”
“At the bottom of a pond.”
“No,” Nadine gasped out. “Is she dead?”
“There wasn’t a body. We are going to go and see if we can find her.”
"Can I come?" Nadine whispered, tears running down her face.
"I also, that is our daughter," Henry said.
"Yes, of course," Edric replied.
All of them headed out to the front and into the limo. Emerson hopped in to drive. Edric gritted his teeth as Emerson headed to the site. Why did he get so angry with his Luna? She would probably never forgive him. “I’m sorry too,” Raul whispered. “ But I was so angry at Jessy.”
“I was also, and Jillian thought we were taking our anger out on her.”
“I hope we can find her,” Raul whimpered.
“I hope so too, I will die without her.”
As Emerson drove, a song came to Edric’s mind that the group Kodaline sang that fit perfectly with what he felt for his Luna. “Tell me that you want me, and I’ll be yours completely for better or for worse. I know we’ll have our disagreements, be fighting for no reason, I wouldn’t change it for the world, because I know that the first day that I met you I was never going to let you get away. And I still remember feeling nervous trying to find the words to get you here with me. That’s why I know you are the one, that’s how I know you are the one.”
A tear slipped down his cheek. Jillian’s mom saw it and patted his hand. “We will find her, no matter how long it takes.”
The Alpha King and his Human Mate Page 25