Amber’s POV


    I insisted on going with Rafael to pick Alice up from the tutor’s, even knowing my presence could cause trouble. Alice was my daughter, and she might be scared.


    I had to be there to protect her. Rafael wasn’t going to let me go alone.


    So he and I and a pair of his enforcers loaded into one of his sedans and we took the car across town to


    the tutor’s.


    The tutor taught their lessons out of the first floor of their home. It was an older style home withrge rooms andttice work along the wrap–around porch. Typically it was a beautiful home in a quiet


    neighborhood.


    Today, we could barely get down the road for all the cars and news vans pulled alongside it. A massive crowd had formed out front of the building, and though some of the enforcers had arrived before us to try to set up a perimeter to push people back, the crowd was still pushing against them, trying to get closer.


    “This is going to be a dangerous rescue,” Rafael said. He looked at me. “Amber, you have to stay here.”


    “Alice is my daughter.”


    “And seeing you is half the reason people are here. If you try to get in there, you will be swarmed. Please,


    for Alice’s sake if not for your own, stay here.”


    –


    “But “I started but the seriousness in his eyes had me holding my tongue. He wouldn’t tell me this if he


    wasn’t sure.


    I myself wasn’t blind to the dangers around me, but it was difficult to sit by when it was my own daughter


    at the center of the danger.


    “Alright,” I said. “But I wille up if she looks like she’s in trouble.”


    <b>“</b>Just trust me and stay here,” Rafael said.


    With that, Rafael and his enforcers slipped out of the car, leaving me behind, alone. The windows were tinted, so I knew I wasn’t in danger as I moved across the seat to press my face closer to the window to try to get a better view.


    The enforcers pushed through the crowd, making room for Rafael, but his Alpha aura was also strong. His very presence seemed to have people paying attention to him, making room for him.


    With me, he was always kind and gentle, a good big brother. It was strange seeing him like this, <b>so </b>intimidating andmanding. But truly, he was the Alpha that the pack needed. And a man that I could likely rely on in situations like this, where his strength was sure to save the day.


    +15 <b>BONUS </b>


    After a moment, Rafael reached the house. His enforcers stayed outside while Rafael went in. A few


    minutes passed where nothing happened. Then, he reappeared, holding Alice in his <b>arms</b>.


    I held my breath as the crowd started to get caught up in the sight of her<b>, </b>causing something like a <b>frenzy</b>.


    The enforcers were more insistent now, pushing back people that got too close, but the people were also growing bolder, shoving in to try to get closer to Alice.


    I moved my hand to the handle of the door, ready to open it, if only to draw attention onto myself and


    away from my poor little girl, whose eyes were wide with fear.


    She clung onto Rafael’s shirt with both hands in white knuckle grips.


    Rafael pushed forward. He even growled a few times when someone came too close.


    He couldn’t see behind him though, so he didn’t notice when the hand reached out for Alice. He must have felt it though, because he ducked away, but not before that hand caught on Alice’s ne and


    tugged.


    “Let go!” Alice screamed, drawing Rafael and the enforcer’s attention. They shoved back the owner of that


    intrusive hand, causing that person to drop the ne.


    Everyone was startled by the scream, giving Rafael the opening he needed. Clutching Alice to him, he ran the rest of the way. I shoved open the door as he came close, and he dove into the car. Passing Alice to me, he mmed the door shut behind me.


    Alice was crying. When she realized who I was, she immediately clung to me, burying her face into my


    neck.


    “Mommy… I almost lost my ne…”


    “It’s okay, honey. You still have it. It’s okay…”


    I tried to calm her but I was panicked too.


    Gods, I wished Julian was here. He would know what to do and say to make us both feel safe.


    When we reached the safety of the estate, Alice had cried herself to sleep. After helping her settle into one of the spare rooms, I returned down to the living room where Mary was interrogating Rafael about what happened.


    She quieted when I came into the room. Rafael did too, which I found stranger.


    “Amber,” he said. “Alice reacted poorly when that ne was nearly removed. It’s not just a keepsake,


    is it?<b>” </b>


    “It’s not,” I exined. Since they were our family, and especially since Rafael was going to house Alice here for a while, he deserved to know the truth. “Alice has a condition…” I took the time to carefully


    exin <b>it</b>, including how the power of the ne had been greatly diminished after a recent attack.


    Rafael listened quietly, his face stern but steady.


    Mary’s face squished up in disgust. “What kind of healer are you, Amber, when you can’t even heal your own daughter?<b>” </b>


    I hung my head.


    “Mary, that is unkind,” Rafael snapped.


    “She’s right,” I said. “It is my greatest regret, but the cure to her condition continues to elude me. I’m


    hopeful that one of the packs we visit will hold some answer, but so far…”


    Mary red at me, but Rafael was kinder.


    “It’s been a very long day,” he said. “We should all take some time and try to rx. You especially Amber.


    All of this must be a shock to you.”


    “A shock she brought on herself,” Mary grumbled, but she left the room before Rafael could scold her


    again.


    “I’m not faking anything,” I told Rafael.


    “I know that, sister,” he said. “Go on. Go see to Alice and yourself. You both are wee here for as long as you need, even if that turns out to be forever.”


    “Thank you,” I said. Truly, I didn’t know how long we would need to stay. The hotel hardly had the security in ce to protect us now, especially with Julian there.


    Heart sinking, I left the living room and went back upstairs to the bedrooms, returning to where I had left Alice. I didn’t want her to wake up in this new strange ce all alone.


    I had to be here for her.


    But I wasn’t ready to sleep yet.


    Instead, I sat on the edge of her bed and thinking of Julian, checked my phone.


    I was surprised to find three missed calls from him, but knowing he was thinking of us warmed me.


    Could he tell how much we needed him? No, these calls were from much earlier in the day.


    Even so, I still needed him now.


    Dialing his number, I brought the phone to my ear, eager to hear his voice.


    Other POV


    In the Alpha’s mother’s hospital room, Julian had fallen into a deep sleep with the aid of his medicine. In the breast pocket of his suit jacket, his phone buzzed and buzzed against his heart<b>, </b>but it was not enough


    to rouse him.


    He continued to sleep, unaware of his mate’s need of him.


    X