Since there was no sign of Julian, it took me a moment to recognize the person who was waiting for us. At the bottom of the stairs leading from the jet stood a familiar man, Julian’s Beta.


    “Hello, Luna Amber,” he said kindly. “I’m Beta James. We’ve met a couple of times in the past, but I’m not sure if you remember.”


    I did… vaguely. In those days, when I had been Julian’s secret wife, he hadn’t introduced me to many people. Back then, I didn’t think James even knew who I was, or the importance I might have had to


    Julian.


    Now, however<b>, </b>he was looking at me steadily, making clear to me that he knew of the importance I held


    now. His use of Luna also signaled that to me.


    “If you wille with me,” he continued. “Alpha has asked that I take you back to the estate and that he


    will join you soon.”


    I had no reason to distrust James. It was possible that Julian was as busy as I suspected and couldn’t


    leave the hospital toe and greet us himself. But, on the other hand, I had gotten into cars I believed


    Julian had summoned for me before, and it didn’t end well for me.


    <b>“</b>I would like to have more assurance that Julian sent you,” I said. I ced both hands on Alice’s


    shoulders, keeping her from moving forward.


    James seemed taken aback. “I assure you that I am reputable.”


    “Still,” I said. “I have trusted the wrong people in the past, and would not like to do so again. Especially with my daughter beside me.”


    James nced at Alice before looking at me again. “One moment,” he said and removed his phone from his pocket. I watched as he typed in a text thread that seemed to be with Julian, asking him to verify his


    ?identity for Julian’s guests.


    After a moment, my own phone buzzed. I checked it, and saw it was from Julian.


    I’m sorry I couldn’t be there myself, but you can trust James in my stead.


    It seemed legitimate,ing from the number I always used to talk with Julian. This assurance, coupled with the fact that I did indeed recognize James, eased some of my paranoia.


    “Very well,” I said, and allowed James to carry our luggage as he led us to the sedan that was likely to carry us around,


    “You said we are going to the estate,” I said. “Can we not go see Julian at the hospital?”


    <b>“</b>No, Luna,” James said. “I am under very strict orders to take you to the estate.”


    I narrowed my eyes a little. “And if I tried to go to the hospital anyway<b>?</b><b>” </b>


    “Alpha Julian has forbidden it,” he said. His gaze flicked back to me. His smile was friendly but his eyes were asking me not to try anything. <fnaf3d> Chapters first released on Find★Novel</fnaf3d>


    I didn’t think James would forcibly try to stop me, but it was clear he was feeling some anxiety about the matter, which likely meant that Julian had stressed the importance of keeping me away from the hospital.


    That struck me as strange. With my healing record, did Julian think I wouldn’t be able to help his mom? <b>If </b>


    I could look at her chart, maybe I could understand more fully what was happening to her and offer


    suggestions.


    Even if he didn’t want me there as a Healer, I still wanted to be there for him as a friend.


    Although maybe the issue was Alice herself. She had already been through so much, it might cause her undo stress to be trapped in a hospital environment.


    I couldn’t me Julian for hoping to look out for our daughter.


    So I decided not to cause any more problems for James or for Julian.


    I got into the car with Alice, and allowed James to take us to a familiar estate. One whose halls I hadn’t


    darkened in a very long time.


    Julian’s POV


    Knowing Amber and Alice had touched down in the pack and were currently being led back to the estate


    Amber and I had once shared left me restless.


    I wanted to be here for my mother, but just as much, if not more so, I wanted to be home with my mate,


    receivingfort from the warmth of her arms and the feel of her body cradled against him.


    ‘I needed to <i>see </i>Alice too. We hadst left things on an ugly note between us, something that I deeply


    regretted and couldn’t wait to fix. I hoped Amber had talked to her and she didn’t still believe that I hated


    her.


    I would do whatever I had <i>to </i>do to repair that rtionship now.


    For now, I stayed at the hospital, keeping mompany until she fell asleep. I’d started to learn her routine, and knew, short of an emergency, she would likely stay asleep through most of the night, until the nurse checked up on her at three am. That gave me some time to go home and see Amber and Alice.


    <i>So </i>after Mom fell asleep, I started to leave. My family red at me as I walked past them, but I’d noticed even they were taking turns stepping out. No one could stay at the hospital, visiting forever. Eventually


    necessities were needed, showers and changes of clothes. Hot meals and full nights‘ sleep.


    They could think what they wanted of me. I needed to see my family to recharge my batteries. To me, this was as important as eating or sleeping.


    I drove home, perhaps exceeding some speed limits. When I pulled into the driveway, <b>I </b>popped open the car door and jumped out.


    Inside the house, I found Amber in the kitchen, looking through my cabs. Admittedly, they were pretty bare. I hadn’t spent much time here. I spent most of my time at the hospital.


    Amber turned as I came through the door. The relief in her eyes matched what I felt inside of me.


    We both moved at once, closing the distance like the kitchen wasn’t half as big.


    When she was in my arms, my eyes slid closed and I rxed for the first time sincest I had left her<b>. </b>


    Amber held me just as tightly as I held onto her.


    We didn’t say that we missed one another, but I thought we could feel it. Since I hadn’t taken any medicine in a while, I could feel our mating bond thrum happily with our closeness.


    I didn’t think that was all on me.


    Lifting a hand, Ibed it through her hair. She snuggled closer, turning her face so that her cheek rested more fully on my chest.


    “I didn’t like these days apart,” I said to her.


    “Neither did I,” she said, voice more quiet than mine.


    There was much for us to talk through. We had the matter of her newly revealed and newly confirmed lineage, as well as the condition of my mother. I also needed to hear from Amber herself what had happened at the clinic and her attack.


    . But for right now, in this moment, I was content in holding her and forgetting about everything else for a


    while.


    At least, that was what I wanted to do…


    Until I felt her starting <i>to </i>pull away.