Julian’s POV

    In the morning, I finished packing up my things. With how long I’d stayed, I hadn’t realized just howfortable I had made myself in this hotel room. I had to go through three times just to make sure I hadn’t left a razor in the bathroom or a sock kicked under the bed.

    When I was confident that I had indeed collected everything, I carried my luggage down to the parking lot and started loading the rental car. The train station was a drop–off point for the rental agency, which was perfect for me. I could return the car before getting on the train.

    A train was not my preferred way to travel. It was too slow and too open. I could buy every ticket for the train, hoping to keep it just us, but still there would be people milling around the train station, and it would be so easy to get on and off without being seen.

    I had tried to voice my concerns to Amber, but she and Alice often traveled by train in my absence, it seemed. I would indulge her for now, but I already had my private jet on standby, just in case she changed her mind.

    As I lifted thest of my luggage into the truck, a hand touched my arm, stopping me before I could m the trunk lid closed. I already knew who those long, red fingernails belonged to without even needing to look.

    “I’m asking you once more, Julian,” Olivia said. “For the good of the pack you are neglecting, please return home with me.

    I imagined without me here that she wouldn’t feel the need to bother this town anymore and would return to my pack.

    I supposed I shouldn’t have been surprised that she would try once more with me.

    “I haven’t finished what I set out to do,” I said.

    “Reim Amber?i” /iOlivia said. She was attempting to keep her tone light but there was a hint of disgusted usation in there.

    “I came here with a project proposal,” I said. “I have yet to see that through.”

    Yes, winning Amber back and spending time with Alice had also been parts of that n. Big parts. But initially, I did break the ice by presenting that proposal. We were going to help the less fortunate. I wasn’t going to back out now, for any reason.

    “Please reconsider, Julian,” Olivia said.

    b“/bI’ve made up my mind.”

    b“/bI just… I have a bad feeling about all this. Like something is going to happen,i” /ishe said.

    I stilled, looking up at her. “What kind of something?”

    b“/bJust something really bad…” she tried to give me a smile but it was hollow. “You shoulde with me so that nothing bad happens to Amber or Alice…”

    Now that sounded like a threat.

    Olivia wasn’t ustomed to being rejected by anyone, even me. Perhaps she felt pushed into a corner and was grabbing at straws. I knew she didn’t have the gift of premonition. Likely she was just trying to scare me into going back with her.

    What she mustn’t have realized was… By saying Amber and Alice were in danger would only make me

    want to stay by their sides even more so.

    I would protect my mate and child from any and all dangers. There was nothing Olivia could imagine

    that I wouldn’t keep Amber and Alice safe from.

    “No, Olivia,” I told her. b“/bI will keep them safe from any dangers. There is nothing to fear.”

    I firmly removed my arm from her hand, closed the lid of the trunk, and moved to the driver’s side door.

    Olivia watched me for a moment, yet just as I was pulling the door open, she spoke, “Like you kept me safe that night our unborn baby died?”

    I froze again, as a familiar guilt bubbled up inside of me.

    This time, knowing Amber and Alice were waiting for me, I was able to push through it.

    b“/bI’m sorry that happened, Olivia. Truly. But it doesn’t change what I need to do now.”

    I opened the door and got into the car.

    “Julian!” she said as I mmed the door closed. She stood there, watching, as I started the ignition and put the car in drive, leaving the parking lot, the hotel, and Olivia behind.

    Amber’s POV

    Anna drove Alice and me to the train station. After pulling into one of the temporary loading/unloading spots, she came around to help us pull our luggage out of the trunk. Once that was done, she pulled me into ba /btight hug, and then knelt down to do the same to Alice.

    It’d been a while since we’d been separated, but I knew it was only temporary. And there was no one bI /btrusted to keep an eye on the clinic and things here than Anna. Also, I knew she would call me the moment there was any issue, should one ur in my absence.

    Standing again, she smiled. “Have fun, okayb? /bYou’ve been working yourself bto /bthe bone since… well…”

    b2/3 /b

    She didn’t say bit/bb, /bbut I knew… Since the ne crash. Since leaving Julian. Since I found out about Olivia

    being pregnant.

    So many bad memories.

    “I’m still working,” I reminded her.

    “You can have fun too,i” /ishe said.

    The train station was busy at all times of day. Most people in this pack preferred riding the train to

    taking an airne, so it was even busier than the small airport in town. As it was also centrally located, it

    wasn’t unusual to see various people from town out on their walks or visiting the nearby parks.

    Thiste morning, I saw Ms. Flora from the school. She was in some exercise clothes, likely taking a

    walk. Spotting me, she came over.

    “Oh! Amber, how nice! I didn’t realize you were leaving now. I’m so happy I get to say goodbye again.”

    bMs. /bFlora was a bit of a free–spirit, somewhat easily distracted, but she was also a kind soul who was

    good with the children. Looking around, she said, “But, oh? Where’s your sister–inw?”

    “My… what…b?/bb” /bTo my knowledge, Julian didn’t have any siblings, and even if he did, Ms. Flora shouldn’t

    know that I was still married to Julian. And even if she did know that too, why would she bring that up

    nowb? /b

    “Oh! She came by the school yesterday to collect Alice for you, but, of course, you’d already collected Alice

    yourself.”

    My blood started to run cold. I repeated, for my own sake, because I couldn’t quite believe what she was telling me. “Someone came to take Alice out of school?”

    “Your sister–inw, yes,” Ms. Flora continued, as friendly as before, not seeing the shift in me as I

    suddenly tensed all the way from the top of my head to my toes. “Between us, she seems a little high- strung. Hopefully this trip will be able to help her to rxb./bb” /b

    b“/bMs. Flora,” I said, trying to remain calm. She was a nice woman who meant well. What I needed was information. “I need you to tell me everything that happened when this woman came to the school. And…

    I need you to tell me what she looked like.”

    As Ms. Flora described her, I knew immediately who it was.

    That sounded exactly like Olivia.

    b3/3 /b