b+15 /bbBONUS /b

    bChapter /bb153 /b

    Julian’s POV

    I didn’t want to frighten Alice, so I kept my hand on her shoulder firm but light. Yetb, /bevery other muscle in my entire body was ready. I felt coiled like a snake, ready to pounce the minute Chase showed any sign of suspicion.

    I didn’t trust him on the best of days, and today, right now, was far from that. After what Amber had told me, with someone, likely Olivia, having showed up at Alice’s school to try to take her out of it, I was on edge.

    This only made the instances I saw of Chase and Olivia interacting during our celebration more suspicious.

    I thought I knew Olivia better, and would have never thought that she’d target a child. Even nowb, /bdespite Amber having been so sure that it was Olivia who had done the act, I struggled to wrap my mind around it.

    Yet, with Alice, I wasn’t willing to take any chances. Not with Olivia. And certainly not with Chase.

    Chase held his arms out, as if expecting Alice might run into them. Maybe she even would have if Amber and I weren’t holding her back.

    Chase, noticing, lifted his gaze to Amber, ignoring me entirely.

    b“/bWhat’s wrong?” he asked.

    b“/bNothing,” Amber said quickly. “We’re just being a little cautious today. You can say goodbye without touching.”

    Chaseughed like she was joking. “Cautious? Of me?” A momentter, he must have realized she was serious because he abruptly stoppedughing. “I don’t understand,” he said.

    “Just say goodbye from thereb, /bChase,” Amber insisted. “Please.”

    “This is ridiculous, Amber,” Chase said, his smile starting to waver. b“/bbIf /byou want to use me of something, you can do so, but don’t punish Alice for whatever you think I’m up to. I just want to say goodbye. Who knows when bI’ll /bsee either of you again?b” /b

    Never, if I had my way.

    “bYou /bdon’t need to hug her to say goodbye,” I grumble.

    b“/bbStay /bbout /bof thisb, /bAlpha,” Chase said. “This doesn’t concern you.” He was dismissive bof /bme at bfirst/bb, /bbbut /bbthen /bbseemed /bbto /brealize something and shifted his gaze to me. When he didb, /bbit /bturned into ba /bbre/bb. /bb“/bThis is byour /bbdoing/bb, /bbisn’t it/bb? /bbYou’ve /bturned Amber and Alice against me.”

    b1/2 /b

    +15 bBONUS /b

    I neither confirmed nor denied, just red right back.

    “Amber, whatever he says, you can’t believe him,” Chase said, returning his attention to Amber. “I know bI /bhave a reputation back home, but that’s a version of me that’s riddled with gossip and untruths. You know me better than that. Hells, I’ve told you all of my dark secrets.”

    ncing at Amber, I saw some conflict on her face. rmed, I quickly told her, “I suspect he knows Olivia

    more than either of them are admitting to.”

    That seemed to steal Amber’s resolve. “Just say goodbye from there, Chase. If you are genuine, this will

    bnot /bbe a forever goodbye, and we can hug on a happy reunion.”

    “Why wouldn’t I be genuine?” he asked. “It’s one hug. What could be so wrong about that?”

    “Aliceb, /bI’m sorry, honey,” Amber said. “But you will have to say goodbye to Chase like this, okay?b” /b

    “Okay…” Alice said, confused but obedient to her mother. She was looking at Chase somewhat strangely

    bnow /bbtoo/bb. /b

    It was odd that he was so insistent about hugging her. I was d I wasn’t the only one to think bso/b.

    “Goodbye, Uncle Chase,” Alice said.

    For a moment, Chase just grinned at her. He otherwise froze, as if he was thinking through something.

    Gods knew what that could be.

    I stood at the ready though, uncertain and cautious.

    Maybe he was just offended. Maybe he was saddened to have to say goodbye like this to Alice and

    Amber. Maybe he was being entirely genuine right now.