Chapter 37

Lizzie's POV

The wind still ran wildly through the streets as Lizzie arrived at the front door of Aiden's house. She still hadn't forgiven herself, why did she think that bringing Jack's murdered sister into the conversation would end well.

Lizzie knew that there would be little point in apologising to him, she'd doubt he'd ever talk to her again. Approaching the front door, Lizzie's skin prickled with alarm as she finally notices the quietness of the street. Normally it was filled with members of the pack chatting whilst kids ran dodging between them.

The only reason everyone would be indoors was if there was another,

"Attack" Lizzie whispers, as she quickly surveys the area again. It now made sense why Aiden was insistent that she stay with Jack.

Lizzie doesn't bother to knock as she quickly tries the doorknob in front of her, thankfully it turned fully with the door opening before her. She rushes in, shutting the door behind her in a rush. She turns the dead bolt across which she knew only provided superficial protection against a wolf but it at least helped her heart return to a normal rate.

Looking around, it appeared that the bottom of the house was completely empty, her eyes slid upwards to the bedrooms on the second floor. She had a feeling Jack would be in one of those rooms and fingers crossed she wouldn't have to see him whilst she was here.

Lizzie begins walking towards the lounge room but she can't help but stop when she finds a photo of Aiden framed on the wall. Since her first visit here when she'd spied a photo of Kat and Aiden, she couldn't help but think how nice it was to see Aiden's life captured in photographs hung along the wall.

Most of her childhood photos were stored on her parents phone, never to printed off or displayed.

Lizzie couldn't help but laugh at Aiden as a toddler sitting in his room, with a serious expression that was well beyond his years. Even at a young age Aiden knew that he would be the future alpha of the Norhaven Pack.

She continues to walk further along the wall, passing photos and some drawings, it appeared the Norhaven pack had captured the centuries of Alpha's and their family in one form or another. Lizzie could always tell which male had been the alpha of the pack with most of them mirroring Aiden's serious expression.

Reaching the end of the hallway, she decided to ask Aiden more about Norhaven pack history, looking at the different photos of ruling Alpha's had piqued her interest. She wondered how it first started out.

She goes to head back into the lounge when a photo catches her attention. Stepping closer, she couldn't believe she'd missed it with the light reflecting on it from outside.

It was a photo of all of them when they were younger, they were all sitting by a lake a picnic spread out before them. Lizzie's eyes flit from person to person, she's suprised to find Jack actually smiling, his arms around a girl that she hadn't met yet.

Lizzie swallows as it finally dawns on her who this girl was, it was Amelia Jack's younger sister.

"That was her favourite spot"

Lizzie whizzes around letting out a small scream, a hand clutched to her chest as she finds Jack only mere metres from her. How had he gotten so close without her knowing.

He takes a step closer, studying the picture, completing ignoring Lizzie's ragged breaths.

"Jack I'm so sorry, I never meant.."

He swipes his hand up silencing her, "That was taken one month before she was murdered" He pauses, "Did you know that she'd asked me to come to the lake with her that day but I'd been too busy assisting Aiden that I'd said no"

"It wasn't your fault" Lizzie whispers

"It's entirely my fault" Jack raises his voices. "If I had been there, she'd still be alive today"

"You would've liked her" Jack says his eyes finally meeting Lizzie's. "She was the complete opposite of me, the sunshine to my rainy day. Our parents were killed by Everdale wolves when we were little so I was left to protect her. It was my job to protect her.

Lizzie could feel the guilt pouring out from Jack's every word.  She self consciously reaches out to comfort Jack but he pulls his arm away as if reading her intention. 

"The only reason that i haven't gone and ripped out Henry's throat is because I've been commanded by Aiden to stay here". The honestly of his words alarms Lizzie. There really was a war between two packs and despite her friendship ending with Henry, she still felt completely in the middle.

"It'd be suicide, entering there alone"

"Do you think I care, it was my one job to protect her and I failed completely. If I can't look after my sister, why does anyone think I can protect the future Alpha of this pack".

Lizzie pauses for a moment, never would she have guessed that Jack found himself inadeqaute for the role of protecting Aiden,  "I think anyone can see that you're fiercely protective and loyal to Aiden"

He turns facing her completely, "Which is why I can't ever trust you, I won't fail again and you're the biggest threat to Aiden's safety. Despite ending things with that filth you call Henry, I know your allegiances still belong to Everdale"

Lizzie swallows, not able to deny Jack's words.

"I wouldn't do anything to endanger this pack" Lizzie whispers, her voice going dry.

"That's what you think" Jack says coldly. "What would you do if Aiden announced that he was going to attack the Everdale pack, would you warn Henry or would you let him die"

Lizzie stays silent, she hoped that she would never have to make that decision.

Jack raises his eyebrows as if to indicate that his point was made. He's about to turn returning down the hallway when Lizzie asks.

"Where is he now" She needed to distract herself from the possibility that she'd have to choose between Aiden and Henry. She knew that she'd choose Aiden but she couldn't dismiss the years of friendship Henry and her shared.

"That's not for me to say" he grunts.

"I'm tired of being left in the dark"

"Well show him that you can be trusted and maybe he'll begin to share more with you"

"Isn't that what I've been doing, what more do you want from me"

Jack pauses as he considers her answer. She prepares herself for the snide comment that was going to be thrown her way but she'd couldn't think of anything else that she could do to prove she was trustworthy.

Aiden's reaction this morning to her knowledge of mindlinking still played on her mind, would he ever fully trust her?

"There was another rogue attack this morning"

Lizzie's breath caught sharply in her throat the panic from a few days ago returning to her. She was right.

"Is he okay"

"I'm not sure, remember I'm stuck here on babysitting duty because someone thought it was smart to explore the forest last time"

Lizzie ignores his last comment.

"How often do these occur?"

"They've only started occurring since you've arrived"

A tremor ran over her skin, she locks eyes with Jack but he appears unfazed by this information.

"You don't think it's because of me"

"It appears information has leaked that Aiden has a human mate, you're the one weakness to the Norhaven pack. They sieze you and they've basically seized the pack"

Lizzie can't help the nausea that rises from her stomach, "I need to lie down" She mutters passing by Jack.

She hadn't signed up for this, being the Luna for the Norhaven pack was one thing but having to look over her shoulder for the rest of her life in fear of being murdered. She wanted nothing to do with this.

"Go use Aiden's room" Jack shouts, but Lizzie was already travelling in that direction her feet taking her up the stairs two steps at a time.

It was the one room in the house she knew she'd feel safe in, giving it little thought Lizzie collapses onto her bed and tries not to think about being hunted for the rest of her life.