Chapter 191
[ 1,181 words ]
Third-person POV:
“Angela!”
Rick was taken aback when he opened the door and found Angela standing outside in her nightclothes, trembling in the cold.
“Good Goddess! What are you doing here at this hour?”
Angela tried to answer, but her teeth were chattering so badly that she could barely get the words out. Her hair was a mess, and she looked as though she’d left home in a hurry.
Rick had known Angela for years. She was a strong woman who had always carried herself with confidence. He had seen her upset before, but never like this.
“Rick, I don’t know what’s happening to me anymore.” Her voice shook as she struggled to speak. “Nobody trusts me. Nobody believes anything I say, and now I don’t even know whether I’m imagining things or if they’re actually happening.”
Rick’s concern grew. “Come inside. You’re freezing.”
He quickly stepped aside and guided her into the living room. Angela walked in without another word and sat on the couch, rubbing her cold hands together.
“Just give me a minute,” Rick told her. He had answered the door without a shirt, so he went to fetch one from his bedroom.
Angela was still trying to warm herself when she noticed someone standing near the hallway. She looked up, taking a moment to recognize the familiar face. “Vikki?”
Vikki stood there, watching her. “Hey. How are you?” Angela attempted a small smile. “It’s been so long. Where did you disappear? I didn’t even know you’d started working here.”
She tried to sound cheerful, although she could barely manage it. Vikki didn’t return her smile. She couldn’t tell her that she didn’t work there.
Rick came back into the living room, pulling his shirt into place. He noticed Vikki standing there and immediately gestured toward the hallway.
“Vikki, could you leave us alone for a while? I need to speak with Angela.” Vikki looked at Angela once more before quietly walking away.
Rick waited until she was gone, then took the chair opposite Angela. “Alright,” he said gently. “Tell me what happened.”
***
When Angela woke up the following morning, it took her a moment to remember where she was.
She was lying in the guest room at Rick’s cottage, tucked beneath a warm blanket. Sunlight was coming through the curtains, and for once, she hadn’t woken up with a terrible headache or that strange heaviness in her body.
Even her wolf no longer seemed restless and uneasy as she had been these past few days. She stretched her arms above her head and sat up.
For the first time in days, she actually felt fresh and well-rested. Her mind was clearer, too, and she could remember everything she’d discussed with Rick the previous night.
She had told him about Chris and Ava, the way the servants had begun treating her, and the mistakes she’d supposedly made in the pack documents.
Rick had listened without interrupting. He hadn’t accused her of imagining things or suggested that her father’s death was affecting her judgment. Instead, he’d assured her that they would find a solution together.
Remembering that conversation made Angela feel a little better. She got out of bed and went into the living room, hoping to find him there.
Instead, she found Vikki sitting alone at the dining table, looking distracted. The girl was resting her chin on one hand, apparently so lost in thought that she didn’t notice Angela approaching.
“Good morning, Vikki.”
Vikki straightened immediately. “Good morning, Luna.”
“Are you alright?”
“Yes, of course.” Vikki attempted a smile. “I’m fine. Do you need something?” Angela shook her head and pulled out the chair beside her.
“No, but you don’t seem like yourself. Is something bothering you?”
“It’s nothing, Luna.”
“Come on, Vikki. We’ve known each other for years.” Angela reached across the table and gently squeezed her hand. “You can tell me if something’s wrong.”
Vikki looked down at their hands before quietly pulling hers away. “I’m alright, really. You don’t need to worry about me.”
Angela didn’t insist.
She had enough problems of her own, and although she wanted to help Vikki, she wasn’t in the right state of mind to question her further.
She was still wearing the nightclothes she’d arrived in, and she desperately wanted a bath and a fresh dress. But that would mean returning to the pack house, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to face Chris again.
Perhaps she should go directly to the council instead.
Then again, what would she tell them? That their newly appointed Alpha was cheating on her and trying to convince everyone she was losing her mind?
She needed Rick’s advice before making any decisions. “Where’s Rick, by the way?” she asked.
“He went out early this morning,” Vikki replied. “He asked me to make sure you had breakfast. He said he’d discuss everything with you when he returned.”
Angela nodded. “Alright. Thank you.”
“I’ll get you something to eat.” Vikki got up and headed toward the kitchen while Angela remained seated, thinking about what she should do next.
She hadn’t been sitting there long when she heard raised voices outside. At first, she paid little attention. Rick’s cottage wasn’t far from the other houses, and it wasn’t unusual for warriors to gather nearby.
But the voices grew louder. Angela frowned and looked toward the window.
Vikki appeared at the kitchen entrance, holding a plate. “What’s going on outside?” Angela asked.
“I don’t know.”
Before either of them could move, a familiar voice rang out. “Angela! Come outside! I know you’re in there!”
Angela froze.
“Chris?”
She immediately got up and hurried toward the window, pulling the curtain aside just enough to look outside.
Chris was standing in front of the cottage with several warriors behind him. A few nearby pack members had already come out of their homes to see what was happening.
“Angela, you should be ashamed of yourself!” Chris shouted, and Angela’s eyes widened.
What was he doing?
“I gave you space! I tolerated your tantrums, your insults, and your accusations because I knew you were going through a difficult time. I didn’t say a word against you!” He looked around at the people gathering nearby before raising his voice again. “And this is how you repay me? By spending the night in another man’s house?”
Angela stepped back from the window. For a moment, she couldn’t understand what she’d just heard.
Chris knew why she’d left home. He knew exactly what had happened between him and Ava. And now he was standing outside Rick’s cottage, accusing her of being unfaithful.
“Come out, Angela!” Chris shouted again. “At least have the decency to face your husband after what you’ve done!”
Angela turned toward Vikki, who was standing near the kitchen doorway with the plate still in her hands. Outside, the voices were growing louder as more people gathered.
Then Chris said something that made Angela grip the edge of the window. “Tell everyone what you were doing here all night with Rick Toussaint!”
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