Chapter 243
0243
(Lily POV)
James laughed as he responded to a text on his phone. He then put the phone down and climbed into
bed next to me. We were currently staying in a hotel about 25 minutes from West Mountain Pack. The
hotel would act as our base of operations until we executed our final plans.
“Was that Joey?” I asked.
He smiled. “Yeah. I owe him $500.”
“You lost the bet?”
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“Yes. Can you believe it? I thought for sure at least one of them would have some shame. But no, not
only did your mother convince the council to give both Stephanie AND Sheila passes so that they could
go shopping, but they are also getting full hair and spa treatments too.”
I laughed. “I tried to warn you not to make that bet with him.”
James smiled. “At least they will look their best for their destruction.”
“I assume the party is on then too?”
“Oh, yeah. Margie has omegas working overtime getting ready for it. She is calling it a ‘small’ party… just
500 guests.”
I sighed. “It’s amazing how predictable all of them are.”
Now that I was participating, having the pack and council takeovers occur in a big, public setting was no
longer as important as it was before. However, during our planning meetings, we all agreed that there was still value to getting the key players in the same room at the same time. That would prevent the key players from trying to hide or escape when they realized what was about to go down. Meanwhile, our allies would surround West Mountain’s borders in case any of the smaller players tried to make a run for
it.
Notably, getting everyone in the same place at the same time was by far the easiest part of the plan.
Being as predictable as they are/were, we knew that all we had to do was inform Stephanie that James was coming back and wanted to see her. My mother would have a celebration put together in no time
flat.
James’ face suddenly turned serious as he pulled me closer to him in the bed.
“Are you sure you are ready for all of this? I know it is a lot.”
I kissed him gently, put my head on his chest, and then grabbed his right hand, intertwining our fingers.
together.
“I am ready. It is a long time coming.”
“But you know that it isn’t just the council, or even your mother, Stephanie, and Sheila that you will have to deal with. It’s the whole pack. Are you sure that you are ready for all of that? To see your brother, Joey,
Jessica, and all the others?”
“Has anyone ever told you that you worry too much?” I asked him.
“No.”
“Well, you do. I am going to be fine, I promise. Six months ago, I could never see myself coming back. I never WANTED to come back. But this is our destiny, and I believed you when you told me about the Movement and about all of the changes in the pack. Plus, even if were to ever begin to doubt, all I would have to do is look up at your handsome face or touch the mark you left on my neck, and I would
remember. You are the best example in the world of the power of someone to change.
“The best example or the se xiest example?” he asked, as the fingers of his left hand slowly began running
up and down my leg.
“Both?”
“Good answer.”
James leaned over and kissed me as his fingers went between my legs. I thought things were about to
get heated between us, and I was more than ready.
Unfortunately, James then suddenly paused as though he had a thought pop into his head. He began
looking at me seriously again.
“What happened between you, Joey, and Jessica?” he asked.
“Seriously, now you ask me that question?”
“Yes.”
“Why now?”
“Because every time I have asked you, Joey, or Jessica, you all find a way to avoid answering the
question.”
I frowned. “I guess because I am a little confused too.”
“But something clearly happened. Even the Moon Goddess mentioned it. You helped Joey or saved him
somehow. And whatever it was, Rose was involved because that is when Jessica saw her.”
I sighed.
I
“It isn’t that I am trying to hide it from you. It’s just that there is only one thing that I can remember
happening with Joey, and I definitely do not remember Jessica being there. Rose was always so paranoid
about shifting in front of other people, so it’s hard for me to believe that she was. Rose would have
known.”
“Whatever it was, it was a big deal to Joey and Jessica. Will you tell me the incident that you remember?”
I took a deep breath. For half a second, I wondered if I should tell him Joey’s story given that Joey had
chosen not to, but I decided to go ahead anyway. I liked that James and I did not have secrets from each
other.
“As you know, Joey was one of my biggest bullies in school. Jessica and I used to be good friends, and
so it bothered me when her boyfriend bullied me, probably even more than when others did things to me.
I usually just dealt with the bullying without saying anything, because it was important to Rose that we
keeps a low profile. However, one day, I could not take it anymore. I don’t even remember what Joey did
to me that particular day, but I do remember that I was tired, hungry, and frustrated. Joey’s mom was one
of my teachers in middle school, and she was always nice to me. I somehow got it in my head that I
should go to Joey’s house and tell her about what he had been doing. I thought maybe she could talk to
Joey and make him stop.
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