Chapter : 884

She then returned to her phone call with Chester, saying her goodbyes to him before hanging up the phone and putting it back in her purse.

Erik was quiet, and I wasn’t sure if he agreed with what Nan had said or what.

“The longer we wait, the worse it might get,” I told them both after a moment. “I don’t want to risk it.”

Erik pulled up to the villa doors and parked the car. He remained there, still silent, and I couldn’t tell what was running through his mind. His face remained stoic, and his eyes were fixed on the front windows.

“That’s not something we want to risk, right?” I asked; the question was directed at Erik, and he seemed to know it because he glanced at me through the mirror again.

“No,” he said softly. “I don’t want to risk it. But I also don’t want to force Irene to be with me if that’s not something she wants.”

His words came out pained, and my chest tightened.

Without a word, he got out of the car, slamming it shut behind him. I didn’t wait for him to open our doors; I quickly got out of the car just as he reached for the handle, and Nan did the same, folding her arms across her chest.

“So, what do we do then?” Nan asked, staring between the two of us. “It seems we are at a crossroads.”

The door of the villa opened, and Adam stood in the entryway, a frown marring his lips as he stared between the three of us, a skeptical look in his eyes. Like he caught us doing something we weren’t supposed to.

“Welcome back,” he said, bowing his head at me. Then, he stepped aside for us to enter, and we did so.

He shut the door behind us and went back to his post; I shook my head at his retreating form and turned back to Nan and Erik, who seemed to be lost in their own thoughts.

“I want to help Irene the best that I can. I might fail as a Luna, but I will not fail my friend, and every second we wait fails her a little more,” I told them, tears threatening to spill from my eyes. My emotions were getting the best of me, and I blamed this damn pregnancy. “I need you both to be on my side here and tell me that this is the right thing.”

Something surged inside of me, and in that moment, I knew what I was saying was the truth.

“What are you guys talking about?” Matt asked as he came down the steps. “Is everything okay with Irene?”

“She’s fine,” Nan said, trying to reassure Matt, but at the same time, I said, “No.” Matt frowned and looked between the two of us, a small crease between his brows.

“I knew it,” he said, his face twisting into something I didn’t recognize. “You knew what?”

“I knew that something was wrong with her,” he said, turning to look at me. “I asked her if she was okay, but she brushed me off and said she was fine. But I heard her crying almost all night.”

He looked genuinely worried, and it tugged at my heart; we were all worried, but Matt was only 9 years old and shouldn’t have to worry about things like this. I hated that he had to grow up so young.

I put my hand on Matt’s shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze.

“You’ve always been very perceptive,

Matt,” I complimented. “Irene is lucky to have you as her brother. You look out for her, and even though she can’t see it right now,

one day, and she wildthank

you for it.”

He shrugged.

“She and my dad are the only family that I have,” he said softly. “Now that I have a wolf and know how to fight, I want to protect them.”

“Aw, Matt,” Nan said, placing her hand over her chest. “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard.”

I ran my fingers through his shabby hair and then wrapped my arms around him to hug him.

“They are not the only family that

you have,” I told him softly. “I’m your

family my family is

your

and

my friends are your famiontent”

Matt looked up at me with a watery smile.

“Really?” He asked.

I nodded.

“Really,” I replied. “I love you, Matt… your father loves you… And Irene loves you.”

“I love you too,” he said, wrapping his arms tighter around my middle and squeezing

me.

I smiled down at him.

“Now, for once… stop worrying about adult things and let the adults worry about that kind of stuff,” I told him as he released me. Just be a kid, Matt.”

“I’m not sure I know how to do that,” he admitted, looking a bit sheepish.

I let out a laugh.

“Seems we all have a lot of learning to do,” I told him.

He nodded, and then his eyes shifted to mine for a moment.

“Can you do me a favor, Judy?” He asked.

“Of course.”

“Whatever is happening with Irene… save her,” he said, worry still in his tone.

I smiled, determination boiling inside of me.

“I will,” I assured him. “I promise.

I looked at Erik and Nan, who returned my look, and I knew at that moment that our

minds were made up.