“No? I haven’t really had a reason.” She was also scared of stepping a foot outdoors in case Victor was out there, waiting to nab her, but she couldn’t share that with her sister.
“Just try to leave,” Valentine’s words were undercut with giggles.
“Fine. Talk later.”
Lilliane went to the front door, and she hesitated as her hand wrapped around the handle. With a deep breath, she threw it open and peeked to the left and then to the right. Nothing. She put one foot out the door and tentatively slid her other foot forward, acutely aware that it was sunlight. Victor wouldn’t be able to surprise her out here, but she wouldn’t put it past him to hire human henchmen to do his dirty work.
She took another step and froze when a man stepped out from the woods. She pointed at him. “Stop right there! Tell me who you are!”
“Lilliane, everything is okay.” The tall man waved at her. “I’m a friend.”
“Oh. Who are you?”
“Jasper. I’m one of Atlas’s enforcers. There are a few of us wandering around the cabin. Do you need something? I’ll run out to grab it for you.”
“Why?” she asked, crossing her arms.
“Alpha orders. You can’t leave the house.”
She laughed dryly and shook her head. “Yeah. I need something. Tell your boss or your alpha that I need him here. Now. Right now.”
“Oh. Okay. Are you sure? I’d rather try to help before…”
“I will speak with Atlas.” She stood her ground, hoping Jasper couldn’t see her shaking with nerves. What the hell was Atlas playing? Why hadn’t he told her about the guards?
Once again, there were too many questions and not enough answers.
SEVENTEEN
ATLAS
For the fourth time in five minutes, Atlas’s phone rang. It was Jasper again. It wasn’t an emergency. They had a text code word for that. A call meant Jasper wasn’t sure how to handle something.
Probably Lilliane.
He sighed and pushed away from the table. “Boys, excuse me.”
Nero shook his head. “Sure. Not like we’re here to help you save your mate.”
“I helped you two with yours,” Atlas clapped back. “It’s only fair.” He called Atlas back, and the poor kid answered on the first ring. “What’s happening, Jas?”
“So, Lilliane tried to leave the cabin.”
“Okay … What does she need? Can’t you guys handle it?”
“No. She wants to talk to you. In person. She’s not letting up, Alpha. I feel bad.”
He sighed. Of course, Jasper would feel bad ignoring a command from the alpha mate. It didn’t matter that Atlas hadn’t mated Lilliane. The pack knew who she was to him, and they were already deferring to her.
It was good, in a way. It meant she would fit right in, just like he thought. But it was also inconvenient as hell when he was trying to finalize the plan that would set her free once and for all.
Then he could mate her if she let him.
“I need a few more hours,” Atlas said.
“She’s upset,” Jasper added awkwardly.
“Fuck. Okay. I’ll be there shortly.” He ended the call and went back inside Nero’s office. “I gotta go.”
