As I left work the following Monday, I got the nasty feeling I was being followed. So, rather than walking home, I instead got on the tram heading into Blackpool. Sure enough, I spotted Ben's black BMW tailing the tram, and with a horrible, sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I saw Sarah sitting in the passenger seat.
I swore softly to myself, bitterly regretting not asking GiGi to get in contact with her friends sooner. But I refused to waste time with recriminations, and the moment the tram stopped, I hurried off and into the Houndshill Shopping Centre. One glance over my shoulder revealed Ben was parking the BMW, and I grimaced, muttering curses to myself as I made my way through the crowds. It was just on knock-off time for a lot of people, and I prayed I could lose myself in the press. But I already knew Ben would be able to easily tail me, so I decided my best bet was instead to go straight to the service desk.
The lady looked surprised at first when I told her my concerns, but when I mentioned Ben's name, her face went pale. "I understand," she said firmly. "Wait right here, miss." She then made a phonecall, and in about thirty seconds, two security guards came. They weren't the tall, burly men I'd expected, but a man and a woman, both of average height and build. However, I already knew the truth; they were werewolves, and I felt infinitely better.
Ben and Sarah soon came up to the desk, and I took a deep breath to calm my shaken nerves as the two guards stepped between me and them. "That's enough," the female said. "You two are dangerously close to violating the no-contact order, and if you don't wish to leave the centre in handcuffs, I strongly recommend you and your daughter turn around and leave."
Ben glared at her. "You're in my way," he said. "That's my niece, and I'm here to take her home."
"I don't think so," the male guard said. "Your niece doesn't want to go with you, and as my partner said, you and your daughter are in danger of being in breach of the no-contact order."
"We had it overturned this morning," Sarah said smugly, producing her phone with a flourish. "I can show you, if you'd like?"
The two guards shared a look, before the female took Sarah's phone, and her face said it all as she studied the screen. I felt my heart plummet right to the soles of my feet, but the female guard said nothing as she handed Sarah's phone back to her. Sarah just smirked as she looked at me. "Game's over, freak," she said. "I guess you're coming home with us after all."
I took another deep breath. "Ben banished me from Bath," I said.
"Not any longer," Ben told me. "I revoked that banishing once we received the judgement overturning the no contact order. You're free to come home. In fact, I suggest you come home."
"No," I said. "I don't care what the court told you. This is my home, and I am not going anywhere."
Ben took a menacing step forward, but the male guard moved to block him. "That's enough," he said. "The court order your daughter showed us does not, in fact, order your niece to come home. Or did you not pay attention to the fine print?"
Sarah looked poleaxed, but Ben was unmoved. "I was prepared for that," he said. "I had a guardianship drawn up for Charlotte. And since she has no other pack to speak for her, she's required to come home with us today. Unless she wants to be taken back against her will?"
Chills chased themselves down my spine. "I do have a pack to speak for me," I said firmly, heart pounding. "I can introduce you to them."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "How convenient," he said. "You know you're still tied to me, Charlotte, despite you voluntarily disowning your pack more than two years ago. And remember, I only accepted your disowning under duress. I did not give you leave to disown yourself, so unless you can produce a miracle from out of nowhere, then I highly recommend you come home. Or, as I said, you will be taken against your will."
The male guard drew himself up. "I speak for her," he said.
"And who the hell are you?" Ben demanded.
The guard chuckled. "The name's Caleb, of the Whitewater pack," he said. "I hereby declare Charlie to be a loyal friend, and as such, she is under my protection, from now until her last day."
I had to grin despite myself. Of all the packs to claim me, the Whitewater pack was the last one I expected. But since they had now reformed themselves, I felt more at ease knowing I had allies on my side.
Ben's face, however, was dark. "You're a traitor to your alpha," he growled. "You abandoned all his principles, and now you claim to be a tolerant, free-thinking pack. I will not have my niece sponsored by you."
"Oh go blow it where the sun don't shine," the female guard said. "She's claimed, and since I am the Alpha, I suggest you take a nice, long walk away from here. Preferably off a short pier."
Sarah went pale, and my eyes almost fell out of my head in shock. But the female - the Alpha - ignored Sarah, her eyes instead focused sternly on Ben, whose face was almost as white as Sarah's. "Very well," he spat. "Have her. A wolf-less girl is of no worth to me. But be warned; I will not disavow her. She remains a member of the Keystone pack, from now until her last day. And one day, I will get her back, either by her will or by force." So saying, he took out a piece of paper, tore it in two, and let the pieces fall to the floor. But as he stalked off, Sarah lingered long enough to give me a cold look.
"You haven't won yet, freak," she snarled, her eyes glittering with malice. "And once we find out who the hell got you out of Bath, we're going to be coming down on them like a ton of bricks."
"Get lost," I snarled, and Sarah's face went pale again. She let out a small squeak and scurried off after Ben, and I sighed once they were both out of sight. "Jesus," I muttered. Caleb put a hand on my shoulder.
"You okay?" he asked.
I shook my head. "I need to sit down, and give GiGi a call to warn her."
"I already know what happened," GiGi said grimly, having arrived in the last few minutes. "I just spied Benjamin and his daughter leaving, but luckily they didn't recognise me. So just what the Sam Hill happened here?"
"Long story," Caleb told her, "but we're glad you're here. Steph and I are about to get off, so we can all find a cafe and catch up there."
"Good idea," I said fervently. 144Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRmi0AWJcw
