Wild at Heart

“It’s nice to see you too, Emma.” He smiled like I shouldn’t be angry with him for breaking into my home.

“You’re trespassing.” I hissed. “In more ways than one. Not only did you break into my house, but you entered North pack territory without permission.”

“Quite the opposite, my dear.” He stood and walked closer to me. “I was invited onto North territory by your mate.” Why would Nick invite Reginald back to the pack? And why wouldn’t he at least warn me about it? I guess I haven’t been very open with Nick, so maybe he didn’t feel the need to contact me.

“Did he also give you permission to break into my house?” I asked.

“To my knowledge, this house had been abandoned when you mated Nicklaus. You can imagine my surprise when I found your fresh scent all over it.”

“It’s my house, I’m allowed to come and go as I please.” I gripped the handle of the knife I still held; he was testing my patience.

“Of course.” He held his hand out in front of me. “Oh, come now, Emma. We’re all friends here. Is the weapon really necessary?”

“Sorry if I’m not entirely trusting of people who call themselves my friends.” I refused to give the knife up. Although we finalized our alliance with Reginald’s pack months ago, I still didn’t trust him entirely.

“Nicklaus invited us to stay for the week while we prepare some of my Omegas for possible war.” What made Nick think we’d be going to war? Stefan showed no signs of retaliating after Derek’s death and after a month of waiting I began to wonder if he even cared. So, what changed to make Nick extend an invitation to our so-called allies?

“And you thought my house would make a perfect Bed and Breakfast?” I questioned. Reggie smiled at me, his fangs gleaming in the kitchen light.

“Nicklaus was generous enough to let us stay in a guest house. I get antsy at night and I like to explore. I simply stumbled along your home and thought you’d be up for a chat.”

“Sorry to disappoint.” I wanted Reggie out of my house. I wanted him out of my pack. “Your Beta just lets you go off and roam new territories by yourself?” I questioned. Daniel would never let Nick take a walk in the middle of the night by himself in another pack’s territory. Even if Nick refused to let Daniel go, he would be stalking him in the distance. Would I find Kendrick in my yard if I went outside?

“Nicklaus assured my safety in his pack. If anything were to happen to me, our alliance would be off, and you’d be fighting the South and the West packs alone.” He gestured towards my kitchen behind me. “How about some tea?” He asked. I really just wanted to go upstairs and go to bed, but it was obvious Reggie wasn’t leaving any time soon. So, I did as he suggested and put a pot of water on to make us some tea. Reggie went back to my dining room table and I slid the knife batch into the butcher block. I made us both a cup of tea and joined him at the table.

“So, are you going to tell me why you’re here?” I cut to the chase. I didn’t see Reggie as a threat right now, if he wanted to hurt me, he would have brought his Beta and Omegas. It was clear he just wanted me to stroke his ego for a little while.

“To warn you.” He said as he sipped his steaming cup.

“How generous of you.” The sarcasm coated my words. I was in no mood for his games.

“What happened to our dear old friend in that bunker?” He set his cup down, but his eyes didn’t leave mine. I tensed up, knowing exactly who he was talking about.

“Exactly what you heard,” I started. “He died in the explosion.”

“Oh, my dear, if only that was what I heard.” He gave me an evil grin, but I showed no weakness.

“An explosion went off in the stairwell.” I rehearsed this well with Nick. To everyone’s knowledge this was what happened. “Daniel and Alex went to make sure the other explosions didn’t wound any of the other Omegas. Derek helped me over the hole, and we went to help Nick, but he fell and Derek cut his shoulder trying to catch him. Derek and jumped in after him and helped him back up into the stairwell.” I paused and looked down at my cup of tea. “An explosion from down below went off and killed him.” I brought my eyes back up to Reggie. “That’s what happened. If anyone is responsible for Derek’s death, it’s Jackson. And Nick killed him.”

“Would you like to hear another theory?” Reggie sipped at his tea again.

“No, I don’t. Because whatever you tell me isn’t going to change what really happened.”

“Oh, but it will change how you look at the war.”

“There isn’t going to be a war.” I contradicted.

“Then why am I here?” I fell silent because I honestly had no idea why Nick invited him and his pack to stay with us. “I’ve been hearing from different parts that Nick killed Derek just as he had done with Jackson.”

“That’s not true.” At least I could defend that statement honestly. Nick wanted to kill Derek, but he didn’t.

“I believe you, but that doesn’t matter. It’s what Stefan believes.”

“And what does Stefan believe?”

“The same thing that all the other Alpha’s believe.”

“Which is?”

“That the red wolf ripped out his heart.” I instantly froze. How would anyone know that happened? Nick and I were the only ones who knew what happened, and the evidence burned with the bunker. We went back, and there was nothing but bones. We took those bones back to our pack and buried them with a proper ceremony. Derek didn’t have family in our pack, but we buried him with the rest of them. Nick took Jackson’s bones and put them in the grave that was dug for him ten years ago.

“I don’t know what that means.” I breathed. Reginald’s hand reached up and caught a lock of my hair. He twirled it in his ringer, but he didn’t once lose my eye contact. I could see it in his eyes, he was enjoying every minute of this. I instantly stood, my chair falling backwards behind me. “You should go.” I insisted.

“Very well.” Reginald got up from his chair and politely pushed it in. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Emma.” He moved through my house on his way out like he knew the layout. How much did he go through before I made my way home from the bar? I felt dirty. My skin itched and all I wanted to do was get a shower and let the hottest water peel a layer of my skin off. But I knew that logically I had to leave. With this new information, everything changed. I needed to go to Nick.