Chapter 25

Camilla POV

Uneven shadows were created on the sterile walls by the dim flickering fluorescent lights in the hospital. I stared blankly at my phone's screen while sitting rigidly in the chair outside George's room. My messages to Raymond went unanswered, and every hour that went by without a reply made my stomach turn.

Raymond was tenacious, if nothing else. He frequently called or texted in spurts to demand updates or to voice his ideas. However, today? Not a word. My chest began to feel deeply uneasy.

I could see George and Mira snuggled together on the hospital bed through the window. Even while she slept, Mira's small body served as a shield, her arm wrapped protectively over her brother. A smile of bittersweetness curled my lips, but the pain in my heart persisted. They were my entire universe and the reason I was able to endure the mayhem that seemed to follow us.

Lawrence came next.

My chest tightened with mixed feelings just thinking about him. Pain, rage, and longing were emotions I had long suppressed, but seeing him with the kids brought them back. I detested the fact that he still affected me in this way. I detested the fact that I wanted to think he had changed.

But faith? I was unable to afford such luxury.

I was startled out of my reverie by the vibrating phone in my hand. The screen suddenly displayed a fresh message from an unidentified number. As I read the text, my heart skipped a beat.

I'll see you in the former warehouse on the docks. By themselves. This evening. 10 p.m.

I clenched my fingers around the phone. This was sent by whom? Raymond was the first person that came to mind. Was this his attempt to force a conflict? Was he planning something now that he had learned of Lawrence's return?

I considered ignoring it, but I had a strong feeling that I couldn't. I needed to know if this was for the children's safety. I put out a straightforward response after taking a deep breath: "I'll be there."

In the soft moonlight, the warehouse loomed ahead, its rusting walls and broken windows creating lengthy shadows. The stench of oil and moist wood mixed with the saline tang of the neighboring ocean. Every step I made reverberated softly, the sound absorbed by the vast room within.

I looked around the dimly lighted interior, my nerves frazzled. "Hello?" I tried to keep my voice firm, but it was shaking when I called.

Steps. Deliberate but subtle. A person stepped out of the darkness, and my heart smashed against my rib cage.

"Lawrence?" Before I could stop myself, I blurted out his name.

His face was unreadable as he took a step closer. His face's precise planes were reflected by the faint light, giving him the appearance of the Alpha he once was. "Camilla," he remarked in a calm, low voice. "Why are you in this place?"

I forced myself to look him in the eye and straightened my back. "I could ask you the same thing," I said, refusing to show my nervousness. "Has the message been sent?"

A glimmer of perplexity appeared on his face as he scowled. "What's the message?"

I felt sick to my stomach. "The person who is urging me to come here." By themselves.

His brows narrowed and his jaw tensed as he looked around the room. "No. I didn't send it.

Heavy footsteps reverberated behind me before I could reply. Lawrence immediately tensed up, shifting his body to protect me. A moment before a group of guys appeared, their features hidden by darkness, I smelled the familiar fragrance of wolves.

With a deep growl, Lawrence whispered, "Stay close." He took up position in front of me, obstructing my view of the invaders with his wide shoulders.

One of the males stepped forward and drewled, "Well, well." According to how the others bowed to him, he was the leader. There was a hint of threat in his suave voice. "At last, the powerful Alpha Lawrence Knight graced us with his presence."

Lawrence remained unflinching. "What are you looking for?"

With a chuckle, the leader twirled a knife idly in his palm. "Oh, it has nothing to do with our desires. What you take is what matters. Alpha, you ought to have stayed away. Your return has caused a disturbance.

With my hands balled into fists at my sides, I took a deep breath. "Who are you?" Despite Lawrence's warning look, I stepped out from behind him and demanded.

A sly smirk flashed across the man's face as his eyes shifted to me. "Ah, the beautiful Camilla. I can understand his strong protectiveness.

With a savage snarl, Lawrence yelled, "Leave her out of this." He shifted slightly, adjusting himself as though he were getting ready to battle.

The man continued to stare at me, ignoring him. "You showed up here with courage. But, dear, this isn't your battle. It's between him and us.

Even I was surprised by the vitriol in my voice as I shot back, "If it concerns him, it concerns me."

The man grinned more broadly. "Aggressive. That appeals to me.

Lawrence's wolf was barely visible as his snarl intensified. "I'm going to make you leave in five seconds."

The group's laughter reverberated menacingly throughout the deserted warehouse. The leader took a step forward and pointed his dagger at Lawrence. "Alpha, you're outnumbered. Perhaps you should reconsider your threats.

Lawrence remained steadfast in his position. "To be outnumbered does not imply to be outmatched."

The tense atmosphere in the room was oppressive. My gaze raced about, looking for a weapon or a way out. But the leader lunged before I could do anything.

Lawrence caught the man's arm mid-strike and gave it a violent twist, moving faster than I had anticipated. The man let out a cry of agony as the knife clattered to the ground. As the rest of the group charged, chaos broke out.

"Come on, Camilla!" Lawrence confronted the attackers head-on and shoved me behind him while yelling.

The following moments were a haze of activity. The fierceness with which Lawrence fought was both amazing and horrifying. He maintained his position despite the odds, using accurate and well-considered movements at every turn. But they were too numerous.

One of the males stepped forward and fixed me with his gaze. With a sly smile on his lips, panic swept through him as he moved forward. My hand brushed against something cold and metallic as I scurried backward. The blade.

I grabbed it firmly and stood up as the man attacked. I swung the sword mindlessly, the sharp edge cutting across his arm. With a yell, he staggered back and gripped the wound. My pulse hammered as I held the knife out in front of me, my hands shaking but steady enough to make him reconsider approaching closer.

"Stay away from her!" Lawrence shouted, his voice ringing through the warehouse. He slammed one of the men into a neighboring wall, the force resonating around the room.

The leader, clutching his damaged arm, yelled out to his men. "Enough! Go back!

With a mixture of exasperation and rage on their faces, the remaining attackers paused before pulling back. The leader's face was gloomy as he scowled at Lawrence. "Knight, this is not over. Tonight, you have enemies.

Lawrence remained silent and watched them vanish into the darkness, his eyes burning with rage. He turned to me, breathing heavily, only when the room was quiet.

With a harsh yet worried tone, he inquired, "Are you okay?"

I continued to hold the knife as I nodded. "I believe so."

His fingers carefully removed the blade from my grasp as he took a step closer. With a gentler but firmer tone, he said, "You shouldn't have come here."

"You shouldn't either," I shot back, looking him in the eye. "Why in the world was it happening? Who were they?

His jaw tensed as he paused. "Former adversaries. Wolves who are opposed to my return.

The faint sound of a motor engine reverberated outside before I could question him more. Lawrence's body tensed once again as his eyes darkened. "We must leave. Right now.

A beautiful black SUV pulled to a stop in front of the warehouse as we were leaving. A familiar face was obscured by the dark streetlights as the driver's door opened and a familiar figure emerged.

"Are you going somewhere?" The voice was sharp and chilly as the guy drawled.

As the figure entered the light, my blood turned cold.

Raymond wasn't the one.

Mia was the one.