MISSY

"Maddox!" I screamed. He answered at last; my whole body buzzed at the sound of his voice.

"It's me, darling, but we only have a couple of minutes," he said quickly.

"I miss you! When are you coming home?" I asked.

"Not yet," he answered. "I'm trying, but some things have come up."

"What do you mean? Were you attacked?" Worry flooded me.

"Nothing we can't handle, okay? How is school so far?" he asked.

"Terrible," I told him. He laughed. Oh, Goddess, I missed his laugh.

"I think you're just in a bad mood because I'm not here to kiss that pout off your face," he said.

"I can't sleep. I miss having you next to me," I told him. I didn't want to upset him, but it was true.

"When I get back, we can sleep a whole day. We'll go straight to bed, and I'll hold you the whole time," he promised. "I'm having trouble, too."

"Maddox, how much longer? Please tell me you've found something or you're close," I begged.

"Just stay with Sol or someone. I'll be back before you know it," he said softly. "I have to go now. I love you, Missy."

"I love you too," I managed, my throat tightening. The phone disconnected, leaving a heavy ache in my chest.

AZALEA

Liam missed the check-in with Langston and Maddox, but I managed to connect Missy with her mate. Austin said he wasn't too worried about the level of activity they'd seen. Liam and Langston had anticipated a follower or two at some point, but I was concerned about what they'd encountered. I trusted Langston to keep Maddox safe, though, so I remained silent.

With Liam gone, Robert was at the packhouse. Liam left late evening, and Robert arrived early morning. I texted Liam, but he hadn't responded by lunchtime. I assumed he'd asked his father to watch things when they met in his office. Robert spent most of the morning hovering awkwardly.

I kept busy after Lily rushed into my office. Having not seen her or Damien at breakfast, I ensured Delilah and Lucas got to school and tried to focus on work. I didn't want to avoid my best friend, especially with Liam gone, but I couldn't face her after what happened to Damien.

When Robert removed Lily from my office, I saw the hurt on his face. He was hurting, and it was compounded by Lily's pain. Damien wasn't the type to be cared for; he preferred caring for others.

I found refuge in my office after lunch. Robert went to the training grounds with Jacob and Felix, while Azeron stayed with me. I slumped in my chair, sighing heavily.

"You should give him something to keep him busy," Azeron said.

"Any ideas?" I asked. Azeron laughed.

"He needs to feel useful," Azeron said. "He used to be the apex of everything in this pack. He clearly hasn't found his place."

"You're pretty insightful," I said. Azeron shrugged, offering nothing more.

I massaged my temples, searching for ideas. I was on edge with Liam away and had no patience for Robert's usual opinions.

I gave up temporarily and checked my email. My wireless mouse was dead. Searching my desk drawer for batteries, I found the envelope from the law office.

The key inside gave me an idea. Perhaps I could send Robert on an errand. It was Friday; I could use the excuse of spending Saturday with the kids while he retrieved the contents of the box.

I called Liam. Just as I thought it would go to voicemail, he answered. "Azalea," he said quickly.

"Liam," I said happily. I was slightly worried I hadn't heard from him, but I didn't want to bother him.

"Is everything alright?" he asked worriedly.

"Yes," I said. "I just wanted to talk. Did I interrupt something?"

"I can talk for a minute, sweetheart," he assured me.

"Is everything okay there?" I asked.

"Yes, I took care of things. But I'll probably be here another day or two," he said. "Why did you call, though?"

"I had a thought," I said. He seemed disinterested in the vampire situation. "Robert's just hovering. What if I sent him to the city to empty Greyback's safety deposit box?"

Liam was silent. "Liam?" I prompted. "Did I lose you?"

"No, no. I'm here. Yes, have my dad take you into the city. I'm sure my mom will keep the kids. Please take Azeron with you, though. Sorry, Little Luna, but I need to go. I love you," he said before the line went dead.

My jaw dropped. That wasn't my intention. I hung my head, sighing. If I sent Robert without me, Liam might be upset. I looked at Azeron, who had an amused smile.

"I'm sure your father-in-law will feel very useful escorting you on an errand," he said, stifling laughter.

"If only you knew," I muttered.

"I'd be happy to go tomorrow," Azeron said. "I find it quite amusing to watch the former Alpha struggle to be nice to you."

"If only you knew the half of it…" I said.

Lyssa came for dinner, a perfect opportunity to discuss our trip. Robert wasn't thrilled, but Lyssa thought it was best. Early the next morning, I dropped the kids off with Lyssa and picked up Robert. Lyssa's look at Robert suggested she'd threatened him to behave. If only he knew I felt the same way.

Azeron drove; Robert sat stoically sulking in the front. I sat in the back, a sinking feeling in my stomach. I missed Liam terribly, and spending the day with his father wasn't ideal. Liam hadn't called since yesterday afternoon. I hoped everything was alright with Luna Jessalyn.

The drive felt endless. It never seemed so long when Liam and I went to the city. He was always beside me, holding my hand. Liam made everything easy. I wished he were here.

At the bank, Azeron parked and turned to me. "Luna, if you don't mind, I'll run a quick errand. My mate's birthday is soon, and I'd like to shop nearby. I'm sure the former Alpha can escort you," he said.

"Sure," I said, forcing a smile. I didn't care about Azeron's shopping, but I didn't want to be alone with Robert. His digs stung, though. "We'll be fine. And it'll likely take a while. We'll let you know."

"Thanks," Azeron said.

Robert and I went into the bank. His posture was stiff. I opened the door for him; he grunted a thank you, his eyes scanning the area. I sighed; he was clearly looking for trouble.

I went to the counter to access the box. The banker greeted me. "Good afternoon; how can I help you?"

"Hi," I said. "I need to access a safety deposit box left to me in a will."

"Alright," she said. She accessed her computer. "What was the original owner's name?"

"Norman Greyback," I replied. She typed the name; something flickered in her eyes.

"Do you have a death certificate and copy of the will to prove ownership?" she asked.

Luckily, I'd anticipated this. "Yes," I said, producing the documents.

"Let me get my manager to verify," she said, taking the documents. She disappeared. Robert scowled.

"What's wrong?" I whispered.

"She smells human, but something feels off," he said, scanning the building. There were few people inside.

A minute later, she returned with a man. "Good afternoon. Azalea Blackfur?" he asked.

"Yes," I said. "I'd like access to Mr. Greyback's safety deposit box."

"Identification, please," he requested. I showed him my ID.

"Is there a problem?" I asked pointedly.

"We generally need the will," he said. "I tried calling the law office but couldn't verify the letter."

"The letter has a seal," I pointed out. "And I have the key."

"The key doesn't prove ownership," he said respectfully.

"Give her access," Robert growled. The man jumped. "She was practically his daughter. Will you make this difficult for a grieving woman?"

The woman shook her head. "I'm sure it will be fine," the man said, returning my papers. "We need some forms to transfer ownership, and to assess the fee."

"I'll be removing the contents, so I won't need the box," I said.

"Paperwork first," he insisted. He kept glancing nervously at Robert.

The woman gave me forms and a pen. Robert grew tenser as I completed them. When finished, I handed them back.

"Please take a seat," she said. I smiled tightly and sat. Robert sat beside me.

"You might be overreacting," I whispered.

"I don't like this," he said, scanning the building. "They're putting up a fight. What could Greyback have in there?"

"I don't know. He never mentioned it," I reasoned. "They need to ensure proper access." Robert snorted.

Ten minutes later, a man approached. "Azalea Blackfur?"

I stood. "Yes."

"Follow me," he said. "You have the key, I assume?"

"Yes," I replied. Robert stood to follow.

"Sir, you can't accompany her," he said quickly.

"I will," Robert said angrily.

"It's policy—" he began.

"I'm going," Robert interrupted.

"Please," I said. "My husband asked my father-in-law to accompany me. I don't know what's in the box, so I'd like his assistance." The man looked nervously between us. Robert crossed his arms. Finally, the man nodded and gestured for us to follow.

As we followed, Robert whispered, loud enough for only me to hear, "I think they were trying to separate us. Don't leave my side."