Lily and James (werewolf novel) novel Chapter 44

Chapter 0044

(James POV)

My parents were not happy with my decision to leave our pack and confront Dr. Hyder in Red River, but they ultimately chose to not try and stop me. They simply demanded that I take a few guards with me as a precaution. Given that Luke was still unwilling to shift or talk to me –and given that the drive would require going through some areas known to be populated by rogues- I agreed.

The drive to Red River took about five hours. That gave me time to think about how I would approach Dr. Hyder and what I would say when I got there. It also gave me some additional time to think about why I

was going to talk to him at all.

Unfortunately, by the time that we arrived at the Red River pack, I neither had a prepared speech nor

answers for why I had felt so compelled to come. Instead, I continued to feel completely, utterly

confused. Those were feelings that were quickly becoming my “norm” lately. In fact, literally the only

thing that I felt sure of was that coming here –and, in turn, trying to find Lily– were somehow the right

things to do.

How wrong I turned out to be.

Before I left, my father called ahead and got permission from Alpha Brett for me to enter Red River

territory. That allowed us to get through border security fairly quickly, and the guards directed us to head.

immediately to the packhouse and up to Alpha Brett’s office. I was told that Dr. Hyder was already up

there, waiting for me.

As we headed to the packhouse, I found it sort-of strange that a Red River guard was escorting us, but I assumed that was just an added security measure that Alpha Brett had implemented for all guests.

I was more nervous about seeing Dr. Hyder than Alpha Brett. I had known Dr. Hyder most of my life, but it had always shocked me that he and my parents were friends. Dr. Hyder was the sort of wolf that could make you pee your pants simply by looking at you. He had a reputation for punishing his enemies and killing wolves without remorse or hesitation. He had been the alpha of one of the most powerful packs in the nation until he took an early retirement so that he could focus on his passion for medicine. I had heard a few wolves joke that Dr. Hyder wanted to be a doctor because being an alpha did not give him enough power, he wanted to be a god.

Alpha Brett was quite a bit different than Dr. Hyder. He was just a couple of years older than me, and I knew him from alpha conferences that I had attended with my father. I liked him a lot. He was really down to earth, and we used to pal around at alpha conferences together. Despite only being in the alpha position at Red River for three years, he had already established a reputation for being a good and fair leader. Had it not been for me spending the last six years of my life in practical hibernation while grieving

When we arrived at our destination, I tried to set my nerves aside. I entered Alpha Brett’s office alone,

leaving my guards and the Red River Guard standing outside in the hall.

When I walked in, Alpha Brett and Dr. Hyder were sitting together, with Alpha Brett sitting behind his desk and Dr. Hyder sitting in a guest chair right in front of him. Neither of them had a friendly or inviting looks

on their faces.

“Well, well. If it isn’t the man of the hour himself, Mr. James Anderson,” Dr. Hyder said in a mocking tone.