Stars Above Lonely Nights — Michael Brown novel Chapter 54

Jax POV:

I stay frozen to the spot for a moment shocked at what Nova and Luca have revealed as my mind races before my Alpha brain tunes in.

“Wait Nova” I start grasping her arms to help relax her, she turns to me her eyes ablaze with fury but I can sense the underlying hurt through the bond.

“Nova this doesn’t confirm anything” I start saying.

“She was with a fucking Hunter in the same area at the same time our parents were killed” she snarls furiously.

“I know love I know” I say calmly, “but she might not have known this woman was a hunter. I mean this lady had covered her tattoo in makeup, you can barely see it in the photo, what if Sophie never knew?”

Seeing doubt flick across her eyes I continue talking calmly, “she might have been tricked Nova. I mean come on let’s think about this logically. Sophie is well aware of the hunters having killed her birth mother, she knows they have been after her own father her entire life and what he went through when they had captured him. Never mind what they have done to your own mother? Kingsley is she aware Novas mother may be alive?”

“I have never hid anything from Sophie, she’s aware of everything” he says quietly.

“I know it doesn’t look good Nova but seriously what would her motive be for being involved with hunters?” I point out gently.

Seeing Nova pause as she takes in my words her anger starts to calm down as her rational thinking kicks in. “Ok..but what was she doing there? She never mentioned to Luca about being near his own pack when they discussed it.”

“I don’t know” I admit, “but I’m not convinced she was working with the hunters. Yes she was clearly spending time with one but I personally doubt her knowledge of that.”

With a sigh Nova sits down in the ground next to where Kingsleys crumpled form is, “dad?” She asks quietly wanting his opinion.

“I know how it looks Nova” he starts before taking a deep breath and steadying his voice. “But I would hope Soph would never betray me, betray us like that. She has seen first hand the cruelty of the hunters and I can’t for one minute think she would be working with them.”

“We need to find her” Nova says looking at me, “Axel?”

“I have linked Laurence asking to send a photo of Sophie to Axel for him to try and track” I inform her.

After a moments silence I speak up again, “what if the hunters were using Sophie? It makes sense doesn’t it, your grandfather knows about Guardian Wolves he knows it’s your birthday. Maybe he was setting the ground works these last few years, if he saw Sophie had attended human college then he could have been planning this all along? Thinking one day Sophie would lead them to you without her knowledge.”

“Shit..” Nova whispers, “oh my goddess.”

“She could be in danger” I point out quietly. “Let’s get to the office, I’m going to find Luca for you.”

Seeing Nova nod as she stands and helps her father I turn and shift bounding into the forest tracking Luca. After 10 minutes of running I can see Reed ahead lying by a small stream.

Shifting I walk up behind him and sit down quietly next to him.

“I get that” I say quietly. “Look I’ve got Laurence sending my brother her photo, if anyone can find her it will be him. I’ve had my border patrols check the territory and there are no signs of struggles, or any suspicious scents. I think she left willingly, and we will find out why. But I think it’s best we don’t assume the worst but also be prepared.”

“You’re right” he sighs. “I jumped to a conclusion.”

“So did Nova, and it’s understandable. They were your parents, you caught Sophie in a lie even if she didn’t lie on purpose” I comfort him.

“If she truly wasn’t involved then she is going to be so hurt by my reaction” he mutters quietly.

“She might be, but if she’s like Nova she will be able to rationalise it and understand why” I say calmly. “Shall we head back? I know Nova is worried about you and let’s face it, keeping busy will help occupy your mind.”

Standing and retrieving a pair of shorts from a nearby tree I hand them to him to slip on before he stands and follows me.

“I hate not knowing” I hear him admit from behind me. “Being Beta, as I’m sure you understand with your role, I like to be in control. Know information on situations I am involved in and those of my pack and people I care about are involved in. Recently we have too many unanswered questions and it makes me uneasy.”

“You and me both brother” I tell him turning and clasping a hand on his shoulder, “but none of us are alone in that. We need to work together to get to the bottom of everything.”

“I’ve been thinking” he says as we start walking again, “if Kingsley put a tracker on Sophie’s phone don’t you think it’s possible the hunters did the same?”

“Yes it is” I reply, “I’ll get Laurence to look at her phone. Let’s get some food in us and we can get to work.”