When We Were Mates (Demetra and Emris) novel Chapter 79

Chapter 79

Demetra

“What? He has our territory… the farmland that feeds seventy percent of our pack? You mean the farmland that’s originally ours, the one we have the documents for? The land with livestock, with food that’s supposed to go to supermarkets and feed our people and keep our economy running-”

“Yes. Yes, Demetra!” Slade snaps.

Heat flashes up my neck, and a cold, sick weight drops into my chest. No. No way on earth. The mate I gave myself to the mate I just considered taking back into my life, the same one who kissed me, knelt before me, apologized like he meant it- is doing this behind my back?

Pain curls through my bond in a way that feels almost physical, like betrayal is being shoved into my bones for a second time. The old, ugly I told you so voice hisses at me, and I feel like I might break under it.

“Why?” Sabrina asks quietly. “Why would Emris do this? Is it because of the barghests… at the Alpha Fest?”

My knees threaten to fold, and Slade moves to catch me. I pull away before he can feel how badly I’m shaking, then lower myself into the chair because my legs no longer trust me.

“Because…” Slade says, and his voice goes flatter. “He wants to find out what happened to his father.”

I jerk my head up and stare at him.

Something clicks in the back of my mind. I remember Alpha Kael’s body being brought back. I remember that year at Black Covenant Pack which was so miserable. I remember Emris sitting in the shadows for hours, not speaking, not moving, until morning. I remember finding him like that, broken open in a way I’d never seen before, and then cleaning the wreckage of his room afterward.

He was close to his father. Of course he was. Of course it destroyed him.

And now the question that burns in my chest is did we have something to do with it?

Because for all I know, Emris has hated the very idea of the Iron Pride Pack for years. So why rebuild this bond with me? Why fight so hard to keep me from rejecting him if he wants revenge?

Why is Emris doing this to me?

“His father died in our pack-”

“Did our pack have something to do with it?”

“I don’t believe so.”

I push to my feet. “Then I’ll ask Dad–”

“Don’t!” Slade steps in front of me. “Alpha Kael and Dad were best friends. His death hit our father hard. This could bring everything back.”

“Oh, and we should just let our people starve because of that?” My voice shakes, but I force it steady “It Finis thinks we had something to do with his father’s death, then we clear it up. That’s it. So the question is unless Dad had something to do with it. why can’t we give Emris an answer?”

“You’re taking that bastard’s side!?” Slade says sharply. “He’s not doing this because he wants the truth-

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10:20 am

Chapter 79

PPP.

“You’re wrong. You’re only saying that because you don’t know Emris.”

“Yeah? And you do?”

“Exactly. He’s my mate, and I know his weak spots. He wants answers.”

Slade flinches like I slapped him.

“What has he done to you?” he demands. “Because the Demetra I know wouldn’t even stand two feet from that bastard. Yer now he’s giving you gifts? And where were you two coming from?”

“I already told you.”

“No. You’ve told me nothing.”

I lift my chin, anger rising fast enough to burn through the fear. “You’ve been lying to me. Pretending the pack is fine when it isn’t, like it doesn’t matter if I know or not…as if it doesn’t concern all of us. What excuse do you have for that?”

“Both of you.” Sabrina’s voice cuts between us and that’s when I realize my eyes are wet. Actually wet. Tears blur everything. “Listen,” she says urgently, “I came here to tell Slade something the packs need to know right now. Three days ago, there were reports of Loo Fever. Eighteen reports that my brother had to help treat. But this morning, it jumped to over five thousand thousand cases, and there’s no medicine for it yet. I came to warn you not to bring rogues into your pack until my pack has developed a treatment.”

“Got it.” Slade says.

1 ocess it too. What the hell. A sickness and a territory problem? All at once?

“Demetra, be careful, okay?” Sabrina turns to me. “It really affects kids the fastest. Reports show that children have been dying just from three days ago. Adults are holding up longer, but kids…”

“Oh.” My breath rushes out in relief before I can stop it. Good thing, Amira didn’t go to any playdates today.

“Amira is in the house. She’s having a playdate with Luna Skylar’s kid—”

“What?” Sabrina steps between me and Slade. “What did you say?”

“I–I said-

“Luna Skyler of the Sun Pack?” Her face drains. “There were two reports there this morning. My brother told them to quarantine immediately-”

“What?”

The word barely leaves me before Slade is already storming out of his office with a bang that makes the whole house shake I’m right behind him, sprinting through the house and nearly flying past the hall until I spot Amira’s nanny.

“Where is Amira?”

“What’s the matter, Miss Pride? She’s napping. Eren stayed here for the night.”

“My goodness–”

“Is there a problem? Both kids are in Amira’s room—‘

2/3

10:20 am

Chapter 79

PPP.

“Shit!” Slade roars, and my knees nearly buckle.

Se vouchere

If Eren already has it, then what if Amira caught it too? Why would Luna Skyler let this happen? Why didn’t she inform us of this?

I rush into Amira’s room. They’re both asleep under the same blanket, and I rip it off in one hard motion. Slade is already at the bed, his hand to her forehead while I scoop Amira up and carry her straight to the bathroom.

“Amira? Amira, wake up.” I tap her cheeks, frantic, as she groans and starts to cry from being woken too early.

“Amira, you need a shower.” My hands shake as I start peeling off her clothes. I glance back at the nanny. “Call Luna Skyler now and tell her to pick up Eren. Sanitize the entire room, all the toys, everything. I’m taking Amira to the hospital. Get hot water ready, and I need flu soup or something. Maybe antibiotics-”

“Demetra. please calm down!”

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” I yell back at Slade with tears rolling down my cheeks. I keep taking off Amira’s clothes because if I stop moving I might actually shatter.

“My daughter could be sick-”

“You can’t take her to the hospital.” Sabrina says quickly. “It’s easier to catch it there since cases are coming in this fast. She may not even have it yet. If her temperature rises, my brother will come here himself.”

“Amira doesn’t have it.” Slade says, trying to sound certain.

I want to believe him. I need to believe him. But the thought of losing her makes my chest go tight and wild, like I can’t breathe around it.

AD