Los Angeles Lights: A Hollywood Billionaire Alpha Shifter Romance Page 13

  “Oh, sweetie,” he said, rubbing my back. “She'll understand soon enough. It's going to take time for people to accept this.”

  “I know, but it's hard,” I cried. “I feel like a danger.”

  “You're no danger to anyone,” he assured me.

  “But what if I lose control like Rita?” I asked, looking at him through my blurred vision. “What if I completely go off the deep end?”

  “You won't. You're better than that and you have been doing well during our meditations. I think you'll be just fine,” he said.

  These words briefly comforted me until I looked at the headlines again. As my crying subsided, another knock came from the door and Zack invited his guest inside. It was Jonathan Jones, the man who I had hired when I was digging up dirt on Rita. He walked over and took off his hat, bowing deeply before taking a seat next to me.

  “Hello, Mrs. Ryder,” he said. “How are you feeling?”

  I felt like I would be hearing this question a great deal.

  “I'm alright,” I replied. “I'm just worried.”

  “Well, I wouldn't worry too much. The public seems more horrified by Rita's actions,” he explained. “I understand that your husband has changed you.”

  I nodded.

  “The good news is that no one yet knows of that,” he commented.

  “And the bad news?” I asked.

  There was always bad news.

  “None to report. The only news I have for you is about Rita. I knew about her affliction, but I never told anyone about it. She has been prowling Hollywood for years, hunting down female shifters and leaving a mess that was untraceable, at least by most of the police,” he explained. “I first discovered this news a couple of years ago when I was spying on her. Her goal was to make the male shifters dominant so she could use them to push her career to the very top.”

  “That is quite a story, Mr. Jones,” I commented, and then turned to Zack to ask, “Did she do that to you?”

  A look of guilt crossed his face. Something he couldn't readily hide was sitting at the forefront of his mind and dancing on his tongue. There seemed to be more to this than Rita merely gaining traction for her acting career. What was he hiding?

  “Zack?” I asked.

  Mr. Jones picked up on the tension building between us and stood.

  “I should be taking my leave. Know that you have my support whenever you need it, ma'am. Thank you for allowing me to visit,” he said before tipping his hat and leaving the room.

  My eyes never left my husband. He sighed before diving into his explanation.

  “She didn't quite abuse my powers in that way,” he said with hesitation. “But...you should know I did this out of utter desperation. I thought I was in love with her, but that proved to be mere infatuation with her success. She was so appealing, you see.”

  I burned with jealousy. He had loved her?! This was something he had never told me about.

  “She was such a different person then. Her intentions were noble. She wanted to be a great actress and I wanted to do everything in my power to help her,” he said.

  The more he spoke, the more I perished. It was killing me to hear his explanation and I had a hunch that his next words would be deadly. He licked his lips.

  “I changed her after we had made that video,” he said. “I bit her on purpose in order to begin the process and then changed her after that.”

  Rage. Utter rage bubbled in my gut. I stood and took a few steps away from him, clenching my fists as I absorbed those words. He changed her?? I thought. How could he have never told me that? What other secrets are hidden from view?

  The anger rose into my throat and came out as a verbal assault, spraying all manner of insults in his direction that I could possibly think of.

  “You insolent fool! How dare you keep this hidden from me for so long! Why hadn't you ever told me? Have you any idea how shameful it is to know such a thing?! Imagine the press when they eventually find out this information! For God's sake, Zack. I thought you were my partner! What kind of selfish ass are you?!”

  The words wouldn't stop coming. They flew from my lips before I could even consider their impact and I watched his head sink lower and lower towards the couch. When I was finished, he was lying face down on the cushions and sobbing into the expensive material. It was the same couch where we had made love a number of weeks ago, a connection that now made me nauseous.

  “I don't even want to look at you,” I spat while heading for the door. “Don't bother coming upstairs.”

  I slammed the door behind me, betrayal following shortly behind. What an awful thing to have discovered! The one person who I had loved and trusted throughout our relationship had been hiding this dreadful secret – and so had Rita! It was a wonder she was so smug to me, her words like daggers flying form her lips with every interaction. She felt she was the alpha and I was the little wolf pup just waiting to be sucked in by their ridiculous game.

  I was nothing more than a pawn in play.

  As soon as I had left the parlor, my body began to shift as a result of the intense emotions. There was no stopping it this time. As mindful as I had been, the information had catapulted me into my wolf form and sent me sprinting out into the backyard where I rushed past the maze and straight into the fields. I sat under a tree for most of the evening, ignoring the calls for me in the distance. There was nothing more I wanted to do than to curl up and disappear just like Rita had done. If only I could do such a thing and never be bothered again.

  If only he hadn't betrayed me so deeply.

  6.

  Days went by without us speaking, the time passing dreadfully slow as the weather grew colder. It was chilly outside, but I didn't mind it. My body was adjusting well to the climate and to my change, both of them as unpredictable as my emotions. Nausea had become a daily occurrence and I wasn't sure what was causing it. Perhaps it was a mere side effect. I accepted it as normal and didn't mind it, eating ginger candies whenever a wave struck me.

  I still hadn't told Zack about Mr. Jones and I knew that would likely inspire an outrage. Who was I to react so harshly to him when I was hiding a secret myself? I felt mine was more a reassurance than an act of spite, something done to keep the foundation of our relationship intact. And I needed to know that Rita wasn't trying to steal Zack.

  If Rita was a shifter, she might have been attempting to appeal to his beastly nature. Perhaps that's why she readily accepted the dinner invitation. Maybe she was trying to win him over. I would never know the truth because I never wanted to see her again. If I did, I fear I would make more headlines about her death and my incarceration.

  It felt like my beautiful life was coming apart at the seams, each new piece of information shoving me deeper into a pit of depression. There was no going back from this ridiculous mess. I had said my vows and promised my fidelity which I wholeheartedly believed was still important. I wouldn't leave him. That wasn't an option. I didn't feel like calling Maya to talk because she wouldn't fully understand, and I also didn't want her spreading that nonsense around town by accident. Lord knows she has a bit of a mouth on her.

  Breathing deep, I gathered my thoughts in preparation of confronting Zack who was likely sulking around the mansion somewhere. The doors were wide open when I returned. I heard some shuffling upstairs and followed the sound to his office where he was organizing papers at his desk. He swallowed hard when I entered the room.

  “Zack,” I said. “I think we should have a long talk.”

  I heard his heart pick up a beat and sat in the chair in front of his desk, folding my hands gently in my lap. He looked unsure of how to respond, setting his papers down carefully.

  “Absolutely,” he finally said.

  A silence formed between us, my words coming to my mouth and then disappearing as I tried to speak. It was too much. All I could manage to do was picture them having sex and him changing her in such an erotic fashion. It caused me to cringe. I shuddered, trying to contain th
e contents of my stomach.

  “I am disturbed by what you told me a few days ago and I regret ever having been part of that...drama,” I said carefully, trying to keep the insults from spewing. “But I have committed a grave injustice against you.”

  Tears were coming again recalling how I had called Mr. Jones and even had him in our home. He hadn't a clue how I had formed my friendship with such a mysterious person and hadn't even had time to ask. My insults had shot him down as soon as he had confided in me.

  “I feel despicable for admitting this, but I had Mr. Jones spy on Rita to make sure she wasn't doing anything shady with you. My results were satisfactory, however I felt awful for committing such a betrayal...”

  My words trailed off as I began to cry, catching the tears with my fingers before they could drip further down my face. I waited for him to respond. He squeezed his eyes shut briefly and sighed, massaging the bridge of his nose as the explanation settled.

  “I can understand how you were worried,” he said. “But how could you do that?”

  I shook my head.

  “I just had to be sure. She was such a threat to us, to our relationship, and to our career. You saw what she did to me!” I wailed, shoving my hands in my face. “I can't live with such a secret, Zack. Not when you have hidden things from me as well.”

  “I am so sorry I didn't tell you sooner,” he said while standing. “I should have let you know immediately when she started trouble, but I was afraid it would run you off.”

  “It might have,” I commented, not realizing the weight of those words.

  He stopped next to his desk and leaned against the wood, regaining his composure. It wasn't often Zack was moved to tears, but lately our lives were such a mess that he was constantly red around the eyes. After a deep breath, he dropped to his knees in front of me and hugged my body close. I welcomed the hug. It hurt to be emotionally distant from the only man I trusted in the entire world. His love pushed me forward and inspired me to create. Being without him – even just for a few days – had made me cold and hallow.

  “I forgive you,” he whispered into my bosom. “I forgive you a thousand times over because I love you and I never want you to leave.”

  I cried harder hearing these words. How understanding this man was being during such a difficult time. How could I have been hasty in my response to his confession?

  “I'm sorry, darling. I forgive you as well. I shouldn't hold your past transgressions against you. That's not fair,” I replied.

  We sat for a moment hugging each other and sobbing, the horrible emotions shedding from my eyes with every tear that fell. I rubbed his head. He sighed.

  “No more secrets,” he said while sitting up. “We shall never hide such things ever again. From now on, I will tell you everything,” he said.

  “I will do the same, darling,” I said while stroking his cheek. “We shall hide no more.”

  “Does that mean you will make your appearance in Hollywood?” he asked.

  I thought about the question, wondering still whether I would be well received. Did it really matter? I resolved to revealing my new identity and taking the hail storm of criticism that was sure to come.

  “I will do it,” I said confidently. “And we'll do it together.”

  He smiled.

  “Then, we'll do it right. I shall throw a lovely party to celebrate our return to the scene. How does that sound?” he asked.

  “I'd love to be able to leave the house. I feel like I've been trapped here for ages,” I replied.

  “Of course, darling. Anything you wish,” he said.

  I kissed him with gratitude, my warped emotions finally dissipating. While I was upset about his secret, I was relieved he had told me and I felt like this was the right step forward towards peace between us. Zack suggested a shopping trip to raise my spirits.

  “We should get something elegant for you to wear, and for me as well,” he said. “It will gently expose you to the public and we'll be able to announce our wonderful party.”

  “I think that's a lovely idea,” I replied, still a bit timid about appearing in public.

  “You'll be just fine,” he whispered, kissing my forehead as assurance.

  I hoped so. The fresh air was certainly something I needed and I desperately missed socializing with the general public. It would be lovely to be out and about as if everything was normal, even though it was far from that. As long as Zack is by my side, I feel like I can accomplish anything. We'll be just fine.

  7.

  The trip into town was successful. Much of the paparazzi followed us wherever we went, barreling me with questions about my health and about Rita. I didn't make any formal statements as I wasn't sure exactly what to say. We predominantly ignored the crowds when we left the area, walking proudly to the car with our purchases. I would feel more comfortable away from the ridiculous shouting mess, even though it brought me a sort of joy to have that many people asking about my general well being.

  The nausea that I had been experiencing over the past week or so had taken its toll, causing me to vomit as soon as I woke up in the morning. This prompted me to check my calendar as my period had yet to make an appearance. At first, I thought it might have been the shift that caused this, but its persistence made me worry. I secretly purchased a pregnancy test at the drug store while we were out, making sure to hide it deep in one of the other bags.

  As soon as we got home, I ran up the stairs and into the bathroom where I locked the door and sat on the toilet. My heart was pounding. Each minute that passed only increased my anticipation as I imagined what our life would be like with a baby. Part of me wanted that. I would be happy to have Zack's child, a miniature us who would run around and grow up in the Hollywood scene. They would be admired and loved with all the support in the world. But then I thought of my condition.

  Would our child be a shifter? It made sense considering we were both now shifters, and since we had been making love like wild animals most days I wouldn't be surprised to see a positive result. I was sort of hoping for one at this point. Through all the pain, drama, and wild emotions, having a child sounded like a wonderful gift. It would be the perfect surprise for my darling, a great gift to give him.

  Holding my breath, I stared at the screen of the test until the little blue lines came up. I squealed. It's positive! A light knock came from the door.

  “Darling, are you alright?” Zack called from the other side.

  “I'm fine!” I responded.

  I quickly placed the cap back on the test and stashed it behind the toilet.

  “I'll be right out!” I called.

  When I was done, I flushed the toilet and washed my hands in the sink, thinking of how I was going to reveal this news to my darling lover. I knew I had a gift bag somewhere. I'd have to dig for it without him knowing what I was doing. When I came out of the bathroom, I kissed his cheek and made up a little white lie about searching for pictures to create a collage.

  “I think it would be nice to start an album,” I said.

  “That's a wonderful idea. I'll get the cook started on dinner. Meet me downstairs?” he asked.

  “Of course, darling.”

  Feeling like I was off the hook, I headed to one of the hall closets, looked around, and started searching. The closet was relatively clean and organized, likely done by one of the maids. After a few minutes, I discovered a bright red gift bag and white tissue paper. It was perfect. I returned to the bathroom and grabbed the pregnancy test from behind the toilet, then placed it carefully in the bag with white tissue over it. I locked eyes with my own reflection and smiled wide. This was going to be a glorious surprise.

  I fixed my blouse and tousled my hair a bit, feeling confident in my appearance. I took the stairs step by step, being careful to grip the railing. My nausea was returning again. I didn't want it to ruin my gift to Zack, so I swallowed hard and pressed on. Downstairs, I found Zack sitting in the dining room reading a book. It was a classic,
one of his favorites, Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I remember seeing it in the library earlier in the year when I had first moved in, the shelves filled with many of the classics that he liked to read regularly.

  When I entered the dining room, he smiled and set his book down.

  “What's this?” he asked, motioning to the gift.

  The smile on my face wouldn't budge and I found it difficult to speak. I handed him the bag.

  “It's for you,” I finally said.

  “Me? It's not my birthday,” he said with a smile, pulling the tissue out one by one. “Why, it nearly looks empty...”

  He paused.

  A hand came up to his mouth which was now hanging wide open, his eyes darting between myself and the contents of the bag. He pulled out the test as a single tear made its way down his cheek and I smiled even wider.

  “I'm going to be a dad?!” he exclaimed. “Oh, my sweet Sky...”

  I wrapped him in a hug as he blubbered through tears of joy, intermittently rubbing my stomach and kissing the skin beneath my blouse. Pulling me close, he gave me the most impassioned kiss he had ever given me, filled with more love than the first time our lips made contact. It was an amazing feeling that inspired hope. I laid kissed all over his face, wiping his tears away with my thumbs as he laughed with joy. This would be the start of our own family. It would be the beginning of a beautiful wolf pack and I couldn't wait to tell everyone the good news.

  8.

  The following Friday, we arrived at our welcome back party located in the center of town at the most lavish hotel in the area, The Spencer. A red carpet had been laid out in the front, paparazzi lining the pavement and snapping pictures as we made our second public appearance. Many of them yelled out questions, but we disregarded them. The great reveal would happen inside where all our friends were waiting. Maya greeted us at the door along with her boyfriend Steve who I was happy to finally meet. We shook hands, discussing his job with the studio across town.