Puppy Love
Chapter 44

~Liam~

“Man, I’m bored out of my mind here,” Marvin’s voice echoed in my thoughts, just as Josephine and I were sharing a k**s. The interruption didn’t exactly sit well with me. Sensing my distraction, Josephine broke away from the k**s, concern in her eyes.

“What’s bothering you, Li?” she asked, her voice soft.

“Marvin just mentioned he’s bored,” I explained, and she let out a laugh.

“Aren’t we all?” she replied with a knowing grin.

“Yeah, pretty much everyone except Charlotte,” I remarked, and Josephine chuckled.

“Why don’t we all head to the park? Justine suggested we move in groups. We could all go to the park. I know it’s your secret spot, but I’m dying to go there – have Mirabel cook for us, swim in the lake, and watch the sunset with you,” she proposed with enthusiasm, and I couldn’t help but chuckle.

“If that’s what you want, I’ll talk to Justin about it. I don’t mind sharing my seciet haven if it means we can spend some quality time together,” I said, and her face lit up with a radiant smile.

“So, what’s on your mind?” I mentally connected with Marvin.

“Not sure, really. Just expressing my thoughts. I think we should ask Justin if we can have some hangout time. I mean, it’s highly unlikely the bad guys will strike right then,” he said, his desperation seeping through our mental connection.

I had a feeling that a trip to the park wouldn’t completely solve Marvin’s feelings. He was missing Layla, even if he wouldn’t admit it.

I hoped that Alpha Devin would allow his daughters to join us. It didn’t seem fair for them to be stuck behind while the rest of us enjoyed ourselves.

“Alright, let’s go have a chat with Justin about it. If he’s on board, then we’re good to go,” I responded to Marvin, as Josephine waited for me to finish our conversation.

“Currently, Noah and Sebastien are in his office discussing the same thing, and he’s not budging,” he informed me, and it dawned on me what Marvin had in mind.

“Are you suggesting an all-out persuasion from all of us against him?” I inquired.

“More or less,” he replied, and I found myself laughing.

“Alright, give me a moment, I’ll head over,” I told.

• him before closing our mental connection.

I shared Marvin’s thoughts with Josephine, and we were in the midst of discussing his idea when a general message from Justin reached us.

“Meet me at the office,” his message came through, and I couldn’t help but wonder what was going on.

His tone conveyed a sense of seriousness that caught our attention.

Josephine’s expression mirrored my concern as we exchanged glances. Without delay, we left my room and headed to Justin’s office. When we arrived, everyone was already gathered, except for’ Charlotte. Justin was engaged in a phone call, his face etched with worry. The severity of his expression hinted at bad news, leaving me equally apprehensive.

“Where’s Charlotte?” Marvin inquired.

“I’ve asked her to keep Caspian occupied in the woods. We’re not sure about his trustworthiness yet,” Justin responded gravely, his stress palpable.

I couldn’t help but wonder what had agitated him so intensely in such a short span.

“He seems like a decent guy to me,” Oliver chimed in, to which Noah couldn’t suppress a chuckle.

“More like smitten,” Noah remarked, causing laughter to ripple through the group – all of us except Justin, who appeared somewhat bewildered. I found it hard to believe he was oblivious to Caspian’s evident infatuation.

“Didn’t you notice what went down in your office last night?” Sebastien quizzed Justin, who seemed utterly clueless.

“It seems like Caspian and Charlotte are actually fated mates. They appeared quite taken with each other, and then you went ahead and paired them up,” Marvin explained, causing Justin’s eyes to nearly pop out of his head.

“I thought his appearance just made an impression on her,” Justin admitted, his voice betraying his surprise. “Caspian seemed taken with her, but I never considered they might be mates. Hearing this now…” he trailed off, his thoughts clearly racing.

“Nevertheless, I’m sure they’ll take their time,”

Noah chimed in, prompting laughter from all of us.

“So, what prompted this gathering?” I asked Justin, and he let out a sigh.

“My father just informed me that we’ve been compromised. The packhouse has been bugged.

Everything discussed here is being overheard,” he linked us, and a wave of shock washed over me.

“The packhouse is bugged. Our conversations are being monitored,” he linked us again with all of us mentally, foregoing spoken words.

“I suggest we take a stroll to discuss this in more detail,” he declared, and I could almost see the relief on Marvin’s face as his prayers were answered.

“How about we take a break and unwind at

Fellowship Park? It’s a pleasant spot, and we can have a good time while waiting for the council’s. instructions. Frankly, I’m growing tired of being cooped up here,” I proposed, and everyone readily agreed. With the possibility that our conversations were being monitored, I aimed to make our outing sound innocuous.

“I could definitely use a change of scenery. On a related note, I’ve just received news that the families who provided us with information on Sam’s street were attacked. The individuals Liam and Charlotte visited, along with the elderly woman and her great-granddaughter – Josephine and I visited – were all targeted this morning,”

Justin disclosed, shedding light on his reason for summoning us to his office.

• Justin’s message was clear: this incident was connected to our recent activities and the information we had gathered. The attackers didn’t claim any lives, but Nelson’s mate, Leean, is in critical condition. Moreover, Leah and Chloe are leaving Grizlo due to safety concerns.

The urgency of the situation became evident when

I realised that Justin likely called us to discuss this matter before his father informed him about the eavesdropping situation. The fact that multiple houses were targeted on Sam Street, with a specific focus on the ones from which we gained valuable information, further solidified my belief.

that the packhouse was indeed bugged.

These targeted attacks represented a setback, especially considering our extensive conversations with Aunt Claudia that day. I couldn’t help but feel concerned – this turn of events might be the reason our parents were able to piece together the situation.

Suddenly, my sense of contentment waned. I exchanged a glance with Justin, his eyes communicating the gravity of the situation.

Leaving the packhouse behind, we made our way to the park in the van. An unusual silence enveloped us during the journey. While some among us were visibly concerned, others appeared uncertain about the unfolding events.

I directed Oliver, who occupied the driver’s seat, to guide us to the secluded area of the Fellowship park. It was a spot where few ventured, providing the privacy we needed. As we reached the gate, our permission to enter the restricted section was duly acknowledged.

Mirabel’s truck was parked there, and her face lit up when she saw me. While Josephine greeted her, I led the group toward the lakeside. The scenery could have easily captivated my cousins under different circumstances, yet there was little. room for admiring the surroundings at present.

Our minds were preoccupied with the tumultuous events that were unfolding around us.

Josephine likely went to inform Mirabel about our need for privacy, as I noticed Mirabel closing her truck shortly after I glanced in their direction. My anticipation for the forthcoming meal heightened; I was truly hungry.

“Did you ask her to step away?” I mentally connected with Josephine.

“Just temporarily. She’ll return. I can’t resist the food,” she responded, and I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

“So, is this your secret spot for solitude?” Marvin inquired aloud, to which I simply nodded. At this point, they were all aware of my chosen hideaway for moments of privacy.

“Has Sophia ever been here?” Marvin continued, and just as he posed the question, Josephine reached us, and I suspected she had overheard our conversation.

“No, it’s just been me,” I answered truthfully.

“Well, Jo has joined me,” I added with a smile as Josephine wrapped her arm around my waist from behind, her hand slipping into my back pocket. I’ returned the gesture by loosely embracing her with my arm.

We then moved toward Justin, awaiting his lead in the conversation.

“It’s like all the plans we discussed with Aunt Claudia have fallen apart,” Justin remarked, and I had already anticipated this.

“They’ve relocated Sophia, along with her parents, out of Kaizen just yesterday,” he continued, causing Josephine to pull away slightly.

“Does that mean Beta Mike is with them?” she inquired with urgency, and he affirmed her suspicion.

“In chains,” he confirmed, validating my earlier gut feeling about the Beta’s involvement.

“Before we jump to conclusions, consider this:

they might have been aware that our parents were surveilling both Braile and Kaizen due to the packhouse being bugged. This could all be a ploy to mislead us,” Sebastien interjected, presenting a valid counterpoint.

The fact that Mike was in chains didn’t necessarily prove his innocence. It was plausible that he desired an escape from the situation, and they refused to allow it.

“Here’s something for you to ponder – guess who else they spotted?” Justin posed, and none of us made an effort to guess.

“Housekeeper Margret,” he revealed, and I was taken aback.

“Margret, the one we were searching for?” I asked in astonishment, and he nodded affirmatively.

“They couldn’t determine whether she was restrained or not, but she was in their company.

This raises questions about why she sent Natasha in her stead and how Natasha became entangled in all of this,” Justin explained, and the situation

• had taken an even darker turn.

“So, what’s our next move?” Marvin’s question hung in the air, a reflection of the grim reality we faced.

“Well, we’re in a bit of a bind, but I’m confident we can make progress. Our focus needs to shift to a thorough investigation of Lebedev and Sokolov.

They’re the only ones who’ve visited our packhouse and stayed in the common room. It’s possible they planted the bugs when they were here or even before our arrival. Remember, they, were the ones who suggested we stay at the packhouse. Looking back, it seems quite plausible now. Their ulterior motives are becoming glaring,” Justin analysed, his deduction sharp and incisive.

“But could it be Caspian? After all, he had a run-in with Thompson before all of this,” Marvin mused, seeking to explore all angles.

“He only arrived last night, so it’s highly unlikely.

Gaspian was too preoccupied with being infatuated with Charlotte to be involved in any mischief. We haven’t had any discussions since he got here, and Aunt Claudia had left before he arrived. Plus, he got to Grizlo late at night. I don’t think he’s our culprit. I’m not saying we should let our guard down, but I don’t see his hand in this,” Josephine interjected, her assessment making sense.

I understood both sides of the argument. At this point, trust was a rare commodity, and anyone outside our immediate circle was a potential suspect. We’d have to keep a close eye on Caspian

– not because we mistrusted him, but because we couldn’t afford to dismiss anyone as harmless.

“I suggest we remain vigilant,” Noah proposed, and we all concurred. It was apparent that, for the time being, our adversaries held the upper hand. They were privy to our knowledge, while we were left in the dark – blind to their intentions.

Justin let out a few heavy sighs, his gaze finally settling on me. The weight of his impending words was palpable, and I steeled myself for their impact.

It seemed his message would be directed at me.

“In addition, they’ve made a request: Charlotte and Josephine are to return home temporarily, pending the progress of the investigation. Kappas and staff will be dispatched from both Lucland and Mountain to replace those currently at the packhouse..” he began, but I was already lost at the mention of Josephine returning home.

Josephine’s grip on my arm became painfully , tight, her nails digging into my skin. I was paralysed, unsure of how to react. Alex’s growls echoed in my mind, a mixture of protectiveness and defensiveness. Why would they ask for this?

Did they doubt our ability to ensure their safety?

Or did they believe they couldn’t fend for themselves? There had to be a reason, a motive behind this decision.

Charlotte and Josephine were pivotal to this investigation. More importantly, Josephine was paramount to me. She was mine, and I wouldn’t stand by and allow this to transpire.

“Li… Li, you need to calm down,” Justin’s voice reached me while everyone moved away from me.

I was grappling with internal turmoil, a fierce struggle with Alex, who seemed to be overpowering my rationality.