The Secrets of the Panther
Chapter 100

IZZY

We headed into the kitchen. Graham was there. Kacey walks up to him and places a kiss on his cheek. He smiles at her, but he turns to me with a smile.

“Hey, Izzy,” he says.

Since we talked, I haven’t seen Graham, but I know he has wanted to spend some time with Allie and me. But with everything that has been going on, it has been hard to replace time to sit and breathe, let alone anything else.

“Hey,” I say to him with a smile.

I sit opposite him. Lena places a plate of food in front of me, but all the girls stare at us, “We will leave you both,” blurts Lena.

Before neither of us could object, all three of them left.

“I think they wanted us to talk,” says Graham, looking at me.

“How have you been?” He asks as he takes a sip of his coffee.

I stare at my food, but I need some advice. I could talk to him about it. He was the one who told me that Blake wanted to be my mate.

“I’m okay,” I say, but I look up at him.

“What’s up?” He asks with concern on his face. I sigh and explain everything that happened between Blake and me. I even mentioned Archer, too.

After I tell him everything, he stares at me and pounders on what I have told him before speaking to me. “Izzy, Archer was a shock to the system, but I can understand where Blake is coming from,” he says. I was about to say something, but he shook his head. “I also see your side, too. I know you have been on your own for a long time, but how do you feel about being here full time?”

I look at him for a moment. “I would love to be here full time; I would do anything for Blake,” I say. I know the mate bond is affecting me now, but I need to get everything out.

“I know Allie would love it here too,” I say with a smile. My father smiles back at me.

“I think you know what you must do, Izzy, but,” he says as he pushes the chair back, he moves behind it and leans on the counter behind him.

“You need to make it clear to Blake what you truly want. I mean, being here or not, he may know but also,” he says as he moves away from the counter. He moves closer to me and places his hand over my hand that I put on the table. He squeezes it. “I know I haven’t been the father you deserve, and I would like a chance for that. I want to get to know you and Allie more.”

I smiled at him. “I would like that,” I said softly.

My father leans into my ear. “Blake stayed in a guest room on the fifth floor, his parent’s floor last night. Derek told me earlier,” he says. He moves back at smiles; he places his hand on my cheek and gently strokes it. “My sweet Izzy, your mother would be so proud of you,” he says with a hint of sadness in his voice.

I could feel a lump in my throat at the mention of him talking about my mother, but she would be happy with us talking, wouldn’t she? He smiles and walks out of the kitchen, leaving me to my thoughts.

I eat my food and place my plate in the sink.

I head back to Blake’s room and walk straight into the room. I couldn’t help but check the clock once again, and it was eleven am.

I move to the window and stare out.

There was still no sign of Blake.

I sigh, I walk towards the bathroom, but a ping comes from the mobile on the side.

I walked over, but it wasn’t from mine. It was from the phone Drake gave me.

I opened it up and read the message.

They leave earlier than six days, and the war will be on you soon. They want to give the element of surprise.

A shiver runs down my spine as I read the message.

We were supposed to have six days; this doesn’t seem right. I need to replace Blake.

I grabbed my phone and texted Alice that we needed to get ready and prepare for the war; they may come sooner. She needed to tell Alpha Derek and the rest of the pack.

I walked into the bathroom and quickly showered.

I wrapped the towel around me and headed back into the room.

I place some comfy clothes on, and I know it is noon now as I could hear the bell in from outside, showing that it was dinnertime for all pack members in the hall.

I needed to replace Blake.

I sat on the bed, but I fell back and stared at the ceiling.

Puna comes closer. “If they come earlier, we are going to need all the power we can muster,” I say to her.

Her closeness makes me want to shift into her; I need to ensure we are well-rested.

“Mate needs to know,” she says.

I nod.

“I think we should rest and have a sleep for now,” I say. “And we will replace Blake to tell him.”

She nods.

I stare for a moment, but somehow, I fall asleep.

I wake with a start, jumping into the sitting position from where I fell asleep.

I stare down, trying to figure out where the hell I am.

I’m still wrapped in the towel I was in when I got out of the shower.

I looked over my shoulder at the clock, and it was four pm.

Fuck, I slept for four hours.

I could hear Puna stir in my head. “How the hell did I sleep for so long?” I ask her.

Her green eyes stare back at me. “We knew we needed to save all our power for the war, but you slept little last night because of thinking about mate,” she says.

I stare back at her, but the thought of Blake makes me move off the bed. I quickly change into an off-shoulder top and leggings. I walked over to the door, not bothering to look at myself to make sure I looked okay.

All I knew I wanted to do was replace Blake.

I need to see him.

I wanted him.

My body was doing all the work, and my brain was not fully functioning. All it was doing was showing me was an image of Blake in my head.

Puna was aware of what I was doing, but she said nothing.

I headed to the fifth floor. There were five doors; I wandered past the first three but stopped suddenly in front of the fourth. I knew he was in there; his scent was coming from there.

I walked towards the door and knocked on it. I knew what I had to do, and my mind was only on seeing my mate.

I needed him, but something was telling me I needed to do this now.