CHAPTER 147: CHAPTER 147 LIZ CAUSES TROUBLE

Draven’s POV

I paced back and forth in my office.The DNA test results hadn’t arrived yet, but I was already the baby wasn’t mine. I just needed those results to put an end to this whole mess.

My phone rang and I snatched it up. "Yes?"

"Alpha, there’s someone at reception asking to see you," Ava informed me. "She said her name Liz."

I froze. What was she doing here? Wasn’t she supposed to be in New York?

"I’ll meet her in the first-floor conference room," I said to Ava, keeping my voice calm.

When Ava told me Liz had arrived, I finished an email and left my office. At reception, Liz lunged at me, wrapping her arms around my neck and kissing me before I could react.

"Great. Now this woman’s going to hang around pack territory?" Ryan growled, coming out of his office.

"Good afternoon to you too, jackass!" Liz snapped back.

I sighed, pulled away, and headed for the elevator. That’s when I saw Caroline standing with Kyle, who was shaking her head at me.

The pain in Caroline’s eyes hit me. She walked straight past, entering her office with her head held high.

Kyle passed by me and before entering her office."Alpha Draven,If you’re not capable of sending this woman back to whatever den she crawled out of, let me know, because I won’t stick around to watch you destroy yourself."

"So, Alpha Draven, what are you going to do about this?" Ryan demanded, his voice sharp.

Ava didn’t hesitate. "He won’t do a thing, Ryan. He’s the one who let her in," she said coldly as she left office and headed toward the break room.

Ryan turned his back and walked back to his office. I stood there, feeling stuck and unsure. The smart move was to get Liz out of there, fast. I led her to the meeting room on the first floor.

Once we were alone, Liz tried to wrap her arms around my neck again. "So, Draven, who were those two women upstairs?" she asked.

I stepped back, keeping my distance. "Liz, what exactly do you want here?"

She pouted, trying to look sweet. "Isn’t it obvious? I want you."

I shook my head. "No, it’s not obvious.It ended between us a long time ago."

She smiled slyly. "But in New York, we met. And you wanted me again."

"Don’t twist the story," I growled, feeling the heat of Alaric’s anger rising inside me. "We met, I passed out drunk, and when I woke up, you tried to convince me something happened. It didn’t."

"Oh, sweetheart, it’s not like that. If you were in my bed, it means you want me. I’m just giving you a chance."

I couldn’t believe her. She had zero shame. My patience snapped.

"You’re dead wrong," I said."Do yourself a favor,leave. Get lost. I don’t feel a thing for you."

"Draven, don’t treat me like this. I came back for you."

"Then leave. I don’t even want to remember you exist. Please go away and don’t ever look for me again."

"Is this because you’re engaged to that boring Caroline?My mother told me everything! How did you end up with the woman you hate most in the world?"

"The same way I got involved with the most manipulative woman in the world, which would be you," I snarled."Now please leave and don’t contact me again."

"You think you scare me?" she said, sitting down and crossing her legs. "I’m not giving up on you, Alpha Draven."

I opened the office door and mind-linked the two security near the elevators.

"Escort this woman off pack territory. She’s banned from entering this building."

The security came over, and started guiding her out despite her protests. I quickly headed back to my floor. In the elevator, I mind-linked the head of security to remind him Liz wasn’t allowed in.

When the doors opened, I rushed to Caroline’s office. I could hear her trying to hold back tears. She was surrounded by Ryan, Kyle, Ava, and Rose.

"Alpha, she’s really upset. Now’s not the time," Kyle said, stepping in front of me with a protective stance.

"Come on, Kyle. I need to talk to her," I insisted.

"Not now, brother," Ryan said, blocking my way too.

"Yes, Alpha. You’ve done enough explaining. Let her calm down. I gave her some of that special tea," Rose added, walking past me with an empty cup.

Caroline’s voice came from inside the office. "Kyle, let him in. I should clear things up with him."

Kyle finally stepped aside and waved the others out.

Caroline looked worn out—pale, eyes red-rimmed.

I stepped forward, heart aching, reaching out to hold her. "Carrie, please let me explain about Liz."

She dodged my touch and said, "Alpha Draven, you don’t owe me any explanation. We’re done. You have your life, and I have mine."

"That’s not true, you know that," I said. "Nothing happened between Liz and me in New York. I was drunk and passed out. She’s just causing trouble."

"It doesn’t matter anymore. Whatever you do, whoever you see—that’s your business now."

"Caroline—"

"Please, Draven," she cut me off. "I’m fine. Really. No need to explain anything."

"I don’t believe you." I tried to pull her into a hug.

"Believe whatever you want," she shrugged, gathering her things. "By the way, I already told Ryan I’m taking the rest of the day off. I need to be home with Liam."

She brushed past me.For a moment, she looked up and met my gaze. "We’ve both moved on, haven’t we? You’re engaged to Ella. Let’s just keep going."

Seeing Caroline come out of the office, Ryan stepped forward and said, "I’ll take Carrie home and then meet you at my place. Got it? You too, Kyle."

"Ryan, let me take Carrie. You go with Alpha Draven, I’ll meet you at your place," Kyle asked.

"Ryan, Kyle can take me. You go with your friend," Caroline said.

"Caroline, please talk to me," I pleaded.

"Not now, Alpha. She’s too upset. This isn’t good for her," Ava said.

"Alright, Kyle, take Carrie," Ryan decided. "Ava, handle things here. We’ll keep our mind-link open if anything happens. Draven, come with me."

Ryan wouldn’t let me drive. In his car, he kept talking about the mess I’d caused and warned me if I got involved with Liz again, he wouldn’t stick around to watch me crash and burn.

"I swear to the Moon Goddess, nothing happened in New York," I said, frustration clear in my voice. "I drank too much, passed out, and woke up in her hotel room. She’s just trying to stir trouble."

"Then why the hell did you let her onto our floor?" Ryan snapped.

When we got to his place, he mind-linked Joseph and Nate, asking them to come over too. Soon after, Kyle showed up.

Kyle was furious. "I hope, Draven, that nothing actually happened with that woman in New York." Lately, she’d become way more protective of Caroline, which I found interesting.

"Nothing happened. I passed out cold," I insisted. "I just went out for drinks to clear my head."

Kyle’s voice tightened. "And it’s costing Carrie her health. You don’t know how much she’s been through. She’s beautiful, smart, strong—and all she gets is more pain."

Ryan asked, "How was she when you left, Kyle?"

"She was surprisingly composed," Kyle said, calming down a bit. "Asked me to pick up Liam from daycare so she could have some alone time. That woman is stronger than she looks."

I swallowed hard. "Moon Goddess, I miss that little pup so much."

When Joseph and Nate arrived, we filled them in. Nate looked at me with clear disapproval.

"Draven, fix this before it gets worse," he warned.

Ryan growled, "Why can’t you just keep it in your pants?"

"For the last time, nothing happened!" I snapped, Alaric’s anger bubbling up. "I was drunk, I passed out, that’s it!"

Kyle narrowed her eyes. "Then why didn’t I hear about this New York thing? You guys always cover for each other. No wonder Caroline doesn’t trust anyone."

"I didn’t tell anyone because there was nothing to tell," I said firmly. "I was embarrassed I let my guard down, but that’s all."

"Well, you better hope Caroline believes you," Ryan muttered.

I checked my phone again, desperate for a reply from Caroline. Nothing.