Chapter 176

[Liam’s POV]

The only reason I knew where to find Ella was purely because of Arthur. While I kept trying to call her and message her, Arthur managed to discover something else regarding the scarf she had left behind.

“There’s another scent...It’s faint, but I know that I’ve smelt it before,” he said.

He took several more inhales with his nose buried in the soft material. He closed his eyes and let the creature within him take hold of his senses. Not long passed before he lifted his head up, his eyes flashed with a knowing look.

“That scent. It smells like that God-awful cologne Aaron’s guards wear,” he remarked bitterly.

My heart sank into my stomach.

“What?”

Arthur nodded his head. “If I really had to make a guess as to what happened to her, I’d say that Aaron got to her first.”

Son of a bitch!!

But why? Why would Aaron go out of his way to take Ella like this? We knew that he’d been using Shields to collect information—even that I was still somewhat unclear on.

Yet, this was taking things a whole step further and it angered me. It caused a manic fire to race through me, turning my feelings of worry into a straight-up rage.

“That means that she’s at the manor,” I hissed. “Come on, let’s go.”

The two of us turned back toward the car and made off toward the house, going well over the speed limit. I didn’t care.

Whatever reason Aaron had for snatching up Ella had better be good. The second I pulled the car up to the manor’s front doors, I made my move to get out. However, Arthur remained firm in place.

“What are you doing?”

“Liam, I can’t go in there with you,” he said. “Aaron still believes that you and Ella hate me as much as he does. If I were to walk in there with you, there’s no telling what that would do for our situation.”

Goddamnit, he has a point.

It wasn’t as though I was intimidated or afraid to face Aaron on my own. But I felt as though I was missing something by not going in with him by my side.

Nevertheless, I charged into the manor and pushed my way past any of the guards who were stupid enough to get in my way. I headed straight for the bastard’s private office, knowing fully well that that’s where he was.

Right as I came up to the large door, I actually heard Ella speaking.

“Tell me, is me being a wolf suddenly an issue?” she asked. “I figured you, of all people, would be thrilled by the fact that Liam is with someone who can actually give him what you people call a ‘proper future’.”

My heart swelled with pride. I was proud to hear that she wasn’t afraid to speak to Aaron in such a blatant manner. The man deserved to be taken down a few pegs, as did Arthur’s mother.

Aaron’s voice came out clear, and unabashed. “An issue? No. Not in the slightest. But when it comes to your mysterious lineage, that’s where I tend to become rather curious.”

Shit. Of course, he was trying to interrogate her about this.

Without wasting another thought, I threw the doors open and stepped inside.

“Ella doesn’t have to tell you anything,” I snarled.

Ella whipped around in her seat to find me standing just a few away.

“Liam?” Her eyes grew wide in disbelief while her lips parted in shock. “H-how did you—”

“Picked up your scent on the scarf you left behind outside of the coffee shop,” I explained.

I had every intention of telling her that it was really Arthur who had succeeded in discovering where she was. Without him, I would have had no idea.

I turned my attention to Aaron who sat rigidly behind his desk like he’d been caught red-handed.

“Have you lost your mind?” I snapped. “You kidnapped her in broad daylight.”

Aaron waved me off like merely one of his servants. “This conversation does not concern you.”

“Yes, it does. Anything that involves Ella is my concern. We’re leaving.”

“Not so fast,” Aaron countered sharply. “I merely wish for Miss Belmont’s personal opinion and evaluation of some rather interesting-looking photos.”

Photos? A moment ago, this guy wanted Ella to confess her lineage. Now, he wanted her to examine some photos?

“No,” I said. “She’s not going to entertain this insane notion you have in your head, any longer.”

I closed the space between Ella and me and brought a hand to her shoulder. Aaron narrowed his eyes at my sheer defiance.

Something in the way that his gaze flickered from me to Ella told me that he would try to get to her again. If Aaron was anything, it was persistent.

And I think Ella knew this as well. Instead of taking my lead to leave, she stood up and faced Aaron head-on.

“Just show them to me.”

...

[Ella’s POV]

I could have smacked the grin that was sneaking its way onto Aaron’s face. Even though my mind was still reeling from the thought that Liam was able to track me from a scent he’d collected off the scarf I’d been wearing before, I was determined to give Aaron what he wanted.

Within a certain capacity, of course.

Aaron turned his back only to grab a large folder and placed it on his desk. When he opened it, my stomach churned with an unbridled sense of fear that I didn’t know what to do with.

The damn thing was filled with pictures—pictures solely of Arthur and me. Some were crystal clear and taken with exact precision while others were a tad bit blurry.

There was something deeply unsettling about these pictures. They looked far too familiar as though I’d seen them before.

Suddenly, it hit me.

Oh my God...These photos are from that fucking social media page!

Part of me really thought that Aaron was going to bring the integrity of Liam and I’s relationship into question. To be honest, having looked through most of these photos, any normal person would.

“Of all the ones that were sent to me, this particular picture stands out the most. Can either of you tell me why?” he asked.

Our eyes were drawn to the particular photo of when Arthur and I were in the pool at the Golden Fawn Hotel.

Liam spoke with an edge of bitterness in his voice. “Wait, you said these photos were ‘sent’ to you? What, are you telling me that someone left them on the doorstep?”

“Yes, in fact. They did.”

Liam and Aaron slipped into a private and mildly heated conversation with themselves while I spent the moment really examining the photo he’s pointed out more closely. I’d seen this specific picture at least a dozen times, having scrolled through the media page and nothing in particular ever really stuck out to me.

Suddenly, I squinted and saw that my birthmark was on display, yet it appeared a bit blurry to be considered any legit shape.

But, clearly, it was enough to raise questions and suspicion.

“I don’t see anything, Mr. Winslow,” I remarked dryly. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, there are things I need to get today.”

“I’m not letting this matter go, Miss Belmont. Sooner or later, I will find out the truth.”

“Perhaps, you should redirect your attention to the person who sent you those photos, Mr. Winslow,” I said.