Chapter 53

Elena

Somehow the process of taking down the stage was louder than constructing it.

It seemed like the party downstairs and its after party were just ending when I heard the buzzing of a power drill. I felt the squeak of the screws in my teeth as they were pulled from the wooden beams. And of course, everyone was shouting to communicate.

I gave up and got up and dressed, thankful that I abstained from alcohol the night before. Splashing water on my face, I was struck by how drawn my face looked. Not just one night’s lack of sleep could cultivate the downward turn at the corner of my eyes.

My face had been stuck in a frown almost the entire time since Natalie had returned. Of course, the irony was not lost on me that I was the one responsible for her being back, but I had my own reasons for. I just had to get through this awful present and to avoid and even worse future.

As I stepped into the hall, I heard a door close at the other end of the hall.

Killian.

He was also hastily dressed and looking worse for wear, though I could sense the sourness of hangover as I picked up his scent. He looked guilty when he saw me, then took a breath and walked down the hall towards me.

“I don’t suppose anyone is still asleep in this house,” he said to me, choosing business first this morning.

“Why are they doing this so early?” I asked, keeping my voice calm.

“Search me,” he responded.

For a moment, I let my eyes run over his body. We stood at the top of the staircase, suspended in this place between the second floor and the descent into the chaos downstairs. His hair was disheveled, but clean, and I felt the urge to comb it into place with my fingers.

I resisted, and took the first step down the stairs.

“Elena—“

I didn’t turn, and then he followed a few steps behind me. I could feel his eyes as they look up and down the back of my body. My heart was racing by the time I reached the ballroom, and nearly stopped when I saw the mess of the place.

“Good morning, love birds!”

Natalie was in the center of the room, wearing overalls and a headscarf like she was about to change the engine in a vintage car. I noticed this was the third time she’d referred to us as ‘love birds’ since she’d been home, and I could feel the accusation in it.

She could see a strain between Killian and me because of her presence, and she was exploiting it.

But, once again, what did I expect would happen when I brought her back?

“Natalie,” Killian continued past me to speak with her, “while I appreciate the initiative in cleaning up last night’s…detritus, must it happen immediately?”

He looked back at me afterwards, as if to reference how much this disturbed me. I remained quiet.

“Oh, I’m sorry, but I just really wanted it to get done fast,” she said, with see-through sincerity, “we’ll need to flip this room around for the next one.”

“Next one?” This was the first he’d been hearing of any more parties. “Natalie, how many welcome home parties does one person need?”

The frustration was evident in his voice.

“It’s not for me, silly!” Natalie gave him a playful swat on his shoulder. “It’s for you.”

“What is?”

“Well, for the campaign,” she went on, walking away from him to reference the room. “I already talked to Kana about it, about a donor dinner. Members of our Pack and others who we need to convince to vote for you.”

“We?”

My voice sounded thin, unpracticed.

“Yes, all of us, it takes a village to raise a candidate,” said Natalie, a sardonic smile on her face. “But honestly, it feels really good to have something to work on. I was talking to some of the other volunteers last night, and I’m feeling really inspired to be a part of this community effort.”

This did not sound like the Natalie I knew, but I won't be the person she knew either.

“That’s great, Natalie, “Killian said, closing the distance between them. “But moving forward, you need to clear these,” he gestured around him, “activities with me ahead of time. An Alpha needs to know what is going on in his house.”

“Of course, I’m sorry, I should’ve told them to wait,” she turned down her eyes, showing her humility. “I just lost so much time here with… the Pack.”

I knew she meant to say ‘with you,’ and I bit the inside of my cheek.

Killian put a hand on her shoulder, friendly but not forward. “I understand, but you can’t burn yourself out immediately. It might take time for you to settle back in here, but you will. And you have me and Elena here to help you.”

Natalie placed her hand on Killian’s where it rested on her shoulder, squeezing her fingers around him. She then looked over at me, with a look of possessiveness.

“I’ll tell the cook to start preparing a menu,” I said, feeling suffocated in this giant room, “and perhaps some breakfast.”

“Don’t bother,” Natalie said, looking back to Killian like a cat who caught a mouse, “I already took care of it.”

I nodded, and returned to my room. After a solid ten seconds screaming into a pillow, I went through my exercise routine to clear my head. And then I went through it again.

Trying to ride on the high of her return, the rally and dinner were held that night. Tables covered the floor where people had spilled champagne and danced the night before. It did actually turn into a very nice event, and therefore I hated every second of it.

“She’s really pulling out all the stops,” Kana said to me. We stood but a silent auction table, watching Natalie make the rounds through the room. “I didn’t know her well, but I could never forget that unending energy of hers. Always a doer.”

“Never a thinker,” I added, wryly.

Kana made a face at me, but I smiled like it was just a joke between sisters and she looked away.

“As long as it makes his numbers go up, I don’t really care,” she said, brushing away the semi-awkward moment. “And this way, you’re off the hook. I know you didn’t really enjoy all those Luna duties, anyway.”

She walked away to follow a reporter, leaving me with my mouth open after what she had just said. She thought Natalie was replacing me, and it had only been a few days.

It was at breakfast the next morning— a quiet morning, thank the goddess— that the situation became more serious.

Kana had sent over an article from a gossip column about the event the night before. While the body of the piece is complimentary of his platform and persona, it is the title that enrages Killian beyond belief.

“To Take on the Competition, Two Lunas are Better than One.”

“This is outrageous!” The Alpha was fuming, nearly knocking over a coffee cup as he slammed his phone to the table. “It is completely ridiculous and insensitive, and I should have this self-prescribed ‘author’ arrested for libel.”

“You’re not going to have anyone arrested,” I told him, placing a hand on his wrist to calm him. It was the most I had touched him in days, and he was warm under my touch. “That won’t do anything but add more fuel to the fire. We should just ignore it, not dignify it, and wait for the rumor mill to circle around on someone else.”

“I should say something,” Natalie said, putting her hand on Killian’s other arm mirroring my gesture. I looked from her hand to her face, but she barreled on. “I can make a statement saying none of it is true, that I am not here to tear apart a happy couple. I just want to be near my family.”

“I appreciate that, thank you,” Killian said, seeming caught with both arms restrained. “We’ll let Kana make the call, but that might be a good move.”

I pulled my hand away and finished breakfast in silence.

A few hours later, I was still feeling worked up about Natalie’s behavior. I decided I would break my old pattern of bowing under her intensity, and I climbed the stairs to the third floor to pay her a visit.

The door to her room was ajar, and as I approached I could hear her talking. Presumably she was on the phone with someone, and I’m not too proud to say that I tiptoed closer to listen in.

“…in the photo, so cute,” it sounded like boring gossip, but I wanted to hear more. I was almost in the doorway. “I think I just need to have a little patience, you know, can’t move too fast and draw attention.”

As if Natalie didn’t love drawing attention to herself.

“But it shouldn’t be long,” she continued, conspiring, “and then I can eliminate the completion for good.”