Chapter 59

Elena

I woke with the sun, feeling renewed and refreshed. I was choosing optimism, focusing on the positive possibilities lying ahead for me.

Alice was already up and busy in the kitchen, and she did finally let me help her.

“Are you sleeping okay?” I asked, pulling a loaf of sweet zucchini bread from the oven. “I know the doctor said it could be tough—“

“I slept fine,” she said, a wave of her hand brushing off my concerns, “and last night, I’ll say, my mind felt a bit lighter than it has of late.”

She gave me a knowing look across the kitchen island, and I felt myself blushing.

“You look like you had sweet dreams, too,” said Alice, smiling.

“I suppose I did,” I said, allowing a mischievous grin in front of her. We’d never spoken so intimately before. “I am looking forward to going home, even though I am sad to leave you.”

“Don’t worry about me,” she responded with a shrug. “It’s been so nice having you here, but you need to go be with your Mate. The Pack needs you.”

“Thank you,” I said. “And please, call me anytime you need anything. I’m never far away.”

“Of course, dear.”

“And,” I added, pointing out the windows in the backyard, “I am going to finish cleaning out those beds today before I leave. Your vegetables are under threat of being choked to death!”

My small laugh was interrupted by Alice as she stepped in and hugged me, catching me off guard as my arms were pinned to my sides. I tried to awkwardly bend my elbows and pat her back.

“What’s this about?” I said, still gleeful.

“I’m just so proud of you,” Alice said, tears in her eyes. “And I know your mother is too.”

A second went by and then I felt my heart lurch. “Is?”

“What?”

“You said she is still proud—“

“She would be, or she is in spirit, you know what I mean,” Alice said quickly, breaking her embrace and bringing her hands to cup the sides of my face. “You are an elegant, whip-smart woman, and everything you touch becomes brighter. Just don’t dim your light so that others may shine.”

Now it was my turn to fight tears, and Alice gently swiped one off my cheek with her thumb before letting me go. I felt a shiver up my spine as I thought of her mentioning my mother, but then I let the moment go.

She joined me outside for most of the day, getting her hands into the earth and then taking a break in the shade to watch me work. When she went inside to lie down for a while, I realized that this was one of the simplest days I had had in my life.

Doing work that I cared about and spending time with someone, who had no other agenda than sitting in silence in my presence. This was another version of that home I was seeking, and Alice was a part of it.

My heart was jumpy when I arrived back at the Alpha mansion in the early evening. I knew when Killian would generally stop working for the day, and I wanted a moment to settle in before I found him in the kitchen.

The house was quiet. It wasn’t silent, and I could still feel the gentle humming vibration of people in the building. But where I might have expected music from the kitchens or to see a maid cleaning the front room, there was only stillness.

The stairs seemed to be holding in a breath and barely stirred as I went to the second floor and towards my room. I knew something was really off when I saw that the door was slightly ajar. Not broken into, but unlocked by someone who didn’t care to close it behind them afterwards.

Turning on lights, nothing was overtly out of place. But as I paced around the room, I could tell that my things had been searched.

Bile rose up in my throat at the thought of the intrusion on my privacy and personal space.

I tidied up what I could in the brief moments I wanted to spend in that room. In that time I also did my best to discreetly search for any cameras or microphones, my brain going into disaster-mode and wanting to be prepared. I decided against unpacking my bag— I might have to go on the run again.

“Luna Elena?”

I turned to the soft voice in the doorway and saw my maid standing just inside the room, looking guilty.

“Amandine,” I said, sounding harsher than I meant to, “what happened here? Did you go through my things?”

“No!” She said urgently, her eyes wide. “I would never, not without permission.”

She lowered her eyes in humility, subjugation. I softened at the sight of this young girl who always seemed a little bit frightened of the loud world around her.

“I know that, thank you,” I said. “Come in and close the door.”

She did so, and I gestured for her to sit down in the chair beside me. She seemed wary of doing so, but I saw the relief in her whole body when she made contact with the cushion. Poor girl.

“What happened?”

Amandine sighed and bit her lip. “It was the Betas,” she said finally. “I don’t know what they were looking for, but they had orders from the Alpha to search your room. Did they take anything? I told them not to!”

“It’s alright, Amandine,” I said, reaching a hand to her shoulder to stop her from shaking.

I tried to reach out to Lucas, wondering if the link we’ve shared in the past will still work. But all I get is a wall of silence on his end.

“I have to speak to the Alpha,” I said, rising from my seat.

Amandine insisted on coming with me, shadowing me as I went downstairs. Eventually I found Killian in his office, and he was not alone. Kana stood against the wall on one side of the room, and Natalie stood behind Killian’s chair. Everyone looked unhappy to see me.

“Sit down please, Elena,” Killian said in a cold voice.

I tried to catch his eye, but his gaze was hardened and focused on some invisible thing in front of him. Natalie looked like she was working really hard to seem upset, but was swallowing a smile the whole time. My stomach turned as I wondered what I was about to face.

“We have information about the Rogues who’ve been attacking us and other Packs in the area,” the Alpha said mechanically. “It seems very likely that it was the same group every time, from when they took Natalie to the more recent interruptions to our banquet, and so on.”

“That’s good news,” I said carefully, “do we think it was all Silverclaw?”

Killian’s jaw tightened. “Perhaps not all due to them, but it is possible that Toro is more formidable than we imagined. We are looking into it.”

“Okay,” I said, not sure why this was feeling so formal. “Have we let the other Alphas know?”

“We,” Natalie cut in, “have been busy communicating with our allies about how to move forward.”

“Natalie,” Killian said sharply, and she leaned back in obedience. “Our biggest concern right now is how they got in. They seem to know more about Waning Moon than any other Pack, so they must have someone helping them from the inside.”

“That would make sense,” I said.

“Elena,” Killian said, his voice full of pain, “an accusation has been made against you.”

“Me?”

He finally looked at me, and I could practically hear his heart cracking open. Though it may have been my heart instead. I immediately stood up, shocked that this was being laid against me.

“How dare you?!” I shouted this at Natalie. “I know you have something to do with this, and I will prove it and my innocence.”

I started to leave, and Killian used the force of his aura to slam the door in my face. “Elena,” he said, his voice soft in spite of that show of violence. “I trust you, you know that, but this is serious. The council will not allow me to move forward without a full investigation.”

I turned on a dime, not saying anything, my eyes like daggers pointed at him.

“Until then,” he went on, “I have to place you under house arrest.”

I laughed.

Then I turned, opened the door carefully, and left. My steps were light and determined as I went to my room. As soon as I closed the door I pulled out my phone and quickly called the number I needed to call.

He picked up after one ring.

“Jaxon? It’s me. I need your help.”