Chapter 146

Logan

Harry led me away from the throng of guests, his arm casually draped over my shoulder as if we were the best of pals, like old mates catching up and not rivals who hated each other to our very cores. We made our way to the bar, where I leaned over and ordered a whiskey on ice to calm my frayed nerves.

“What did you want to talk about?” I asked, glancing at my brother.

He shrugged. “Oh, I was just wondering… How did your recent legal escapade turn out? Ella was representing you, correct?”

“Yeah, the murder case,” I said, my eyes narrowing just a fraction. “It went well, actually. Very well. Ella was exceptional.”

Harry smirked. “Do tell.”

“As it turned out, the opposing lawyer and his client were hiding evidence to frame me. But Ella found out. They’re both in a heap of trouble now; likely going to prison once they’re charged.”

Harry let out a deep sigh, a performance designed to fool the unsuspecting. “Ah, such a pity. It was all so perfect, you know? And then you and your little lawyer girlfriend had to go and ruin it.”

I froze. My eyes met Harry’s. They narrowed. I had an inkling that he had something to do with it, but I supposed that I had wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“So it was you,” I growled, lowering my voice. “You had the cop hide the bullet casing.”

Harry burst into laughter, an unsettling sound that grated on my ears. “Of course it was me. You should know by now, little brother; I’m always the man behind the curtain.”

I frowned. “I see. Well, you’ve always had a knack for the dramatic, Harry. And deception seems to come naturally to you.”

He shrugged. “It’s an art, Logan. And I’ve always got a few more tricks up my sleeve.”

I smirked, but there was no joy in it. “I’ll be waiting for your next ‘trick’ then.”

Harry stepped back, the gleam in his eyes almost predatory. “Oh, you won’t have to wait long. I’ll pounce when you least expect it.”

With that enigmatic statement hanging in the air between us, Harry sauntered away. His steps were leisurely, nonchalant, as if he hadn’t just admitted to criminal acts and more or less declared war on his own brother.

Instantly, my eyes darted back to the spot where I had last seen Ella, my mind suddenly a whirlwind of worry and strategic plotting. But she wasn’t there. Where was she?

I scanned the crowd, searching for her, but couldn’t catch a glimpse of her telltale blue dress. Had she slipped out? Gone to the restroom again?

Suddenly, I locked eyes with Moana, who was sipping wine by herself. I approached her, tapping her on the shoulder. She turned to look at me and a knowing smile came across her face, which made me momentarily wonder: what had she and Ella talked about in the bathroom earlier.

“Hey, Logan,” she said. “Enjoying the night?”

I nodded, although that was a lie. “Yeah, but… Have you seen Ella? I seem to have lost her.”

She lowered her glass and her eyes narrowed with concern. “No, Logan. I thought she was with you.”

I sighed, glancing around at the party in full swing around us. “I stepped away for a moment to talk to Harry, my brother, and now she’s gone. I don’t see her anywhere. You don’t think she slipped away from the party, do you?”

“What, and went off by herself?” Moana glanced around the room as if expecting Ella to appear any second. “That’s not really like her. Ella wouldn’t just leave, especially without telling me or you.”

“I know, that’s why I’m worried,” I said. “Maybe she stepped outside for some fresh air? She did mention the crowd was a bit overwhelming.”

Moana shook her head. “Ella can handle crowds, she's a lawyer for heaven’s sake. Something’s not adding up here.”

“Agreed. It’s not like her. I have a bad feeling about this.”

Moana set her wine glass down, a picture of maternal instinct taking over her face. “Go find her, Logan. If she’s not in the room, she must be somewhere. Don’t overlook any corner.”

I nodded. “Trust me, I won’t”

As I stepped away from Moana, a low growl resonated in my mind. My wolf was restless, pacing in circles, urging me to act.

“Something’s off,” he warned me.

“I know,” I replied, just trying to keep my focus. “I feel it too. What do you suggest?”

“Check outside. Maybe she’s in the garden?”

My gaze flitted over to the French doors leading out to the sprawling garden outside, with its magnificent flowers, hedges, and fountains. It was like a maze out there; maybe she slipped outside to get some fresh air and got a little lost.

As I made my way outside, though, for some reason I just couldn’t let go of the notion that something was… off about all of this. I couldn’t fully explain it; it was like an instinct, the more primal part of me warning me that my mate was in trouble.

But why? No one here wanted to hurt her. She was practically the belle of the ball tonight, and besides, she could handle herself. It didn’t make any sense as to why I was getting so concerned about her, but I just couldn’t help it. It was as though an invisible thread was tugging me along, hopefully in her direction and not on a wild goose chase.

I made my way through the maze of a garden, peering over hedges and around trees. But no matter where I looked, I couldn’t find her. It was getting to the point where I could barely even hear the music floating from inside anymore, I was wandering so far from the building.

“Do you sense her?” I asked my wolf, stopping at one point to look around at the empty gravel pathway.

“Hmm… Keep going straight,” my wolf replied, on high alert for any noise or movement. “I don’t think she’s too far, but… Something is wrong. Hurry.”

I nodded and picked up my pace, continuing through the garden.

“Ella, Ella,” I whispered to myself, looking around wildly and picking up my pace until I was moving at a light jog. “Where did you go?”

I kept moving through the garden, but with each step, I felt the weight of my own worry crashing down on me. Why did I feel this way? Was Ella okay, or was something really wrong? The vibrant colors of the flowers and the lanterns swinging from the trees did nothing to ease my worries, either. If anything, it only made me feel even more stupid for picking out a location with such a massive garden in the back.

But then, suddenly, my wolf bristled.

“Stop,” he whispered, raising his hackles in agitation.

I stopped in my tracks, pricking my ears to listen. My body was like a statue as I stood there, borrowing some of my wolf’s senses to pick up on my surroundings. I could hear the wind rustling through the trees, a distant critter scurrying through the underbrush, and…

Voices.

It was Ella’s voice. I couldn’t make out what she was saying, but she was speaking low and tentatively, as though trying not to agitate someone. If I strained my ears, I could make out a tiny tremor in her voice. Was she scared? Was someone hurting her?

All at once, I started to jump into action, to run to her and protect her from whatever was happening.

But at the last moment, my wolf stopped me.

“No,” he said, shaking his head in the back of my mind. “Be quiet. Something tells me that Ella could be in more trouble if you cause a scene.”

I swallowed as my wolf spoke, my eyes scanning the path up ahead.

“Alright,” I said, slowly beginning to follow the source of Ella’s voice. “Ella, I’m coming.”