Chapter 175

Logan

As I stood in front of Harry’s mansion, I couldn’t shake the unease that had been gnawing at me ever since I received that court order. Accused of arson? It didn’t make any sense.

However, despite my hatred for my brother, he also knew the businessman who had suddenly accused me. If anyone had answers, it would be him. I was sure of it; coaxing those answers out of him, though, was a different story.

With a deep breath, I walked up the sprawling steps to the mansion and rang the doorbell. I waited for a few minutes, wondering if anyone was even home, before the enormous oak door opened.

Marina stood in front of me, wearing a sheer nightgown and robe with feather trim. She was nude underneath. I quickly looked away, averting my gaze.

“Ah, Logan,” she said, her voice dripping with faux sweetness.To what do I owe the pleasure?”

I nodded, feeling a bit uncomfortable. “Is Harry around?”

Marina’s lips curved into a sly grin. “Oh, Harry is out on business, but you’re welcome to wait for him.”

“No, that’s okay,” I said, taking a step back. “I’ll come back another day.”

“I insist,” she pressed, reaching out to grab my wrist. “Please, wait. I’ll make you a drink.”

I felt incredibly uncomfortable beneath her gaze, but it seemed as though I didn’t have a choice. Finally, I nodded, although I kept my gaze averted. “Alright. I’ll wait.”

She led me into the lavish house where I had only set foot a few times since Harry had bought it. It was the very definition of squandering money, from gold-accented railings to marble sculptures. It was garish and opulent, and, frankly, ugly.

I followed Marina into the living room, where plush sofas and ornate armchairs adorned the room. A crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and an enormous painting of my brother hung above the fireplace.

Marina made her way over to the well-stocked bar. “Drink?”

I hesitated for a moment, but eventually nodded. “Sure. Thanks.”

She poured two glasses of whiskey, our fingers brushing as she handed mine to me. I still kept my gaze averted, not wanting to look at her so indecently. “Thanks,” I muttered.

As I sipped my drink, Marina sat down opposite me and crossed her long legs, regarding me with an intensity that made me uneasy.

“So, what brings you here?” she asked.

I shrugged, not wanting to give too much away. “I just needed to talk to Harry about something,” I said vaguely. “When will he be back?”

She waved her hand dismissively. “Oh, soon.”

There was a bit of a silence. I didn’t know what to say, or even where to look. I resorted to staring at the amber liquid in my glass instead, figuring that was the safest option.

“You know,” she began, her voice low and conspiratorial, “I’ve always found it interesting how people can surprise you. Take Ella, for example.”

I raised an eyebrow, not sure where she was going with this. Without meaning to, I lifted my gaze. “What about her?”

Marina leaned in closer, her eyes locked onto mine. “Oh, Ella. She’s always been so... dedicated to her family, hasn’t she?”

I couldn’t hide the confusion on my face. “What are you getting at, Marina?”

She let out a soft chuckle, her fingers tracing the rim of her own glass. “It’s just fascinating, really. How far someone will go to protect their loved ones. Even if it means turning on someone they once cared about.”

My heart began to race as I realized what Marina was hinting at. Ella’s family. The mention of her little sister, who was the most important person in the world to her. But how did Marina know any of this?

“What do you know about Ella’s family?” I demanded, my voice tense.

Marina shrugged nonchalantly, but her eyes flickered with amusement. “Oh, just a few... tidbits here and there,” she purred. “It’s amazing what you can learn when you have the right connections.”

I slammed my glass down on the table, my frustration taking over. “Stop playing games, Marina. What are you trying to say?”

She leaned back in her chair, her smile never faltering. “All I’m saying, Logan, is that maybe you should be more careful. You might not have as many allies as you think.”

The cryptic warning sent a chill down my spine. Marina had always been one to make uncomfortable conversation, but this felt targeted. My wolf bristled inside of me, and I knew I had to leave.

I stood up abruptly, my chair scraping against the floor. “I think it’s time for me to go.”

Marina didn’t try to stop me, only offering a casual wave as I headed for the door. But as I stepped outside and into the warm afternoon air, I couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that Marina knew more than she was letting on.

What was she up to? And what did Ella have to do with all of this?

I needed to talk to Ella, and soon. There were too many unanswered questions, and I couldn’t afford to let this situation spiral out of control.

As I drove toward Ella’s apartment, the unease that had settled in my chest refused to dissipate. Something was off, and it wasn’t just about the court order accusing me of arson. It was about Ella; her strange behavior last night, and that lingering feeling that she might be hiding something from me.

At first, I thought it was just stress getting to her, but now I was beginning to wonder.

“You’ve noticed it too, haven’t you?” I asked my wolf. “Something’s up with her.”

“Yes,” my wolf replied. “She’s been acting strange.”

I nodded. “Last night, she seemed upset,” I said as I drove. “And it’s not like her to do something as insane as ripping her apartment up. Something’s eating away at her, I’m sure of it.”

“But do you think it could be anything sinister?”

My wolf’s words gave me pause. Did I really think that? The truth was, no, I didn’t. If it was something bad, something told me that Ella wasn’t necessarily the one at fault.

But why wouldn’t she just talk to me?

“Logan,” my wolf continued, “it’s not just about last night, either. It’s these past few weeks. I know you’ve seen it in her eyes; that subtle glow when she talks to her wolf. It’s been happening more than usual.”

I frowned. It was true that I had noticed, but it wasn’t out of the ordinary for her. “She’s always talked to her wolf a lot,” I said. “Maybe even more than most.”

My wolf’s voice lowered. “I know, but I can sense that it’s something else,” he said. “This isn’t just idle chit-chat. She’s tense. I can feel it in her wolf’s energy.”

I mulled over my wolf’s words as I navigated the city streets. It was true that Ella had always been close with her wolf, but it was also true that she seemed more tense and detached recently. And I knew that my wolf could sense her wolf’s frustration; we were fated mates, after all.

I sighed, frustration and worry gnawing at me. “Listen, I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” I said, “especially when it comes to Ella. She’s been through so much already. But you’re right, something’s… off.”

My wolf nodded in agreement. “Maybe it’s best not to trust Marina completely. We know she’s manipulative and cunning. But maybe, Logan, don’t assume that Ella has your best intentions in mind. Maybe she’s doing something behind the scenes, something she can’t tell you.”

I considered my wolf’s words carefully. It was a possibility, one I didn’t want to entertain, but it couldn’t be dismissed entirely. Ella had always been honest with me as far as I knew, but maybe something had happened that she couldn’t tell me.

“Maybe,” I conceded. “I’ll have to gauge how she reacts when I confront her later. If there’s something she’s keeping from me, I need to know.”

“Good idea,” my wolf said. “And if she doesn’t tell you…”

“Then I’ll just have to figure it out myself.”