Chapter 178

Ella

When I saw the image of my sweet little sister laying in her bed with that awful message attached, it felt as though I had been shot. I stood there for a long time, just trembling with fear. I couldn’t even hear my own wolf’s voice echoing in my head until she suddenly shouted my name.

“Ella!” she exclaimed. “Do something!”

“R-Right,” I stammered with a nod. I couldn’t just stand there and let someone potentially hurt my sister. I needed to check on her and make sure she was safe.

Without a moment’s hesitation, I quickly dialed my parents’ number, my heart pounding in my chest with each ring.

Finally, my dad’s tired voice answered. “Hello?”

“Dad, it’s me, Ella,” I said urgently.

There was a pause, and I could tell he was surprised by the late-night call. “Ella, sweetheart, is everything okay?” he asked gently. “Why are you calling so late?”

I tried to keep my voice steady, despite the fear that was quaking my entire body. “Dad, I need you to do something for me, right now,” I said, my voice shaking slightly despite my efforts. “Trust me. Please?”

“Um… Sure,” my dad said, his concern growing. “What is it, Ella?”

Suddenly, before I could say anything, Moana’s voice echoed in the background. “Who is it, Edrick?”

“It’s Ella,” he said. “She sounds worried. Here, I’ll put her on speaker.”

There was a click, and then I heard Moana’s voice coming through. “Ella? Honey?”

By now, my frustration was mounting. I couldn’t tell them everything, no matter how badly I wanted to, and it only made it all the more difficult to get them to take me serious. “Please, guys, just go to Daisy’s room, right now,” I insisted, my voice raising slightly. “Check on her. Make sure she’s safe.”

My dad’s confusion was palpable, even over the phone. Ella, it's the middle of the night. She’s sleeping,” he said. “Why would we check on her now?”

“Have you been drinking, honey?” Moana chimed in. “You didn’t take any drugs, did you?”

I groaned, clutching my hair. “No, I’m perfectly sober,” I insisted. “Please just check on her.”

There was a pause, and then I heard muttering on the other end before my father spoke up again. “Okay, okay,” he said. “I’m getting up now.”

“Good,” I said. “Put on FaceTime.” I switched on FaceTime, my heart racing as I waited for the video call to connect. Moments later, their worried faces appeared on my screen.

I held my breath as my dad climbed out of bed and walked down the hall with Moana at his heels. He then quietly opened Daisy’ bedroom door. I could see the room behind him, and there she was: my sweet little sister, tucked in her bed, sleeping peacefully.

No blood, no hitmen, no danger. Just a teenager’s room.

But I couldn’t be sure yet.

“Check the closet,” I said.

My father and Moana exchanged looks, but said nothing. I watched as my dad quietly tiptoed over to the closet door and slid it open, revealing…

Clothes.

I exhaled a shaky breath, relief washing over me. “Oh, thank god,” whispered, clutching my chest with my free hand as I sank down onto the couch.

My dad turned back to the phone, confusion still etched on his face. He slipped out of Daisy’s bedroom and closed the door behind him before he spoke in a hushed tone. “Ella, what’s going on?” he asked. “Why did you make us check on her like this?”

I couldn’t tell them the truth, not now. Maybe not ever. “I... I had a nightmare,” I lied, my voice quivering just slightly.

My mom’s brow furrowed in concern. “A nightmare? Ella, you never call us in the middle of the night for just a nightmare. What’s really going on?”

My parents could always tell when I was lying. It was one of those parental superpowers that had never failed them even once before, especially not Moana. I bit my lip, struggling to come up with an excuse that would put their minds at ease without revealing too much.

“I’ve just been under a lot of stress lately,” I finally admitted, a hint of truth in my words. “Work has been overwhelming, and I guess it’s been getting to me. I’m sorry for waking you up.”

My dad’s expression softened, but he still looked concerned. “Ella, you know you can always talk to us about anything, right? If you or Daisy are ever in danger or need help, you have to let us know immediately.”

I almost blurted out everything right then and there, but I stopped myself in the nick of time. If I revealed the truth to my parents, there was no telling what Marina might do to Daisy. I couldn’t risk it.

“I know, dad,” I said, forcing a small smile. “I promise, it was just a nightmare. I’ll be fine.”

My mom gave me a knowing look that I could feel even through the phone. “Well, if these ‘nightmares’ continue,” she said gently, “maybe you should consider coming back home for a while. We worry about you being on your own in that city, you know.”

Right then, I wanted nothing more than to be back home, away from all the danger and secrets that had consumed my life. But I couldn’t let Marina win. I had to protect Daisy, even if it meant keeping my distance from my family.

“I appreciate that, mom,” I said, my voice filled with a sadness I couldn’t fully hide. “But I’ll be fine. I have to prove myself here, you know?”

My dad nodded, although I could see the concern still in his gray eyes. “Alright, Ella,” he said. “Just remember, we’re here for you, no matter what. Morgans stick together, remember?”

I nodded, my heart heavy with the weight of the secrets I was keeping. “I know, dad. Morgans stick together. Thanks for checking on Daisy for me.”

“No problem, princess,” my dad said, using the nickname he always called me as a kid, which I needed more than anything right now. “We love you.”

“I love you too,” I whispered. But then, just as we were about to hang up, I had a thought. “Hey, dad?”

“Yes?”

I cleared my throat, trying to figure out how to word my request without raising any more red flags. Finally, I spoke. “Would you mind—just to give me a bit of peace of mind here—telling Daisy to come right home after school for a while? And keep a closer eye on her?”

My parents exchanged wary looks again. “Ella,” my mother said cautiously, “are you sure it was just a nightmare?”

I nodded vehemently. “Yes. I’m just… I’ve been having a lot of nightmares about her,” I said. “And it would help a lot if I knew she was safe. It’s hard being so far away.”

For a moment, my parents said nothing. But then, finally, my father nodded.

“Sure, Ella. Whatever it takes to make you feel better.”

As we said our goodbyes and ended the call, I couldn’t help but wish that I could just go home and leave all of this behind. But I couldn’t. I was in too deep, and there was no turning back now.

I sighed, sinking back onto my couch, feeling the isolation of the city and the danger of my situation closing in on me. For Daisy’s sake, I had to stay strong and keep up the facade, even if it meant lying to my own family.

But as the night wore on, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I was running out of time, that Marina’s threats were growing bolder and more dangerous. I was almost certain that it would only get worse from here.

And I needed to find a way to end this all before that could happen.