Chapter 5

Elena:

I frowned as Drake entered the house and took pictures of the writing that was on the wall.

I looked at Alvize who was speaking to Viktor, both men whispered something between them, and excusing myself from Drake’s side, I walked toward the men.

“I am going to ask one very direct question, and I want a direct response.” I said, lowering my voice to one just above a whisper. “Do you have any idea about what is going on here?” 

Viktor looked at Alvize who didn’t say a word as he looked at me in silence. His eyes met mine and I looked at the man, studying his expression, trying to read whatever he wanted to tell me, wanting to understand what was going on. But nothing made sense to me. The man just confused me.

“There are fire marks here.” Drake said, breaking our conversation before it even started. I looked at the men with a raised eyebrow before turning to face Drake who stood under the ink. He was careful not to touch it, but looking down at what he was referring to, I frowned when I saw what he meant. The name Konstantin was carved with fire.

“Who the hell is this Konstantin?” I asked, frowning as I looked at the name. Drake shook his head and looked around the room for any evidence before I frowned when I saw that there were cracked areas, and the smell of blood hit my nostrils making me frown as I walked toward the burnt spot of blood. 

Blood often left a spot regardless of burned, unlike water, it left a spot where it had happened. However, us finding any sign or fingerprints in this burnt place was going to be somewhat difficult. I looked down on the floor, getting down on my knees as I tried to catch a scent around, any scent that seemed odd or off, but all I could smell was fire. Whoever did this didn’t only want to mask their crime, but they also wanted to mask the smell. They wouldn’t have left the body outside the house nor would they have left the house half intact.

“Did you find anything?” Drake asked and I nodded. 

“There is blood here.” I said, wanting him to take a picture. I got up and walked toward the men before wrapping my hand around Alvize’s arm, pulling him toward the front door. I had to ignore the spark that had my wolf waking up, wanting to whimper at the contact. Alvize didn’t react, but he did pull his arm away from my hand, making my chest ache. I stayed quiet, and I looked down at my feet, avoiding his eyes. 

“Do you want to tell me something, Alvize?” I asked and he shrugged his shoulders. 

“Like?”

“Alvize, now is not the time to play riddles. You two seemed to know something and I want to know what it is.” I said and he raised an eyebrow at me. 

“You are not a person to ask me questions, Elena.” He said, and I frowned in confusion. 

“Alvize…”

“If there is anything that you want to find, Elena, then go inside and look for it. YOU are to report to me and not the other way around do you understand me?” He asked, and I let out a low warning growl, not caring that Drake was inside and could hear. He returned the growl, making my chest ache as my wolf made me shy back, going on instinct to submit to her mate. 

The Alpha froze, noticing the effect that he was having on me. I stayed quiet for a few seconds before processing what just happened and shaking my head. His eyes met mine, and I glared at him. 

“I am your partner, Alvize, not your employee; therefore, I ask you a question…” 

“You are not to speak to me in such a sense, malyshka. I am not one of your co-workers.” He said, stopping me. I put my hand on his chest, pushing him back as he towered over my body. My heart raced against my ribcage as I tried to process what he was doing.

He leaned in, his hot breath hitting my face for a second making my chest ache as I fought the urge to submit to the mating bond, wanting to lean in. His eyes met mine before he moved to my ear, his next words sending shivers down my spine. 

“You, malyshka, will learn to mind your limits with a Pakhan and Alpha.” He whispered before pulling away to look at me, making my chest ache. “Now, I suggest that you either go inside or back to the Estate; you still have work to do.” 

The man went to turn around, not expecting me to answer. However, wrapping my hand around his wrist, I ignored the spark, my objecting wolf, and the pain that I felt as I focused on my anger toward his attitude. Whoever he thought himself to be, he had no right to speak to me in such a sense. 

He turned to face me, his eyes meeting mine as I took a step toward him as he towered my body, looking down at me as if I were some toddler who just made a mistake. I didn’t care.

I pulled my hand away as I glared at him, my eyes as cold as ice, watching as he frowned in confusion.

“I will make this very simple.” I said, keeping a monotonous tone. “I do not care who you are or what you think you are; you will speak to me with respect, do you understand me, Alpha Alvize?”

I turned to get back inside only for his arm to stop me as he turned us around, pinning me against the wall before he put his hands either side of my head, caging me between his arms. My heart raced against my ribcage as he leaned in, forcing my body to submit as my wolf gave into the mating bond as I looked at him.

“Consider this your first and last warning, little wolf.” He said, glaring daggers at me as his breath hit my face. “THINK for one second that you can double cross me, and I will be sure to teach you your limits the way that I see fit, do you understand me?”