Chapter 8

Elara

I was in shock.

Of all the things I thought could happen by coming to the Black Ice Pack, staying to live in the Alpha's house was not one of them. Not even in my wildest dreams could I have visualized an opportunity as good as that.

Going into the Alpha's house allowed me to get a broader view of the pack's power and how much the Alpha might be involved in the crime I was investigating. It was a complicated situation, but I had to be astute about it.

Beta David took me by the arm and led me to the other end of the room.

“You're going to refuse,” he said, and I looked at him incredulously. “Our family's problem will be settled in private.”

I released my grip quickly and looked at him very seriously.

“It's very easy for you to talk about family when I don't even have a chance to integrate and your son disowns me in front of much of the council,” I said earnestly.

“What Theo has is a temper tantrum and—”

“Let's not lie to each other,” I said earnestly, and Beta David scowled at me. “His family didn't expect me; even I didn't expect to have a family. I lived my whole life believing I didn't have one... The point is, it's too much trouble for everyone if I'm in his house.”

“Are you going back to where you live?” Beta David asked with a feigned calmness that didn't surprise me.

It was in the wretch's best interest for me to go back to the mousetrap I had come out of so that his perfect life would return to normal. I looked at him incredulously.

“Wouldn't that be the easiest thing for you to do?” I asked shrewdly.

The man was overcome.

He was about to say something to me, but at that moment the Alpha Kaelen approached.

“Is everything okay?” the Alpha asked, and I nodded.

I felt a look on my back, so when I turned, I saw that the triplets were not taking their eyes off me. At that moment there was an expression of shock and bewilderment from them, but I ignored them and looked at the Alpha with respect.

“Yes,” I said so as not to give Beta David away.

“I don't think it's a good idea for Elara to stay here,” said Beta David. “Family problems we need to work out among ourselves.”

“Is that what you're going to tell Theo for humiliating his sister during the blood test?” questioned the Alpha in a harsh tone of voice that surprised me. "Obviously, if he feels that way, Lauren feels worse. You need to adjust them to the new reality while your daughter adjusts to our pack, and then you can integrate her into your family. You need to resolve the two issues separately before this escalates to major ones. The reality is that Elara is in a bad position right now."

The fact that the Alpha had a very assertive view of what was going on in the Mikaelson household was amusing.

“It doesn't seem fair to me that you and Kate are the ones sponsoring Elara,” said Beta David, and I held back my laughter.

“On the contrary, it seems the fairest thing to me,” said the Alpha. "Elara needs to fit right in with the pack; there is no better place than in my house. I'm helping you out here, buddy."

At that point I was aware of the level of trust these men had for each other.

And as if Beta David needed a nudge, Kate Moon approached.

“Is something wrong?” the beautiful woman asked slyly.

Beta David denied it, and I knew the one really pulling the strings was her.

“Well, send someone for Elara’s things,” ordered Moon Kate immediately.

“My things are in the van,” I said calmly. “I don't think it's necessary for someone to go get them; I'll go myself.”

Moon Kate smiled at me, Alpha Kaelen nodded, and Beta David sighed before handing me the keys to his van.

“Bring me the keys right away,” Beta David ordered, and I nodded.

“Aiden,” Moon Kate said, and the tribal triplet approached. "Son, help Elara get her things and wait for us in the mess hall. Your father and I need to talk to the Beta."

Aiden nodded and pointed the way for me.

I walked beside the triplet very calmly, in complete silence.

I said nothing; I had nothing to say, but the tension between us could be cut with a knife.

“This castle has many passages, but once you know them, you won't get lost once you have the orientation of the main entrance,” Aiden explained gently, and I looked at him in surprise.

“Thank you,” I said carefully. “I never thought I'd see a castle standing.”

“My family has been charged with maintaining it through all their generations; it's an honor and an age-old tradition,” Aiden explained, and I smiled.

“Is it your turn to carry on that legacy?” I asked with amusement.

He scowled at me, and as I was about to move forward, I bumped into his brothers.

“Where are you guys going?” asked Jayden, the boy with the scar.

“We're going to get my suitcase,” I said calmly. “Care to join us?”

Jayden smiled, amused, while Brayden just gave me an inscrutable look.

“Gladly,” Jayden said and held out his arm. “It is my honor to lead you through the castle.”

“A castle of honor and age-old tradition,” I said carefully, and Jayden looked at Aiden with a frown.

“Did you really tell her that nonsense?” asked Jayden, and Aiden said nothing, just looked at his brother with annoyance.

I liked that.

“Let's move on,” said Brayden calmly.

Jayden gave me his arm again, but I shook my head and declined his offer.

“I can walk perfectly well on my own,” I said carefully. “I'm more aware now; after all, it's not a catwalk, not an athletic track.”

Jayden raised his eyebrows and then burst out laughing so hard I couldn't help but catch myself.

“So you like to use other people's words against them,” Jayden said, and I nodded. "Good, I've learned my lesson. Sorry for being a jerk."

He held out his hand, and I squeezed it firmly.

This time, the triboelectric effect was much gentler, and I raised my eyebrows.

“Are the three of you always charged with energy?” I questioned, and everyone looked at me with arched eyebrows. “I felt a current when we touched hands; it's not normal.”

“Maybe the one who is always charged with energy is you,” Brayden said wittily. “We're three different people; it's statistically unlikely that—”

I touched him and felt electricity again.

I laughed outright.

“I just wanted to prove the point,” I said with amusement.

Brayden raised his eyebrows, and a guard appeared.

I held out my hand to the man, and he scowled at me but gave me a squeeze and then let go and walked away.

“I didn't feel anything; whatever happens, it's you guys,” I said with thanks. “Let's get my suitcase at once before your parents and the Beta think I've run away.”

Jayden chuckled as his brothers met his eyes.

We followed to the parking lot in silence; I opened one of the back doors of the van and pulled out the suitcase. Jayden immediately took the suitcase, and I watched him with a frown.

“I'm trying to be polite and make up for my idiotic attitude at the hospital,” he said, and I nodded.

His brothers, on the other hand, were scowling, but I ignored them completely.

“Let's go to the dining room; Mother said to wait there,” Aiden said and looked at me carefully. “Did you have breakfast?”

“The truth is I didn't have time to; Beta David insisted I come with him. He didn't even warn me that today would be the blood test,” I said truthfully and held up the keys. “I must deliver this.”

“I'll take you and then lead you to the dining room,” Jayden said, and he looked at his brothers.

They nodded and went into another hallway while we went back to the living room. Most of the people had left; only our parents, Theo, and Counselor Aldric, who was talking to three other people, were left.

I walked over to the Beta and handed him the key.

“Thank you,” I said carefully, and Theo grunted.

“Is something bothering you, Theo?” asked Jayden.

“No,” Theo said after looking at the Alpha and his father; both men were scowling.

“Okay, I'll take Elara to the dining room; Brayden and Aiden are there, Mom,” Jayden said, and Moon Kate smiled.

“Thanks, son,” she said, and we walked away.

The tension between the four of them was so great, I didn't know what was really going on, but I didn't want to find out either. I didn't care what they had told Theo.

We walked hurriedly, and Jayden led me down another series of hallways that led to an impressive dining room. I was surprised to see that there was a plate served and trays of everything on the table.

“We didn't know what to order, so we ordered the variations we had for breakfast earlier,” Aiden explained. “Come eat.”

That detail shocked me.

“It wasn't necessary and—”

“You're a guest of our family, Elara,” Brayden said. "Catering to you is part of it. Eat without trouble."

I sat down calmly and realized my suitcase was nearby, which made me sigh.

I ate in silence as they talked about something from the pack, and when I took my first bite of banana pudding, I couldn't help but groan in pleasure.

“This is delicious,” I said without a filter and looked at the triplets.

All three of them saw me with golden eyes, and on their faces there was a clear expression of hunger.

I swallowed hard.