Chapter 4: Suspecting Melissa 

Elena's POV

His large frame filled the entire doorway; his chest heaved as he had run the whole way back. He was still in his warrior gear and there was mud on his boots.

The next thing I know, he's right in front of me, engulfing me in a warm embrace. “I was so scared Lena, thought I lost you,” he said in an almost sad tone, holding me close to himself.

For the first time, I felt remorse for my actions—ignoring my pack and family, putting them in worry.

“I'm so sorry I blocked you all out and made you worry but I'm fine now,” I replied to him, slowly freeing myself from his tight embrace. 

“You don't seem fine to me, your face looks so pale,” He said gruffly, placing both arms on my shoulders, squeezing them a little bit.

“I know right, it's been a hell of a day…my head is so full I don't even know what to think anymore,” I replied to him.

“You don't have to feel so overwhelmed Lena, I'm here for you sis…, always, I'll never leave your side.”

I couldn't hold back the wave of tears that rushed to my eyes. Ambrose is literally the best twin brother on earth.

“I—I know.” I sputtered in between sobs. Ambrose pulls me into a comforting embrace once more.

Elijah cleared his throat, clearly bored with our little twin love drama.

Mother rushed to our side, joining the hug, “My babies, I know things are tough right now, but it's gonna be okay.”

“Yes Mom, I'm going to make things right,” I said, drying my tears with the back of my palm.

“We'll sort this whole issue out, we will surely get to the bottom of this,” Ambrose added.

“I know you both are capable but you really need to be careful, I can sense the danger coming.”

I smirked inside of me, remembering the oath I just took in the forest. She senses the danger. Well …yeah, I'm the danger.

“Be very careful, especially you — Elena.” She continued, staring right into my eyes like she could read my mind.

 I only gave a nod and said nothing because nothing on earth can stop me from executing my mission.

 “I will go check on your dad,” she said with that, and then left for their bedroom.

“Alright, back to business guys.” Elijah clapped his hands drawing back our attention to him. “What makes you think Melissa is responsible for this, I'm sorry Elena, just because she took your mate doesn't mean she's responsible for the missing stone.”

“Jeez Elijah, whose side are you on? I shot back at him. 

“Don't tell me you're so blind you can't sense what's going on, you're the beta for crying out loud,” Ambrose added in a calmer tone, not wanting to disrespect him in any way but Elijah took it otherwise — he always does. 

“Watch your tongue, Ambrose,” Elijah fired back.

There's always been this rivalry between the two of them that I can't quite place the reason for. But I think it's because of Elijah's mate — Sophia.

 Ambrose and Sophia had been really close, like I was so sure that they were going to be boyfriend and girlfriend…and even possibly mates, but unfortunately on Sophia's 18th birthday, Elijah turned out to be her mate, not Ambrose as everyone expected. My lovely twin brother's heart was shattered that night.

“Calm down honey, he's just making a point.” A charming feminine voice came from the stairway.

I caught the exact moment Ambrose's shoulders went still. He didn't move, didn't blink. Just watched her come down one slow step at a time, like the rest of the room had stopped existing.

 Well.....Speak of the devil and here she comes.

 Sophia descended the stairs more slowly than usual, one hand trailing along the banister. She was still fully dressed, not a hair out of place — like she hadn't even attempted sleep yet. The soft light caught the angles of her face and I hated, truly hated, how effortlessly beautiful she looked at 1am while I probably resembled something the forest spat out.

Ambrose stared at her a little longer than one should stare at someone else's mate, but yeah, he does that all the time and it pissed me off every single time. I know he loved her but dude she's someone else's now, just move on, like forget she ever existed. At least that's how she treated him now.

Elijah rushed to her side, "Be careful love," he said softly and held her hand, guiding her down the stairs.

"Be careful???" I blurted out before I could stop myself, "Is she hurt?"

"No Elena, I'm fine but you don't seem fine to me," Sophia said in her annoyingly sweet voice and I shot her a glare, she rolled her eyes at me and then shifted her gaze back to her mate.

"It's past 1am darling, I say we continue this discussion tomorrow with a clearer mind, everyone is exhausted from today's happenings."

"Great idea hon. You guys agree?" Elijah chimed in.

"No!" I snapped. "We're deciding our next line of action here and now! Melissa helped Lucan steal the stone and I'm going to make sure they pay with their blood and that's final!!!."

"We can't make baseless accusations Elena, your instincts can't be right every time," Elijah said, his tone rising.

The air in the room shifted—that charged feeling you get when someone is trying to get on your nerves, I could feel it right now.

"Enough!" Ambrose said, breaking the tension, "We've had enough talk for today, everyone upstairs now." 

The entire room fell silent, no one argued.

I dashed out of the living room before anyone could and raced upstairs to my bedroom, shutting the door behind me.

I stopped in front of the dressing mirror and looked at my reflection, to be honest I looked terrible. There were mud stains on my dress which was torn in different areas, my hair and makeup were..... can't even explain, I had only one earring on, the others were lost and I don't give a damn even though they were made of real diamonds, because Luna Amira sent them. The bracelets were gone too

I took off the earring and held it for a second then threw it into the trash without blinking. Some things aren't worth keeping. Then headed for the bathroom. A warm shower was what I needed now.

I got into the bathroom, slipped out of my dress— I was definitely burning it, got into the tub, and turned on the e shower. The warm water hit my skin, relaxing my tense muscles. I quickly scrubbed my body lest I fall asleep in the tub, the warm water was already making me feel dizzy.

I got out of the tub, grabbed a towel and tied it around my body not bothering to dry the water off my skin or my hair and walked out of the bathroom. 

The cold air hit my skin as I stepped into the bedroom. My wet dripping didn't make it any better.

The energy in my bedroom felt different, like there was someone's presence in the room and it seemed very familiar. Lia stirred inside of me, "I can feel him, Lena," she said.

"Who?"

"Him!" She replied, excited.

Then it hit me, that scent, it's so familiar, I followed it to the source—my room's window, the exact one I came in through earlier. But I don't see anything.

A rustle of leaves in the garden made me look out of the window, my brown eyes met Amber ones. My body recognized him before I did, his gaze so intense it sent shivers down my spine.

It's him, the strange man from the forest earlier today, still in his wolf form. But wait .....he followed me home.