**Elena**“What do you mean by a picture of me?” I asked to be sure I heard her correctly.But she didn't answer, just went on.“It was marked,” she said, fingers drawing shapes in the air like she could still see it. “Several red lines all over it. Maybe a pen, maybe a knife. It looked like someone stabbed it over and over.”My skin went cold.“You’ll have to run away,” she said, grabbing my hands as if to pull me somewhere, anywhere.“Look,” she whispered then, trembling as she showed me her eye.As though reminding me of the swelling, the blood clots in it. I already saw it.“I don't want something like this to happen to you”. She said as she grabbed my arm.And my chest felt tight “When did this happen?” I breathed.Her face crumpled.“Not long after I came back from the cemetery,” she sobbed.And then the rest came tumbling out.“I was drenched from the rain. I was just trying to get changed,” she said, her words quick and raw. “But then…it fell out of the closet. The picture.
**Elena**“Since when did you get to start asking me questions, Helena?” she snapped, her gaze filled with hatred.That long, hard stare dug into me like she already suspected something was off. My hands felt clammy, and my heart thudded against my ribs.I swallowed.I knew this would come eventually.“Don’t think I’ll forget our grudge just because you’re married to the Alpha now,” she said, turning her back.I felt my stomach knot up. Of course Lauren wouldn’t let that go so easily.But that limp.I just couldn't overlook it.Not at this point.“I was just curious about your limping,” I blurted, my voice a bit too fast.She spun back around and shot me a death stare. “Learn to mind your business, Helena.” She pointed a finger at me before turning away again.That was it.No.I couldn’t just let her walk away like this.Acting on impulse, I grabbed her by the arm before my nerves could catch up. My grip was tight, more desperate than I expected.“We need to talk,” I said, pulling he
**Elena**That name.Not the first, the second name.My heart skipped a beat, my mouth went dry.No.No, it can’t be.The room felt like it was closing in.Ivana’s voice broke the silence.“My queen? What is it?”I couldn’t answer.Not yet.I just stared at the page, my hands gripping the file so tightly my knuckles ached.A hospital name stared back at me in bold letters at the top of the page.Rosewood Psychiatric Hospital.My pulse tightened, a painful thud.A psychiatric hospital?Why would Trisha hide this?I scanned the file even more, my hands trembling as I read.Recipient: TRISHA ORTIZ.And then…XAVIER THAN.My breath caught in my throat.Why?Why was Xavier’s name here too?I stared at the page, hardly able to believe what I was seeing.I flipped to the next few pages, more hospital visits, more records.And some of the papers were torn. Jagged edges like someone had ripped pieces off.Someone is trying to hide something.My hands felt cold.The dates… they stretched back f
**Elena**I couldn’t hide the blush heating my cheeks as Xavier finally stepped out of my room.“I’ll see you off,” he had said, so casual, trying to make everything perfect after the date.But it wasn’t far at all, my door was just a few steps down the hallway.Still, my heart had fluttered at those four small words.He’s so sweet, I thought, pressing my palms to my face.Then my stomach twisted with a strange ache.Wait. Why am I even this happy about him walking me to my own door?And why am I blushing like some silly schoolgirl?Get a grip.He’s probably just being polite.Or worse, is he... is he falling in love with Helena?I bit my fingers, feeling jealousy rise up like a wave.“You’re being ridiculous,” I whispered to myself, leaning against the doorframe.Still, the thought wouldn’t go away.I could hear my own heart thudding loud in my ears.What if all those glances and gentle words weren’t meant for me at all?What if they were meant for her?“Stop it,” I muttered, shaking
**Xavier**HELENA That name resounded in my head, like an echo I couldn’t escape.I pulled back slightly, breathless, staring into her eyes.God. I didn’t know if I should feel guilty about the way my heart pounded for her. It was wrong, wasn’t it? Loving her, craving her touch.Would Elena hate me for falling in love with her sister?I thought about Elena and my heart skipped.And then there was Helena.Who felt like Elena in some strange, impossible way, but with a different face.Is it even possible? Could they both be my mate? Or was this the Moon Goddess testing me?I brushed my thumb across her lips and lowered my mouth to hers again, losing myself in her softness, my chest aching with confusion and need.“Xavier,” she murmured as we broke the kiss.Her voice was serious, and my gaze sharpened.“Mm?” I held her close, one arm firm around her waist. “What is it?”She hesitated, eyes searching mine. “I want to look at you properly when I say this,” she whispered.“Okay,” I answe
**Elena**It was pouring down heavily as I gazed out the window of the car, raindrops racing each other across the glass. Thunder grumbled in the distance like the sky itself was restless, just like my thoughts.“My queen, we’ve arrived,” the driver’s voice broke the quiet.“Okay…” I replied, unlocking the door. I pushed it open and a chilly splash of rain kissed me.Before I could take another step, a shield appeared over me, an umbrella, blocking the rain.I looked up in surprise.“My king..I mean, Xavier,” I stammered, my heart skipping like I’d swallowed a hiccup.He held the umbrella with one hand and my arm with the other as we hurried toward the mansion. He looked so serious, brow slightly furrowed, jaw tense.Wow. He’s really serious about this whole thing, I thought, stealing a quick glance at him.“Are you wet?” he asked, voice lower, his hands moving quickly to check my sleeves and shoulders as if the rain could still touch me under the umbrella.I shook my head. “No.”“G