**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
**Elena**SAVE LAUREN.His writing was short, but it chilled me more than the AC ever could.Lauren. What does she have to do with this?I wiped my damp forehead, my thoughts spinning like a storm.Dad was lying so still, his face pale under the hospital light.Aunt Lena...The thought struck me like a flash.“Did Aunt Lena come to you because of Lauren?” I whispered, leaning close.Dad’s eyes fluttered. Then he blinked twice.My hands trembled as I grabbed the bedrail.“What did she say, Dad?” My voice rose. “Is this about this morning?”Nick moved closer, frowning. “This morning? What happened this morning?”I thought back to Lauren at Mom's grave. The way her hands shook. The purple bruises on her wrist and the fresh one on her ankle.“She looked scared,” I said quickly. “And... and she called Adolfo a monster.”Nick stiffened. “Monster?”“She begged me to help her run,” I went on.Could it be because of what she told me about Adolfo?“And Aunt Lena is her mother-in-law. That must
**Elena**“Elena. Where are you?” a voice called into my ear. Deep and familiar.“Nick? Hello… is that you?” I answered, my chest tightening up. Every word I spoke tumbled out faster than I could catch them. “Why are you calling me with a different number? What happened? Is everything okay?”I didn’t give him a moment to speak. My hands were trembling, and my eyes kept scanning my surroundings as if something might jump out at me.“Calm down, Elena,” Nick’s voice finally cut in. “I’m perfectly fine. My phone died, so I had to use my office line.”That slowed me for a heartbeat, but my mind leapt straight to the next worry.“What happened? Is there a problem?”And then it hit me all at once. Dad.“Is there anything wrong with my dad, Nick?” My voice cracked despite my best effort to hold it steady.“He’s awake,” Nick told me, and I could hear the smile in his words.For a second, I wasn’t sure if I’d heard him properly. My thoughts were a jumble of relief and disbelief.“My dad’s awake