Chapter 4: What Happened To Helena

**Elena**

A broad smile spread across my face as I gazed at my reflection in the mirror. It wasn't a dream, and it definitely wasn't a hickey. Xavier had marked me.

But what does this mean? Will it all be over now? What will happen with Father, and what would Mortina do?

I slipped back into my nightwear and lay quietly on the couch where we had done it.. I wondered where Xavier was.

The sheets still smelled like him, Vanilla and salt, but his side of the bed was cold.”

Just then, the doorknob turned, and a maid entered.

"My Queen," the maid whispered, avoiding my eyes. "The King insists this room is yours now… ," she said.

"Really? Where is he?" I asked.

"He left the mansion early this morning."

"Alright, that's fine. Thank you."

I mumbled to myself in awe, "Wow, Xavier has actually forgiven me. Everyone knows how much he loves this room, the previous Alpha's room, and now he’s giving it to me."

But why did the maid avoid my gaze..

I got curious and a part of me wanted us to share the room together. So I took out my phone and dialed his number.

The line rang once. Twice. Three times. My thumb lingered over ‘end call’—had last night meant nothing? Or was he already regretting it?”.

No. I won't think negatively.

An hour later, I stood in front of my old home, I had not visited Father in a while and I needed to tell my step mother that there was no need for the Spray scent anymore.

I planted a soft kiss on his forehead as I tried to hide the tears and smiled.

Father had been like this for three years, bedridden and unable to talk . Sometimes he would write things on paper but other times his written words would be illegible.

“Hey Dad, how have you been? I’m sorry I haven’t been able to come see you; a lot has happened, and I don't even know where to start”.

He made a slight gesture, encouraging me to begin wherever I wanted.

“Well, the good news is that I’m married to Xavier. However, Helena is nowhere to be found, and Mortina had to make me wear her scent. It turns out Xavier never received the pregnancy report I sent.”

I said all this while sitting on the floor, my head resting on his lap. A warm tear hit my arm. Father hadn’t cried in years.”. I turned my gaze to look at him.

“Father, oh my goodness,” I said as I wiped away his tears. He was finally responding to me after a long time.

He gestured with his finger toward the notepad on the mirror dresser, which he always did whenever he had something important to communicate.

I hurriedly grabbed it and placed the pen in his hands, watching carefully as he wrote. I was trying to make out what he was putting down.

Then it became clear: “HELENA IS…”

“Helena is what, Father?” I asked, but he stopped writing. “What are you trying to tell me, Father?”

Our moment was interrupted by Mortina. “Still playing devoted daughter? He can’t even remember your name.’”

“Let the man be, Elena. Why are you disturbing him?”..She continued

“I’m not disturbing him; he’s my father, Mortina,” I replied, rolling my eyes. For some reason, my confidence seemed to rise up.

Mortina crossed her arms and leaned against the doorframe, eyeing me as if I were something stuck to her shoe.

“I didn’t realize you were back to playing house,” she said coldly. “Or did Xavier throw you out already?”

I stood up and brushed dust off my dress. “I came to visit Father. That’s not a crime, is it?”

Mortina clicked her tongue and walked into the room. “That man barely recognizes you anymore. But if you enjoy talking to walls, who am I to judge?”

She began adjusting the curtains as if she owned the room,which, in a way, she did now.

“I just wanted to ask…” I hesitated, observing her movements and choosing my words carefully. “A while ago, I sent a medical report to Xavier. Did you, by any chance, take it?”

“What report?” she asked.

“Nothing serious,” I replied quickly, forcing a light chuckle..

Why did I even bring up the reports?..

Her eyes narrowed. “You seem very invested in what Xavier sees and doesn’t see. Did something happen between you two?”..

My stomach twisted. “No. Like I said, it's nothing serious.”

And, I won't be needing the Spray scent anymore. I said.

Mortina gave me a thin smile. “Don’t get any ideas, Elena. You’re only standing where Helena was meant to stand. And once she’s back, you’ll fade like smoke.”

I clenched my fists behind my back.. “That would never happen.”

“ Oh please, She said, rolling her eyes. “Besides if you wouldn't be needing it, Xavier would have made the announcement. Just stop being delusional. I'll have the spray scent ready incase you come back crying”. She shot back.

After giving me a suspicious look, she left the room.

I turned back to my father, who now looked exhausted from trying to write. I sat beside him and whispered, “I’ll find out what you were trying to say. I promise.”

I returned to the mansion, but Xavier still wasn’t back. The room felt cold.. His scent had faded slightly, and that scared me more than I expected.

Where had he gone? And why hadn't he called?.

Just then I heard footsteps approaching. His scent followed.

But he made a statement that didn't go down well with me. Or did I hear wrong?.