Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 112: Chapter 112

Elara POV frёeωebɳovel.com

Stunned, I stare at Serena, and my anger about meeting Orion makes way for concern.

“Who can get us too easily here?” I ask thoughtfully, even though I have my suspicions.

After my encounter with Orion, I suspect that he is threatening her if she tells us anything specific.

“I wish I could tell you, but I can’t,” Selena says weakly. “If I do, we’re all in danger. Or dead.”

“Selena, we can only help if you tell us,” I reason with her. “Orion’s no longer the alpha, but Kane and Axel are. They can help.”

“Nobody can,” she bites her lip, and turns away.

Looking at her breaks my heart. She is still a child, and she is obviously scared out of her mind. Damn that fucking monster. Orion really did a number on her.

“Are you going to meet up with Orion again?” I try another angle.

“If he tells me to, then I,” Selena shrugs, but her voice trembles and I know she is not as nonchalant as she pretends to be. “I want my family to live.”

I sigh and look at Kane for help, because I cannot argue with that. I know what Orion is capable of, and I do not doubt for a second that he would keep his word.

“Please don’t tell Mom,” Selena begs. “I don’t want to disappoint her. I don’t want to hurt her any more than I already have.”

“Oh, sis,” I smile empathetically, pulling her into my embrace. Now I know the reason why Selena has been so shitty to Mom. She was pushing her away in case one of them got hurt.

“Selena,” I push her away gently. “I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere. We’ll figure it out together, okay?”

Selena steps away from me, crosses her arms, and looks over my shoulder at Kane.

“You should take her back to the mansion,” she says, her voice thick and teary. “It’s safer there.”

“I’m not leaving you alone, not again,” I say adamantly.

“You have to,” Selena insists. “I can’t leave Mom alone. That will literally kill her. And besides, Orion won’t hurt me for real. I’m not the one he wants.”

Her words are a punch in the gut. I do not have to ask. I know exactly what it means. Orion is after me. He wanted me before, and he still does because of what I am. Shit.

“Selena, I ...”

“I’ll take her back,” Kane cuts her off, placing his arm around my shoulders and looking at me with a reassuring smile.

“Thank you,” Selena sighs, relieved. “And if you don’t mind, I need a moment alone.”

Kane POV

Selena practically shoves us out of her room. Elara’s shoulders and back are straight and tight with tension as we walk to her room.

“Do you really want to go back there?” I ask softly. Even though I am aware of the risks, I would prefer that Elara and Stella stay with us so we can protect them.

“No,” she grunts, closing her room’s door behind us. “I want to hunt that asshole down, kill him, come back here and sleep for like a thousand years in my own fucking bed.”

“I know the feeling,” I whisper, reaching for her hand, and she smiles softly.

The electricity between our hands is just as intense as this afternoon when she straddled my lap. I am dying for a moment of peace to talk about us and our future. I want to claim her as my true mate, and Luna. I want to be a father to our daughter. I want to make love to her at night and wake up next to her every morning.

Unfortunately, along with the months we have lost, an awkwardness has settled between us. Being around her still drives my hormones crazy. I still yearn for her, but I no longer have the courage to act on my impulses. Things have changed ... she has changed, and I do not want to do anything that will make her run away again. But even with all of that, the sparks between us are there every time we touch.

“I’m not ready to leave them,” she says with such anguish that it splits my heart.

“If I’m here, I can help,” she continues. “I can keep following her, make sure she’s safe.”

“We, Elara, we,” I say softly. “Selena is my daughter’s aunt, and Julia is her grandmother. They’re family, and we’ll protect them.”

“Oh, thank you,” she gasps and surprises me when she throws her arms around my waist and clings to me. “Knowing I have your support makes this so much easier.”

“You’re welcome,” I say, stroking her hair. Truthfully, it kind of stings that she does not know I will always support her. But then again, Axel and I have not shown her that in the past. “But Selena might be right about you returning to the mansion.

“You can’t be serious,” she gasps, pulling away and studying my face. “How can I leave them knowing ...”

“Elara, Orion’s looking for you,” I cut her off. “If he knows you’re here, nothing will stop him. But if he knows you’re at the mansion, he’ll leave them alone and come for you.”

“I know you’re right,” she sighs. “But I’m still worried.” freewёbnoνel.com

“I’ll station guards around here,” I reassure her. “Undercover, of course, so Julia doesn’t ask questions.”

She looks at me so long and intensely that I start to wonder if she is even listening.

“Okay,” she nods. “If it will protect them, then I’ll have to.”

“What are you going to tell your mother?” I ask softly, running my hands up and down her arms. “You just got back, she’ll have questions.”

“I’ll tell her I’m going to live with my mates,” she replies softly. “Stella should know her fathers.”

Her words make my heart blossom with warmth, but I remind myself that her words are an excuse and not necessarily how she feels.

“We should get some sleep,” she smiles wryly, and points to a bed. “You can have that bed.”

“Elara, I ...” I stop talking when she looks at me, and I lose my nerve. Trying to restore our relationship will be the last thing on her mind right now.

“I hope you sleep well,” I smile, and walk towards my bed.