Marked by the Alphas

Chapter 115: Chapter 115

Elara POV

I look at Stella reaching for the butterflies on her playmat and sigh as I turn towards the window. I rest my head against the cool glass, gazing out at the garden that stretches into the woods.

It is weird being back. This place is a yin-yang of emotions and memories. The pro and con list is so long and complicated that I do not care to think about it. I will simply work through my emotions as they come.

Right now, my family is on my mind. I worry about Selena. She is only a little over a year away from her mating day, the day she will be sent away and forced to reproduce if her vampire powers do not awaken and put her in mortal peril first.

Goddess, everything is so upside down, and I have no idea what to do to make it right. I am not even sure coming back to the mansion was the best move, but at least there we have the Alphas’ protection.

There is a knock on the door, and I quickly walk to open it.

“You!” I glare at Mason. “What are you doing here?”

“Please don’t hit me again,” he holds up his hands defensively. “I only want to talk, please.”

“Mason, we really have nothing to say to each other,” I say adamantly.

“Can I please apologise?” He asks desperately. “I don’t want us to part on such a sour note.”

Blankly, I stare at him.To be honest, I have no idea how to handle our relationship. Last time, we had a huge fight, and I thought he was gone for good. I could just set him aside.

But at the very beginning of everything, even before Alice, I called him the love of my love, and after we got reacquainted, I considered a serious relationship with him.

Mason is a cheater and jealous, but that does not make him a bad person.

“Fine,” I sigh, crossing my arms. “You have five minutes.”

“Thanks,” he nods, pushing his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “Look, you have the facts and know everything. I’m sorry for cheating on you with Alice. I loved her. But you and I had a rare opportunity to start fresh, to reconnect and get to know each other. Things were good, no, great. So, I’m hoping we could leave the past where it belongs and be friends.”

“Getting along sounds great,” I smile stiffly, even though I am still apprehensive. But with everything that is going on, I am not going to waste energy on this. “We should ...”

A scream rips through the air, interrupting me. Mason and I look down the hallway. Mindy comes sprinting towards us, her eyes wide and wild. She looks terrified.

“They took them all,” she shrieks. “And then they ...who’s that?”

She points over my shoulder, into my room, and I swing around.

“Braden,” I gasp when I see him across the room, holding Stella. “What are you doing here?”

“Better yet,” Mason growls. “How did you get in here?”

“I walked in, genius,” Braden says, lowering his head, his nostrils flaring.

Braden is one of my most trusted friends, but is he ... sniffing her?

“What are you doing?” I raise my eyebrows.

“Sorry,” Braden says, looking up and locking eyes with me. His face softens. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“You sneaked in here and are holding my baby,” I roll my eyes. “Of course, you’re going to scare the shit out of me. What’s going on?”

“You need to get out of here and hide immediately,” Braden warns, handing Stella over to me. “You and Stella both.”

“We just go here,” I argue.

“Elara, I just smelled her,” Braden whispers urgently. My mouth turns dry. I know what he is about to say, and part of me wants to lunge at him and throw my hand over his mouth. “She has vampire blood. I can smell it already.”

Dammit! I knew it was a possibility, but I did not want to hear it.

“Vampires?” Mindy squeaks beside me, and I look at her. I completely forgot she is here.

“Don’t worry,” I smile at her. “Everything will be okay.”

“But ...”

“No hybrids are safe,” Braden continues, cutting Mindy off. “Especially not one whose scent is already so strong.”

“That’s old news,” I sigh. “But staying here is the safest option.”

“Elara, the Council is planning something,” Braden says darkly. “Something they’ve been keeping a secret from the whole pack. And it’s going to destroy the peace we’ve kept for years.”

Braden POV

“What are you talking about?” Elara frowns.

“The Council is kidnapping hybrids and running tests on them,” I say, running my fingers through my hair, and Elara’s eyes widen. “They want to create a stronger, all-powerful wolf hybrid species.”

“W ... why would they do that?” The other girl in the room squeaks. Her eyes are glassy and unfocused, and her face is white as a ghost. Who the hell is this?

“The wolf shifters could break the peace treaty or any other rule they wish,” I continue. “They could do whatever the fuck they wanted because an army of hybrids would be nearly impossible to kill.”

“Who is behind all of this?” Elara asks, but her expression tells me she already knows the answer.

“Orion Constantine,” I reply stoically.

“Fuck,” Mason mumbles, looking from me to Elara.

“I must warn Kane and Axel,” Elara says urgently.

“Elara, no, they’re in prison!” The other girl pipes up, pointing at me. “That’s what I came to tell you before ... before he showed up. They’ve been tried with the murder of multiple she-wolves, including you.”

“They’re in prison?” Elara’s voice climbs an octave. “We must help them, right now.”

“Elara, hold on,” I say quickly.

“Obviously, the accusations are false,” I say, waving at Elara, standing in front of me, very much alive.

“The Council is accusing Kane and Axel of the murders they committed?” Elara gasps.

“Exactly,” I nod. “Orion and the High Council are starting to get desperate. The she-wolves they’ve kidnapped so far aren’t passing the tests they’re giving them, so now they’re seeking out a new subject: hybrid babies.” fгeewebnovёl.com

“Braden, please don’t tell me ...” Elara trails off, her face as white as a sheet, and I grind my teeth. I do not want to say this, but I must.

“They know Stella exists, Elara,” I sigh. “And they’re going to come after her.”

The other girl lets out a little yelp, and Elara looks like she is about to be sick.

“Why do you think Orion was talking to Selena?” I continue.

“You know?” Elara’s jaw drops.

“Yeah,” I reply. “Elara, Orion threatened your sister into giving him valuable information about you and your whereabouts.”

“Shit,” Elara whispers.

“We must get you out of here and Stella into hiding,” I continue. “But first, we get Kane and Axel.”

“Then let’s go,” Elara nods.

“I have one more person who will help,” I reply. “And his identity might surprise you.”