Chapter 23

ELIZABETH'S POV

“So, you're a member of his pack now?” Evelyn asks, her eyes bright and filled with laughter as always.

“Yes, I am actually.”

“I knew you'd be. I mean, that would be the logical thing. Eric can't come after you now or he'll have to deal with Marcus and I don't think he'd want that at all,” she says.

“No, no, I don't imagine he would.”

“How is it like? I mean, I don't expect there to be very jarring changes and…”

“There are. There are very jarring changes. I mean. It's so…loose. Eric runs his pack like a cartel of sorts. There are just so many rules and regulations. Marcus, on the other hand, lets you do whatever you want as long as it's within reason and you don't kill anyone. There is also the option to work outside the pack businesses. There's just a lot…it's fun, actually,” I say and Evelyn raises her eyebrows.

“You seem way too excited.”

“I was delivered from bondage. I should be excited,” I say to her and she shakes her head, shutting one eye in exaggerated scrutiny.

“No, this is something different. You look different, almost like you're glowing.”

“I am not,” I say and she shrugs.

“Fine, suit yourself. Have you spoken with him since the incident with Eric?”

I wonder if I should tell her about the fishing and the times he has come into my house without my knowledge but she will get it out of me either way. She knows when I am lying.

“We have…talked.”

“You have…talked. That is it?” She asks. I look at her and her bright green eyes seem to be looking deep into my soul. Her faces changed from amusement to shock.

“You kissed him,” she says and I shut my eyes, wanting the ground to open up and swallow me.

“What is the matter with you? Why do you seem determined to read into my mind?”

“Did you or did you not do it?” She asks.

“Okay, I did it. I kissed him but it was not like that. It was just…”

“You totally did and don't try to justify it. You kissed him and from the looks of it, you enjoyed it,” she says. I realize that anything that I say will only give me away even more so I keep quiet.

“Keeping quiet won't save you,” Evelyn says in a sing-song.

“What do you want from me, mind reading witch,” I say. She bursts into laughter then she looks behind me.

“Ooh, the universe seems to be dripping eye candies rather frequently these days, huh?” She asks. I turn around, following her gaze and when I see what she is looking at, I sharply look away.

“What?” She asks, concern on her face.

“Do you know who that is?” I ask her.

“A gorgeous man?”

“Marcus's younger brother, Elliot. Probably one of the nastiest members of the pack and more vicious than you know. Look away, you'll draw his attention to us,” I say to her. Evelyn looks at him then shakes her head.

“I think it's already too late for that,” she whispers just as I feel his presence behind me. I close my eyes briefly then I sigh and open them just as he is taking the seat beside us then he nods his head at me in acknowledgement. He makes the chair look like it was made for a child.

“Veronica, was it?” he asks.

“Elizabeth,” I reply. He stares at me like he is trying to get me to admit that his version is correct. He smiles all of a sudden and if he is trying to be friendly, it isn't working. His smile looks more like a baring of teeth. I wonder how he and Marcus can share the same parents.

“And you are?” He turns toward Evelyn who seems suddenly muted and withdrawn. There is something about Elliot, something that takes up much more space than it should.

“My name is Evelyn. I am her friend. Oh, I didn't remember at first but when your brother came to help me rescue Elizabeth, you were with him. I'm sorry about your arm. Wasthay an accident?” She asks. He looks down at the arm and shakes his head.

“I wish it was. My brother took my arm for disobedience.”

I can see the blood drain from Evelyn's face as she looks at me then back Elliot who has a smile on his face.

“He is a lenient man, my brother. He is kind. If it were me, I would have taken far more than an arm but he is not me. He listens to the people around him and he respects them. Sometimes, they tend to misuse that privilege, sometimes they tend to play on his vulnerabilities. That annoys me deeply. You know why?” he asks Evelyn who shakes her head like a scared girl.

“Because I love him. I respect him and it is my duty to keep him safe. Do you understand?” He asks as his eyes turn to look at me.

“Uhm…yeah sure,” Evelyn says. Every part of me wants to look away from his fierce eyes but I hold his gaze until he smiles again, showing way too much teeth.

“We take care of our own. That is what we do. We make sure our own doesn't get hurt but if we are betrayed then…”

“You are punished. The way I see it, you have already betrayed. You carry the mark,” I say to him then let my eyes slowly travel to his arm.

“Your friend is a clever woman, Evelyn. Make sure she is sage. These are trying times,” he says then stands and bows his head.

“Your meal is on me. I insist,” he says and walks away. I watch him walk to one of the waiters, speak to him then point at us. He leaves and I finally feel like I can breathe.

“That was…intense,’’ Evelyn says and I shake my head.

“I no longer have my appetite,” I reply in a little whisper, my anger making my hand shake.