Chapter 35

**ELENA**

The four of us head back to my place, after our evening at Finn's parents'. I'd never seen Caroline like this, and I never thought I'd see her like this, but I guess when you learn that someone has hurt your husband, that's the reaction you have.

I open the fridge to grab a bottle of water and follow my mates as they sit on the stools around the counter.

"I'm sorry, Finn. This must be difficult for you." I tell him, placing my hand over his.

"Honestly? I think I've always known." He answers me sincerely.

"It's a fucking mess," Theo adds, running his hand over his face.

"My dad wants us to have dinner... with Elena."

The three of us turn to look at Caleb. Did he just say what he just said? Right after learning what he possibly did to Cillian.

"Seriously?! I hope you said no." Finn tells him as he stands up.

"No, I didn't. I think it's a good idea."

"What the fuck does that mean?!" He raises his voice as he approaches him, forcing Theo to get up and stand between them. "Your fucking father is going to stay away from my girl. Do you hear me?" He adds, pointing his index finger at him.

"Our girl. She's not just yours."

"She stays away from him. That's my last fucking word."

"Cal, the timing wasn't exactly right." Theo said, turning slightly to look at him.

"Is this some kind of fucking joke? Did you know about this?"

"Yes, he told me before he went to your parents. Look, we've got a lot on our minds... we should go to bed and talk about it tomorrow when we..."

"The fuck we will. We don't need to talk about it. She's not going. Period."

"Everybody just calm down, okay?" I tell them, holding up my hands. "It was already a hell of a night, we didn't need to bring this up now." I look at Caleb, raising my eyebrows, and he nods, remaining silent. "I just want to go to bed for now and talk about it again tomorrow."

Finn shakes his head, clenching his jaw, then exits the kitchen.

"Finn!" I call him.

He turns around. "Elena, I think I want to be alone tonight. I'll see you tomorrow." And just like that he's out of the house. I hate seeing him like this, especially after what he learned tonight. Cal couldn't have picked a worse time to talk about this.

"I'm sorry, I didn't think he'd react like that. I just wanted to get it out there because I didn't know how to tell you." Caleb tells me.

I pinch the bridge of my nose. "I understand but..." I sigh.  "Let's go to bed, okay? What's done is done and there's nothing we can do about it right now so..."

"Tomorrow's another day," Theo says, coming over to me and taking me in his arms.

**FINN**

I rode for a couple of hours and ended up in a bar outside the pack. I didn't want to go home and I didn't want to be with the others.

The bar was almost empty and I sat down on a stool in front of the counter. The barmaid takes my order and quickly places my whiskey in front of me. I drink it down and beckon her to bring me a second.

"What's a handsome guy like you doing here drinking alone?"

I look at the person who's just spoken to me out of the corner of my eye. Long blond hair with green eyes and fake boobs spilling out of her see-through top and I don't have to look down to know that her skirt must be the size of the napkin under my glass.

"None of your business," I mumble, drinking my second glass slower.

"Oh, someone's in a bad mood." Unlike what I would most like in the world, she remains seated next to me. "You know..." She murmurs, bringing her head closer to me. "I know a way or two to make you feel better."

"Don't waste your time with me... go find yourself another guy to drag into the bathroom," I reply without looking at her.

She gasps. "Fuck you asshole. I'm not a whore."

I shrug a shoulder as I put my empty glass back down, then motion to the barmaid to hand me one.

"I liked you and I'm a bombshell, that's why I offered you this."

I snort." I have a... ma... wife."

"No wedding ring."

I turn my head to look at her, hoping she sees my annoyance. "I don't need a fucking ring to prove my fidelity. I. Am. Not. Interested." I tell her, emphasizing every word. I stand up, placing a handful of bills on the counter without bothering to count them. I just want to get the hell out of here fast.

I walk through the bar door and search my pocket for my keys.

"If I were your wife, I wouldn't let you drink alone at night." She tells me from behind me.

I sigh, some people simply don't know when to stop. It's pathetic. "I'm not a fucking kid and she knows I'd never cheat on her."

I get into my car, slamming the door in front of the blonde. I drive away from this bar of woe, taking the time to remember where it is so I never set foot in it again. I keep on driving and find myself in front of Elena's street, unintentionally. A blue pickup truck catches my eye in front of her house. I look at the stickers on the back... I know this car. I turn off my headlights and look into the car, where I can see the driver's back. The car starts up and slowly pulls away.

What was Caleb's father doing in front of Elena's house?