Chapter 119
Elowen's POV
I pushed open the office door. My hand trembled on the handle.
The room looked exactly the same. Drake was still on the floor. Blood dripped from his hand where the silver bookmark pierced his palm. Alaric held him by the shoulder.
Ronan and Kade stared at me. Their faces showed confusion. Like I'd only turned around for a second.
"Did you forget something, Elowen?" Ronan raised an eyebrow.
My mother laughed. Her voice was weak. Mean. "I told you, Drake. She's just bluffing. She won't actually do anything."
Drake looked at me. His eyes begged. "Elowen, please... let me go... I know you still care about me..."
I swallowed hard. My throat felt tight. "How long was I gone?"
Ronan shrugged. His mouth curved into that cocky smile. "Maybe a minute? But this asshole..." He pointed at Drake. "He screamed like a bitch."
He reached down. Twisted the silver bookmark in Drake's palm.
Drake's scream tore through the room. His whole body convulsed. The sound made my stomach turn.
But relief flooded through me. "Time must move differently there..."
All five of them stared at me. Alaric. Ronan. Kade. Drake. My mother. They exchanged confused looks.
My mother's voice rose. Shrill. Angry. "She's insane! You Alphas are really going to listen to that crazy bitch?"
I waved my hand. Didn't care. If Selene was right, I wouldn't need them soon. As long as they didn't poison Casper, Cassian, and Cindy here, I didn't care if they lived or died.
I took a deep breath. Turned toward the door. My legs felt heavy. Everything that happened in the past hour—it exhausted me.
I needed to find Casper and Cassian. I needed to check if Ethan's condition was really what Selene said.
Maybe I was just hallucinating. Too much stress. Too much pain.
I stepped into the hallway.
And walked straight into a wall. A wall made of pure muscle.
I stumbled back. My shoulder hit the doorframe.
Right. Alaric left someone to guard the door.
I opened my eyes.
The gray-eyed man stood there. The one who claimed he saw Alpha Austin die. The one I still didn't have a name for.
He looked down at me. His mouth curved. Not quite a smile. "Sorry, sweetheart. I came back to find you myself."
His voice was smooth. Like silk. But something in it made my skin crawl.
I sighed. Rubbed my temples. "I don't have time for this shit."
I bent over. Pressed my hand against the wall. My body felt like it weighed a thousand pounds. I needed to find Casper and Cassian. I needed to make sure everyone was okay.
Was I losing my mind? Did I really just talk to the Moon Goddess?
The man tilted his head. Something dark flickered in those gray eyes. "You don't have time to hear how to save your friend?"
He laughed. Low. Deep. The sound made every hair on my body stand up.
I forced myself to stand straight. Crossed my arms. My eyes narrowed. "What did you say?"
If Selene was right, I had time to listen. But I had to be careful.
"I'm more interested in what happened to my friends," I said. My voice came out cold. Sharp. "And what exactly you saw."
His gray eyes held no decency. No warmth. Just self-interest. Pure and simple.
He sneered. "I care more about my dog than them."
I frowned. How did he know what I was thinking?
I shook my head. Didn't matter. I needed to find Casper and Cassian. Now.
"You really saw Alpha Austin go down?" My voice was firm. Direct.
He nodded. But that sly smile stayed on his face. "I saw it, darling. But I don't give out information for free. Not even for a beauty like you."
His smile widened. Unnaturally bright. His teeth gleamed under the hallway lights.
I rolled my eyes. "I figured."
I pushed past him. Started walking.
The hallway was empty now. Just me and this mysterious man. The air smelled like metal. Like blood.
"Don't you care about your Alpha?" His voice followed me. Mocking.
I kept walking. Didn't let him get to me.
"Or clearing your mate's name?" He kept going. "I guess you don't care. Maybe you don't love them at all."
That did it.
I spun around. My eyes shot toward him. Heat exploded in my chest. Anger that could rival any Alpha.
"Say that again," I growled. "I dare you."
My hands clenched into fists. My whole body shook. Not from fear. From pure rage.