Their Plan

I chase William down the hall with my Betas behind me.

"William, stop making me run." I laugh and follow him; as I round the corner, he is standing waiting.

"Could you have just not run at all? Instead of making me follow you all this way."

"People would have heard. What do you want, Elara?"

"What are Kellan and Darius doing?"

He glances around briefly before looking back at me. "After all the information about their father that has come out recently, they are focusing on ways to fix their image."

"That's a lie." He's lying. Kellan would just say if that was it. "They are getting my wolf, right?" he grasps my arm and pulls me into a room and closes it.

"Don't speak of it."

"What?" I don't get it.

"No one can find out. The king and prince have cut themselves off from everyone, so no one knows what they are doing. No one can know. Only a few of us do."

"So they are getting my wolf?" Is that what he's saying?

I watch as he nods. "Don't discuss it, Elara. All you need to do is wait for Maze and some Betas to come get you. Until then, ignore it and wait."

How can I ignore it and wait? "Are they safe?"

"They will be. Their sole focus is this. You need to act like you don't know what is happening Elara, like you have the last few days. You need to appear to be confused like the others. If someone even gets the slight hint that more is happening, your wolf can be gone."

Okay, so I will continue to pretend like I have no idea. "Was it Aurora? I haven't even been told that, William. I've no idea if they caught her."

"Yes, it was her. They have got her, but..." He stops and sits down. "Yesterday, a maid saw you in their hallway. So, we believe there is someone else as well."

Oh, so one crazy doppelganger isn't enough. Just throw two in.

"What are they wanting?" Why would they be in the maid's hallway?

"They were found to be leaving May's room. Someone asked why you or she was there and was told May had requested you collect something. We have someone watching May's room."

"Can it be May?"

His head shakes. "May was with you. We believe whoever it was took copies of all the dress sketches and such that she had made for you."

So they plan to copy me again?

"May has been made aware, she's changing your dresses just in case. You need to focus on the Luna Battle Elara, pretend like you have no idea what the brothers are up to."

"Something else has happened. I'm not a fool." I'm not being told anything.

"Aurora doesn't have her wolf."

"They took hers?" Why would they do that, and how did that happen?

"No, she had it removed. Ethan plans to buy one." He sighs. "Ethan plans to buy yours. If he does, you have lost it."

No! I step back. That's why they are so focused on it now. At first, I thought it was because I wanted to say who I was and defend them. It's not, it's to stop Ethan getting it.

"Does Ethan know who I am?" That's important right now.

"We don't know Elara, just, focus on your event, if you get bored, ask Sage if you can help with hers."

Laughing, I shake my head. "That's against the rules."

"I think even you realise you are outside the rules by now, Elara. Tomorrow is Astrid's garden party. Both Kellan and Darius will attend but don't speak of anything."

"Thank you, William." I turn to leave, and he stops me.

"I'm only telling you so you stop hunting me down. You shouldn't know Elara, if anyone finds out you will be at risk. So just continue as normal."

Nodding I walk out and make my way back to our rooms. I knock on Sage's door, and she lets me in. I want to tell her, but it's a risk.

"Okay, so I get a sense, you know, but won't say. Can you at least tell me why your lookalike tried to lead me away?"

That I knew before now. "From what was said, they think whoever it was wanted to cause an argument and make you fall out with me, so I would be alone in this."

I watch as she laughs. "What would she have done? Said my dress doesn't match my nails?"

That is what I was trying to find out. How? What were they going to say or do to make Sage hate me and no longer speak to me? It would work, though.

That day everyone hated me believing I cut Willow's hair, I felt like hiding away. So, if Sage wasn't speaking to me, I highly doubt I would leave my room.

It's hard enough with everyone's hate without having at least one friend here.

"Let's make a deal." Turning, I look at her confused.

"If we ever argue, fall out or anything. So I know it's you. You have to say cucumber before walking away."

Laughing, I fall backwards. "Cucumber?" Of all the things.

"Would you prefer courgette? Or we could Corgi?"

"I'm not shouting out a random word after we argue." We both laugh. Although it's a sure way to confirm it's me. "Okay, if we argue and fall out, I will before I walk away, call you a cucumber."

We sit laughing, but at least this way she knows it is me. It will save her from hating me when I did nothing, and she simply spoke to someone else. Now though, it's the question of who else would do this?

We thought it was one person, but clearly not. I'm not sure who else would do it. I didn't think Aurora would. Now I need to consider who else might be helping her.