\[Serenity’s POV\]
My eyes widen as the reality of what is happening hits me. Eleanor was being taken back to her pack, but why?
As this question appears in my mind, I turn my gaze to Uncle William's, who is watching on silently. It is clear in his gaze that he wants to say something, but he doesn’t.
Please. I beg him, hoping he understands what I’m saying. Please don’t let them take Eleanor away!
‘Dad!’ I gasp, praying that he can hear me. ‘I need your help!’
For a moment, I don’t feel or hear anything, but when my dad’s presence appears in my mind, I feel a wave of relief. However, that is short-lived as his panic slams into me, and I realize that I’ve worried him.
‘Serenity!’ He hisses. ‘What is it? What’s wrong? Are you hurt?’
‘No,’ I respond. ‘It’s my friend. Her parents are trying to take her away from the academy.’
Goddess, I knew that this sounded absolutely ridiculous. Why on earth would I be so worried about a simple person who wasn’t related to me?
‘Please!’ I continue, playing on my father’s love for his princess. ‘Help me stop them!’
‘Why?’ He demands, clearly not caring. ‘Who is this friend anyway?’
‘Ask…’ I begin, preparing to tell him to ask mom, but I am certain Aunt Elise doesn’t want everyone to know her true identity. ‘Someone important to me.’ I finish lamely. ‘Please.’
With each passing minute, I can see the frustration growing in the man, who I now understand is Eleanor’s father, grow stronger, and when it disappears, he is moving.
“Wait!” I gasp, drawing the man’s attention toward me. “Could you… Um… Could you tell me why you’re taking Eleanor away?”
Dammit. This was frustrating. Being a child and unable to do a damn thing was so damn frustrating. If I were already an alpha, I would have a better chance of convincing this man. But since I wasn’t, I could only rely on those around me.
“Uncle William!” I call, rushing toward him and clutching his arm. “Why are you just standing there? You’ve got to stop them from taking her away!”
“Why?” He asks, giving me a look. “This may be for the best.”
“For the best.” I repeat, anger flaring in me. “What about the rogues? What about that bite on her?”
Fuck it. Even if I had to use these reasons to keep her here, I was more than willing to do it.
“That’s precisely why this may be for the best.” Uncle Williams sighs. “We don’t know if more rogues will attack.”
“What about her bite?” I demand.
I didn’t forget Aunt Elise’s joke about turning into a rogue herself. What if that was the key to becoming one? What if being bitten changed you? Then she was a risk to her entire pack!
‘Tell him!’ Mahogany snaps, growing tired of my methods. ‘He won’t let her leave if he knows that she is your Aunt Elise.’
‘But... I promised her I wouldn’t tell anyone.’
‘YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME!’ Mahogany snarls. ‘Stop being so damn stubborn!’
At her words, I feel my consciousness being pulled as Mahogany works to take control, and before I can even get her under control, she is the one behind the wheel.
“She’s Aunt Elise!” She yells at Uncle William, who continues to keep his expression blank. “I know it’s hard to believe, but...”
‘NO!’ I gasp, pulling her back. ‘Why did you do that?’
‘Because it is the only way that stubborn man is going to help!’ Mahogany huffs. ‘There’s too much riding on her leaving, and we can’t let it happen.’
Growling in frustration, I turn my attention back to Uncle William, who is watching me silently, and when anger slowly begins to color his features, I know that he isn’t happy about what was said.
“Do you think that’s funny?” He asks, his voice dripping with venom. “To claim that girl who approached you so randomly for who knows what reasons is your deceased aunt?”
Flinching, I try to ignore the accusatory glare that I’m being given. Of course, I understood his anger and knew why he was so pissed right now, but he was wrong about one thing.
“I’m not lying.” I say slowly, just as a commotion breaks out behind me.
Not saying anything else, I turn in time to see my father arguing with Eleanor’s.
“Thank the goddess,” I whisper, feeling a wave of relief over seeing him. “He’s here.”
“Serenity,” Uncle William hisses, drawing my attention back to him. “We weren’t finished with our discussion. What the hell are you up to saying such a thing?”
For a moment, I don’t speak as I take my uncle in. Despite the front he was clearly trying to put up, I could see his pain and even the slightest bit of hope in his eyes.
“Because it’s true.” I respond, deciding that, by this point, there was nothing to lose. “I know that it’s hard to believe, but Eleanor is Aunt Elise, and we can’t let her go back to Blue Moon.”
“Did she tell you this?” Uncle William demands. “And you actually believed her? Serenity, I know that your parents taught you better than that!”
“I do!” I snap, bristling. “I know that it’s hard to believe, but she is Aunt Elise. If you don’t believe me, then you should believe her if she says it, right?”
Sorry, Aunt Elise, I say inwardly, knowing that she was going to be pissed that I was telling Uncle William this, but I was out of options.
“And she can explain things later, but right now we have to convince her parents to let her stay.”
Finished speaking, I reach out, wrapping a hand around Uncle William’s wrist and pulling while we head to where my father and Eleanor’s continue to argue. When we reach, I grab Aunt Elise, who watches on silently, and pull her to me.
“I’m sorry.” I whisper. “I didn’t have any other choice.”
“What?” She asks as I shove her toward Uncle William.
“Later,” I say over my shoulder, moving to where my dad stands. “Excuse me!” I announce, drawing his and Eleanor’s father’s gaze toward me. “If I and my family swear to protect your daughter, will you please let her stay?”
“Protect.” Her father repeats. “And why should I…”
“Mind your words.” My father warns, his voice cold. “Because I feel you’re about to insinuate that I’m not capable of protecting someone.”
“Of course not.” Eleanor’s father sputters, his eyes widening. “I wasn’t. I was just…”
“Then it’s settled.” My father smirks. “Since you’re aware of my abilities, there shouldn’t be any reason that you can’t let your daughter stay, correct?”
“That,” Eleanor’s father gasps. “It’s just…”
“Serenity,” my father says, while Eleanor’s father tries to come up with something to say. “Take Eleanor back to her dorm to pack her things. For the time being, she will move into your dorm, got it?”
“Roger, that!”