Chapter 248: Grace
I stared at Elara. For a person who had been extremely quiet for hours, suddenly had a lot to say.
“What do you mean by that?” Rhys demanded.
My head was spinning. Was she alluding that I was right? Did she know what was happening in the Program? Why wasn’t she helping people then? Why wasn’t she more involved in saving those kids? Were they doing the same things on a newly turned Vampires? Was it a complete and total mistake to bring her with us? Or was this a good thing? Another voice, another perspective, another chance to get this right.
“I mean exactly what I said.” Elara answered. Her voice had such a flat, almost cold tone to it. I wondered if perhaps she had been a part of the program before. She had told us that she was older than we would ever be, but she looked like a child, and that could have failed her before.
“Do you know how they are hiding their pack?” Rhys asked her, and I was glad he was able to find his voice in all this because I couldn’t find mine.
We were stopped completely on the steps now. Iris and Michael were getting farther away from us, just steps behind Queen Margaret who seemed to be entertaining or entertained by the two of them. Maizie and Sawyer now stood two steps below Elara and were looking from us to her in confusion as to why we were stopped.
“Not officially, no.” She answered.
“Well, how about the unofficial answer then."
“Well unofficially, I’ve heard several things, but your mate’s thought process matches one of the more recent theories I’ve heard. They’re using a combination of powers to hide the pack and forcing it with a drug that increases power for a short period of time. They’re technically still there just cloaked in invisibility and silence.”
“Why would they do that?” I asked, finally finding my voice.
“Hide?”
“No, what is the purpose of combining powers if they are only using them to hide?”
“It’s not their only purpose.” Elara stated plainly.
“Then what is?” Maizie asked this time, and I noticed she was squeezing Sawyer’s hand so tightly it hurt.
“So, the Lycan’s don’t have to follow their true leader.” Elara answered as if it was obvious.
“Their true leader?” I frowned in confusion, and Maizie and Sawyer’s expressions mirrored my own.
“That’s what the rumors say,” Elara shrugged, and begun to walk up the steps again.
We followed her but let the conversation fall. It made sense. Kind of. But we were still missing parts. But slowly, the picture was becoming clearer and clearer. But who was this true leader? And why was Elijah involved in everything? What was in it for him? Did he want to be their leader? Is that what this was about for him? Queen Maragret had mentioned he was hungry... And I wondered what exactly she had meant by that...
Finally, we emerged at the top of the stairs. My thighs hurt, my calves burned, and my lungs gasped for air, but we were at least sort of out of the darkness. The sun was rising, and we were at the edge of the vampire territory. I wasn’t sure if there would be Vampires out there waiting for us or if we were going to get lucky. I hoped for the latter, but I wasn’t sure we were going to get it.
“Ready?” Rhys asked, squeezing my hand.
“Ready.” I whispered back.
“There are cars about 100 feet away. If we can get to them, we’re probably in the clear.” Queen Maragret responded, peaking out the curtain.
“I know this is probably a stereotype, but the sun is up...”
“You will go without us.” Queen Maragret answered with a slight smile. “We will follow in the evening.”
Rhys frowned. It felt like a trap. Like they had led us toward freedom just to take it away. But we didn’t have a choice. We had to trust them.
“Are you going to be safe here?” Sawyer asked them.
“As safe as we can be...” Elara answered. “The tunnels have many exits and directions. We exited not at the farthest because they would expect that if he figures out how we left. We sent someone to drive your car away in hopes they would follow that trail first. He won’t think to look here, he’s too direct.”
That made sense. I hoped they knew their brother and son well enough.
“If they come, tell them that we kidnapped you.” Rhys told them. “Say we didn’t give you a choice. We will see you tonight and have space prepared for you. Then we can work on giving your people that are loyal to you a place to stay. If you cannot get to us safely. Go to the Golden Pack. They are a pack under our alliance and I have people there right now who can help you get to safety.”
“They are right to trust you, Alpha King Rhys,” Elara said softly. “Thank you for your kindness. We will forever be indebted to you.”
Rhys nodded to her and opened the door for us to escape. One by one we all slipped out and into the car. Rhys climbed into the driver’s seat. Sawyer took the passenger’s seat and Michael, Iris, Maizie and I all climbed into the back. I took the back row with Maizie and we both stared out the back window, not saying a word. We were both waiting for the inevitable to happen. But it never did.
We made our way back to our pack with no surprises. No attacks. Just empty road. When we reached the checkpoint at the border, they had been relieved that we were back.
We were just getting out of the car when the front door of the packhouse was thrown open. A woman who I didn’t recognize threw open the door and in the most controlled fashion made her way toward us.
“Oh crap.” Sawyer muttered when he saw her, and both Maizie and I looked at him in confusion.
“What?” I questioned.
“Grace,” Rhys grabbed my hip, so I was facing him. “I’m so sorry about whatever is about to happen.”
I frowned, but I wasn’t given the chance to respond before he spun me back around and said, “Hi Mom.”