Chapter 174: Chapter 174
Elara POV
We drive to Constantine in silence. I am clinging to Axel’s hand, fighting my tears. Saying goodbye to Stella was harder than I thought. It is not like I am planning to die, but let us face it, this is not going to be a walk in the park. This is dangerous. Anything could go wrong, and this might have been the last time I saw and held my little girl.
“This is as far as we can go,” Braden says, parking the truck. “Any closer, and the border patrol will smell us.”
“You know what would’ve been nice?” Kane says, glaring at Mason. “A spell from Rhiannon to conceal our scent.”
“For the umpteenth time, I didn’t kill her,” Mason growls.
“Let it go,” I snap, opening the door. “She’s dead, and we have a mission.”
“I stashed a bag with animal faeces over there,” Braden points to a huge tree. “Kane and Elara, strip and cover yourselves in it. It will conceal your scent.”
“Fucking delightful,” Kane grunts, and I wholeheartedly agree with him. Covering myself in shit is not on my bucket list.
“Suck it up, buttercup.” I wink at him, taking off his shirt.
“I’m so happy right now that I volunteered to be the distraction,” Axel chuckles, crossing his arms.
“And I’m so going to hug you when we’re done,” I smile wickedly, tossing my clothes in the back of the truck.
I catch Mason looking at my naked body, lust and desire in his gaze, and I move behind Kane. I have moved on from shame and guilt to anger, repulse and disgust.
“Ready?” Kane asks unenthusiastically, looking at me.
“Never,” I shake my head, but start walking towards the tree.
The manure is wet and absolutely fucking disgusting, and my nose wrinkles involuntarily. But I take my own advice, suck it up and dig into the bag.
“Oh, Goddess,” Kane dry heaves. “I’m going to be sick.”
“Breath through your mouth,” I say, but I am struggling to keep my dinner down.
Finally, we are literally covered in shit, and we join Axel and Mason again.
“Good luck,” Mason says, making eye contact with me, but I look away. “I’ll be ready and waiting.”
“Thanks,” Axel replies politely, and the four of us walk in silence to Constantine’s border.
“Stop here,” Braden orders, and we obey. “Elara, you should go closer, do your wind thing, then Axel and I’ll do the rest. Once there’s an opening, go for it. Do not shift. Your wolf’s smell is much stronger, and they might pick up on it.”
“Got it,” I nod, jogging forward.
Once I see the patrol, I take cover by a tree. I close my eyes and tap into my emotions. As much as I hate what Mason did to me, it is ample anger. I summon the rage and humiliation, forcing the emotions into my hands.
The leaves start rustling, and the wind grows stronger. The more anger I direct to it, the stronger it becomes. I open my eyes, raise my hands and send gushes of wind at the passing guards.
“What the fuck?” One yells, shielding his eyes from the dust and dirt.
“Help!” Another one shouts as he is blown into a tree. A guard rushes towards him, extends his claw and jams it into a tree to steady himself as he helps his friend to his feet.
From out of nowhere, Braden blasts forward and bites into a guard’s neck. He screams in pain, and another guard rushes to help. Axel’s wolf descends on him, bites into his shoulder and tosses him aside.
“Call for help,” one shouts as more guards shift and run towards Braden and Axel.
I direct the wind towards them, keeping them back while Axel and Braden leave the wounded behind and run in the opposite direction. They struggle forward, and I keep sending the wind their way until Axel and Braden are away far enough that they cannot catch up with ease.
“Elara, we should go,” Kane mind links. “There’s an opening.”
I send one last burst of wind, knocking the guards off their feet, and lower my hands. Groaning, they get up and run in the direction Axel and Braden disappeared into.
“Go!” Kane orders, and we run across the border.
“Axel, are you okay?” I mind link him, concerned, as we run in the shadows towards my mother’s house.
“We’re good,” he replies.
I sigh in relief. That is one less thing to worry about. We reach the house, and I run towards Mother’s room.
“Mom!” I whisper-shout, knocking impatiently on her window. “Mom, it’s me. Wake up.”
A dim light comes on and then Mother opens the window.
“Dear Goddess, Elara,” she exclaims, her eyes wide with shock and her nose wrinkled in disgust. “What on earth happened?”
“Mom, I don’t have time to explain,” I reply urgently. “Wake Selena, pack a bag, and come with us.”
“But ...”
“Mom, please,” I beg, cutting her off. “We don’t have time. Just trust me and do it.”
“Okay,” she nods, closing the window.
Kane takes my hand and drags me under a tree, shielding us from the naked eye. Nervously, I cling to him. I wish he would hold me, but my nose would be right on his chest, and I am covered enough as it is. I do not need shit up my nose as well.
“What is taking them so long?” I ask impatiently.
“Now you know how we feel when you’re getting ready for a date,” Kane smirks.
“Like you would know,” I scoff. “You’ve never taken me on a date.”
“You’re right,” he says, looking at me. “I’m so sorry, Elara. We will ...”
“It wasn’t a guilt trip, Kane,” I chuckle. “You and Axel are loving and caring for me perfectly. I’m happy.”
“Still,” he sighs, placing a finger under my chin, and lifting my face. “We owe you.”
His words unleash a warmth inside me, and I reach for his hand.
“Elara?” Mother whispers, splintering the perfect moment between me and my mate. “Where are you?”
“Over here,” I reply softly, stepping forward.
“Oh, wow,” Selena’s face distorts into disgust. “You smell like shit.”
“Selena, language,” Mother reprimands her.
“It is shit,” I smirk.
“Ladies, we don’t have much time,” Kane says as he joins us, and Mother and Selena’s eyes widen when they see him.
“Long story, no time,” I say quickly before they start with their questions. “We must hurry. We only have a small window to escape.”
