Chapter 178: Chapter 178
Axel POV
We are all gathered in the living room after breakfast, playing with the kids. The knowledge that we will not be seeing them soon hangs like a sword over our heads. Everyone wants to hold and cuddle them for as long as possible.
Strangely, Mason does not protest when we hold the twins and switch them like a game of musical chairs. Which makes me wonder if he will stick to his decision to keep the babies here and not send them to safety.
And I am not going to bullshit anyone and say everything is fine. Because it is not. There is a tension looming in the air, and it has everything to do with Mason and Elara. Anger and resentment towards him are radiating from her and seething through her pores. But Mason is trotting around like nothing has happened. In fact, he seems to be relaxed and in a good mood.
“Mother,” I say, turning to her. “Braden said he’ll try to arrange that you can join the coven. It’s safer for you, and Julia will need the help with three babies.”
“Oh, thank Goddess,” Mother sighs, and instantly looks bewildered. “It’s not that I’m scared or anything, I don’t want to be separated from my grandbabies.”
“We know, Mom,” Kane chuckles. “You’re fearless.”
“I can vouch for that,” Julia replies. “I saw her fight in the Great War.”
“Oh, my Goddess,” Selena rolls her eyes. “I’m surrounded by old people.”
“And you’re disrespectful,” Julia snaps. “We old people fought for you, kept you alive and are still protecting you. You’d be nothing but a puddle of blood if it weren’t for us.”
Selena looks at her mother with a trembling bottom lip before she jumps up and storms outside.
“I’ll go talk to her,” Elara says, handing Stella to me.
“No,” Mason replies, standing up. “Let me do it. If there’s one thing I understand, it’s the feeling of being the odd one out. Selena’s younger, unmated, and probably feels excluded.”
“She’s my sister, and my responsibility,” Elara insists. “I should do it.”
“I don’t like this,” Kane mind links, glaring at Mason.
“Neither do I,” I reply. “But the man has a point. Besides, he has no business with Selena.”
“Let him do it, Elara,” Julia says firmly. “Selena’s stubborn and wouldn’t listen to either of us.”
“People, relax,” Mason says, shaking his head. “It’s not like I have to talk her off a ledge or something. It’s only a teenager who needs to calm down.”
“Just a teenager,” Mother snorts. “Say that to me again when the twins are teens.”
Mason POV
I ignore everyone and walk outside to find Selena. This could not have come at a better time. I have been patiently waiting for a moment, working on a plan to get Selena alone and then her teenage hormones provide me with the perfect moment.
I see her sitting under a tree, and I walk over. She glances at me as I sit beside her, but she does not say anything. Which, I guess, must be hard for an angry girl.
“I’m glad to have a moment alone with you,” I say softly as I wrap my arms around my knees and intertwine my fingers.
“Why?” She grunts, avoiding eye contact. “Didn’t you hear them? I’m only a child.”
“As if a few months make a difference,” I scoff. “You’re not a child anymore, Selena. You stood your ground with Orion at seventeen. Very few people can say that. But you’ll always be the little sister, and it’s instinct for them to protect you. That wouldn’t change, even when you’re forty. Don’t fight it, embrace it.”
“You know about me and Orion?” She asks, looking at me wide-eyed.
“Of course, I know everything,” I smile, cautiously placing an arm around her shoulders. She does not pull away or flinch, and I relax. “I also know how you can help Elara.”
“What can I possibly do to help?” She asks doubtfully. “I’m a child, and Elara’s mated to not one, but two alphas. She doesn’t need anything from me.”
“Okay, I know this will sound arrogant,” I say softly. “But Elara’s not in love with her mates, she’s in love with me.”
“Get out of here,” Selena replies, rolling her eyes. “Her world revolves around those two.”
“That’s what she wants the world to see,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “But think about it. Everybody knows what they’ve done to her, how they humiliated her with Alice. Unfortunately, she got pregnant before she could’ve left them. Then she met me, and we had a wonderful and blooming relationship until they came back into her life. Now, she’s stuck again.”
“That doesn’t mean she’s in love with you,” Selena scoffs. “Besides, they’ve changed. She forgave them.”
“Did she tell you so?” I ask, and she looks away. “Better yet, what does she say about me?”
“Nothing,” she shrugs, and I look at her thoughtfully.
“Fine,” she sighs. “She said you’re trouble.”
“And did she add that you should stay away from me?” I smile charmingly.
“How did you know?” She frowns.
“Because she still loves me,” I reply softly. “She can’t be with me, but doesn’t want me to move on either.”
“Do you still love her?” She looks at me curiously.
“My feelings no longer matter,” I grunt. It is the truth. Elara never looked back once from the moment she was reunited with her mates. Fuck me, and my feelings.
“It does matter,” Selena whispers, taking my hand. “You matter.”
“What matters is my children,” I smile sadly. “Elara made her choice; it’s time for me to move on.”
“I’m so sorry, Mason,” Selena says sympathetically, squeezing my hand.
“You don’t need to be,” I smile, slowly lifting my hand and gently gliding a finger down her cheek. “I’ll find my true love ... soon.”
A deep red blush creeps up Selena’s neck as she shyly looks away. I remove my hand from her face, and she does not protest when I intertwine our fingers.
“Selena,” I breathe her name softly. “Can I ask for your help?”
“How am I supposed to help?” She asks softly.
“Keep my kids safe in the coven, please,” I say pleadingly. “That’s all I’m asking.”
