Chapter 183: Chapter 183
Elara POV
Stunned, I stare at Mason, trying to figure out where he is bleeding. But before I can move or speak, Axel and Kane enter with the luggage, pale and clearly pissed off.
“I hate it, but Mason might be right,” Axel mutters, placing the luggage down. “I don’t know if this will work.”
“Did the three of you fight again?” I ask sternly, placing my hands on my hips. I look intensely at Mason, watch him wiping his face, and I realise it is a nosebleed. He might be innocent of poisoning me, but I kind of wish my mates had beaten him into a pulp.
“We didn’t,” Kane replies. “Mason and a vampire did.”
“Which vampire?” Malachi hisses, and a deafening silence fills the room.
“The punk with the green eyes,” Mason sniffs, wiping his nose again.
“Damien!” Malachi snaps, and a vampire with spiky blond hair sweeps into the room. “What the fuck is going on?”
“You know how wolves are,” Damien says sheepishly. “They’re all so sensitive and quick to react. One joke, and he blew his top.”
“Fuck you,” Mason snaps, his eyes glowing and nostrils flaring. “It’s not like you made a your-mama joke. Telling me my baby smells delicious isn’t funny.”
“And you looked damn serious and hungry,” Axel backs up Mason. “If Mason didn’t punch him, I would’ve.”
“You threatened the children?” Malachi hisses, and the murderous look in his eyes sends shivers of fear down my spine.
“It ... it was only a ... a joke,” Damien stutters, slowly retreating as Malachi walks towards him. “I would never ...”
“That is my blood,” Malachi interrupts him. “My bloodline. They’re irreplaceable, but you are.”
“Malachi, I didn’t mean ...”
In one swift movement, Malachi reaches for Damien and rips out his trachea. Dark red blood squirts everywhere, then Malachi’s hand is empty, and only a sticky puddle of blood remains at his feet.
A thick, uncomfortable silence settles around us, and I glance at the remaining vampires. They are all staring at the blood with fear and avoiding eye contact with Malachi.
“I’m going to say this only once,” Malachi’s voice is clear and unwavering. “Anyone who touches my offspring or even so much as glances at them maliciously will follow in Damien’s footsteps. They matter; you don’t. So, is there anybody else with a need for an inappropriate joke?”
All the vampires shift uncomfortably and shake their heads. Vivian quietly stands up and hands Stella to Kane.
“She’s adorable,” she whispers. “And I’ll never harm her, but if it will make you feel better, I’ll keep my distance.”
“It’s okay, Vivian,” I force a smile. The tension is tangible, and Malachi just killed one of them on our behalf. I do not want the vampires to turn on us or him. “If Malachi trusts you, so do I.”
“Speak for yourself,” Mason snaps. “I don’t trust anyone who doesn’t consume solid foods.”
“And that’s your choice,” I say firmly. “This is mine.”
“Elara, maybe we should reconsider,” Axel mind links me. “This makes me nervous.”
“And how nervous will you be when the Council’s hybrid-whatever finds us?” I ask.
“It’s definitely safer here than out there,” Kane replies. “I vote to leave them here.”
“They won’t be alone, Axel,” I reason. “Our mothers are here, and I know in my gut Malachi won’t harm any of them. Judging the vampires on the likes of Damien, is judging all wolves on Mason’s behaviour.”
“As much as I enjoy your silent repertoire,” Malachi smirks. “It’s rude to the rest of us.”
“Force of habit,” I smile, turning to him. “Grandpa, Stella will stay, but Mason’s the twins’ father. The choice is his.”
“Mason,” Malachi says, looking at Mason. “They’ll be safe here; you have my word. But I’m not going to kiss your ass. Decide what you want to do. In the meantime, Vivian, start the kettle. Our guests look thirsty.”
With a small nod, Vivian stands up and disappears in the direction where Malachi said the kitchen was, and the rest of us look at Mason.
“Well?” I ask, raising my eyebrows and crossing my arms. “What’s your decision?”
“This is not an easy choice,” he snaps at me.
“It was for me,” I shrug nonchalantly. “We’re leaving in ten minutes. You have until then.”
“So soon?” Malachi frowns. “Aren’t you staying a little longer?”
“Not today,” I say, shaking my head. “We only have a small window to get ahead of the Council.”
I walk to Kane and take Stella from him. I hug her tightly and kiss her rosy cheeks.
“I love you,” I whisper before giving her back to Kane.
I bite back my tears as Kane and Axel say goodbye to Stella and hand her to Mother.
“We’ll see you soon,” I croak, stroking Stella’s hair one last time before I walk away. If I stay a moment longer, I will not leave. A part of me wishes I were not mated to the alphas, that the pack was not our responsibility and that I could safely hide with my family.
Kane reaches for me, but I shake my head and push past him towards the truck. I do not want to be comforted. I want to feel this moment in every way, because I will tap into it later when I need my power to destroy the Council and their monsters.
I sit silently in the truck and patiently wait for Kane and Axel to say their goodbyes. Five minutes later, they walk towards me, their faces grey and stoic.
“Braden will ride with Mason,” Axel’s voice is hoarse with emotion. “We can go.”
“What did he decide?” I ask softly. I care for the twins deeply, but I do not have the connection with them like my mates. After all, they have been raising them since birth.
“He’s leaving them,” Kane replies just as Mason and Braden walk towards their truck.
“He’s going to be impossible to live with,” I exhale deeply.
“I don’t feel like sunshine and rainbows, either,” Axel grunts.
“None of us do,” I reply sadly. “It’s Sophie’s choice.”
