I now sat down on my bed in my ruined room, folding and shoving clothes into an open suitcase. The once neat space looked like it had been ripped apart by a storm. Torn curtains dangled loosely, shattered glass glistened on the floor like scattered stars, and my pillows lay gutted and tossed across the room. The blood and the dead wolf had been cleaned up from my room and the mansion had been cleaned but the air still carried the metallic smell of blood. My heart still hadn't calmed since everything happened.
An hour ago, when Alexander told me I was going to live with him, the first thing that had slipped from my lips was, "You're insane."
And I had meant it.
Tonight had spiraled into chaos in a way I never could have predicted. I never expected to face so much horror in one night. Not my room being destroyed, not the violent attack of a wolf breaking into my personal space, not the terrifying sight of people dead bodies around me. And worst of all, my father, my strong, fearless father is now barely clinging to life.
And now… living with Alexander.
The arrogant, infuriating Alpha of the Darkblood Pack. The last person on earth I'd willingly choose to share air with, let alone a roof. But whether I liked it or not, my life had changed in just a few hours, and there was no going back.
A knock came at the door. I clenched my jaw and ignored it.
"Elena, are you in there?" It was my brother Jared's voice, muffled but still carrying his usual firmness.
"Come on in," I said eventually, rising to shove more clothes into the suitcase.
When the door creaked open, he leaned against the frame, his eyes immediately darting to the suitcase on my bed. "You're already packing."
"I don't exactly have a choice, do I?" I muttered, forcing the zipper closed and sitting on the edge of my bed.
"Staying with Alexander is the safest option we have for you and for Kathy," Jared said. His voice was calm, but I could see the heaviness in his shoulders.
"There must be another way," I argued, my tone sharper than I intended.
He sighed. "This is what Dad wants. He said the two of you would be safest under Alexander's protection."
The mention of our father pulled my chest tight. "How is he?" I asked, softer now.
Jared's expression faltered, and he shook his head. "I can't tell you much for now. But he'll be fine. He's going to get the best treatment, and he'll be back on his feet before you know it." His voice grew steadier, as though he was reassuring himself as much as me. "All I want from you, Elena, is to behave. Listen to Alexander. Do what he tells you."
His words should have comforted me, and in a way, they did. Still, a part of me twisted with unease. Alexander wasn't exactly someone I trusted with anything let alone my life.
I looked at my younger brother closely. He looked exhausted, more worn out than I had ever seen him. The weight of the responsibility of the next alpha of the green lineage pack sat heavily on his shoulders. He had no choice but to bear it, he was the next Alpha of our pack, and now everything, everyone, depended on him.
A pang of guilt shot through me.
I walked to him and took his hand gently. "I want to stay and help you. I know things are hard, but I can..."
"Elena," Jared cut me off with a groan, placing his hand firmly on my shoulder. "I told you not to worry about me. Father's beta and I will handle everything here, just go with Alexander. That's what you need to do."
He smiled faintly and pulled me into a hug. His warmth, his steady heartbeat against me, reminded me that no matter what, he was still my brother and I had no choice to listen to him.
"You need to hurry up," he whispered before pulling back. "I'll go help Kathy with her things."
When he left, the room fell into silence again, except for the sound of my own unsteady breathing.
By the time I finished, I had managed to fill two whole suitcases. I had tried to pack light, convincing myself I wouldn't be staying long, but no matter how many times I redid it, I still ended up with more than I intended. Maybe, deep down, I was afraid of leaving too much behind.
I carried the smaller suitcase downstairs first, then went back for the second.
That one was heavier. Much heavier. The lingering weakness from the red moon hadn't completely left my body, and every step felt like I was dragging an anchor. My muscles trembled with the effort, and when I reached the staircase, the suitcase nearly slipped from my grasp.
Just before it could topple, another pair of hands caught it.
"Thank you," I breathed, turning to see a young woman holding it with ease.
She was strikingly beautiful. Long dark hair framed her delicate face, and her emerald-green eyes were sharp but warm at the same time. She wore black pants and a simple black shirt, but she carried herself with the poise of someone important.
"The suitcase is a bit much for you," she said kindly, smiling at me. "Let me help."
Before I could protest, she lifted it as though it weighed nothing and carried it gracefully down the stairs.
I hurried to follow. "Thank you so much," I said once we reached the bottom.
"You're welcome." Her green eyes studied me for a moment, and her smile deepened. "You must be Elena."
I blinked, startled. "How do you know my name?"
I had never seen her before. She wasn't from our pack, that much I was certain. She didn't have the red eyes of the vampires I had encountered tonight either. Something about her presence felt… different.
"Do I know you?" I pressed when she didn't immediately answer.
Before she could respond, a familiar voice cut through the air.
"Carolina."
I turned sharply to see Alexander descending the stairs, his tall frame moving with practiced ease.
"You're late," he said curtly, his eyes narrowing on the woman.
Carolina bowed slightly. "I told you I needed to finish up at the pack before coming."
Alexander's gaze flicked to me briefly, then back to her. "Seems you've already met Miss Thompson."
"Yes," Carolina replied smoothly. "She's exactly as I've heard."
I froze. She's heard of me?
I wasn't some celebrity, not an actress, not even particularly remarkable. So why did this stranger know me when I didn't know her?
"You should get to work now," Alexander dismissed her, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Elena and I are heading out."
Carolina gave one last bow before gliding away, leaving me with more questions than answers.
When I turned back, Alexander's eyes—thankfully—were their usual blue again, no trace of the dark dangerous red glow from earlier.
"You seem to be in a better mood than a few hours ago," he commented, a sly smirk tugging at his lips.
"You seem very happy that I'm being forced to stay with you," I shot back, folding my arms over my chest.
His smirk widened. He took a deliberate step closer, lowering his voice. "I'll admit, Elena… I'm taking a certain delight in your misery."
My blood boiled. Of course he was enjoying this. Of course he was the kind of man who would thrive on someone else's suffering especially mine.
I bit my tongue. Angering him now wouldn't help me. I was about to be stuck under the same roof with him, after all. And though he might be a werewolf Alpha, he was also part vampire. A predator. A creature bred to be merciless.
Still, a thought flickered in my mind...a foolish, reckless idea, but one that lit my face with false innocence.
I stepped closer, tilting my head slightly, letting my voice soften. "I know you could talk to my father… maybe convince him that I don't really need to—" I trailed off, batting my lashes just a little.
Alexander froze, his smirk fading into something darker. His eyes locked on mine, and for a split second, he looked almost… startled.
"Are you flirting with me right now, Elena?" he asked, his voice dropping low, rich, and dangerous.
Heat rushed to my cheeks at his bold words. "I-I am not..." I couldn't even find the words to say. My breath hitched, and I instinctively stepped back, but his hand shot out with lightning speed, gripping mine.
He pulled me flush against him, his blue eyes burning i
nto mine.
"If you want to flirt with me," he murmured, his lips curving ever so slightly, "then do it properly."