by JJ King
I gaped as my brain exploded into action, trying to reason out any way that this could’ve possibly happened without it being what it so obviously was. I sputtered and tried to form a sentence. “Could it have been…” I shook my head, unable to finish my question.
Daphne shook her head slowly, her skin clammy in shock or rage, I wasn’t sure. Probably a combination of both since that was what I was feeling. “No,” she said, biting the word out. “There was a message left with each of their bodies so there could be no doubt.”
I held my breath.
“What did it say?” Rory whispered hoarsely.
Rose lifted her head and looked at us through damp lashes. “Know your place or die.”
Chapter 12
I stepped back into the living room carrying two tall glasses of ice water and beelined towards Katherine and Daphne, who were each speaking with hushed tones into their phones. Deep lines of worry marred each woman’s face and tension had their shoulders riding high and stiff.
“Drink this,” I murmured, pressing one glass into Daphne’s hands. She glanced up at me, blinking slowly as if trying to place me, then smiled, the briefest whisper of a smile, and took the glass.
“Thank you,” she mouthed, taking a sip.
I felt utterly helpless, without anything to offer these women who were caught in the middle of an impossible situation. I made my way across the room to where Katherine paced, wearing out the thick rug beneath her feet.
“Are you sure?” Katherine squeezed her eyes shut and stopped, pressing her hand against her stomach like a woman about to be sick. She swallowed hard and took a deep, steadying breath, then opened her eyes, and met my gaze. “Okay,” she whispered, keeping her gaze locked on mine. “Thanks.” She turned the phone off and slipped it into her pocket, then accepted the glass I held out.
“Thank you,” she murmured after downing half the glass in one gulp.
I waited, silently, knowing she’d share what had obviously been another deep blow when she was ready, and everyone could listen. The pain she was feeling radiated out from every pore in her body and darkened her blue eyes. I laid my hand on her arm and squeezed gently.
“I don’t know what to say,” I whispered, offering a sad smile when her hand floated up to cover mine. “I don’t think there’s anything that could be said right now that would make any sense. But whatever you need, I’m here.”
Katherine’s eyes filled with tears that she quickly blinked away. She was so strong, it always amazed me to see the proof of it. She wasn’t cold, she felt things deeply, maybe even deeper than other people, but she was strong enough to keep it together when she had to. I promised myself that if or when I was put in a position of leadership, I would look to her for inspiration and guidance.
“I’d say not to worry about it,” Katherine said, blowing out a slow breath. “But that would be dismissive, and you deserve more, Elena.” She rubbed her hands over her face, which showed signs of deep fatigue and grief. “The Sisterhood will survive this but those women…” She choked up and had to stop for a moment before continuing. “They were my friends. My mentors. They trusted us to keep them safe and we failed.” Her face crumpled and she sat heavily in a nearby chair, then lowered her forehead to her hands.
I sank to my knees and gripped her arms, pulling away so I could see her face. There was so much pain written in her eyes that it stabbed my heart. “Don’t you dare do that,” I whispered forcefully enough that her eyes went wide in surprise. “Katherine, after the attack on the school you told me repeatedly that it wasn’t my fault, that this world is filled with good people who try to do good things. But bad people exist too, and we aren’t responsible for what they do.” I tightened my grip on her forearms, determined to make her hear me. “Your mother and those women over there,” I glanced across the room. “They’re going to be feeling the same guilt you do right now. Do you think it’s their faults this happened?”
I knew it was a dirty trick, but it was the best way I knew how to pull her out from the darkness that was trying to drag her down. She was strong, yes, but even the strongest women needed help sometimes. It was a measure of their strength that they accepted help.
Katherine swallowed and took a deep breath then nodded once, sharply, and let out a bitter laugh. “You know, it sucks to hear your own words spoken back to you. But you’re right, guilt isn’t going to help us find justice or understand why.” She drank the rest of the water and put the cup down on the coffee table, then pushed to her feet. “Let’s gather the troops, then, shall we?”
I nodded and took her offered hand. She tugged me to my feet and reached out and gently cupped my cheek. The sweetness and unexpectedness of the move made my heart ache for my mother. I wondered if she was thinking about her daughter, Eve, now.
“You’re so much stronger and braver than I was at your age,” Katherine murmured. “You’ll be a remarkable woman, Elena.”
She turned and walked away without another word, leaving me stunned and half breathless. When she sat at the dining room table and called the group together, I moved on automatic to sit down.
Daphne and Rose joined us last, and sat with heavy sighs, placing their cell phones face down on the table before looking up at Katherine. Each looked exhausted and fragile, but I knew their backbones would hold up against the pressure.
Katherine cleared her throat and placed her hands on the edge of the table. “Three more members of The Sisterhood are missing.” She inhaled deeply and blew it out before continuing. “Unlike Elise and Irena, there were no bodies found, but the same note was left in each woman’s home. Signs of struggle and injury were found as well.” She looked down at her hands and fell silent.
“Who were they?” Rory’s question came out as barely a whisper.
“Jacqueline Devante, Lianna Sayles, and Zuri Abioye.” Katherine buried her face in her hands and began to quietly weep.
Each name was familiar and came with memories of faces and families and personal stories of friendship told by either Sylvie or Katherine. I saw Katherine shoulders shake as she grieved and felt a surge of hatred and fury towards those responsible.
“What do we do now? How do we make them pay? We need to do something.” I curled my fingers into a fist that I pounded against the table. I blinked away tears of sadness, not wanting the fragility of pain. No, I wanted the rage, I embraced it and let it wash over me, sharpening my mind and determination. There was a time for grief, Elise and Irena would be mourned. But, Jacqueline, Lianna, and Zuri were alive or, at least, there was no evidence, yet, that they were dead.
Katherine lifted her head and blinked away tears, looking so much like a lost little girl that it nearly stole my breath to see my hero so fragile. She inhaled deeply and wiped the tears from her cheeks, then sat up and squared her shoulders, moving purposefully. I watched her gather herself, piece by piece, and had to look away to hide the shimmer of pride and awe she inspired in me.
“We don’t know who is responsible for this, yet,” Katherine said in a flat voice that wavered only slightly. “But we’ll find out and they’ll pay.” She put her hands on the table and pushed to her feet, then exhaled, and sat back down. “Old Ones, I’m sorry. I just thought we were past this.” She looked up at Daphne and Rose and shook her head. “Didn’t you think we were past this? That all the bad shit was behind us?”
They both nodded in unison.
“It’s like a dream,” Rose murmured, shaking her head. “Not this.” she lifted her hands then let them fall. “It feels like the past year was the dream in this painting and grief is just one more day in my life.” She smiled sadly. “I knew it was too good to be true.”
Daphne’s hand shot out and grabbed Rose’s forearm. “No,” she said insistently. “The life you’ve made with Liam is real and true. You will never be trapped like you were in the mountain, never again!” Daphne tugged, forcing Rose to lift her chin and meet her gaze. “Bad people will always try to hurt those fighting for
freedom and equality. They don’t get to erase the good.”
“Daphne is right,” Katherine said. “But I know how you feel, Rose.” She swallowed and blinked back more tears. “It feels like we only just got our balance back. After Dad…” Katherine looked away and blew out a deep breath before continuing. “After Dad’s murder and everything we went through with Raphael and the Alpha Council, but sometimes felt like the happy moments weren’t really real. Like they were the dream and at any second, I could wake up and be back in that barn or at dad’s funeral.” She licked her lips. “But lately, my life had started to feel real again and now this.”
The room was silent for a long moment. The rage I’d tried so desperately to embrace had fizzled out as Rose and Katherine had spoken about the pain of their past. I know exactly how they felt, so much so that hearing my response and emotions spoken aloud by two other women had filled my throat until I wasn’t sure I could speak even if I tried.
My life back in Newfoundland hadn’t been perfect. There had been ups and downs, family fights and arguments between friends, but I’d been happy and settled. I’d had dreams that were attainable but never far-reaching and solid relationships that made me feel safe and secure.
All of that had changed the moment I’d stepped foot in Alpha Wolf Academy. No, I amended, coming here had just been a necessary step on the path to my understanding of who I really was. Not that I knew who I was, yet, not really. I had a long way to go before that was possible, especially with the revelation of my Alpha powers.
I didn’t blame Alpha Wolf Academy even though it would be so easy to project my feelings onto the school. Coming here hadn’t caused the pain and chaos, it had just set things into motion. The simplicity and innocence of my life back home had just been a dream, like a gift given to me by my parents and The Sisterhood, even though I didn’t always see it that way.
I’d felt so betrayed when I’d first found out and, occasionally, that feeling of helplessness and frustration welled up again and dragged me under. But I’d spent a lot of time thinking about it, about the possible alternatives the sisterhood could have decided on. I could have been raised in seclusion, trained from childhood to take back my rightful place as the Alpha of Russia. I could have been prepared my entire life for the duties that would come with that role.
Instead, I’d been given loving parents and wide-open fields. I’d been given a childhood with memories of scrapes and laughter and hugs and tears that formed me into the person I was now. I’d been gifted with a life, free of grief and the terrible weight of responsibility that sat squarely on my shoulders now. Yes, it sucked to be hit with all of this after twenty-one years of ignorance, but those twenty-one years had been happy and real. The pain of the present couldn’t negate the joy of the past.
I wanted to share my thoughts with them, to add my experiences to the mix and that Rose and Katherine know that they weren’t alone in this, but before I could speak a buzz sounded from Katherine’s phone, breaking the silence. She lifted it and glanced at the screen, weariness crossing her face before her eyebrows lifted in surprise.
“It’s Anthony. Looks like we’re being called into a war council.” She accepted the video chat and rose from the table, moving across the room swiftly to disappear down the hallway.
Rory pushed to her feet, glancing around the group. “That’s our cue to leave, I suppose.” She offered Daphne and Rose supportive looks then pushed her chair back and stepped free. “Elena, are you coming with us or do you have to stay?” Her big eyes asked more than she spoke aloud.
I froze with indecision; not sure I was even welcome to stay. I’d been included in a lot of discussions pertaining to The Sisterhood, but this was beyond my pay grade, not that I had a pay grade. I glanced at Daphne and Rose and noted their brief nods.
“I think,” I said with a nervous swallow, “I’m going to stay.” I got up with Rory and Daniella and fidgeted with my fingers as they gathered their things and headed towards the door.
I felt like an idiot, like a child pretending to be an adult by wearing her mother’s lipstick and fancy heels. Inside, not even deep down, I felt like a fraud.
“I don’t know why they want me here,” I whispered, lifting my gaze to Rory’s. I wished I hadn’t announced that I would stay, but it was too late for that. “I don’t know what I can do to help.”
Rory’s eyes narrowed her lips firmed. “Like it or not, Elena, you’re a part of this world. No one expects you to have all the answers.” She smiled softly. “Except for you, that is.” She reached out and took my hands, squeezing hard enough to help me find that center of balance it felt like I was always chasing these days. “You belong here and you’re stronger than you know. Text when you head out, okay?”
I nodded and squeezed her hands back then glanced over at Daniella who was chewing her lip thoughtfully. “Are you all right with me staying?” And with you not staying, I didn’t say it aloud but knew we all understood the sub context.
She blinked slowly, looking up in that slow sinuous way she did that I now understood she often used as a stalling technique to give her time to gather her thoughts. I tucked away that little trick in my memory for another day and hoped I could pull it off half as good as she did.
Daniella arched a perfect brow and smiled, the perfect mask to hide her consternation. “Of course,” she said lightly. “We’ll talk later.” She pulled the door open and sailed out, her heels clicking against the wood floor like sharp staccato beats.
I grimaced and shot Rory a disbelieving look. “She’s pissed,” I murmured beneath my breath, hoping she didn’t hear.
“Oh yeah,” Rory agreed with a wide grin. “The Queen is used to being at the center of attention and I’m sure it isn’t easy on her to play second fiddle to anyone, especially you.” With that, she turned and strolled after Daniella, disappearing around the corner of the hallway a moment later, leaving me alone to deal with a situation that was way over my head.
Closing the door, I squared my shoulders and took a deep breath. I might feel like I was drowning but I’d stay afloat no matter what.
By the time I made it back to the dining table, Katherine had returned and she, Daphne, and Rose had set up one of the laptops so that we could all see the other players in attendance at the war council.
Anthony nodded and greeted me by name as I took my place next to Rose. He launched into a detailed description of the crime scenes, including the two murder sites, his face a study in controlled fury as I tore a paper napkin to shreds beneath the table, unable to calm my nerves.
If I were ever going to take my place alongside these players, I would have to up my game.
“… Elena?” I heard my name and a familiar voice and snapped back to attention, focusing in on Sylvie, whose face filled the computer screen. She looked exhausted and expectant, as if I had the only answer to a dire question.
Sylvie nodded encouragingly at me then said in a tone that was decidedly Alpha, “Tell the others what you told me. It might very well be our only clue as to who is responsible for this tragedy.”
Chapter 13
Flustered, I pulled out my only weapon, unwilling to let a room full of people I admired know that I’d let my concentration drift off during such an important discussion. I lowered my lashes and lifted them, slowly, imitating Daniella, giving myself a few desperate seconds to try to place the question that had been asked of me.
My subconscious came to the rescue, proving some part of my brain had actually been listening after all.
I addressed Sylvie but let my gaze touch briefly on each person in the room as I’d seen Katherine do more than once and tried to sound intelligent. “Just before the plane crash,” I said in an even voice, even though the mere thought of the attempt on my life sent a chill up my spine. “Bash and I overheard a conversation between several young men of affluent families, led by Benson Wellington III. He was extremely vocal about his opinion of The Sisterhood as well as his grandfather’s hate
ful attitude towards the women who at that time had stepped forward in roles of authority.” I lifted a hand and gestured towards the screen. “His animosity was focused very much on you, Sylvie, and you, Katherine,” I added glancing at Katherine.
Ronan frowned. “Did he say anything specific? Reference any plan against The Sisterhood or our family?” He tapped his finger against his bottom lip and waited for an answer.
I thought back to that night, the clear sky and the way I’d felt after being with Bash. We’d felt the bond between us for the first time that night, really felt it, and we’d both been riding on the high of that connection. It’s what had driven us out onto the deck, to the hot tub and the promise of fun sexy times.
“Nothing specific,” I said slowly, chewing over my words as I replayed the scene again, not wanting to miss anything that might be important. “He spoke about his grandfather having a plan, too,” I lifted my fingers on either side of my head and made quotation signs, “make the bitches pay or something to that effect.”
Anthony shook his head and made a humming sound deep in his throat. “What do we know of the boy?”
Everyone looked at me expectantly.
“He’s an entitled snob who has major issues with authority figures in general and women in particular.” I remembered just how hard it had been for him to bend even in the wake of my Alpha voice, but bend he had. I knew everyone on this war council were in the know about my new fancy powers, so I explained, in detail, how he’d attacked me then reluctantly fallen into line once our side had pulled out the big guns. “He might’ve listened to me after all that, but I could see the endless hate in his eyes when he looked at me.”
