“That’s...troubling to hear.”
I grab a pillow to clench. “What do you think it means?”
“I’m not sure, but I’ll find out tomorrow when I get the files.”
“Is there anything I can do?” I ask. “I feel like there's so much you’re doing for me, and I’m just a sitting duck.”
“Oh, Ellie darling, you just being safe is plenty. Although it does give me peace of mind to know you’re training.”
I let out a sigh. “Me too. But I feel like I need to be doing more.”
“You don’t. But if you really want more, you also have Alice to focus on. Maybe think of something to do to cheer her up. Maybe some tough love like I gave you when you were in the hospital.”
I hum, glancing over to where the copy of Princess Bride rests on the nightstand. “Tough love, huh? That’s what you call giving me a book to get me to eat?”
He chuckles. “Well, maybe that was more of a bribe.”
I smile into the phone. “Yeah, I think so.” A yawn splits across my face.
“Alright, my love, I’ll let you go now.”
“Sorry,” I say through another yawn.
“Don’t be, you had a long day. Goodnight, Ellie. I love you.”
My breath leaves me. I don’t think I’ll ever get used to hearing him say that. “I love you too, Ash. Goodnight.”
The lack of his presence is felt once I hang up the phone. Loneliness rears its ugly head once more as I stare at the ceiling. I didn’t realize how not alone I felt when Ash was with me. Even in my sleep I must have known I would always be safe with him because my nightmares would always disappear. I wish I would’ve listened to how my mind and body acted before. I wish it didn’t take me so long to realize that I could lean on him and trust him to protect me. He’s someone I can rely on. I don’t need to do everything myself, at least that’s what I’m starting to realize.
My eyes drift closed. It’s hard to forget that the other side of the bed is empty, but after such a long day of training, sleep claims me.
I follow Sophie and Alice inside after another rigorous training session. We didn’t try to shift today, though.
“How do you still look so good?” Alice complains, wiping moisture off her forehead with a towel. I peer over at Sophie, who looks just as perfect as she did when she first came over. Not a lick of sweat on her. I’m only a tad jealous.
Sophie’s green eyes twinkle with mischief as she gives Alice a wry smile. “It’s because I’m immune to sweat.”
I chuckle as Alice rolls her eyes. “No one is immune to sweat.”
“Except for me.” Sophie grins.
A corner of Alice’s mouth tugs up into a smile as she shakes her head.
Training seemed to help Alice today. She’s still acting differently than before her father’s death, but I’m not sure if that’s a bad thing. She isn’t as timid anymore and speaks her mind, but she’s sadder.
My phone buzzes on the kitchen counter where I left it to charge.
“Must be Ash. She has that stupid grin on her face,” Sophie says.
“Ha, ha, ha.” My lips twitch, fighting a smile as I try to send a glare her way. She simply winks with a smirk as she and Alice sit on the couch. “I’ll be right back, I’m going to take this.”
“Oh, hey. I’ll get that watch for you tomorrow, okay?” Sophie calls after me as I walk down the hall.
We talked about Christmas gifts during training, and I was at a loss on what I should get Ash. Alice said that her dad saved a few of Ash’s parents’ belongings after he got Ash out of the fire, and his father’s watch was one of them. Ash hasn’t asked after them. Alice doesn’t think he knows Charlie had them in a safe for him. But she doesn’t want to go back to her house right now, so Sophie volunteered to get it for me.
“Okay,” I say before answering Ash’s call, afraid that I might miss it. “Hey.”
“Hello, my love, how was it today?” The way he sounds never ceases to affect me. I love his voice.
“Good, Alice joined again. It’s been nice hanging out with them.”
He chuckles. “Training has become girl time, huh?”
I smile, closing the door to my room. I haven’t been able to sleep in his room without him. “In a way. But you know Soph, she’s hardcore—makes sure we never get too off track.”
“Sounds like Soph,” he says in amusement. “How is Alice doing?”
A sigh slips past my lips as I slump against the door. “I think training has helped her a bit. It’s like an outlet for her anger and sadness. At least that’s what I’m hoping. She’s eating a bit more and is talking to us, so that’s a start. Not the same as before though.”
He hums. “Yes, death can change a person. Especially when you think you’d have more time with them.”
“It’s good that she’s more outspoken though. I feel like it fits her more. She’s even looking us in the eye.”
“I guess I’ll have to agree, even though I haven’t seen it yet.”
I bite my lip. Not sure if I want to ask my question yet.
“What’s wrong?”
I chuckle. “Nothing gets past you even when you’re thousands of miles away.”
“I’ve been around you along enough to tell just by your breathing.”
A smile forms across my lips. “Like that’s not creepy.”
He laughs. “Maybe just a tad.”
I tilt my head back, resting it against the door. “Any word on Zac?” Can Alice hear me from over there? Maybe I shouldn’t have asked.
“Not much. I believe he became a lone wolf rather than stay with Marcus.”
Does that mean his essence could go out of control? But rather than voice that question, I ask a different one. “Do you think he regrets what he did?”
He’s silent for a moment before he sighs and says, “I don’t know.”
I look back down at my feet. “And Marcus?”
“It seems he’s in Europe right now.”
My brows scrunch together. “How do you know he’s there?”
“Foster has connections everywhere, including at the airports. They forwarded a security photo to us. Apparently he’s been using a private jet.”
“And why there?”
“There are two packs there, so maybe he’s involved with one of them. We have an idea on which one, but it’s not concrete.” He sighs again. “It’s frustrating how little we know. We can’t simply follow him and attack until we figure out the why and where. I thought maybe he’d go back to his place, but he hasn’t been back since he first found you.”
“So it’s been a wild goose chase.”
“More like wild wolf chase,” he grumbles, and I don’t know why, but I find that funny and laugh.
He chuckles lightly through the phone. “I’m glad you found that amusing.”
“So…”
I jolt as a knock sounds on the door I’m leaning on.
“Ellie?” Alice’s voice filters through the door.
I tilt the phone away from my mouth. “Yes?”
“Sophie left, and I’m going to head to the shower. Just thought I’d let you know.”
“Thanks.”
The light brightens under my door once more as her shadow moves away.
“Sorry,” I say, making my way to my bed. I sit down and lean against the headboard. “How’s it going over there? Find anything out?”
“I did. Do you want me to tell you over the phone or wait until I get back?” he asks.
“When do you think you’ll make it back home?”
When he doesn’t answer I look down at my phone to see if we’re still connected, and find we are.
“Ash?”
“I…” He clears his throat. “Sorry. You caught me off guard... Do you really consider it your home?”
I blink, shocked. I didn’t even realize I had called it home, but now that I think about it—I do. But not because it’s the house I’ve been staying at, or else I would’ve consid
ered Emma’s house my home as well. But no, it’s because it’s his home. Where he lives is home to me, too. Wherever he is, is home. “My home is with you.”
He groans. “Ellie...you can’t say those things when I’m not there to kiss you.”
“Sorry.” I grin. “So, when will you be home?
“I should be back by tonight.”
“I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.”
“Yes, but I thought I should tell you in person what I found.”
My throat constricts and my hands shake. I grab a pillow to place on my lap. “Just tell me, Ash.”
“I got your parents’ file, but that’s not what’s concerning.”
He’s silent as he waits for me to respond, but I’m not sure what he’s looking for in a reaction from me. “Okay?”
“Ellie...all I found was a birth and death certificate in your file.”
My lips part on a gasp. “What? How? I…I don’t understand. Did the pack think I died along with my parents?”
“No, it’s dated just a few days after your birth.”
“But I’m not dead.”
“No, you’re not.”
“Then why?”
“I don’t know, it’s obviously fake. But it makes sense why no one knew about you and why you weren’t taken in by family or the pack.”
“It’s why Marcus didn’t know I was a lycan,” I mumble in thought.
“I have some connections that I asked to look into it for me. They did some digging and found that the state has a different last name on your birth certificate than the one in the pack files.”
“What? What is it?”
“Your real name is Eleanor Hollenberg, like you already know. The birth certificate wasn’t fake, but the state and foster care system have you listed as Eleanor MacCallum.”
I blink. “Is that name supposed to mean something to me?”
“No. It’s literally a random last name.”
I rub at my temple. “Okay, so people thought I was human because of that last name and weren’t able to connect me to my parents. What else did you find out?”
He’s silent on the line for a moment.
“What is it?” I ask.
“This is harder than I thought it would be to tell you.”
“Just tell me, I need to know.”
“The bodies of your parents were found completely drained of blood.” A chill runs down my spine. Drained of blood? Like Ash’s? Does that mean...
“And your mother was unrecognizable,” he says. “They only assumed it was her because your father was a few feet away. Her…her entire head was smashed in and her fingers were burned to the point where they couldn’t get a fingerprint.” I cover my mouth just as a cry breaks out, trying to muffle it. “The authorities assumed it was from the accident and the car blowing up. It’s also assumed that they didn’t have seatbelts on, since they were both found outside the car.”
I squeeze my eyes shut. I’ve never heard the details before. “I-I don’t understand...” I curl around my pillow. It makes sense they were badly injured in the accident. So why is he so concerned?
“They were purebloods, Ellie. Let alone that the blood loss is identical to my parents’ case, but a simple car crash shouldn’t have killed them or done that much damage. I don’t know anything for sure, but it doesn’t add up.
“I also found out that they were the alpha couple and that the pack disbanded after they found out they died and their bodies were in human custody.”
My stomach clenches. I feel like I’m going to puke. He’s right. It doesn’t add up. Maybe if they were normal humans like I always assumed they were, they could’ve died like that, but they weren’t.
My hand shakes, clutching the phone. “You mean…you think they were killed on purpose? That...that it wasn’t just an accident?”
“I—yes. This is why I wanted to tell you in person.” There’s regret in his voice.
Even though it feels like my world has been thrown off center, I’m glad he told me now. Although I wish he could hold me, I also don’t want him to see me falling apart.
“I’m getting on a plane right now. We can talk more about it when I get home. Or not. If you’re not ready. Whatever you want.”
What I want is to scream. Scream so loud that I can’t even hear my own thoughts or feel any emotions.
And cry.
Cry so long and hard that maybe it would be enough to bring them back. Not just to tell me why they hid things or to explain what happened to them. But to hold me like they used to—to feel their love again. I miss them. I miss them so much.
“Ellie? Are you there? Are you okay?” Ash asks on the other end of the line.
No, no, I’m not okay. All these years and I never knew my parents were murdered. It’s as if they just died all over again. I’d hoped knowing more about the car accident would help, but instead, it just added more questions. I’m even further from knowing the truth.
My wolf claws burst out and I yelp, almost clawing my face. I didn’t even realize it, but my shift is close to the surface and there’s no pain this time. At least not physical pain.
I want to shift. I want to tear through the forest, free my inner turmoil. A growl rumbles in my throat. It’s almost painful to hold my shift back. I watch as ripples of fur appear and disappear on my arm.
The shift is close, and this time I’m going to welcome it, pain and all.
It’s silent on the other end of the line. I stride up the steps onto my jet with a duffle bag slung over my shoulder.
“Ellie darling, please say something,” I say into the phone.
“I need to go.”
“Wait, Ell—” I hear the end click of the phone call as she hangs up on me.
I curse under my breath and try to call her back. A growl tears from my throat as it goes straight to voicemail. I knew I should’ve waited to tell her in person.
I dial Russell as I take my seat, throwing my bag in the next one over.
He answers, but I don’t wait for him to speak. “Do you have eyes on Ellie?”
Russell pauses. “No, I went to get food. But Sam is there. I’ll give him a call.”
“Why isn’t there another?” I ask. It was fine only having one lycan watching the property and house while I was there, but I wanted two to three while I was gone.
“Sophie was there before I left.”
I close my eyes, trying to calm down. Of course, Sophie is talented in fighting. It would make sense why he thought he could run to grab food. But I have a feeling that isn’t the only reason why he left. “Sophie left while I was on the phone with Ellie.”
“I’ll call Sam and head back over.” He hangs up and I try not to break my phone while I wait. The stewards and pilots prepare for takeoff.
“Alpha Sylvester, would you like anything before takeoff?” one flight attendant asks.
“No, thank you,” I snap, instantly regretting it. “Sorry.”
She nods then scurries off. I run a hand down my face and pull at the strands of my hair. This is a different kind of torture.
It feels like ages when he finally calls back.
“She’s pacing the kitchen while talking to Alice. I asked Sam to move in closer to hear what she’s saying. She’s telling Alice she needs to shift.”
My shoulders relax, but I’m still on edge. I just dropped a bomb on her, of course her emotions are high. Her shift would be close to the surface. She’d want to run off all her emotions. I just wish I was there to help her through it.
“She turned off her phone,” I say.
“She probably did it to think.”
I can’t really blame her. I let out a heavy sigh. “Alright. Thanks, Russ.”
“No problem. Any trouble?”
I laugh without humor. “It seems likely that her parents were murdered.”
“Shit.”
“Yeah. I’m about to be up in the air for seven hours with no reception. I just needed to know sh
e’s not in danger before liftoff.”
“I’ll be back there in twenty minutes to keep a close eye on her.”
I close my eyes and lean my head back on the headrest. “Thanks.”
My body is encompassed in a wave of ice and a sharp pain surges, hitting me square in the chest. Air leaves my lungs as I hunch over.
“Alpha Sylvester? Are you alright?” One of the stewardesses comes over with concern.
I can’t answer her as I’m consumed by the pain. It’s my new alpha link. It feels as if a part of it has been ripped out from me. I go through my pack bonds and pause when I find Sam no longer there.
He either left the pack, or he died. Since he was loyal, I’m guessing the latter.
Bile burns the back of my throat. My hands shakingly pull out my phone, but as I expect there’s no reception.
I fight through the rest of the flight with a phantom pain in my chest. I can’t help thinking that Ellie is in trouble. Her link to me is still there, but I can’t sense anything this far away. A growl escapes in frustration. If she was my mate, it would be in an entirely different situation.
I’d not only be able to sense her and her emotions this far away, but I’d be able to speak to her without being a wolf.
When the plane starts to descend, I don’t wait for us to land. I quickly turn my phone off airplane mode and curse under my breath as it reads no service. I wait impatiently as the minutes tick by until I see a single bar pop up, and my phone starts buzzing with incoming text messages and missed calls.
Only one from Russell, updating me that Ellie has shifted and wants to run, and that he’ll be following her in wolf form.
The rest are from Alice. What sends dread through me the most is the last message I received from her with the time stamp just an hour ago.
They found
They. Her message is incomplete, and I can only assume she means Marcus and the lycans under him.
It can’t be Zac, right?
Another growl leaves me, more animalistic this time. I’m going to be a wolf by the time we land if I don’t get myself under control.
Saving Ellie (Lycans Book 1) Page 28