The lost mate

Chapter 153: The secret is out

"What kind of secrets?" She asked, her voice barely more than a whisper.

Elara let out a low chuckle, but there was no humour in it. "Oh, plenty. Things that would shake the foundations of the pack. Things she’s kept from you, from everyone, because if they ever got out... Elara trailed off, her tone filled with quiet menace.

Emily’s pulse quickened.

"Why tell me?" Emily pressed, forcing her voice to stay steady. "If you hate Liana, why not just take her down yourself?"

"Because you have something she doesn’t," Elara replied, her voice cool and calculating. "You have the trust of those around her. People like Damien and Chris—they believe in you. You could do more damage than I ever could from the outside."

Emily could feel Heather’s hand on her shoulder, grounding her as she took a deep breath, fighting the surge of emotions roiling within her. "I’m not interested in being anyone’s weapon, Elara."

Elara’s laughter came sharp and cold. "I’m not asking you to be a weapon. I’m giving you a choice. You can walk away and keep living in ignorance, or you can open your eyes and see the truth. If you’re curious, meet me tomorrow in the city. Or wheverver you feel comfortable."

With that, the line went dead, leaving Emily with the sharp echo of Elara’s words ringing in her mind.

Heather’s worried gaze searched Emily’s face as she lowered the phone. "Who was that, Emily? Are you okay?"

Emily took a shaky breath, slipping the phone back into her pocket. "That was Elara," she said, her voice barely audible. "She claims she has... secrets about Liana. And she wants to tell me."

Heather’s eyes widened, a mix of shock and anger flickering across her face. "Elara? Emily, you can’t trust her. She’s dangerou. Whatever she’s planning, it can’t be good."

"I know," Emily replied, her voice growing steadier as she thought it through. "But if she’s telling the truth... And there’s something we don’t know about Liana, something that could affect all of us... Maybe I need to hear her out."

"You should talk to Anne and tell her everything." Heather suggested.

"No, I want to hear her out. I know they are all looking for her. She won’t be stupid enough to contact me and risk getting caught."

Heather’s face softened, and she nodded slowly, still reluctant but understanding Emily’s resolve. "Just... promise me you’ll be careful, okay? I don’t want you getting caught up in her games."

Emily gave her a reassuring smile, though a deep unease gnawed at her. "I will," she said, gripping Heather’s hand tightly as they headed back to the car.

*************************************

Emily fidgeted with her coffee cup as she waited, glancing around the bustling café inside the mall. Choosing this place was a deliberate decision—she wanted the crowd and the safety of being right across from a police station. She wasn’t sure what to expect from Elara, but she knew she couldn’t take any chances.

She straightened as she saw Elara step in, moving through the tables like a shadow. Her dark hair framed her face, half concealed behind large sunglasses that made her look even more mysterious.

Elara gave a faint, polite nod, folding her hands neatly on the table. "Thank you for meeting me, Emily. I’m glad to see you’re not completely blinded by loyalty to Liana." Her voice was smooth, but there was a slight edge to it, as if testing the waters.

Emily kept her face impassive, though her heart raced. "I’m here because you said you had something important to tell me. Make it quick, Elara. I don’t have time for games."

Elara chuckled softly, removing her sunglasses and placing them on the table. Her piercing gaze settled on Emily, assessing her for a moment before she finally spoke. Let me get straight to the point. I know you’re wary of me, and you should be. But I think you’ll want to hear this."

She leant in, her voice lowering. "I am a healer. I was there when Damien was born. I delivered him myself."

Emily’s fingers tightened around her cup, though she tried to keep her expression neutral. "Why would I care about that? So you delivered him. What are you trying to get at?"

"There’s more, Emily," Elara said, her tone lowering as her gaze pinned Emily with unsettling intensity. "The story you know about Liana and Richard... it’s only half of the truth."

Emily crossed her arms, resisting the urge to glance around the bustling café.

"Go on," Emily said, though her voice was cautious.

Elara leant closer, her face unreadable. "Before Liana mated with Richard, she had a mate—someone she loved fiercely. His name was Maddox."

Emily blinked.

"But Maddox wasn’t just anyone," Elara continued. "He was my brother."

Emily’s breath caught as she processed Elara’s words. "Your... brother?"

"Yes. He was everything to me," Elara said quietly, her gaze clouded with a mixture of anger and pain. "Liana and Maddox were mates—a bond as real as any. But when Richard was brought into the picture, Falcon, Liana’s father, was eager for an alliance. Richard was to mate with Kelly, Liana’s sister."

Emily frowned. "So... she chose Richard over her mate? Why would she give up a true bond for a political alliance?"

Elara gave a bitter laugh. "Because of her own ambition, her jealousy. She wasn’t forced by her father, Emily. Liana wanted the position Kelly would’ve had as Alpha Queen. She convinced her father that she would be a stronger, more stable mate for Richard. Kelly was in poor health, and Liana used that as a reason, twisting her father’s arm until he agreed."

"And Maddox?" Emily asked, her voice quiet, dreading the answer.

"Maddox didn’t just lose his mate; he lost his whole world," Elara said, her voice bitter with remembered sorrow. "He left the pack, heartbroken and alone."

"But... why are you telling me this? I mean, I understand this must’ve been awful for you, but I don’t see what it has to do with me."

Elara looked at Emily with a glint in her eye. "Because Liana’s decisions have a ripple effect. Maddox is currently the beta of the Thunderbolt pack."

Emily had a hard time remembering the pack names.

"So why aren’t you planning with your brother and exposing her ?"

"Its because my brother still loves her; he is bound by oath that he can’t expose her."

"Looks like two people had an amicable breakup." Emily commented.

"She let you aunt die !" Elara insusted.

Emily fidgeted uncomfotably; she knew that her mother didn’t want to take revenge for Jennifer’s death, but Emily always felt it was unfair.

"I know that," Emily whispered.

"She also tried to kill your entire family. So that her secret was never exposed, but Richard talked her out of it, saying that a couple of humans living far away wouldn’t bother them."

Emily looked at Elara in shock.