Chapter 163

[Liam’s POV]

Of all the possible reasons why Ella had not been in class, that had been the absolute last on my list.

Even after I forced myself to leave her to rest, I felt myself seething with rage from having been left in the dark on a matter as horrible as this. Why hadn’t Ella come to me as soon as she was safe?

It was bad enough that I had to live with the fact that Arthur had been the one to save her. Call it pride, I didn’t care. It bothered me beyond comprehension that I wasn’t even made aware of such an assault after it happened.

It made me wonder how right I was to worry about Arthur getting close to Ella. I knew I should have been happy for the fact that she had been protected and was now safe. But the mere notion wasn’t enough to allow me to let it all go.

After leaving Ella to rest, I set out to find Arthur and get the whole story. I glanced at the time on my phone, realizing that Arthur would be coming out of his last class at this time. I swiftly made it over to the science building.

The moment I spotted him, I nearly tackled him to the ground as I dragged him off to the side.

Arthur’s eyes filled with baffled anger. “What the hell—”

“Save it!” I snarled. “Care to tell me what the fuck went on last night?”

His expression fell to the ground. “I see, Ella told you,” he muttered sheepishly. Arthur let out a long breath and shook his head. “Believe me, I was just as pissed off as you are.”

I felt my eye twitch with irritation. “Oh, I highly doubt that,” I bit out. “You knew about the attack as well as her ongoing panic attack and said nothing to me.”

He held up his hand as a sign of defense.

“You should know that Ella didn’t want you to know about any of it,” he told me. “Honestly, I had every intention of telling you about the attack.”

Knowing this, sent a sharp pain in my chest. Why would Ella intentionally keep this from me?

“She didn’t want you to worry because of the new trial Aaron has placed on you,” Arthur pointed out.

“Well, it doesn’t matter now. Ella is contemplating leaving Eastwood to find someplace safer for her.”

I watched Arthur’s expression fill with panic. “What?”

I raised my hand to pinch the bridge of my nose and shook my head. “I can’t even blame her for feeling that way,” I said wearily. “Are you also aware that this so-called hunter is being paid?”

Based on the way his eyes widened, I took it that Ella hadn’t mentioned this fact to Arthur. Interesting.

“You mean this psychopath is employed by someone to kill Ella?”

I slowly nodded my head and darkened my gaze. “Are the Winslows still behind this like they were years ago?”

“I don’t know,” he said quietly. The mere thought was haunting.

“Is there any way that you could find out?”

Arthur’s face lit up with a slightly devious smile. “Perhaps there is.”

[Arthur’s POV]

Liam and I had devised a plan that I would return to the manor and dig up any information I could on my family’s involvement with the Moon Wolf Pack.

“Don’t leave Ella’s side,” I told him. “No matter what. She said she picked up the scent of the person responsible for taking those photos. Should it happen again, make sure you’re together.”

I wasted no time heading back to the house. This time, I didn’t bother trying to sneak in from one of the back doors. My unexpected visit drew enough attention to where many of the staff were bustling around, trying to make my presence known to the rest of the house.

My mother was there to greet me in the main hall just moments later. With a hand on her hip, she tilted her head in question.

“Arthur? We weren’t expecting you to come home so soon,” she said. Right as I was about to respond, she waved me off and gestured for me to follow. “No matter, it’s actually quite fortuitous that you showed up. Your grandfather is here as well.”

I nearly stopped dead in my tracks. My grandfather? The very man that sent the direct order to slaughter his mate’s lineage?

Wonderful.

I used to take so much pride in my grandfather, always trying to aspire to be like him when I was younger. But now? Now I was certain that I would never view the man the same way again. I wasn’t sure whether it was a good thing or a bad thing that my grandfather was there.

“Come this way, we’re in the lounge taking tea,” my Mother said. “It would be good for you to chat with him. You know how long it’s been.”

Well, who else better to know the history of this family’s infamous history than the very man who made the decision to massacre an entire group of people?

Yes, perhaps this was a blessing in disguise.

But I had to be clever about it. I knew I couldn’t come off sounding too interested in case it raised suspicion with the family. I needed to be sneaky and manipulative in order to get the answers I needed.

“So, Arthur. Tell me, what have you been doing in your spare time when you’re not focusing on your studies?” my grandfather asked.

“I’ve actually been reading through some of the family history. I find it quite interesting; however, I have come across something that I don’t quite understand,” I explained. “It was an old pack called themselves the Moon Wolves...Why aren’t they around anymore? Was it some sort of illness that took them out?”

When in doubt, play stupid.

My grandfather seemed rather impressed with the fact that I was willing to take such a deep interest in the family history and was more than happy to discuss the details.

“Ah, yes, the Moon Wolf Pack—absolutely heinous people,” he sneered in disdain.

My mother, much to my surprise, was quick to share in his disfavor of hearing about the Moon Wolves. It made me quick to wonder if she knew anything about them or it was merely just for show.

Good God. Just witnessing their reactions made my stomach knot in tremulous anger.

I had to keep reminding myself that none of these people knew of my situation. I needed to keep my emotions in check because he knows how observant everyone is, especially his mother. This is my mate they’re talking about.

I pushed my vexation down. “But what made them so horrible? None of the books really went into much depth. All the text spoke about was some sort of power.”

“It’s been told that the females from that pack were the ones who possessed the real power. But only if they, themselves were a true wolf, though.”

Both my mother and I shared a curious look with one another. Perhaps she didn’t know as much as she led on with her blatant expressions. Nonetheless, I went on to ask the million-dollar question that’s been gnawing away at my mind for weeks.

“What did this power entail?” I asked.