Chapter 27

Silver’s POV

I was shocked when I watched Shirley hurl herself down the stairs. She landed with a loud thud on the granite floor, and I swear I heard a crack from the impact. Shirley cried out in pain, tears streaking down her cheeks and mascara smearing in the process.

I stood at the top of the stairwell, my mouth hanging open and my eyes wide. I never imagined that Shirley would actually throw herself down the stairs like that! What on earth was she thinking?

It didn’t register with me what was happening until the crowd started to gather. They all asked what happened and how Shirley ended up on the ground crying like she was in a lot of pain. None of them noticed me at the top of the stairs until Elliot ran around the corner, shoving himself through the crowd, barking at them to step away from her.

Shirley was whimpering and crying as he knelt over her; I could see the look of concern and worry all over his face. He wiped the tears from her eyes, trying to move the damp strands of hair stuck to her features as she whimpered and trembled.

“Shirley, what happened?” He asked, her voice soothing and compassionate. It was a tone I had never heard him use before and despite the situation, a jealous knot formed in the pit of my stomach. I quickly shook that feeling away though because it was ridiculous. Shirley was hurt and I’m over here being jealous that Elliot is treating her compassionately.

I truly am deranged.

“I…I…” Shirley whimpered as more tears fell from her eyes. “I just wanted to… apologize… to… Silver,” she cried, her bottom lip trembling. “And…she…she….” Shirley broke off, bawling her eyes out as she clung to Elliot's shirt. “She… pushed me….” she cried.

Gasping erupted around the foyer, and everyone looked at one another as the murmurs began.

“Did Alpha Elliot’s new wife do this out of jealousy?”

“So bold for the Luna to harm Alpha Shirley like this. What was she thinking?”

“The Alpha will certainly divorce her now!”

My mind was whirling, and I was frozen at the top of the stairwell, not sure I heard her correctly. Was she really blaming me for her fall? I didn’t push her at all; in fact, it seemed like she was going to push me, but then decided to hurl herself down the stairs. Why would she blame me for such a thing?

I had no words, and I could hardly move.

Shirley’s mischief eyes flickered to me as her lip trembled.

“How could you push me, Silver?” She asked, her voice booming across the foyer, making everyone silent as they turned to look at me, finally noticing me at the top of the stairs.

Elliot’s eyes darkened as he glared up at me; his face was indifferent and sent a chill down my spine.

He didn’t believe this, did he?

“I just wanted to apologize, Elliot,” Shirley whimpered, burying her face in his chest. “I didn’t mean to upset her. She told me I was ruining her marriage and then she shoved me.”

Elliot’s eyes never left mine; I stared at him with disbelief on my face and he looked at me with disgust. I cowardly into myself, hating the feeling of his scrutiny.

“I… I think my leg is broken,” Shirley cried.

That seemed to bring Elliot back to the current moment and I watched as he wrapped his arms around this woman and held her close to his chest. He buried his face in her hair and whispered soothing things to her.

“It’s okay, Shirley. I’ll take care of you. You are safe now. No need to cry,” he whispered, rubbing circles around her back.

“Please get me out of here…” Shirley cried. “I’m so embarrassed and I don’t want to be around anyone else.”

Elliot lifted her into his arms, cradling her close to his chest. She cried out and winced in pain from the movement of her leg. I could see how bruised; she was a strong Alpha wolf so I knew that even if it was broken, it would heal in no time. But still, Shirley trembled and cried in Elliot’s chest.

He didn’t bother sparing me another look as he left with Shirley in his arms.

I stared at them, frozen to my spot.

“Luna, are you all right?” A voice sounded from nearby and when I blinked, I noticed Beta Leo staring up at me.

He was at the bottom of the stairs and the gammas were busy breaking up the crowd, forcing them to leave the scene.

“Have you been harmed in any way?” He asked, narrowing his eyes.

I shook my head, trying to bring myself out of my stooper.

“No…” I told him. “I’m not hurt.”

He nodded.

“Would you like me to take you home?”

I shook my head, blinking away the tears that formed in my eyes.

“Not necessary,” I told him as I quickly walked down the stairs. “Thank you.”

He looked uncertain, but he didn’t stop me from leaving. I quickly rushed out of the packhouse. Elliot’s car was already gone; my heart felt like it was about to explode in my chest. I wanted to scream out and cry. I couldn’t believe that just happened and I couldn’t believe he blindly believed her like that.

This was Shirley’s plan; she’s trying to turn Elliot against me so he will divorce me. I wrapped my arms around my body and held myself close as I walked away from the packhouse. I felt sick to my stomach. I just needed some time and space to clear my head.

My phone rang and when I grabbed it from my pocket, I saw that it was Cara. I declined the call, not wanting to talk to anyone right now. I shoved the phone back into my pocket. Memories of earlier events replayed in my mind, and I winced at the harsh look he gave me. It was accusatory and cold. Like I was a bug that stung him.

I’m not sure how long I walked, but the next thing I knew, I was standing outside of the pack hospital.

Why did I walk here? What was I thinking I’d accomplish?

Taking a deep breath, I walked into the emergency room and over to the reception desk.

“Hello, I’m here to see Shirley Darknight,” I said, my voice trembling only slightly.

She typed on her computer and nodded.

“Alpha Elliot reserved floor 8 for her,” she told me.

My stomach knotted even more; he reserved an entire floor for her? I nodded my thanks, forcing a smile as I went to the elevator.

I pressed button 8 and held my breath as the doors closed. My heart was pounding against my chest; I had no idea what I was going to say, or do once I saw them, but I had to say something. I couldn’t let this go unresolved; I couldn’t let Elliot think he married some kind of monster.

The elevator dinged and the doors opened, revealing a large waiting room.

I walked into the room and smiled at the receptionist.

“Hi, I’m here to see Shirley Darknight,” I told her.

“She’s down the hall; 2 doors on the right,” she told me. “She’s with the Alpha.”

I nodded and went down the hallway. I could hear voices inside of the room and my chest tightened.

“The doctors say it’s going to take me a full day to heal, Elliot. What am I going to do?” I heard Shirley whining.

“It’s going to be okay, Shirley,” Elliot assured her. “I will take care of everything. You just focus on recovering.”

“How could your wife do this to me? I didn’t do anything wrong?” Shirley whimpered. “Why would you marry someone like that.”

Elliot remained silent; silent!!!

Pressing my lips together to keep from letting out any sobs or sounds of distress, I knocked on the door softly before turning the knob and pushing it open.

Shirley’s eyes found mine first and she shrieked with fear, grabbing onto Elliot’s arm and shielding herself from me.

“Elliot help! She came back to finish the job!!”

Elliot’s face darkened as he turned to look at me. I stood frozen at the doorway; my head lowered. I couldn’t look at the disappointed look on his face anymore. My heart hurt too much already.

“Shirley, that’s enough. She’s not going to hurt her,” Elliot said, trying to pry her hands off him, but she was relentless and kept burying her face in his arm, tears pouring out of her eyes.

“I’m scared, Elliot. Please, make her leave. I don’t want her here.”

Elliot ran his fingers through his hair and sighed before his eyes found mine.

“You shouldn’t have come here, Silver,” he said, his voice hard and making me wince. “What do you want?”

“I’ve come to speak with Miss Shirley,” I said, my voice coming out as a raspy whisper.

“She clearly doesn’t want to speak to you,” he said, his brows furrowed together. “Whatever it is, it can wait.”

“I wanted to apologize,” I blurted. “I never intended for her to get hurt. I didn’t…” my voice trailed off when I realized no matter what I said, Elliot wasn’t going to believe me. His mind had been made up.

His brows pinched together as he glared at me.

“You didn’t what?” He asked.

I shook my head.

“I didn’t know she would fall,” I told him, my voice wavering.

He opened his mouth to say something, but Shirley interrupted him.

“It’s okay, Elliot. I’ll speak with her if it’s important to her. She seems sincere,” Shirley said, batting her lashes at him.

He looked uncertain, which killed me even more inside. But he eventually nodded and stepped away from the bed.

“Okay, I’ll be outside if you need me,” he told me, squeezing her hand. As he walked by me, he gave me a cold look. “We will talk about this later,” he said for my ears alone.

I gave him a curt nod and waited until he left the room.

When I looked back at Shirley, she had stopped crying. She wiped the remaining tears off her face and then looked at me with a cold expression, a mocking smirk placed on her lips as she folded her arms across her chest.

“Let this be a warning to you, Mrs. Crown. You are a temporary wife… Elliot will always choose me over you and this little incident just proved my point.”