Chapter 26

“Elena! Jane is still yelling! We have sedated her, and she keeps popping up.” Emily suddenly hangs up the phone, but instead texts me.

GO HOME, ELENA!

Texting my sister, a heart back and give Tula a fake smile. I need to get out of here soon.

“I forgot. I have a meeting with King Harvey. I will see you later.” I give Tula a quick hug and she hugs me back.

One glance at her and I know she has read my face.

“Stay safe.” Tula whispers to me. I nod and I click the wolf pen that King Harvey gave me. Pressing down on the wolf head, I watch its eyes glow red. A whoosh of wind appears to my left and I see King Harvey standing beside me.

“Jane has been sedated and is freaking out.” I whisper, worried that somehow Katy can hear me through the cement walls of the school. I didn’t see her.

King Harvey smiles darkly. “She doesn’t like you at all. I do not like her.”

I frown in question at his words, but I am not given no time to ask. King Harvey picks me up and simply runs back to the castle. Not even two minutes pass by.

With gentle care, King Harvey places me in the velvet chair in his study.

“King Harvey?”

“I must go check on Jane. I will be back when I can. Beta Tom will look after you.”

“Be safe, King Harvey.” I look up at him and he understands, leaning down to kiss me quickly on the lips.

By the time I see the red blur of him leaving, Beta Tom takes a seat across from me.

“Hello, Elena. How was your time with King Harvey at that spa?” Beta Tom folds his hand on the oak desk between us, and I know it is, so I am not scared of his hands or him.

He is very smart.

“He is very kind, Beta Tom.”

For some reason, it doesn’t feel awkward talking to him. It is not as safe a feeling as it is with King Harvey, but I do feel mostly safe.

Beta Tom smiles at me politely. “He speaks of you very highly, Elena. Please do not take that lightly.”

“High praise,” I comment as the words he says flatter me. “So, he has never dated?”

Beta Tom laughs. “No, no. He is very invested in his kingdom, nothing more.”

“That is very attractive to a woman, won’t have to fight off exes.”

“King Harvey is extremely loyal, Elena.”

I nod. “So am I. I believe in a way we are a good match.”

“He has always commented you have the heart of a wolf.”

Now, I look away and truly blush.

“That is an extremely strong compliment… sometimes I wonder if I had been born a werewolf like him…. He would have found me sooner?”

I could have protected Emily better. I would not have been in the nanny job to other werewolves, my mom could have fought back from those werewolves and wouldn’t have died, I wouldn’t have this wound on my back that is taking time to heal.

Maybe he would have married me, mated with me the first night I got to the castle. I would have fallen into my role very simple to follow. I wouldn’t constantly worry.

“Have you heard anything new about Jane?”

“I just told King Harvey that my sister Emily said the sedation is not working on Jane. She keeps waking up and threatening anyone. Have you not heard?” I explain quickly, hoping that I can trust Beta Tom as much as King Harvey.

“No, Elena. I ask and forgive me because I can smell Jane’s scent.” Beta Tom replies calmly.

I stand up in shock and gasp. “You can?!”

“I will protect you, Elena. Do not worry. Her scent is faint, it may be a relative of Jane, not her specifically, but it is approaching rapidly.” Beta Tom stands up and marches to the front door, brandishing a pistol.

He doesn’t allow his finger to touch the trigger but remains leaning into the side of the doorframe and waits.

Pulling out my knife and I start to recall the diagram King Harvey showed me.

My mind flies to Emily. But she is safe, King Harvey is with her. If King Harvey is smart, he will know that I want my sister protected more than myself. We have that promise we made; it calms me slightly.

A sudden harsh and violent banging of the massive oak doors makes me jump. A distorted violent howling makes me look at Beta Tom.

Beta Tom catches my gaze and simply steadily stares at me, as if to calm me. King Harvey does it better.

“Elena,” Beta Tom whispers in a hiss as he looks at me, “Go to the training-!”

“ELENA!!” It is Jane’s voice that screams for me ferally. “You destroyed my life!!”

Jane attempts to run in the room at full speed, but Beta Tom runs in front of the entrance and throws her into the hallway.

“Elena!” Beta Tom yells over his shoulder. “Flee, seek safety!!”

“I can kill Emily, Elena!” Jane mocks as she charges up to run into the room again, this time her claws fully grown and sharpened.

She swipes at Beta Tom with her right hand then left Beta Tom dodges both with such ease I almost think he is a ballerina. Beta Tom turns away from another swipe with her right hand and slaps her in the face.

Jane holds her face as she recoils from the hit, tears streaming down her face.

“Child. Give up!” Beta Tom demands.

Jane, even with tears in her eyes and a stinging face howls at me. “Elena!! If you do not fight me, I will be sure your sister dies!”

“Then come fight me!” I allow myself to scream. I feel the rage that she has placed in my heart.

Beta Tom stares at me, his eyes swimming with rage. “Elena, if you are harmed, King Harvey will kill me with his bare hands.”

“I will not die, Beta Tom. Move.”

“Elena!” Beta Tom yells as his eyes glow silver and his fangs drop out of his upper lip.

“NO!” I scream even louder. “She is my sister!”

Brandishing my blade, I get in position with my legs open, I even put a block up, my left hand close to my face.

Jane snorts at me and swipes at me, right then left. I turn away from both, and in my twirl, I slice her face, right under her left eye. When she feels the trickle of blood, she freezes. Then, her shock twists into a malicious fanged grin.

My blood freezes.

Screaming that then transforms into a howl, Jane just throws herself on top of me. I enter my blade where I can, in the meat of her shoulder, and I dig as deep as I can, slapping my left hand onto the back of the knife until Jane roars.

“Jane!” King Harvey’s voice fills me with abrupt relief…