The Envelope
1270 Words
Elena stared at the envelope on the ground.
For a few seconds, neither she nor her father moved.
Then she looked at him.
“Dad, what is inside?”
“I don't know.”
“You're lying.”
“I said I don't know.”
“You looked at it like you knew exactly what it was.”
Her father released her wrist.
“Elena, go upstairs.”
She shook her head.
“No.”
His expression tightened.
“Elena.”
“No, Dad. I'm done being told to leave every time something happens.”
She walked toward the window.
Her father immediately stepped in front of her.
“Don't go outside.”
“Why?”
“Because I said so.”
“That answer stopped working when I was five.”
“This isn't a joke.”
“I know.”
Elena looked past him.
The envelope was still lying on the ground.
No name.
No address.
Just a small black mark stamped across the front.
Her father followed her gaze.
His face changed.
“What?”
He didn't answer.
Elena noticed the mark again.
It looked like a crescent moon with a line running through the center.
“You recognize it.”
Her father's jaw tightened.
“Stay here.”
He opened the front door.
“Dad—”
“I said stay here.”
He stepped outside and picked up the envelope.
Elena watched from the window as he turned it over.
He didn't open it.
Instead, he looked across the road.
The street was empty.
The black car was gone.
Her father returned inside and locked the door.
Then he locked it again.
Elena raised an eyebrow.
“Feeling safe now?”
He didn't respond.
He placed the envelope on the desk.
“I'm going to ask you something,” he said.
Elena folded her arms.
“Okay.”
“Did anyone speak to you after the ceremony last night?”
She frowned.
“Mira did.”
“Anyone else?”
“No.”
“Did anyone approach you?”
“No.”
He studied her face.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“Did you notice anyone watching you?”
Elena hesitated.
“There was…”
“What?”
“I don't know.”
Her father waited.
“I felt like someone was watching me when I left the clearing.”
His expression darkened.
“From where?”
“I couldn't see.”
He closed his eyes briefly.
“Elena, listen to me carefully.”
She straightened.
“Whatever happens, you don't leave this house alone.”
“What?”
“You heard me.”
“Dad, you're scaring me.”
“I know.”
That answer silenced her.
Her father rarely admitted when he was scared.
He picked up the envelope.
“I need to speak to someone.”
“Who?”
“An old friend.”
“About the Blackthorns?”
He looked at her.
“Yes.”
Elena's heart began beating faster.
“Then let me come with you.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because if I'm right about who sent this, they may already know about you.”
Elena stared at him.
“Why would they care about me?”
Her father said nothing.
“Dad.”
Still nothing.
She stepped closer.
“Is this because I'm Kael's mate?”
His eyes flickered.
And Elena noticed.
“You think it is.”
“I don't know what to think.”
“But you know something.”
“I know enough to be worried.”
Elena looked away.
She hated how every answer created three more questions.
Then something caught her attention.
A faint smell drifted through the room.
Smoke.
Not the normal smell of cooking fires.
Something sharper.
Burnt wood.
Her father noticed it too.
He immediately turned toward the back door.
“What is that?”
Before Elena could answer, a loud crash came from outside.
Her father rushed toward the door.
“Stay here.”
This time, Elena followed him.
They stepped into the backyard.
A thin trail of smoke rose from the far side of the garden.
Her father's face went pale.
He ran toward it.
“Elena, stay back!”
She stopped.
He reached the edge of the garden and stared at the ground.
Something had been burned there.
Not a letter.
Not wood.
A photograph.
The edges were blackened, but part of the image remained.
Elena could see three figures.
Her father.
Richard Blackthorn.
And the unknown man from the photograph.
Her father crouched and picked up the remains.
Elena moved closer.
“What is that?”
He didn't answer.
She looked at the photograph.
There was writing on the back.
Only three words were still visible.
ELENA ROSE KNOWS.
Her stomach dropped.
“What does that mean?”
Her father quickly turned the photograph over.
“I don't know.”
“You just lied again.”
He looked at her.
“I don't know what they think you know.”
Elena's anger faded.
“What if I don't know anything?”
“That's what I'm hoping.”
She stared at him.
“Dad…”
A sound came from beyond the garden wall.
A branch snapping.
Her father immediately pulled Elena behind him.
“Who's there?”
Silence.
He took a cautious step forward.
Nothing.
Then a low growl came from the darkness.
Elena froze.
Her father did too.
The sound came again.
Closer this time.
Her wolf stirred inside her.
Not with fear.
With recognition.
Elena's breathing changed.
“Dad…”
He looked at her.
“What?”
“I know that sound.”
His face tightened.
“Don't move.”
“But—”
“Don't.”
The growl came again.
Then suddenly stopped.
Her father waited several seconds before moving toward the wall.
He looked over it.
There was nothing there.
Only trees swaying in the evening wind.
He lowered his head.
“We're going inside.”
Elena didn't argue.
They returned to the house.
Her father locked every window.
Every door.
Then he turned toward her.
“You're going to stay with Mira tonight.”
“What?”
“Pack your things.”
“Why?”
“Because this house isn't safe anymore.”
Elena stared at him.
“And where are you going?”
“I have something to take care of.”
“No.”
“Elena—”
“If someone is looking for me, I'm not hiding at Mira's house while you deal with them alone.”
Her father looked at her for a long moment.
“You sound like your mother.”
Elena's expression softened.
“You don't talk about her much.”
“I know.”
“Why?”
His eyes lowered.
“Because every time I do, I remember what I failed to protect.”
Before Elena could ask what he meant, there was a knock at the front door.
Three slow knocks.
Her father went completely still.
Elena looked at him.
“Who is that?”
He didn't answer.
Another three knocks.
This time, a voice came through the door.
“David.”
Elena's father stepped backward.
She had never seen fear on his face like that.
The voice spoke again.
“We need to talk about Richard.”
Her father's hand slowly reached for the door lock.
Elena grabbed his arm.
“Don't open it.”
He looked at her.
For the first time, neither of them knew what to do.
Then the stranger spoke one final sentence.
“Before Kael finds out what Elena really is.”
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