Breaking the chains that bind

More Questions Than Answers

Racing back to the house Elise passed both Ryan and John's wolves, thankfully both of them were too focused on getting to Alex to do anything more than glare at her lack of clothing, but she wasn't so lucky with Max.

His paws skidded to a halt on the gravel so fast Elise was sure he must have skinned his pads. 'Where are your clothes?' he spluttered in rage.

'I'm wearing them' Elise snapped back 'Oh, you mean the blouse I'm carrying? Well had there not been a silver padlock on the gate I wouldn't have had to protect my hands. Why is there a padlock Max? What's next, a gilded cage? Perhaps Alex would like shackles or a GPS tracker on me? Honestly why are you all so afraid of me going out without you, I can pin you and John easily with my wolf, its not like I'm a defenseless butterfly you know.'

Max chortled over his sister's obvious discomfort being caught in her bra and indignation. 'A GPS tracker isn't a bad idea, I could mention it to Alex...'

'No!' Elise said desperately, realising her mistake instantly.

Max smiled at her concern, now he understood why she was half dressed no longer angry and enjoying teasing her. Elise and him were the closest, both frustrated by the limits their older brothers placed on them and he could understand her anger. He would have broken out long ago in her situation. If only he could explain why to her, she would know why they took such precautions. But Alex had said she could not be told and what Alex said goes. He could understand it really, Elise was so naive and desperate for social contact her boundaries weren't as good as she didn't fear exposure. She had nearly given herself away to that blasted Sarah Ryan had brought back, unintentionally, but she could have exposed them all.

However you can't be mad when someone didn't know the risks, and Elise was clueless. Max envied her passion and fire. Seeing the emerald flashes of anger reminded him so much of their mother it hurt sometimes. They had that same love of life and ability to light up a room, same internal joy and intensity. Thinking of her made him remember the point, it was for nothing if they didn't protect Elise. His grief overflowed and he snapped more gruffly then he intended 'Come on, back in the house.'.

Elise was about to fire back when she felt his grief, she stopped herself and went in without a word. Max went to the kitchen and made a coffee, taking a moment to collect himself. Once he turned Elise was there watching him, now fully dressed and staring him down intently, partly with concern and partly with irritation. Max could sense once again this wasn't going to be an easy conversation.

'What?' He said lightly.

'You know what. Who was that by the gate? Why was he there? Why doesn't he smell of a pack? What aren't you telling me?' Elise blurted question after question without letting Max respond.

'Whoah. Slow down. Want some coffee?' Max evaded the questions while he tried to navigate internally what he could and couldn't say.

'Max!' Elise snapped.

'Okay. One question at a time.' Max tried to slow her down, knowing the others would be back soon and Elise wouldn't dare ask him in front of Alex.

'Who is he?'

'Nate, he helps out sometimes. Bit cocky, but he's not a bad guy, bet Alex is fuming if Nate saw you in your bra..' Max tried to talk more, aware the longer he spoke about that insufferable jerk the less time Elise had to ask other questions, but Elise was onto him.

'Why was he there?' She demanded.

'Don't ask me, I didn't know he was,' Max shrugged, happy for once he didn't have to lie to her.

'Why doesn't he smell of a pack?' Elise managed to get her question out, but both her and Max sensed the brothers returning. Max's body stiffened and he turned back to the coffee machine, anxious to appear as if they hadn't been talking.

John and Ryan entered first, both still in wolf form, relaxed now it was clear there was no threat, but when they saw Elise they avoided eye contact and left promptly towards the lounge. Alex arrived a moment after, still naked, but somehow that didn't give him any vulnerability or shame the way most people felt when open to exposure. He casually picked up a towel by the door and wrapped it around himself. Weirdly he seemed at peace, not angry at Elise's attempt.

'Max leave us' Alex said, no need to raise his voice or dominate as Max was scurrying. For a man who would take on a pack solo and fearlessly, it always surprised Elise how much he respected and cowed at Alex. 'Okay, we need to talk.' He looked directly at Elise as he spoke, his grey eyes connected with hers with no hesitation. 'You have questions.' It was a statement rather than a query. 'I won't tell you everything, but you are old enough for some answers at least, and we definitely need to stop you putting yourself at risk. I know that sometimes you hate us and I'm sorry, and I won't tell you everything, but I will give you some information, even if it's just to stop you from being so pig headed. So go ahead, ask away.'

Elise paused, having waited so long this felt like a trap, like one wrong move and she would be more emprisoned as before. For the first time she felt afraid, like maybe the answers could be worse than the questions. She hesitated, trying to plan what order to ask questions aware that one wrong word could shut off this gate that had suddenly opened.

'Who is Nate, he doesn't smell of a clan? He has no scent, just like us.' She started soft, thinking strategically that the more information she had the more prepared she would be.

'Nate is related to us, distantly I believe, but he is family and trustworthy.' Elise reeled even at what she thought was a soft question. She had grown up assuming that it was just them, that there was no family out there, what family even was her family.

'Why is he here?' She asked, searching her brothers blank grey eyes for any clues, but as normal he was emotionless.

'He's helping me out. That's all I can say.'

'If Nate's family, who is our family? What's our name?' Elise focused on keeping her voice calm, slowing her impatience and trying to hide her anxiety, despite knowing Alex could see through all of them without using words.

'You know better than to ask that,' Alex's lips curled slightly, a mild snarl warning Elise not to push her luck.

'Why am I a prisoner here?' Elise decided she had danced enough and needed to go for the jugular.

Alex sighed and looked at her, but instead of answering he asked a question of his own.

'What do you remember about our parents?'