Mated To My Cheating Ex's Alpha Uncle

Blood Stained Secrets

Elena’s POV:

"Yes," I whispered.

Leo took a deep breath and shook his head. “Elena, don’t be an idiot..."

"Keep quiet!” Caleb yelled without even looking back at Leo. Then he turned terrifyingly to look at him. The silence in the room grew heavy and suffocating.

"You snuck into her room," Caleb said.

“You harassed a worker on my estate. And worse, you lied straight to my face about knowing her earlier today."

"Uncle please," Leo pleaded, his voice cracking. "She is nobody. She is just an unshifted girl from school. She is not worth your time."

When those words left Leo's mouth, my heart sank. The secret was fully out now, with no way left to hide it.

Caleb went completely still. The dangerous anger in his eyes shifted into something dark, cold, and calculating. He turned his head back to look at me, his gaze searching my face with sharp clarity.

"You went to Moon Shadow Academy," Caleb stated. It was not a question; it was affirmative.

"My throat felt like sandpaper. I stared right down at my boots, waiting for the twist of disgust on his face, waiting for him to spit out the word ghost or failure just like the rest of them did."

"Yes," I answered softly, staring at the floor. "I went there. And Leo particularly made my life a living hell." I said already tearing up.

Caleb didn’t yell. He didn’t look at me with pity. Instead, a low firm growl built deep inside Caleb's chest, the sound of an alpha whose toes have been stepped on.

Before Leo could take another step toward the door, Caleb dashed across the room, grabbed Leo by his shirt once more, and pulled him right out into the dark hall, slamming him hard against the stone wall outside.

I stood there in the middle of my bedroom, trying so hard to eavesdrop on the situation.

But I was more relieved that everything was finally out in the open. No more hiding. No more pretending I was just a random maid with no past. Caleb knew I came from the academy, and he knew what kind of monster his nephew truly was.

The old woman ran off down the hall.

Leo let out a crazy laugh against the stone wall. He looked past his uncle and glared at me.

"You think Uncle Caleb cares about you?" Leo yelled. "Ask him about the last girl in this room! Ask why she vanished!" Leo hit the stone wall with a loud thud. The sound bounced down the dark hall.

I rushed out into the hall pulling my coat tight. My head still spun from the bad things Leo said about the missing girl. Across from me, Leo slumped down.

Caleb stood over him like a huge wall of muscle and pure anger. His hair was messy and His eyes glowed bright in the dim light.

"You lied to me," Caleb growled, giving me the goosebumps. You brought your pack fight to my home, then you proceed to hurt someone I protect."

"She is a nobody!" Leo yelled. He held his ribs. "Why do you care? She is weak."

Caleb slammed his fist into the wall right by Leo's head. The stone cracked, and dust fell on Leo.

"Call her that again," Caleb whispered, his voice shaking with pure rage. "And I will throw you out in the cold woods with no coat and no money. Do you understand?"

Leo swallowed hard. He nodded fast, too scared to speak.

"Get out of my sight," Caleb said, pointing to the stairs. "Pack your bags and leave before sunrise. If you ever come back, I will forget we are family."

Leo did not argue. He did not look at me. He got up fast and ran down the hall to pack his bags.

I stood by my door. I breathed hard. My head spun.

Then heavy steps walked back.

Caleb came down the hall. His anger no longer visible. He looked very tired. He stopped right in front of me and looked down into my face with his dark amber eyes.

"Are you good?" Caleb asked. His voice was soft and calm.

"I’m fine," I whispered. pulling my sleeves over my shaking hands. "I am sorry he came here. I did not mean to cause you any trouble."

"You are not trouble," Caleb said. He reached out and touched my shoulder. His hands were warm. A nice spark went through my skin.

"He hurt you at school," Caleb said looking deep into my eyes. "Is that why you ran away?"

I looked up at him. Tears burned my eyes, but I did not let them fall. I nodded slowly.

"They called me a ghost," I said softly. "And he made me think he cared. It was just a mean trick for my sister."

Caleb clenched his jaw. His hand held my shoulder tighter. He gave me the strength I needed.

"He is a fool," Caleb whispered. He stepped closer so his chest blocked the cold hall wind. "He is gone now. You never have to worry about him again."

"Thank you, Master Caleb," I whispered.

"Call me Caleb," he said. He looked right at me with his warm bright eyes. My heart raced inside my chest. "You are safe here, Elena. I promise you that."

I stood there in the quiet hall next to the big, strong man. The thick wall I built around my heart fell down. I knew I was starting to care a lot about him. He was the only man who could keep me safe or break my heart.

Caleb lifted his hand to move a piece of hair behind my ear.

Then he stopped.

He froze completely.

His eyes looked down at the wooden floor by my door. He pulled his hand back fast with a sharp breath.

I looked down too. Cut deep into the old wood under my small rug were letters. They were the initials of the missing girl Leo just yelled about.

And right beside it was a secret hole in the floor.

Caleb pulled up the loose board. Inside the dark hole was a leather book. It had dry, dark blood on it. I took a step closer. My breath stopped.

It was my sister's handwriting on the cover.