HIS SCENT IS A MOON LIT LIE

Chapter Thirty five

Elara's POV

It felt like time froze alongside every movement. Every voice, every single thing slowly faded into the background as my eyes caught the officer's firm grip on Jordan's arms.

Jordan's brows furrowed in confusion as he struggled to pull back slightly, refusing to be dragged like some criminal.

Gabriel Cross on the other hand stood besides them with his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.

He acted so cool like he was not watching someone's life being turned into chaos.

"What are you doing?" I finally gathered courage to ask. Stepping forward, my voice was shaky and my breathing was hitched but it did not matter to me.

Gabriel turned to face me, still looking as calm as ever. "Elara, I am going to need you to please stay out of this."

"No!" The words slipped out of my mouth hastily. "You can not just come around and accuse someone, have them arrested in the middle of school! What proof do you even have?"

Gabriel Cross remained silent and the officer took it as his turn to speak. "There was a report filed. A witness found Jordan at the scene of a break in near the woods. I am just following up."

I knew the officer was referring to my grandfather's case because his house was practically the only house by the edge of the woods.

"That is a lie!" My voice remained shaky, but this time so close to breaking. "Jordan would never do anything like that. All of this is a set up."

Jordan spoke this time, his voice rough and barely above a whisper. "Elara, it is okay. Let them do their job and I will be fine."

"Do not say it is okay, please." I was shaking my head and struggling to hold back the tears that threatened to fall from my eyes. "They think you broke into my grandfather's place."

The officer tightened his grip on Jordan's arms and began to lead him away.

Jordan casted one last glance at me, his gaze carried something heavy and unreadable.

Then he was gone, swallowed up by the crowd of whispers, stares, laughter and sirens. Everyone's attention suddenly on me.

My knees became week, I struggled to catch my breath, almost falling to the floor but thankfully Ethan and Maya got a grip of my arms.

"Elara, relax. He is going to be fine. They are not arresting him, maybe just a few interrogations."

"Elara, Ethan's right. It's okay, just breathe." Maya whispered softly, wrapping her arms around my shoulder.

I could not stop shaking, the tears were now rolling down my cheeks no matter how hard I bit my lip. "He did not do it!" I repeated over and over, as if saying it might make everything return back to normal.

Ethan stood beside me protectively, he practically shot death glares at everyone who tried to get to me. "They did not even read him his rights properly." He muttered. "That was not normal at all."

I expected Maya to contribute but she froze. Following her gaze, Uncle Fred stood at the end of the hallway, barking orders to the rest of the officers.

Maya turned to me. "Hey, we could ask uncle Fred what happened."

Without wasting another second, snatching Maya's wrist, we rushed down the hallways, maneuvering through the crowd of students still murmuring about what had just happened.

"Uncle Fred!" I called out, forcing him to look in our direction.

His expression tightened when he saw us. "Elara, Maya." He greeted in a stern tone. "Shouldn't you two be heading to class?"

"Uncle Fred. That boy who was dragged out of the school is innocent. Jordan is innocent." I snapped, breathless.

Uncle Fred raised a brow at me. "How do you know this kid?"

"He is my boyfriend." The lie slipped from my mouth but I knew that was the only way uncle Fred would take me seriously.

His eyes widened slightly and he turned to Maya for confirmation. "Boyfriend?"

Maya hesitated, then shrugged. "Well, yeah. He is our friend, we know him and he would not do something like this."

Uncle Fred sighed, he ran a hand through his hair. "Look, I understand that this is upsetting for you both but your mum called us, Elara. She was the one who made the report to the police. She found something of Jordan at your grandfather's house and that could make him a possible lead."

My face fell. Mum?

"She what?" My whisper was laced with betrayal and the words barely made it out of my mouth.

"Look girls. I can only promise to look after your friend but I can not share anymore confidential details."

Before either of us could even respond, he adjusted the collar of his coat and disappeared down the hallways.

My hands curled into fists. The feeling of betrayed stung, it felt like I had been punched in the face by her.

How could she have sent the police after Jordan without at least talking to me?

With a racing heart, my next action was to storm back to my locker. Slinging my backpack over my shoulder, I ignored Maya's worried expression.

"Elara, wait." Ethan called, eventually catching up. "Just calm down. What are you going to do?"

"i am going to make her regret making a fool out of me."

"At least do that after school."

The fire in my chest was spreading, ignited by fear, betrayal and even anxiety.

"You want me to spend another minute in this hallways? Knowing my friend is being accused of something he did not do?"

Maya reached out. "Just try to think it through---"

"Both of you! Stay out of this!" My words slipped out harsher than I meant to. Their expressions faltered as they slowly took steps backward.

My attempt to walk away was paused when I sensed a familiar presence in the hallways.

Snapping my head up, my eyes locked gaze with the one person who was probably looked forward to Jordan's downfall.

It was Adrian.

Standing by the end of the hallways with a smirk plastered on his face.

Maybe he knew something and i was willing to force it out of the enemy's mouth.