Chapter Twenty Four
1009 Words
Jordan's POV
The atmosphere was tensed with questions yet none louder than Elara's. She shifted her gaze between the two corners of the house, a look of confusion grew on her face.
"Why is your mother here?" She whispered, her voice low but sharp.
Gulping a lump down my throat, i was too speechless to give an answer. My mind scrambled, searching for reasons but none made sense.
What could she possibly be doing here?
Elara adjusted her posture, eyes narrowing back and forth. "We should wait." She murmured.
Something felt different. Elara's mum rested on her car, legs crossed and arms folded. It seemed like she was waiting for something, or perhaps someone.
My thoughts were tangled, trying to make sense of what I had just sensed.
Shifting my gaze towards the direction where my mother was, the sound of footsteps drew closer. She slowly stepped forward, her presence evident, even in the shadows.
I opened my mouth to say something, to warn her, or at least do anything but Elara's hands reached for my arm, grabbing it firmly.
"Wait." She mumbled. "You can not just go out there."
"Why? If your mum sees my mum then things are going to get really awkward." I retorted. Just the thought of that made my skin crawl.
Elara shook her head in disagreement. "That sounds better than blowing our cover. If our parents see us, it is going to be worse than awkward so let us just wait and hope they do not cross paths at all."
She had a point. Clenching my fist tight, my heart raced extremely fast, unsure if it was fear or frustration crawling under my skin.
All of a sudden, my mum made a right turn away from the house and straight towards Elara's mum.
"What is she doing?" The words escaped from my mouth, my gaze changing into one of confusion.
This was not a coincidence. No way.
Triggering my wolf senses, it was easy to catch their voices drifting through the cold night.
"You are the neighbour next door.." Elara's mum trailed off, her tone mixed with caution and a hint of confusion.
"Yes." My mother replied sharply. "And you are the woman raising a girl who sneaks out at night." She blurted out.
I winced.
There was a pause, no sound but the gentle rustle of leaves.
"What are they talking about?" Elara raised a brow at me, she knew I could hear their conversation.
"Wait." Raising a hand at her, my attention shifted back to our mums when I saw Elara's mum move her mouth. "Excuse me? What are you even doing out here."
A sigh escaped from mum's lips, one of frustration. "I was looking for my son." She paused. "Who just happens to be hiding with your daughter."
Elara tensed beside me, I could feel the load of curiosity running through her. She badly wanted to know what was happening.
"What?" Her mother's voice rose in disbelief.
"They are nearby." Mum remained composed. "Call her name." She added reluctantly.
Shit!
Elara's mum hesitated. "You want me to---?"
Mum did not have to expose us like that. What was the point?
"Call her, call out her name." She pressed further.
I felt Elara stiffen, maybe their body language was enough clarity for her but she seemed to slowly understand what was going on.
"Elara." Her mother's voice rang out, firm and searching.
Elara's eyes widened and a small gasp of shock escaped from her lips. Her grip on my sleeve tightened and she shook her head, eyes pleading. I could hear the silent thought she was not saying. "Don't move."
"Elara." That was her mum's voice again.
No answer.
"Look, I do......"
There was no use pretending anymore. Flashing Elara an apologetic look and pushing her hands off my sleeve.
I stepped forward.
Our scents were too strong for my mother not to follow. I had been caught and it would be better to face it with a shred of dignity than be shamelessly dragged from the shadows.
Footsteps crunched behind me, Elara appeared reluctantly. Her gaze lowered and arms crossed.
Her mother's eyes locked onto her like she had just confirmed her worst suspicion, my mother on the other hand did not even spare me a glance.
"For goodness sake Elara! What are you doing out here? You are supposed to be in your room, I saw you go to your room, you even said goodnight!" Her mum cried out.
Elara tried to defend herself but her words fell flat. I wanted to defend her too but mum's death glare pierced right through me.
"Your daughter dragged my son out here for only heaven knows what reason." My mother crossed her arms, tone cutting like ice.
"No one dragged anyone out here. We were just hanging out." I spoke in a defensive tone.
"Hanging out? By this time of the day? In front of a crime scene?" Elara's mum pointed at her grandfather's house which now looked like a haunted house from a horror movie.
"Yeah well I could say the same about you." Elara sneered.
"In the car! Now!" Her mum shot back. Elara looked like she wanted to protest but at the same time, she realized how pointless it would be.
Stumping her foot against the hard ground, Elara stormed right into her mum's car, leaving me in the midst of two angry mums.
"Keep an eye on your child and I will do the same to mine." My mother went straight to the point. She snatched my wrist and pulled me away.
Breathing heavy through my nose, rage simmered beneath my skin as we walked towards the car. "Why did you do that?"
Her steps slowed, she turned slightly. "To protect you."
"From what?" My voice cracked with the question. "From her? From Elara?"
Mum halted in her steps, she lifted her hand and pointed.
Not at Elara.
At the house.
"From that Jordan." She said softly. "From what is coming for our kind."
"The hunters."
- Writer
