HIS SCENT IS A MOON LIT LIE

Chapter Fifty Three

Elara's POV

Gabriel was so lost in his thoughts to the point that it scared me. What was he thinking about? How to attack Adrian next? Or his next plan to attack Jordan?

I had to clear my throat loudly, snapping him out of whatever dark thoughts he was in.

Gabriel Cross jolted slightly, he adjusted his posture and smiled, widely and mischievously.

Mum noticed it and asked. "Gabriel, everything okay with you?" She asked.

He chuckled. "Never been better." The way he said it, slow and deliberate, it made my stomach twist in anxiety.

That smile on his face was less of reassurance and more of a warning.

Without another word, he handed me my laptop. I did not say anything.

Turning around and attempting to walk away, Gabriel's next words caused me to freeze.

"Elara." He started in a light tone. "Stay away from lycanthropy searches. You might end up seeing things you can not handle."

I met his gaze, confidently. "Do not worry about that, I have seen plenty already."

With that, I walked out of his office.

My friends were already seated in maths class so I joined them at the back.

Mrs Varda, our maths teacher was not in school yet so the class was filled with chattering noises.

I was in the middle of Ethan and Maya.

"Hey, why was your mum escorting you into the hallways. Look, I get that your bond with her has gotten deeper but escorting you to the hallways is a bit too far. Our classmates keep laughing about it." Maya chuckled. I shot dagger glares at her and that was enough to fade the smile off her face.

"She said she had to see her dear best friend, Gabriel Cross plus I do not really care what our classmates think Maya, they always have something to talk about anyways." I mumbled.

"Your mum must be really close with Gabriel Cross, they seem inseparable. That is pretty cool." Ethan said.

Not cool when it feels like they are in a secret cult.

Speaking of Gabriel Cross, I thought to fill them in.

"I think Gabriel Cross is behind the attack at Jordan's house." My voice was low, barely above a whisper.

"Wait, what?" Ethan blinked in surprise. "Why would he go after Jordan and how do you even know that?"

I shrugged. "It is a long story but I am going to find out why he is after Jordan."

Maya leaned in closer, the tone of her voice matching mine, low. "How do you plan to do that?"

My eyes roamed around the class to make sure no one was eavesdropping on our conversation. "I am going to follow him after school." My voice was firm.

Maya flashed me a look of apology mixed with disappointment, I had to ask. "Hey, is everything okay?"

" I would have loved to tag along Elara but uncle Fred is still pissed. He has basically grounded me. I have to report to the station right after school."

Guilt hit me instantly. "I am so sorry Maya, this is all my fault."

She waved it off with a big smile. Typical Maya, even if she was feeling down, she would do her best to mask it with a smile. "No, it is not. We made choices and now we just have to deal with them."

Ethan, on the other hand looked amused and I had the feeling he was about to protest.

In one...

Two....

"You seriously want to follow Gabriel Cross? Elara, that is reckless. If Jordan really thinks Gabriel was behind the attack, why not just report to the cops then?"

Rolling my eyes at Ethan's overprotectiveness, a brief sigh escaped from my lips. "Because there is no actual proof, Ethan. There is no footage, no witnesses, there is barely even evidence that an attack happened. Everything was cleaned up, who the hell would believe him?"

Ethan scoffed. "Then why do you believe him?"

"I overheard Gabriel Cross myself!"

"I am talking about the attack Elara." Ethan raised an eyebrow. "Are you really going to risk everything just because you trust Jordan? What if this is all some elaborate lie? What if he is playing you?"

I stared at him, slightly offended by his choice of words. "Why would Jordan lie to me? He has never given me a reason not to trust him."

"Guys." Maya mumbled, trying to calm us down but Ethan did not back down, instead he fired back with a question of his own, his voice sharp.

"Okay then, tell me this. Let us say the attack did happen, Do you really think your mum would be friends with a guy like Gabriel Cross which according to you is some unhinged psychopath obsessed with a random teenage boy's life?"

Gazing at Ethan, the urge to tell him the truth lingered. I wanted to tell him that Jordan was not just some "normal teenage boy" but instead, to avoid further arguments, I kept it simple. "Look, if you want to help, then help. If you do not want to, that is fine too."

Ethan sighed, he ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "I can not help even if I wanted to. The cops told my parents everything, now they are watching me like hawks. Plus, I have been missing shifts at work too, everything is sort of a mess for me right now."

I nodded slowly. "It is okay, I get it if you do not have the time, don't force it."

But as expected, Ethan did not stop there. "Elara, please do not follow Gabriel. It sounds dangerous, especially if you are going alone. Just think about that for a second --"

Before he could finish, my attention shifted to the classroom door that just opened wide.

Jordan walked in and the class echoed in whispers, probably talking about what happened at the hallways the last time, Jordan's arrest.

Ethan followed by gaze as Jordan's eyes met mine. He smiled at me and waved, just like that, I had my answer.

"Do not worry about me, I am not going alone." I said softly, turning back to Ethan.