CHAPTER 28
Elijah sighed, running the back of his hand across the day-old stubble on his face. “I believe you should be reminded of some of the things Ema has done for and around Amelia since she came to live with us; things that have a rather different hue given the current events. ”
Tightness crept into Bruce’s jaw but he gestured Elijah on to carry on with the conversation.
‘Let’s go with the full moon gathering that was held three months ago” Elijah proposed. There was a statement that Ema ’accidentally’ knocked Amelia into the bonfire Having such poor reflexes, if Amelia’s reflexes were not as powerful as they are now, she could be injured.
“It was an accident,” Bruce defended but he said the words weakly.
Elijah raised an eyebrow. “Was it? And what about the time that Ema took a small group of younger members on an unsanctioned hunt into the territory of the neighboring pack that we almost precipitated a war over that reckless act of hers? ”
Bruce fiddled with the arms resting uncomfortably. She said that she became confused and did not know which way to go – got lost or as she put it she got bewildered and disoriented.
“And you believed her?” Elijah asked with surprise, with the sweet lie that quietly discredits the woman’s honor and integrity ringing in his ears. Bruce, Ema has been living in that forest since she was a child so she knows everything that is around her; she cannot simply get ‘lost’.
When Elijah went on with the incidents – the failures of training sabotage, the lost documents that were planted, and gossiped about the rumors that discredited Amelia’s position, Bruce could not help but feel an increasing discomfort. Thus, each event, singly, could be accounted for, and and could be given a rationalization. However, in combination with the results obtained from the other instruments, it presented a rather concerning image.
‘And let’s not forget,’ Elijah said his voice low and deadly serious, ‘the night the new moon was spotted last month when Amelia was attacked while on her way from the Elders’.
Bruce’s head jerked up and the stony glare gave way to sheer rage. “This, Elijah, I want to know what you are implying, as for Ema she had nothing to do with that attack. ”
Elijah raised his hands like a shield so that he could protect himself from their aggression. I’m not saying she did. But, you cannot deny This is fishy, given Ema was on watch duty that night On board, tasked with the patrol of the very area Where Amelia was attacked. Yet, she saw nothing, heard nothing, Smelled no strange intruder.
Bruce quickly got up from his chair and started to walk aimlessly within the small office space. This, to use the least of words, is crude circumstantial evidence. I have interpreted Ema as the typical conspiracy theorist who is always planning how to get the better of you.
Elijah spoke with indifference, “I never said that is what she is. ” “You are suggesting, that it may be so; We also need to consider the fact, that Ema may not mean it when she is saying she has changed, knowing that Ema knew the truth about me and threatened to reveal our secret, among others. ”
This was too crucial, Bruce ceased walking around and put his hands on the chair he had dragged. ‘‘Well, Elijah, what am I supposed to do for you? Fire her? Fed her to the wolves you may say?’’
Elijah gave a headshake. “No, of course not, Bruce, but to you I say, be very careful, paranoid even, and if you decide to keep her around, test her loyalty from time to time irrespectively of the outcome. ”
The concepts expressed in the mouth of Bruce were the following: ‘You are talking about setting her up,’ it was said disgustingly.
Elijah fired back, “I am speaking of this Pack here,” rising to his feet against his Alpha. Regarding defending Amelia. Is this not that which we are directed to do mostly? "
The two men looked at each other for what seemed like a very long time and there was tension in the air. Bruce sighed and also felt his shoulders relax a little. “Yes you are right,” he agreed. ‘I will not say that we are being tricked; it is possible,’ I snapped back at him ‘But where does it end, Elijah, if we start turning a blind eye and acting like the ones in our Pack are potential enemies?’
Elijah’s look smoothed out on his face, though some traces of worry still lingered in his eyes. “When the war that Amelia has prophesied arrives, it is us who remain alive. In the face of all the future trials, our Pack is the one that remains alive and sometimes even flourishes at that. ”
Bruce nodded a little by little, drooped owlishly, and bear-like shoulders showed responsibilities. “More right. We will be observing Ema more keenly next time, but surreptitiously. If she is planning to harm us I don’t want her to discover what we are up to. “
"Certainly," Elijah replied. “I will do it by myself,” he said firmly, “You focus on preparing the Pack for what is coming,” And Bruce? He placed his hand momentarily on his Alpha’s shoulder. "Avoid lowering your defenses. No; Even in my mind I did not spare him for even a second.
Bruce was overwhelmed with countless mixed emotions and thoughts as he walked out of Elijah’s office. He had always derived a lot of satisfaction in being able to look at the brighter side of things and to be able to lead using authority but more so gentleness. But now, that very trait appeared as a weakness that could be bandied, a loophole in him that could be taken advantage of.
Even at this hour, the Packhouse was still and most of its inhabitants asleep with some having retired to their rooms. Bruce on the other hand though he could be wrong sometimes, thought that every shadow posed a threat and the closed doors symbolized deceitfulness.
Bruce did not find a moment’s rest even after he slid back between the sheets beside Amelia who was usually the balm to his tortured thoughts. He was having trouble falling asleep as he stared at the ceiling, but one idea kept coming to him: He was having trouble falling asleep as he stared at the ceiling, but one idea kept coming to him:
Had he inadvertently led the enemy into their lair to try and negotiate for the war that he knew was to come?
Bruce could feel doubt sprouting in his chest as the night went on, stretching like a dark and twisted dream. The prize in this contest of loyalty and betrayal were higher than most people thought possible and the contest had commenced.
