CHAPTER 52

The next days had become a kind of a torture for both Bruce and Elijah as far as they were able to feel it. They mimed pack life, going to the meetings, solving quarrels and fights, all the time knowing that Amelia was missing. 

 

 Bruce continued to act in front of Ema as if nothing is wrong and played his role as the Alpha. He asked her how her night was, and, smiled at her at breakfast, talked about pack business, and planned their so-called wedding. But in those, a hurricane swirled. Being near Ema physical was torture; he knew she could have a role in Amelia’s disapperance. 

 

 Elijah on his part, engaged himself in the last touches on preparations for the meeting of the pack council. He organized the associates, willing everyone to be prepared for the fight which would occur soon. Though, each and every chance he found and stole, he was studying maps, making secret enquires and struggling to find out any clue related with Amelia’s disappearance. 

 

 Final preparations for the council day made it even more anxious for the pack house members. Thus, everyone could feel that an important event was on the horizon although few could ever imagine the scale of the future events. 

 

 Hearing that, Ema met secretly with some elders in the night before the counsel, discussion was focusing on their plan. 

 

 “Do you really want to do this?” Elijah questioned Bruce concerned with the back and forth of the motion Bruce was making. "Without Amelia. .. " 

 

 Bruce's jaw clenched. “We have no other way, we cannot wait any further as they are, if Ema is, in fact, behind Amelia’s kidnap, this could be our best shot to make her crack and speak the truth. ” 

 

 Answering in a nod, Elijah wondered about actual intentions of Trenten despite the friendly temperature of the conversation. Again, and if she is not? And if this is not despair, but something else? 

 

 “Then we confront Ema and continue the search,” Bruce said determinedly.

 

 Finally, with a final shake of their hands, Elijah could not help but get the feeling that they have not attained the final piece of information that they need. The circumstances under which the girl had been lost in the woods continue to haunt him. It was quiet, almost sterile, too well-kempt. Today there is no sign, no track, nothing that connects one place to another. 



Late that night while he was lying in bed looking at the ceiling, an idea occurred to him. What if. .. He could hardly imagine it what if Amelia hadn’t been taken at all? Putting it to their minds what will happen if the cloaking spell has emitted an unusual blunder? 

 

 Morgana's warning echoed in his mind: ‘The price for such magic is high. It will be collected; and when that time arrives, one must be ready to offset the amount. ’ 

 

 Could this be what she wanted, meant, intended or suggested? Had the spell not been one that not only concealed Amelia from any magical form of detection, but reality itself? 

 

 The idea just crossed their mind and the mere thinking of that was unbearable for them. Elijah dismissed it, and tried to concentrate on the imminent battle. Next, they would approach Ema on the issue since she was the team lead. Then, having securing the pack, they would have the manpower, money and efforts to focus on the search for Amelia. 

 

 It was morning of the next day, the day of the pack council stated brightly and without any clouds. The pack house was still again filled with tension as people assembled in the great hall. Bruce being Alpha was standing by the head of the class, a look of tranquility on his face. Elijah close to him, noticed that their Alpha was still tense, furious and or angry with whoever dared cross their path. 

 

 Ema entered the room confidently and she looked quite fabulous putting on a body hugging dress while holding her head up high. She stood beside him, Bruce, well aware of the victory satisfied look painted on her face. To the untrained eye, if she felt the hostile tone that had been growing in the room she did not show it. 

 

 When the council started Bruce mustered himself and spoke. His tone was deep, and loud and filled the air. ‘’My fellow pack members, I had to gather you all to discuss a very serious issue. As you all can see, our pack has been betrayed by someone who wants to see us weak and vulnerable. ’’ 

 

 Hush stole over the crowd. This option made Ema hesitate and her normally beaming face became less confident. 

 

 Bruce went on speaking keeping his eyes wandering in the room. “For months, we have been toyed with, despised with and most of all threatened. But today we take it back- our pack our pride and our destiny. ” 

 

 Recalling Elijah’s words, Bruce described all the manipulations that Ema had pulled off. He produced records of affairs with other packs, threatening the lives of pack members, and exerting plan to overthrow the pack. 




 While speaking, he paid much attention to the looks of Ema. She lost her calmness and looked around nervously acknowledging the fact that she was trapped. But there was something else in her eyes that were towarding off–something that was not quite normal. Fear and anger, sure… but… confusion? 

 

 That was it Bruce had said and the moment he finished there was complete anarchy in the hall. Guys in a pack shouted, screamed, and demanded to know why. Ema fumed and stood with her mouth opened wide. 

 

 One of the Elders who's name was Murphy screamed, ‘These are lies!’ he had pointed towards Bruce ‘I admire your bravery, Bruce,’ she continued softly ‘but your courage is futile,’ She laughed. ”He is the one! A traitor that wanted nothing more than to betray the pack’s order to have a filthy hybrid!” 

 

 But she could not manage to change his opinion or decision; he did not pay any attention to her complaints. It was simply overwhelming when the evidence was put on the table and those that took the stand had their credible stories to tell. Ema looked into Elijah’s eyes again as pack enforcers advanced to immobilize her. And then he looked at something and felt something cold and icy in his veins. 

 

 Genuine bewilderment. 

 

 Thus as Ema was carted off screaming and claiming that she hadn’t committed the crime, Elijah began to think. Something wasn't right. Ema's reaction. .. But what it was – was not what he had in mind. She appeared to be surprised by the allegations and really had no idea about some of the proofs against her. 

 

 Elijah quietly left the hall and joined his small team while Bruce was talking to the pack, calming them and informing about the measures he would take for making the pack more secure and preparing for an attack. He had to justify, to find the links that were churning somewhere at the back of his head. 

 

 After everything that had happened that day While Bruce was at home taking his study, Elijah strolled and his mind was filled with lots of thoughts. Again, going through the theoretical analysis of the film, one would consider Ema’s reaction, Amelia’s impossible disappearance, and how everything seemed to be too perfect. What were they missing? 

 

 When the speeches of the pack council were over and all the typical speaking of any pack animal was heard, a dreadful idea came to Elijah’s mind. What if they had been approaching this the completely wrong way? But what if it was not exterior the pack or from a rival pack but from something a lot more sinister? 

 

 Bruce is his friend, he should discuss such fear with him. But it was when he was turning out of the study that a feeling of nausea came upon him in a rush. He felt dizzy and light-headedness Gene Webb Some of the surroundings got so wavy that it appeared to be spinning around him.



 Bruce looked up to see that Elijah had tripped, had grabbed the edge of Bruce’s desk to balance himself. rubbing his eyes and attempting to open them wide, as he did the cold reality hit him in the face as he saw the window, his reflection in it. Just for a second, or probably less than that, he thought he saw his eyes turn red. 

 

 But then panic Left, and once again all became clear. Elijah rose to his feet and with furrowed brow shook himself, trying to rid his head of the looming fog. But he must be more exhaustion than he thought, stress from the past few days finally catching up on him. 

 

 When he headed out of the study to find Bruce, Elijah couldn’t help but getting the feeling that they were about to enter a new level of the game that would be far more dangerous than anything they had face so far. Ema was detained but her part was still unclear, Amelia was still missing and now. . . now Elijah was even doubting the things he was seeing. 

 

 Whatever was really going on, one thing was clear: although they did gain some relief from their previous struggles, their misfortunes were far from over. Instead, they might be just Begins.