Episode 14.

At The Living Room.

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Alpha Dean sat in the living room, tapping the couch with his hands, a worried expression clouding his face.

Alone in the parlor, he stared blankly ahead, his thoughts consumed by the day's long toil. Max had already retired to his room to freshen up.

Suddenly, Elisa burst into the room, her heart racing, hands folded, and breath ragged.

"Alpha, you sent for me?" she inquired, meeting Dean's gaze as he glanced up.

"Please summon Elena for me. I feel drained, and only her presence can lift my spirits," he requested, a hint of desperation in his voice. Elisa's breath caught in her throat, unsure how to break the news that Elena was absent.

"I've been having a string of rough days. Nothing seems to go right. Please, bring her to me," Dean continued, his eyes fixed on the floor, hands on his head.

Noticing Elisa's hesitation, he peered at her intently, his brow furrowed in confusion. She fidgeted nervously, her fingers dancing as if tracing invisible patterns.

"Is everything alright?" Dean inquired softly, sensing her distress.

"I... I..." Elisa stuttered, her body trembling, but she managed to steady herself as Dean patiently awaited her response.

Sitting upright, Dean folded his arms, fixing Elisa with a piercing gaze. He sensed that Elena's absence was more than a mere coincidence, causing Elisa's distress.

Regretfully, Elisa whispered, "I regret to inform you that Elena is not here," her voice barely audible, her eyes locked with Alpha Dean's, her heart racing.

Perplexed, Dean inquired, "What do you mean she's not here?" Hoping to avoid the worst-case scenario of Elena fleeing, the reason Elisa had been tasked with vigilance over her.

Elisa began, "She left a few minutes ago..." but Dean cut her off abruptly.

"She left without you!!!" Dean roared, rising to his feet, pointing a condemning finger at Elisa.

Elisa recoiled in fear, realizing the gravity of her mistake. Disobeying Alpha Dean carried severe consequences, and she braced herself for the repercussions. Disobeying Alpha Dean was a grave offense with dire consequences.

"I was on an errand for Athena and returned to find she had already departed," Elisa murmured, edging back cautiously to maintain a safe distance from Alpha Dean. Proximity to him was perilous; his anger had led to fatal consequences before.

"So, she left unaccompanied!" Dean exclaimed, his voice rising, hope mingling with disbelief, mouth agape in shock.

"I believe she went out with Athena," Elisa tentatively suggested, though uncertainty lingered, aware that if Elena wasn't with Athena, it could spell further trouble.

Dean's fury ebbed at this notion, a brief pause as he regarded Elisa thoughtfully, his hand slowly lowering. Elisa, relieved at his subdued reaction, breathed easier, surprised by Dean's uncharacteristic calm.

"Did she go with Athena, or is that just speculation?" Dean probed, prompting Elisa to speak up, though the words caught in her throat.

"Yes, she accompanied Athena. I was sent on an errand by Athena and upon my return, they were both gone. She must have left with her, I am certain of this," Elisa affirmed.

"I care not for how she left. I only hope your words ring true, or you'll face the consequences!" Dean's voice boomed, before he settled back onto the couch. Elisa exhaled, eager to leave the room.

"Wait! my shoes! remove and take them to Minerva for cleaning," Dean commanded, and Elisa swiftly complied before making her exit.

Now Elisa could clearly see that Dean truly loved Elena and desired a peaceful life with her.

It's heartbreaking to see him so tormented now. How can he find peace of mind after all the terrible things he has done in the past? It's unfortunate that his past actions are now impacting his family as well.

Just a few days ago, he lost a lucrative company due to his reluctance to use his power for personal gain, a path he could have easily taken. The recent frustration stemming from an outing with Max remains a mystery to those around him, and now he seeks comfort in Elena.

It must be incredibly challenging for him to transition from a ruthless Alpha role he held for many years.

So Elisa did realizes she could have ended up in the hospital or worse, considering Dean's past actions towards others in his pack.


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At The Kitchen.

Elisa was in the midst of preparing dinner when her thoughts were consumed by Elena's sudden disappearance. Everyone in the pack claimed they hadn't seen her leave, leaving Elisa uneasy.

How could Elena vanish from a pack teeming with members without anyone noticing? Did she sneak away? Elisa couldn't fathom it. She knew Elena well enough to believe she wouldn't leave without a good reason, unless someone had persuaded her.

"You're still so worried about this?" a voice interrupted her while she leaned against the wall lost in thought.

Startled, she looked up to find Jared standing beside her.

"I thought you said she went out with Athena?" Jared inquired, and Elena nodded, her gaze dropping to the floor as she absentmindedly scratched her eyelids.

"Yeah, I did, but you wouldn't understand. I'm not entirely sure. I mean, I didn't actually see her leave with Athena, but I can't help but think about it," Elisa replied, nervously swallowing and folding her hands.

Jared then took a step closer, glancing at her before turning his attention to the pot of food she was cooking. The aroma wafted towards him, enticing his senses as he approached it.

"So, what are you trying to say? Are you suggesting that she didn't actually go out with Athena?" he asked, but Elisa remained silent, nervously licking her lips.

"You've made a serious mistake by lying to the Alpha. He won't take it lightly. What are you going to do now?" Jared questioned, placing his hands behind his back.

"I don't know. It all feels like a setup to me, like it was planned," Elisa said, causing Jared to look at her with a surprised expression.

"A setup? What do you mean?" he probed.

"Athena... she hasn't been happy since Elena joined this pack," Elisa explained, leaving Jared to smile knowingly and shrug in response.

"What are you talking about? They've always been happy together. I've seen them talking. Athena and Elisa have become like friends," Jared said.

"Come on, Jared, what are you saying?" Elisa asked as she approached him, placing her hands on his shoulders.

"She's only pretending. Don't act like you don't know her. She has blinded all of you. Today, she sent me on an errand, and when I returned, I couldn't find her or Elena. There's something fishy about that," Elisa whispered, leaving Jared looking at her intently, scanning the surroundings to check if anyone else was listening.

"So, you're saying Athena was going to harm Elena?" Jared asked, and Elisa nodded. Jared took a step back, shaking his head.

"Elena, you have to be careful about what you say here. If you value your life, I know Athena is ambitious, but you have to turn a blind eye," Jared said, shrugging. Elisa gazed at him silently, and Jared returned his attention to the pot of food. Elisa's thoughts drifted back to what she was cooking.

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At The Casino Club.


The casino reverberated with the chatter of the crowd, accompanied by the clinking of glasses. Elena had reached her limit. She had a good time, but the urge to head home had crept in. Despite playing and winning a few games, she felt ready to call it a night.

"Athena, it's time to leave. The Alpha might already be back. Let's go," she suggested to Athena, who stood beside her, flashing a smile.

Athena had attempted to get Elena to drink more, intrigued by Elena's resistance to intoxication. Although Elena had consumed quite a bit, she insisted it was her first time drinking beer. Unbeknownst to Elena, Athena had a backup plan.

"Just one more drink before we go!" Athena urged, extending another cup to her.

"No more for me. I've had enough. We really should leave now," Elena insisted, scanning the room. Athena frowned slightly at Elena's refusal but quickly composed herself with a forced smile when Elena turned to look at her.

"Come on, just this last one, and we'll head out!" Athena persisted, finishing her drink before placing Elena's cup in front of her.

"You're the one delaying us now!" Athena teased, gesturing towards the wine. Elena took the cup and downed its contents in one swift motion.

"Let's go," she announced. Athena clapped and beamed at her. Suddenly, everything around Elena seemed to slow down, the sounds fading into silence. Athena's smile appeared overly cheerful, and the clapping seemed exaggerated.

Before she could comprehend what was happening, Elena felt herself losing consciousness, collapsing onto the table.