Chapter 8

• ELIZA
• My nerves were fraying as I hovered near the open door.
• Is everything alright? Why is Ethan taking so long?
• I couldn’t take the suspense any longer and poked my head inside to get a glimpse. Just then, Ethan came back.
• "It’s empty," he said, meeting my frightened eyes. "Whoever did this is gone now."
• My breath hitched, and my hands trembled as the shock of it all hit me.
• Ethan crossed the room in an instant, wrapping me in his arms. "Hey," he murmured, "you’re okay. I’ve got you."
• We got inside, locking the door behind us, and sat on the couch in the living room. Everything was ransacked. It looked like whoever did this was searching for something.
• For a moment, I clung to him, my fear giving way to the warmth of his touch. But then, as if struck by a sudden thought, I pulled away abruptly.
• "Eliza?" Ethan called after me.
• I ran to the small room that housed my prized teddy bear collection. Ignoring the mess around me, I shoved a heavy trunk away from the wall, revealing a hidden safe. Relief washed over me when I saw it was untouched.
• Ethan appeared in the doorway, his brow furrowed in confusion. "What’s going on? Why did you run off like that?"
• I hesitated, biting my lip as I debated whether to tell him. I didn’t know if he was worthy of my trust, but I had no choice. Since the day I met him, my life turned in a way I couldn’t explain.
• And he was the only person who appeared in front of me, telling me I could hang on to him.
• Turning the dial on the safe, I opened it with a soft click.
• ETHAN
• Eliza knelt beside the open safe, pulling out a small silver box.
• "I think this is what they were after," she said softly, her voice tinged with both anger and sadness. "I can’t imagine what else they would’ve wanted."
• I crouched beside her, my gaze fixed on the box. "What is it?"
• She cradled it in her hands for a moment, then placed it gently on the floor. "I’ve had this since childhood," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
• I watched as she reached for the delicate chain around her neck, pulling out a small key. She inserted it into the box’s lock, the click echoing in the quiet room. Slowly, she lifted the lid.
• Inside, nestled against a velvet lining, was a breathtaking necklace. It was a long, thick silver chain holding a tiger-shaped pendant.
• I couldn’t tear my eyes away. "That’s incredible," I murmured.
• Eliza nodded. "It was my father’s. He gave it to me when I turned thirteen. He asked me to protect it with my life. He warned me about people who were after this necklace.”
• I stood, extending my hand to her. "Eliza, grab some clothes and bring the box. You’re coming with me."
• She blinked up at me, hesitating. "Are you sure? I don’t want to impose…"
• "You’re not imposing," I said firmly, my lips curling into a smile. "I want you safe. And this way, I can make sure of it."
• Eliza nodded slowly, then moved to her bedroom to pack.
• As she disappeared into the next room, I pulled out my phone and dialed Landon.
• It rang a few times before Landon’s voice came on. "Alpha, what’s up?"
• "Get a cleanup team over to Eliza’s house," I commanded.
• "Clean up team? What happened?"
• "The place was ransacked," I replied, "Send an investigation team too. I want prints, anything they can find."
• "Got it," Landon said. "How’s Eliza holding up?"
• "She’s shaken, but she’ll be fine. I’m bringing her back with me. She can’t stay here."
• "Where’s she staying?"
• "At the pack house," I simply replied.
• There was a pause before Landon spoke again, "Of course. See you soon, Alpha."
• I ended the call and slipped my phone into my pocket, then headed toward Eliza’s room. She needed protection, and now, she was under mine.
• She sat on the edge of her bed, staring blankly ahead as if lost in another world. Her hands rested on her lap, motionless, and her face held a strange expression.
• "Eliza?" I called, stepping close to her.
• She didn’t react. Her gaze was fixed on something I couldn’t see.
• "Eliza!" I tried again, my voice sharper this time. It felt like she was deliberately ignoring me.
• But I knew she wasn’t ignoring me…she was somewhere else.
• ELIZA
• “Ellie, can you hear me?”
• A voice pierced through my brain. It was like someone was talking to me, but in my mind. But this wasn't natural or ordinary. It made me jump in fear.
• “Who’s there?” I glanced around the room, asking in a faint whisper.
• “Ellie!” the voice came in my head again, “Please respond!”
• Was this actually happening? Was someone really talking to me through my mind?
• “Hello? Who’s this?” I tried to connect with that person through my mind.
• “Andrew…” the voice said, “It’s Andrew…your brother!”
• My brother? I didn’t know I had a brother.
• “Ellie, I need your help,” he spoke to me, “I’m being held in an abandoned factory... somewhere by the river. I need your help.”
• Her heart clenched. “What’s happening to me?”
• “Ellie, they’ve had me here for days. They’ve been whipping me nonstop, Ellie. I don’t know how much longer I can hold on,” his anguish seeped into my mind.
• Ethan’s voice broke into my thoughts, "Eliza!"
• “Are they still hurting you now?” Ignoring Ethan, I focused on my connection with my brother, I never knew I had.
• “No. They’ve locked me in the cellar and left. I don’t know how long they’ll be gone.”
• “Don’t worry, Andrew. Just hold on there. I’ll figure out how to help you.”
• I blinked rapidly, my mind returning to the present as Ethan stood in front of me. I could see the worry on his face.
• "Eliza, you alright?"
• "I’m sorry," I said quickly, "I think I was…I was somehow communicating with my brother." I hesitated.
• Ethan frowned. "What? Communicating how?"
• “I…I don’t know…” I tried to explain, “Through my mind I think…”
• “Your brother Andrew?”
• My heart clenched in my throat. How does Ethan know about my brother? I didn’t even know I had a brother…
• “How do you…”
• “Eliza, I need to know what he was saying?”
• “He’s been captured and tortured. He’s being held in some factory near the river."
• Ethan’s expression shifted. "Tortured?"
• "I think he’s in bad shape, Ethan. He told me they’ve been whipping him, and I could feel his pain. If this is not just my fantasy, we have to help him, but I don’t even know where to start."
• Ethan placed a firm hand on my shoulder. "First, we need to get you out of here and somewhere safe. Is everything packed?"
• I nodded, biting my lip.
• "Good," he said, grabbing my bags and heading for the door.
• As he packed the vehicle, I grew increasingly frantic. I could feel my brother’s pain reverberating through my body like an echo.
• "Ethan," I pleaded, "will you help me find him?"
• He met my desperate gaze, "I’ll help you. I promise. But first, we’re heading back to my place. We need a plan before we make any moves. Okay?"