“What is it Bro” Liam asked gently.
“My mate belongs to the Blue family! She is a daughter of hunters!” Elijah threw the bomb right at them so the blast was inevitable.
“WHAT!” Both of them screamed loudly.
“The hunters who attacked me last night; three of them were her uncles” He attacked once more and their minds were completely blown now.
“WHAT THE HELL DUDE! How can a werewolf be related to a hunter? Was she adopted?” Layla asked hoping for some reasonable scenarios.
“Nope, I think her mother is a werewolf but her dad is a hunter” Elijah replied muddling their heads with uncalled information.
“But the hunters…” Layla started but was cut in the middle by an irritated Elijah.
“Enough of the hunters’ talk, please! Here, I am scared that my mate hasn’t changed till now and the shifting is already painful to death. I don’t know how will she live through the pain of shifting so late!” Elijah said sitting down on sofa while holding his head in his hand.
Layla and Liam exchanged worried glances. Liam sighed and put a comforting hand on Elijah’s shoulder.
“You are right, bro. Shifting itself is painful. There are talks that some people have even died during the first shift. Now, especially shifting this late will be like a curse from hell” Liam said sadly and Layla looked at him with widened eyes.
‘You were supposed to say something comforting YOU IDIOT! Who says something so depressing to an already depressed person? Do you have a death wish?’ Layla gave Liam a death stare but he pretended to ignore it but the heat of her stare was obvious making him sweat on the spot.
“Then how am I supposed to help her? I don’t want her to go through such intense pain but if she doesn’t shift before crossing 25, her inner wolf will die and she will not be a werewolf anymore” Elijah said sounding depressed for his delicate mate.
“Ahem ahem! Did you guys forget that I was a late bloomer too?” Layla said pointing both of her hands towards herself.
“Oh yes!” Both of them shouted and looked at her like she was a miracle baby. Elijah stood up from his place, and both of them moved towards her like she had the cure for all the solutions.
“Normally werewolf changes after they reach puberty, under 15 years but I changed when I was 20. Do you guys remember that?” She asked and both of them nodded like innocent kids, hanging on to her every word.
“Well, granted my case was slightly different. I was a natural late bloomer. Hence, when I met Liam, my mate, suddenly my wolf wanted to come out. Uncle Cole advised me to stay near my mate because it would help to ease the pain and it worked out just fine. So, I think you should do the same. You should stay close to her when she changes” Layla informed them proudly.
“Oh, now I remember why we adopted you” Elijah mocked her and Layla rolled her eyes at him.
“Okay, jokes apart. Coming back to Rose, she has been receiving wolfsbane her entire life and she is 23 now. I told her to stop drinking that bloody herbal tea her mother is giving her and she promised me too but…” Elijah hesitated to finish the statement.
“But?” Liam and Layla asked together.
“She is living in a hunter’s house and I can’t stay with her 24/7. Even if I receive the signal that she is changing or in pain, I am afraid that I might be too late and she will have to go through the deadly pain by herself for some time” Elijah said stressed about the situation.
“I think I have a solution for that too” Layla said and Elijah’s eyes lit up in hope.
“You do?” he asked in admiration.
“Why don’t you bring her here? Just like I came here” She said like it is the most obvious thing in the world.
“The situation is different, dear Layla. You were my uncle’s daughter and Liam is like my brother. Just one statement from my father was enough to convince your dad that Liam is the guy for you. But she is in a hunter’s house, our worst enemy” Elijah explained like he was talking to a 3-year-old.
“I have an idea, Elijah” Liam said this time.
“What is it, Liam?” Elijah questioned sounding exhausted. Afterall, he went through a deadly attack on his life just yesterday.
“We must kidnap her” Liam said in seriousness and Elijah wanted to kick them both out for their weird solutions.
“Another not-so-great idea as we have a traitor amongst us and they will be informed about it in no time. This will soil our plan, making us responsible for breaking the treaty, eventually leading to war” He explained making their face stressed.
“But this is inspiring me to take some serious measures to get her here” Elijah said and both of them looked at him with aspiration.
“Like what? Tell us then” Liam said waiting eagerly for the explanation.
“You already know that we are planning to give a warning to the hunters for their recent chaos” Elijah started and the couple nodded in agreement.
“What if I blackmail them to give me Rose in exchange for their lives? I mean they must have realized that they made a gravest mistake by attacking the future werewolf king. Why don’t I use this opportunity to protect my mate as well?” Elijah said and both of them looked at him in admiration and pride.
“Elijah, you are a genius” Layla said patting his back like a proud father.
“Yes, bro. Have you chosen a day for our little deadly visit” Liam asked with a smirk.
“Tomorrow” Elijah said confidently.
“Tomorrow?” Liam asked him.
“Dad and I already discussed this. Tomorrow is the funeral of the hunters that I attacked. I personally believe it would be the best time to show them their futile end if they don’t follow our orders or try to mess with us again” Elijah said with a wild smirk.
“Who isn’t following our orders again?” came Matt’s confused voice from the door which Cora left a little open when she left.
“The hunters” Liam replied plainly.
Stefan knocked on the already-opened door and Elijah gave him permission to enter, “Come in”
Stefan entered the room as well.
“Hunters? You started discussing hunters without me?” Matt said in a dramatic tone while keeping his hands to his chest, and Elijah and Liam took a deep sigh in disbelief.
“You were not there on time. It was all your fault!” Layla accused him of being late.
“You guys are hiding things from me. I never thought you would do this to me when we grew up. We were a trio, now you want to make a duo. This must be your plan!” Matt pointed an accusing finger at Liam.
“Stop being a drama queen! One Layla is enough” Liam said instigating Layla for no reason.
“Excuse me!” Layla glared at him.
“Oh God! Don’t start with another nonsense argument!” Elijah pleaded having enough drama for the day or maybe a lifetime.
“By the way, Stefan why were you eavesdropping?” Matt asked in a suspicious tone.
“I wasn’t. I came exactly ten seconds before you. I was about to knock when you patted my back and nearly scared me to death” Stafan explained sincerity obvious on his attractive face.
“Why were you scared then?” Matt questioned again.
“Because you startled me” Stefan answered a bit awkward by unnecessary allegations.
“That’s fine. No need to argue” Elijah said in his Alpha tone and then turned towards Stefan.
“Did you complete the work allotted to you?” Elijah asked him and Stefan nodded respectfully.
“Yes, Alpha. Everything is done just as you asked” Stefan replied.
“You may leave now” Elijah dismissed him.
“As you command, my Alpha” he bowed respectfully and left the room.
“Was that guy really eavesdropping?” Layla asked in a confused tone.
“I don’t think so. He is Beta Samuel’s son. He can’t do such a thing” Liam said trusting his instinct and Stefan’s loyalty.
“But he is also Sofiya’s brother” Matt added giving them a knowing look.
“Urghhh! That wench…” Layla groaned in annoyance.
“The Dawn family has always been loyal to us. Let’s not point fingers without solid proof, it will create havoc for no reason” Elijah said giving a pointed look to Mark who bowed his head in submission.
“Understood, Alpha” he said still bowing his head.
“But we must also keep a close eye on everyone. You don’t know what is someone hiding beneath their innocent smile” Elijah spoke giving everyone a silent command.
“But Elijah..” Liam tried to speak but Elijah’s one look made him shut his mouth.
“Anyways, what is the plan that you all were discussing without me?” Matt said folding his hand to his chest.
“Well, we are going to pick up our future Queen tomorrow” Liam said giddily.
“You found your mate? and you didn’t tell me?” Matt was surprised and disappointed at the same time.
“You were busy..” Elijah said plainly.
“With the work you gave me” Matt completed his statement with accusation.
“Also, we are going for a little visit at the Blue House too” Liam added not giving out the complete information without his Alpha’s approval.
“And teach them not to cross the line again? I like the sound of it” Matt finished the statement again with satisfaction.
“Music to my ears” Layla said in amusement.
Suddenly, the smile on Matt’s face disappeared which didn’t go unnoticed by anyone.
“But Alpha I heard that two of the hunters you attacked have passed away” Matt said and Elijah’s face turned white.
“What are you trying to convey?” Liam asked in confusion.
“I am just saying that it might happen that you just unleashed the curse upon you”