(AMARI'S POV)
"You have always carried misfortune with you, Amari. If someone has to pay for this mess, it should be you—not Rudina."
I hated that my lips trembled as I looked down at my hands. Hated that I agreed with her. Especially about the misfortune.
"Rudina can stay back. I don't want her in danger, either." I concluded.
Elara gave a firm nod and for a few seconds we stared at each other in silence.
"I trust you to bring my son back home." She said, her voice cracked and eyes tear-filled. Then she was gone, leaving me weak in the knees.
I sank to the ground moments after and cried my eyes out for my sweet little brother. Then I cried some more for my late father. If he was here, then none of this would have happened.
Minutes after crying, I packed the necessary things I needed and was just rounding up when I heard the front door slam. It had been more than forty minutes since Kaelen left and about thirty since Rudina. With a thumping heart, I hurried out with my bag.
Relief washed over me as I saw Rudina in the living room, but anxiety started pumping in my veins.
"How did it go?" I asked her quickly.
Rudina's eyes worriedly searched my face. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah. Just a little tired." I assured her.
She nodded even though she seemed uncertain. "It went okay. Neo said he would handle it. He promised not to let anyone know the truth. May just has to act like Al's missing and then the police officers will come here." Rudina turned to Elara. "Mother, you'll tell the police that—"
"Perhaps we can tell them together." Elara said. She was seated on a chair, still holding on to her bottle. "You and I."
Rudina looked at me confused, then back at her mother. "No, the police will come later this evening. I'll be in River Park with Amari then."
My heart squeezed. Elara shot me a look that I very well recognized. She wanted me to be the bearer of the bad news.
I sighed. "Rudina." I said softly.
She turned to me, her eyes calculating. "Yes."
"You know more than anything that I would want you to come with me." I began.
Realization flashed through her eyes as her face fell. "But?" She urged.
"But, it's too dangerous for you."
Her brows furrowed. A look that I again recognized. Stubbornness.
"I'm coming with you." She insisted.
We were interrupted by a knock on the door and my stomach sank while my pulse spiked.
"I'll get it while you both finish discussing." Elara put the bottle away and went for the door.
I brushed Rudina's hair gently, her hazel eyes set in determination. "I need you here, with your mum and in case Al comes back, okay?" I reduced my voice as I spoke.
But she was already shaking her head. "I can't leave you there on your own." She protested, her voice matching mine. "With that demon! And the scary Alpha? I told you, we'll do this together."
Tears were in her eyes now and I was struggling not to cry.
"It's too dangerous for you." I maintained.
"This is Mother's idea, isn't it?" She said, the tears were well on the way.
"Rudina—"
"Of course, my son." Elara's loud voice was accompanied by her cackling laughter. Definitely to warn us they were approaching.
And sure enough, they appeared.
In a split second, Kaelen's aura had flooded the room, almost like he never left. I became breathless as those inky eyes of his drank me in. I tried to read his expression, to search for any sign of anger or a shift at least, something to tell me he had found something. But he was as blank as a paper.
I swallowed, feeling anxious under his heavy gaze as I rested my hand on Rudina's shoulder.
"You're back." I welcomed.
"Yes." He answered simply, then his eyes narrowed to Rudina, and then to Elara before returning to me. "Is everything okay with you all?"
Silence.
Then—
"Why, yes, son." Elara said.
"Y-yes." Rudina said.
"Of course." I said, at the same time as they did.
Another moment of silence with Kaelen's eyes calmly resting on mine.
"You've been crying." He noted.
"Oh, she's just missing us already." Elara was pushing forward with her fake laughter. "You know she has always been with Rudina and so it's hard to imagine them apart. But these are the things we prepared for when you both decided to get married."
Kaelen turned to Elara and a heavy weight was lifted off my chest.
"Rudina isn't coming." It was a statement but it felt like a question.
"Oh yeah. She has to stay back. She can't disturb her sister who is newly married." Elara explained, smiling. "You both need time to—"
"Do you want to stay back or come along?" Kaelen was facing Rudina now.
There was a moment of silence. Elara's mouth was still hanging open from her unfinished sentence, but I could see her eyes sending messages to Rudina. Unfortunately, Rudina did not look at her. She glanced at me and then turned back to Kaelen.
"I would like to come along." She said softly, her voice shaky, tears streamed down her cheeks.
In a second, Kaelen was standing in front of her. He reached out with a handkerchief to carefully dab her tears before placing it in her hand.
"Don't cry. You can come along." Then he turned to Elara. "She won't be a bother."
The finality in his tone was deafening. No one could say a word more. Even Rudina.
"What about your brother? Would you not like to see him before you leave?" He asked.
That was enough to make us all snap back to life.
"Rudina went to see him at the art center already." I quickly said, Elara and Rudina nodded along.
"Alright." Kaelen agreed and turned to Rudina. "You can get your things."
She nodded wide-eyed and then with a light smile, raced inside to pack her things.
"You are too kind, Alpha Kaelen." Elara said with a nervous chuckle. "I'll go and help her pack up so you won't waste any time."
"Of course." He said.
She gave me a glance before leaving the room. I turned to Kaelen and he was already looking at me.
"You're not a good liar, Amari. I know you're hiding something."
It felt like my soul left my body and my limbs were numb as I stared back in shock.
"I'll be outside. You need some time to say goodbye to each other." He said smoothly, like he did not just drop a bombshell.
I couldn't speak, but he nodded at me before walking away. My trembling arms hugged my body and I tried to steady my racing heart.