352\u2013The Tables Have Turned\u00a0<\/p>\n
Elgin:\u00a0<\/p>\n
+25 Bonus\u00a0<\/p>\n
I began to wake up in the guest room of Graham\u2019s mansion. For the first few seconds, I was completely puzzled. My head hurt, and I had to rub it and shake myself awake just to gather my thoughts and understand what had happened in the last few hours. Why did it feel so strange? Then it finally struck me.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara,\u201d I gasped as I got to my feet.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I remembered everything. My daughter, my dear Elara, had been taken away from me. The monster came and took her, all because Graham and I had constructed a very poor plan.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I sprang up from the bed and reached for the door. It was as if Graham was already on his way to see me, the moment I opened it, he was standing outside with one hand on the handle, about to open it.\u00a0<\/p>\n
because\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElgin. Wait. Elgin,\u201d he greeted softly, but once he noticed me rushing past him, he moved to block my path. \u201cGet out of my way, Graham,\u201d I snapped, then reached into my pocket to look for my phone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYour phone is on the nightstand,\u201d he remarked casually, his voice gentle, as if he had no care in the world. I reached for my phone and realized hours had passed. In fact, a whole day had gone by. It was another day entirely. I felt like hitting myself for being so drunk yesterday that I wasted time.\u00a0<\/p>\n
As I rushed toward the door again, he stood in my way, his hands in his pants pockets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat the fuck is wrong with you?\u201d I finally snapped at him. \u201cI don\u2019t understand what is wrong with you.\u201d \u201cElgin, it\u2019s been two days,\u201d he replied. \u201cDo you seriously think the monster is just flying around with her?\u201d His words broke me. I tried to come up with an answer, but he was not wrong. I was late. But what if the monster dropped her somewhere and she was out in the woods, crying?\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat if she\u2019s out there alone?\u201d I asked, tears streaming down my face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElgin, what the fuck is wrong with you?\u201d he shot back. \u201cYou didn\u2019t want her, remember?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
His words made me clench my fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI said I didn\u2019t want her because she already had a mother and I already had children,\u201d I yelled. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t mean I would want to see her in pain. Or think about her suffering and do nothing.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
He was not ready to listen. He stood there, calm. Of course he was. His daughter was fine. My Elara was gone. \u201cStep aside,\u201d I told him. \u201cI need to go see what\u2019s going on at that mountain top. And I am going to confront Madeline and her husband for not taking care of my daughter.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I grunted as I realized whose fault this was. Madeline chose a man who no longer had a wolf. 3\u00a0<\/p>\n
Baxter convinced her he would take care of her. Yet the other children were safe, and only Elara was taken. Were they taking their anger out on my daughter? 19\u00a0<\/p>\n
I hoped that was not the case, because if it was, Madeline was going to deal with me. I would make sure her life became unbearable if she dared put other children above mine.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I finally managed to get Graham out of the way and headed straight to the mountain top.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He stayed with me, though. He was in the same car, but thankfully he did not say a word.\u00a0<\/p>\n
352\u2013The Tots Hove Turned\u00a0<\/p>\n
$75 800\u00a0<\/p>\n
Seeing him sit there so calmly made me feel bitter. I wanted that certainty, I wanted to know my daughter was safe. But she was not,\u00a0<\/p>\n
When we reached the mountain top, I questioned Madeline she shoved me back, warning me to stay away from her and her children.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019re going to push me?\u201d I demanded, pointing at my chest as I got back to my feet,\u00a0<\/p>\n
I squared up in front of her, and her fists were clenched just like mine,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI want to know,\u201d I started, then stopped.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Reality hit me. My mind seemed to check again as I glanced over her shoulder. That was when I saw Elara looking at me, a teddy bear clutched in her hand.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWait,\u201d I muttered, rubbing my head. \u201cShe\u2019s here. But I heard she was gone,\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
I could not understand what was happening. Even after pushing my way inside and looking around, my mind felt so unfocused that it took me a moment to realize it was truly my daughter,\u00a0<\/p>\n
Then what was that warrior about? I did not say it out loud. If I did, they would question how I knew so much.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHow did you find out my daughter was missing?\u201d Madeline asked,\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWell, the news got out, and since Ron has been running around helping you, everyone heard about it.\u201d Graham arrived late. He took his time getting out of the car. I turned to him and watched his face in disbelief.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d he asked, his hands still in his pockets, looking casual. (1)\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cElara is safe,\u201d I told him.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He frowned, then tilted his head toward Madeline, looking cocky. Watching him act so casual even made Madeline clench her fists.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? How did you guys do it?\u201d he asked, a slight smirk on his face.\u00a0<\/p>\n
I expected him to be happy for me, but he stayed cocky, focused only on how he could upset Madeline.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, you don\u2019t get it,\u201d I replied, since Madeline kept glaring at him. \u201cShe was never taken away.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
As soon as I said that, a smile stayed on my face. A smile of relief. A smile of happiness.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cReally? Then why is Ron running around like crazy?\u201d he questioned casually, until he noticed I was watching his face in silence.\u00a0<\/p>\n
He turned his head toward the cabin. I swear he saw Bodhibet he noticed Elara. His hands slowly slipped out of his pockets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWhere is Gina?\u201d he asked, his tone suddenly changing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
D\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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