Chapter 8 08

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?"