บท 17: OPEN SECRETS
ALBERT'S POV
I perched silently at the top of a towering pine, my eyes locked on Evelyn's window as she emerged from the bathroom.
She was a beautiful soul, I thought to myself, who wouldn't love someone like her?
The wind whispered through the branches, carrying the earthy scent of the forest; wild, unrelenting, and unforgiving. The shadows of the leaves danced erratically across the grounds below, painting the scene with a foreboding unease.
I exhaled slowly, trying to quiet the thoughts swirling in my mind. But it was impossible to ignore them. Nora's touch still lingered on my skin, her scent clinging to my clothes.
Hours ago, she had been in my arms, her lips warm and inviting as they traced a path down my neck.
"Albert," she'd murmured, her voice soft and teasing. "We should do this all night long."
The memory stirred something primal in me, but I pushed it away. I'd had to leave, knowing full well how dangerous it was to linger with her.
I had to pull away from the warmth of her body against mine. "You need to get going," I said, standing to pull on my jeans, "I have an important meeting with my father tonight."
Her laugh was low and mocking. "Oh, come on!" she said, "Your excuses are terrible. My father's with yours right now. You've got nowhere urgent to be."
Her words had been a challenge, a test of how far I was willing to push the charade. "I have something I need to take care of," I said simply, avoiding further argument.
"And by 'something,' you mean someone, don't you?" she'd shot back, her voice sharp.
I'd shrugged off her accusation, refusing to acknowledge how right she was. "Like I said, I've got something I need to take care of," I said, grabbing my shirt and slipping it on. "Stay if you want, Nora, but if you're leaving, you know the way."
The hurt in her eyes had been brief, replaced almost instantly by defiance.
But I hadn't stuck around to see the aftermath. I couldn't.
Now, as I sat in the tree, staring at Evelyn's faintly illuminated window, guilt gnawed at me. Not just for Nora, but for the lies and the double life I was now trying and failing to juggle.
Evelyn was the reason I couldn't stay with Nora, the reason I couldn't stay away from this house tonight.
My thoughts fractured as Evelyn left her room. Suddenly, a movement caught my eye. A figure emerged from the shadows, slipping silently across the lawn toward Evelyn's window. My heart clenched.
The intruder was cautious, glancing over his shoulder before crouching below the sill. I watched, muscles tensing as he straightened, then leaped effortlessly onto the ledge. Whoever he was, he was fast, and inhumanly fast.
A surge of protectiveness overtook me. Whoever this was, they had no right to be here.
Before I knew it, I was climbing down the tree, each branch bending under my weight but holding steady. My instincts screamed for speed, for precision. The closer I got to the ground, the clearer the situation became. The intruder had slipped inside Evelyn's room.
I landed lightly, barely making a sound, and began weaving through the trees. My senses were on high alert, the forest around me alive with faint noises; branches creaking, leaves rustling.
As I approached the edge of the yard, I froze. Something wasn't right.
There was movement near the fence, the unmistakable sound of boots crunching against gravel. A shadowy figure lingered just beyond the tree line. I inhaled deeply, picking up the faint scent of tobacco and sweat.
A security guard. Damn it!
I pressed myself against the trunk of a tree, retreating into the darkness as the guard scanned the area with a flashlight. If he spotted me now, it would only complicate things.
The beam of light swept past, and I remained still, barely breathing. Seconds stretched into an eternity before the guard finally turned and walked away, the faint crackle of his radio breaking the silence.
I exhaled, my mind racing. Whoever had entered Evelyn's room was still inside, and I couldn't make a move without drawing attention.
For now, I had to wait. But not for long.
*****
LUCAS'S POV
I emerged from Evelyn's bathroom, my steps silent on the polished wood floor. She lay on her bed, her figure illuminated by the faint glow of the moonlight streaming through the curtains. Her breathing was soft and steady, yet her brow furrowed as though plagued by dreams.
Something about her made my resolve waver. She was a mystery I couldn't afford to unravel but couldn't resist. I shouldn't have been here. This was reckless, even stupid, but I had to know why she left my place.
Just as I moved closer, she stirred, her voice drowsy and faint. "Mom, are you there?" she asked.
My heart slammed against my ribs. She thought I was her mother. I hesitated for a fraction of a second before replying, my voice low, gentle. "Yes, sweetheart, I'm here."
Her body relaxed, and she sighed, the tension melting from her face. "Mom, I'm so scared," she whispered, her voice trembling. "I don't know what's happening anymore. Everything feels so wrong."
I sank beside her bed, forcing my breathing to steady. "It's okay, darling," I said, my voice soft but firm. "Tell me what's on your mind."
She shifted slightly, her head tilting toward me as if seeking comfort. "It's the Nightshade Pack," she murmured, her words tinged with fear. "The stories Dad told me... I feel like I'm caught in the middle of something I don't understand. And these visions, these feelings. It's like I'm losing myself."
Her words hit me like a punch to the gut. How much did she know? And what visions was she talking about?
My jaw tightened, but I forced a soothing tone. "You're stronger than you think, Evelyn," I said, forcing a steady tone. "You'll figure it out."
She turned her head slightly toward me, her half-lidded gaze clouded with confusion and weariness. "Mom…" she murmured, her voice so soft I had to lean closer to catch it.
"Yes, sweetheart?" I asked, keeping my tone gentle.
Her hand reached out weakly, brushing the edge of my sleeve. "These visions… they scare me. But I don't think they're bad. It's Lucas… I see him."
I froze. Me?
She didn't notice my hesitation, her eyes closing briefly as if summoning the courage to continue. "Every time I'm in the bathroom, I see him," she said, "He's there, behind me. Holding me. Touching me."
My heart raced with a mix of shock and something darker that I quickly suppressed. "What do you mean, Evelyn?" I asked, my voice tight, though I tried to keep it from sounding accusatory.
She let out a trembling sigh. "He kisses me… touches me. It feels so real like he's actually there. And every time, I think he's going to… we're going to…" She paused, her cheeks flushing even in her half-asleep state.
I swallowed hard, my throat dry. "Go on, darling," I prompted, though every part of me screamed to run.
Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I want it too, Mom," she whispered, "So bad. I don't know if it's right or wrong, Mom. Is it wrong?"
I clenched my fists, my mind racing. So this was the reason why she left my place.
"There's nothing wrong with it," I found myself saying, the words foreign on my tongue. "Dreams can be strange, but they're not real. They can't hurt you."
She nodded faintly, relaxing slightly, though her breathing remained uneven.
"But today," she said after a long pause, "there was someone else. When I went into the bathroom, I felt it. Another presence. Holding me."
My gut twisted.
"Who do you think it was, sweetheart?" I asked carefully, struggling to keep my voice steady.
"I don't know," she murmured, her voice trembling. "But I don't want to be alone tonight. Please, Mom… stay with me."
This wasn't part of the plan. I needed her to talk, not to cling to me like a child. But refusing might rouse suspicion. "Of course, sweetheart," I said, my voice steady. "I'll be here."
She shifted again, making room on the bed, and I reluctantly lay beside her. I felt the warmth of her body close to mine, her vulnerability a stark contrast to the storm of emotions raging within me.
Her words repeated in my mind like a haunting echo: "I see him… Lucas."
Silence stretched between us, broken only by her shallow breathing. My thoughts raced. The Nightshade Pack. Her father's stories. What else had he told her? What else did she know?
I needed to know more.
Suddenly, she stirred, her hand seeking mine. When her fingers found it, she pulled it close, pressing it to her chest. I felt how soft her breasts were.
"Hold me, Mom," she murmured, her voice thick with sleep. "I don't want to feel alone."
My breath hitched. The innocence of her request clashed violently with the intensity of the moment. My hand stayed still on her chest, though my mind screamed at me to pull away.
Then she spoke again, her voice a murmur so quiet I almost missed it. "Mom, how did we know the shapeshifters were in Mooncrest?"
Every muscle in my body tensed. My pulse pounded in my ears as I processed her words. How did she know about the shapeshifters?
"What do you mean, sweetheart?" I managed to ask, forcing my voice to remain calm.
Her eyes fluttered open briefly, her gaze unfocused. "Dad mentioned them. He said they might come for us. How do we know they're really here?"
I swallowed hard, my mind racing for an answer that wouldn't betray my own secrets. "There are signs," I said carefully. "Strange occurrences. Rumors."
She sighed, her eyelids drooping once more. "But what if they come for us, Mom? What if they find us?"
I stroked her hair, the gesture more for my own distraction than her comfort. "They won't. You're safe. Just sleep, Evelyn. Everything will be okay."
Her breathing evened out, signaling she'd finally drifted off, but I couldn't shake the panic tightening around my chest.
Evelyn knowing about the shapeshifters changed everything. If she put the pieces together, she might uncover the truth; not just about the Nightshade Pack but about me.
I disentangled myself from her slowly, moving with deliberate care. The room seemed darker than before, the shadows heavier. Slipping out of the bed, I glanced at her one last time, unease clawing at me.
I crossed the room and opened the window, the cool night air biting against my skin. As I swung over the ledge, I paused. Somewhere in the distance, I sensed something or someone watching me.
My instincts screamed for me to leave, but I lingered a moment longer, scanning the treeline.
I dropped to the ground silently, retreating into the cover of the trees. My agitation bubbled into anger. Evelyn's father was hiding something, and now Evelyn knew too much.
But one thing was clear; I couldn't stay. Not tonight.
As I disappeared into the shadows, I felt someone followed me like a predator stalking its prey.
So I ran.
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