Chapter 163
Several minutes later, we arrived back at the palace. I was glad it was still standing, and nobody seemed hurt since I left a couple of hours ago. I knew this imposter would be angry because I had left after promising to accompany her into our bedroom. “Elliot Mariah said as she walked into the front room. “I was just heading to the packhouse for the night. There’s leftover food in the fridge if any of you are hungry p>
She paused when she saw Charlotte and a kind smile appeared on her lips.
“Miss Crown. It’s been a while. Welcome home,” she said sweetly.
Charlotte smiled at Mariah.
“It’s good to see you again, Mariah,” she replied. “I’m glad to see this place hasn’t changed much p>
“The Alpha doesn’t like change as you already know,” Mariah chuckled. “I think the only changes done are whatever the Luna had done. Which wasn’t much p>
“Mariah, has Silver been down here at all?” I asked, interrupting their conversation.
Mariah nodded and I could see the uncertainty on her face.
“She came down once,” she admitted. “She was displeased you left and returned to her room. She seemed odd. Unlike herself. She didn’t want to stay and speak with me p>
I nodded and thanked her before going up the stairs, hearing the others following behind me.
“If you need anything, let me know. I’m staying at the packhouse until tomorrow evening because they are short-staffed. Everyone here knows already p>
“Thank you, Mariah,” I said over my shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow p>
I heard the front door shutting as I reached the second floor. We went up one more flight of stairs before reaching the third floor and then we traveled down the hallway. The closer I got to my bedroom, the angrier I was getting. This imposter was in my bedroom, in my bed, the one I shared with my wife.
I opened the door without knocking and I saw the imposter lying in bed, scrolling through her phone. She froze when she saw me standing there. I motioned for the others to stay where they were, out of sight while I spoke to the imposter. Before I walked into the room, I dipped my hand into the moon water, allowing it to soak until my fingers were dripping with wetness.
I nodded at Charlotte, indicating that I was ready, and she put the lid back on the jar.
The imposter’s face lit up immediately upon seeing me.
“Elliot, you’ve returned. I was surprised when I found out you had left. I was expecting you to join me in bed a couple of hours ago,” she said, pouting.
“I apologize. I had to deal with some stuff concerning the pack,” I said, sitting beside her on the bed. “How are you? Did you want to talk about what happened while you were with your brother?” Her brows furrowed.
“I told you that I don’t remember
much,” she said, biting her lower lip.
“I truly don’t want to think about it though, Elliot. Even if I don’t remember much, I do know that he hurt me… I almost didn’t survive. I think my mind is blocking out the
terror and protecting me
I nodded, trying to appear thoughtful. I felt the water still dripping off my fingers as I held them behind my back, hoping they didn’t dry before I was ready.
“Well, perhaps if you slept, your memories would return to you,” I told her.
She frowned.
“Or maybe if we have a little fun in the sheets, it’ll jog my memory,” she purred, batting her lashes at me. My stomach tightened from her words; I felt uncomfortable.
“Perhaps,” I said, getting closer to her.
Her cheeks flushed and a smile
spread across her lips as she closed her eyes and puckered her mouth. She was getting ready to kiss me and I figured now was a good time to find out the truth. I flicked my fingers in front of her face, letting the water splash on her features.
She froze and her eyes flew open. When she saw the look on my face she gasped. “Elliot… what p>
She couldn’t even finish her
sentence before her face started to smoke and could see that the water was
snow burning her flesh t
She screamed in pain, clutching at her face with trembling fingers. I watched in horror, quickly standing témy feet as the others joined me to watch what was happening.
The imposter cried out in pain as the skin peeled from her face. Tears burned in her eyes and when she looked up at me, I could see fury on her face.
My entire heart fell into my stomach as her true face came to light. As soon as Silver’s face peeled off her completely, I looked into the familiar eyes of Shirley Darknight.