Mason POV

My gut is in turmoil as I walk to the cottage. The only thing that keeps me breathing is the knowledge that Elara is still alive. I believe Carlos that she has left, but I must see it for myself. And, hopefully, I can catch a glimpse of my twins.

I quietly and slowly open the door and step inside. I can hear scuffling in the kitchen, and frown. Where is everybody? Surely, the kids would be playing and making noises.

I cautiously advance towards the kitchen, and when I peek around the frame, I see an unknown woman. She turns around and sees me. Her eyes widen, and then the kitchen fills with screams of bloody murder.

Quickly, I jump towards her, grab her wrist and pull her back against my chest, covering her mouth with my hand.

“Shut the fuck up,” I hiss in her ear. “I’m not here to harm you.”

But she keeps on squirming, fighting to break free.

“Ah, motherfucker!” I scream when she bites my hand, and I hit her with my fist behind her head.

She stumbles forward and falls on her hands and feet.

“I know who you are!” She screams, scrambling to her feet. “Stay away from me.”

“Am I supposed to know who you are?” I ask, rattling my brain, trying to figure out who she is.

“Wait,” I say when I finally make a connection. “Are you Isolde, the witch?”

Her only reply is to grab a butcher’s knife and point it at me.

“Relax, okay?” I say calmly, holding up my hands defensively. “I came to see my kids, that’s all. Tell me where they are, and I’ll go.”

“Leave! Now!” She orders, grabbing another knife from the counter.

I look at the petite woman with wild eyes, a knife in each hand, and I burst out laughing.

“You look ridiculous,” I laugh, taking a step forward. “Just tell me where ...”

“Stay back!” She yells, cutting me off. “I’m warning you.”

“Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I growl, glaring at her. “You’re starting to piss me off.”

She lets out a blood-curdling scream and throws both knives at me. I dodge the butcher’s knife, but the smaller one lodges into my shoulder.

“You bitch!” I howl, grabbing the knife’s handle and yanking it out. Blood pours through the wound, and I apply pressure with my palm.

“You’re going to pay for this,” I grunt, glaring at her.

She spins around and runs into the house. I grab a rag from the basin and apply it to my wound as I follow her with long strides. I did not come here to hurt anyone, but that bitch is asking for it.

The door to the basement slams shut, and I walk towards it, but I stop in my tracks when I hear a vehicle. I prick up my ears and recognise Braden’s voice. Shit! They are home.

Frustrated, I run for the back door. I am outnumbered by far, and I am injured. If they catch me here, it is over. I run as fast as I can, and when I reach the treeline, I shift.

“Come on, Colt, heal,” I urge him as pain radiates through my shoulder.

The pain slowly subsides, and I run faster. My lungs are burning by the time I reach the road, and a truck pulls up beside me.

“Get in!” Carlos shouts, hanging out of the window.

I do not question how they knew where to find me; I am simply relieved they did. I jump on the back and lie down.

Elara POV

“For the umpteenth time, Braden,” I laughingly argue as we get out of the truck. “Calamari is squid and not octopus. In all your years on this earth, one should think you’d have picked up a book by now.”

“Elara, you’re arguing with a vampire,” Mindy chuckles. “They don’t know food.”

“Hey, I’ve only been on a blood diet for the past six decades,” Braden defends himself. “I know enough.”

I shake my head and laugh as we walk to the front door. Goddess knows how we got stuck on this topic, but I will say this: it has taken my mind off things.

I open the door and instantly freeze, sniffing the air, and the hair on my neck stands up.

“What is it?” Kane asks behind me.

“Mason,” I say, turning to face him. “I can smell him.”

“Shit,” Kane mumbles, pushing past me and sniffing the air.

“I smell him too,” he says. “He’s been here.”

“Or still is,” I reply, running inside the house.

“Isolde?” I shout as I run, and everyone follows. “Isolde, where are you?”

“There’s blood in the kitchen,” Axel shouts. “It smells like Mason’s.”

“The back door,” Braden says, looking at the floor. “There’s a bloody trail.”

“Isolde?” I keep on shouting, running from room to room.

“Let’s get him,” Kane says, and Axel, Braden, Maxim and Monroe follow him.

“Isolde?” I call, running to the basement. “Isolde, are you okay? Where are you?”

“Here,” she squeaks, opening a door, and I sigh in relief.

“Are you okay?” I ask, holding her at arm’s length, and studying her from head to toe. She is pale, and her eyes are huge in their sockets. “Are you hurt?”

“N ... no,” she stutters. “He ... he ... the children.”

“Was he looking for his children?” I ask, keeping my voice calm and steady even though my heart is racing.

“Y ... yes,” she nods.

“Okay,” I exhale deeply. “It’s okay, he’s gone now.”

She nods, but she is still shivering.

“Come on,” I put my arm around her shoulders. “You need a stiff drink to calm your nerves.”

“Anything?” I mind link my mates as I guide her to the living room.

“No,” Axel replies. “We lost his scent by the road. We think he caught a lift. We’re coming home. How’s Isolde?”

“Fine, but in shock,” I reply. “But we’re going to need a new place to stay and warn Malachi that he’s looking for the twins.”