Chase Aldridge, on the other hand, is completely different. He would kill a dozen girls if it meant becoming Alpha.
The shit he pulled in the woods, shooting at Elle, was something else. We searched for hours for her. When I was alone with Chase in the woods looking for Elle, it took all my strength not to strangle him and leave him in the woods.
One thing is for sure, Elle can no longer be alone with Chase or Jaxson.
I think about going to the guest house and knocking on the door. How would Elle respond? If my father saw it, he would be happy. He would think I have finally come around and follow through with his expectations.
I could go to her right now, talk her into a ride with me, and tell her everything.
I thought about jumping on my father’s yacht and sailing away from this fucking place. Maybe having someone with me would not be such a bad idea.
I had already broken a lot of rules The Beasts had. Maybe it was time to leave this place before my father finds out what I have done.
I look at my watch and realize Elle has her friend’s band function tonight. She will need a ride there. It could be a good time to tell her everything. It would be easy for me to get a ticket to go with her, even though a medley of noisy instruments is not my scene, but I could be beside her. Keep her safe.
I walk down the stairs from the top of the deck and make my way towards the guest house.
I wonder if she thought of our kiss. I wonder if she has thought of me since. When I walk up to her door, I remind myself that none of that matters. The only thing that does is keeping her safe.
The sound of laughing behind me almost startles me. When I turn, I see Bart giggling like a schoolgirl, his hands wrapped around his heavy belly.
“Too late, lover boy,” he says with a smile.
“What are you talking about?” I say confused.
“She left already with Jaxson Davis. No offense, but that man will someday be in the NFL. How can you compete with that? Don’t get too upset with yourself.”
“Elle went out with Jaxson?”
“Yeah, like ten minutes ago or so. Listen, Lance, you’re a good-looking young man. Plenty of woman in the sea. Don’t worry about one getting away.”
“Where did they go?” I ask sternly.
Bart scoffs. “I’m not paid to ask questions.”
“Fucking idiot!” I say, losing it. I take out my cell and run towards my car.
∞∞∞
I try calling Elle first, but she does not respond. While managing the steering wheel with one hand and driving fast down the highway, I use my other to open the tracking app on my phone.
The app shows Elle’s phone is still on, thank god, but it is in the complete opposite way. I hit my breaks hard and turn my wheel, until my car is facing the other way, and step all the way down on the pedal.
It may have been a dick move to break Elle’s phone, but it served a good purpose. I had a tracking device installed on the new phone I replaced it with.
The tracking app on my phone shows that I’m getting closer. I’m in an older part of town that I have not been to in years. The app brings me to an empty parking lot of an old hiker’s trail and campground. The trail has been unkept for years. Nobody in town really comes to it anymore. The parking lot is completely empty, except for Jaxson’s Jeep and a black Dodge Charger near it.
I had seen the Charger a few days ago near Ryland Academy. It looked like it was following Elle and her friends. I assumed it was someone that Chase Aldridge had hired to keep tabs on Elle but was doing a real shit job. I stopped him at the school and told him I did not know how much Chase was paying him, but I would double it if he fucked off. The older man did not seem to like that and drove away. Now he is here with Jaxson.
I park my car in the empty lot and almost jump out of my car before turning off the ignition. I make my way through the trail as fast as I can, while looking at my cell to find their location.
I make sure to put my cell on silent as I get closer. When I get close enough to where I can see an opening from the trail, I run off the rocky path, and whip through bushes and trees. A large branch strikes me in the shoulder when I run through two trees. I shrug off the pain and continue, until I can hear them.
“I fucking have to do everything!” I hear young man’s voice say.
I slow my pace and turn off my cell. I peer around a large tree and see Nathanial Price in a Beast hood hunched over top of Elle. She appears to be not moving. Jaxson is standing beside Nat, with a solemn look on his face.
I am too late.
The Ritual has been completed.
I clench my teeth together in rage. I stop myself from confronting them both. Two large football players against one unarmed man seems like terrible odds.
I should have brought a weapon.
I was already too late to save Elle, but at least I could have dealt with them both now.
Now I am going to make sure they pay. I had plans to leave Ryland for good, but not before I take care of Nathanial Price and Jaxson Davis.
I look at the lifeless body of Elle Maven.
Even in death, she is beautiful. I wipe a tear from my eye.
I am sorry I failed you, Elle. I could have done better, much better.
Nathanial Price stands up, and
