Chapter 53

Elena’s POV My fingers were slippery with sweat as I held the phone. I shook my head even though she couldn’t see me. “No… that doesn’t make sense,” I said weakly. “Eric might be angry. He might hate that I left. But he wouldn’t touch my family. He wouldn’t cross that line.” “Elena, stop lying to yourself,” May said. Her voice wasn’t loud, but it cracked anyway. “Three days ago, soldiers stormed into the nursing home. They didn’t explain anything. They just took your grandma right out of her bed.” My chest tightened. I couldn’t breathe. “She was terrified,” May continued. “She kept asking for you. She didn’t understand why strangers were pushing her down the hallway like that.” I covered my mouth as tears spilled down my face. “Grandma…” “We tried to stop them,” May said. “Doctors, nurses—everyone. And do you know what those men said? They said this was punishment. That your grandmother lost her right to care because you offended Alpha Eric.” My knees pulled up to my chest as I listene