ELIJAH'S POV:-

　　I was sitting in my living room, thinking about what I had done. Alisa had left my apartment. I was pissed at myself for letting that bitch manipulate me. Dean was also mad at me. He was accusing me of cheating on Artemis. Although he knew that's not what happened. The elevator ding made me growl in annoyance. I looked up and found Emma walking towards me. She sat down on the couch with me and placed her head on my shoulder. "I am so sorry for everything. I can't believe Alisa would do something like that." Emma spoke in a low tone as she hugged me. I wanted to push her away but I tried to stay calm. I didn't want to start another fight.

　　I pushed Emma away because I didn't want anyone to be around me. I wanted to be left alone for a while. At least until I would be able to figure out what I was supposed to do. "Emma! Just leave me alone." I growled at Emma and pushed her away.

　　I knew she was my sister. And I was the only family she had left. But at that time, I was too disturbed to think about my sister's emotions. I was an emotional wreck at that time. The elevator ding pulled me out of the oceans of my thoughts. I looked up and found my whole pack in the elevator. I frowned in confusion because it was way too late for them to be at my penthouse. And I never called any emergency meeting.

　　I stood up and walked towards my pack. Uncle Grey was carrying Ryan in his arms. Ryan looked like someone beat the crap out of him. That's when I realised what Artemis was talking about. I remembered the mission both Artemis and Ryan were working on. "What are you all doing here? And what happened to you, Ryan? Did you engage in a fight with wild wolves?" I asked Ryan in a concerned tone. Uncle Grey helped Ryan on a couch.

　　Uncle Grey then turned to look at me. "Forget about us, where is Artemis? She needs help. Where is she? Is she in her bedroom?" Uncle Grey asked me as he started looking for Artemis everywhere. I narrowed my head and gritted my teeth in anger.

　　"She is not here. Artemis is gone." I replied to Uncle Grey while I was staring at the ground. I wanted to see her again. I wanted to hold her in my arms. For some reason, she looked broken and sad. I was not sure what happened to her. And I wanted to ask. But she left without letting me explain everything to her.

　　I was sad because she just believed what she saw. She should have asked me what was happening. She didn't ask me any questions. She had the right to ask me. "What do you mean by she is gone?" Ryan asked me in a low tone as he heard me. I balled up my fists to control my anger. I didn't want to be angry at him or anyone at all.

　　"What does it supposed to mean? She packed her stuff and left." In a low and annoyed tone, I replied to Ryan. I tried not to growl at him. But I couldn't help myself.

　　As Ryan heard me, he grabbed his hair and pulled them as if he was disturbed. "No no no! This can't be happening. You can't let that happen, Alpha." Ryan spoke in a panicked tone while he was pulling his hair.

　　I growled angrily as I heard him. It felt like Ryan was accusing me of pushing Artemis away. Although, I could say it was partially the truth. I turned around because I didn't want to look at anyone. "I don't own her. She is free to make her own decisions." I replied to Ryan in a low tone.

　　There was nothing I wanted more at that moment than bringing Artemis back home. I just wanted her by my side. Alisa ruined everything between us. "You don't understand, Alpha. She needed you the most at this time. And you just let her walk away. Without asking her what happened. How could you do this to her?" Amy asked me as she walked towards me.

　　"What are you talking about? I didn't let her walk away. I wanted to stop her. She didn't stop. Now will you tell me what is going on?" I growled at Amy angrily then asked her about the reason they were all freaking out.

　　Uncle Grey walked towards me and placed his hand on my shoulder. I turned my head to look at his face. "Elijah! Artemis was assaulted by the wild pack alpha. She came to you because she was afraid. You can imagine what she might have been going through. She was just raped." Uncle Grey replied to me in a low tone. My eyes widened as I heard the reason why everyone was asking about Artemis.

　　I dropped on the couch as the floor beneath my feet started shaking. I held my head in my hands while thinking about the fear and pain I saw in Artemis' eyes before she left. "Oh my God! She didn't tell me anything. It's all my fault. How did you let this happen?" I was mumbling those words to myself. I couldn't help but feel like it was my fault.

　　It was my fault. I was supposed to be ready for her call. I was surprised because I didn't hear her calling. The next thing I knew, Artemis was standing in front me. I couldn't forget the look on her face. That disgust in her eyes for me. "Why don't you ask Emma? She is responsible for everything." Ryan growled angrily as he heard my question. I gaze snapped in the direction of Emma.

　　Emma clenched her jaws as she heard Ryan blaming everything on Emma's head. I was surprised because I never thought Emma could do something like that. Emma stood up from the couch and walked towards Ryan. She grabbed Ryan's collar and pulled him up on his feet. Ryan growled as he was wounded pretty badly. "Watch your mouth, you low life piece of shit." Emma spat those words bitterly on Ryan's face. She looked like she was going to murder Ryan.

　　I growled angrily as I walked towards Emma. I grabbed Emma by her neck. She let go of Ryan's collar. I took Emma towards the wall and slammed her with the wall. I was growling angrily and choking her. "Emma! I am a second away from breaking your neck. Tell me what did you do?" I growled at her angrily. I was not in the mood for games. I couldn't imagine what Artemis was going through.

　　I squeezed Emma's neck so she would speak up. But she just bit her tongue as if she had nothing to say. I let go of Emma's neck then punched her in the stomach. Clenching her stomach, Emma dropped on the floor. "Let me tell you. She wouldn't say a thing. You asked Emma to inform everyone about the plan to back us up and be ready. She didn't say a thing to the others. As a result, I almost died if it was not for Artemis who kept on howling. But to save me, she stayed behind. The wild pack surrounded her and the Alpha of the wild pack raped her." Ryan told me everything that happened.

　　I turned to glare at Emma. I grabbed her hair and pulled them aggressively to force her to look into my eyes. "Tell me they are lying." I growled at Emma angrily.

　　Emma started shivering in fear as she heard me. "Elijah! I didn't know this would happen. I swear. I thought it would" Emma tried to explain herself. But before she could complete her sentence, I slapped her across the face.

　　Emma fell on the ground, holding her hand on her cheek. With wide eyes, she looked up at me. "Shut up. I can't believe this. How could I let this happen? How could I trust you when Artemis already told me about your trait against me." I yelled at Emma angrily. She backed away and hid behind the couch to save herself from me.

　　Ryan stood up and walked towards me. He was hopping because he was injured. Ryan placed his hand on my shoulder. "Alpha Elijah! I don't know what happened between you both. But she needs you right now. You have to go and support her at this time." Ryan whispered while staring into my eyes.

　　I couldn't believe it. It felt like I was stuck in a nightmare. One after another, bad news kept on coming. "Artemis was terrified and she ran straight towards you. We thought she would be fine because she would be with you. She was wounded in the battle. You have to find her, Alpha." Amy added in a low tone to wake me up.

　　I turned to look at Uncle Grey. He narrowed his head because he already knew what I was about to do to Emma. I turned towards Daniel, knowing well that he was waiting for my orders. "Take this traitor out of my sight and throw her in a cage. I should have listened to Artemis when she warned me. She was right all along." I ordered Daniel angrily. He sighed and nodded his head at me.

　　Emma tried to run towards Uncle Grey but Noah and Daniel caught her. They grabbed her by her arms and we're dragging her towards the elevator. "Elijah, you can't do this to me. I am your sister." Emma cried out loud, using emotional tactics against me. She didn't know that she couldn't blackmail me emotionally anymore.

　　I turned towards Emma and glared at her. "I can do whatever I want. I am the Alpha of this pack. And you can no longer hide behind me after fucking up everything. You will be questioned and punished according to your sins. Get her out of my sight." I yelled at her angrily. I ordered Daniel to take Emma away. Emma was crying and kicking the ground so Daniel would let go of her. I followed them to the elevator. I needed to go and meet Artemis. Fortunately, I knew exactly where she might have gone to seek comfort.

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　　I stepped out of my car and walked towards Victor's home. My hands were sweaty. I was worried if she would want to see me after everything that happened. But I just couldn't leave her. On her own. I rang the bell and waited for them to answer the door. I was praying that Artemis would open the door. The door finally opened and my heart dropped as I saw Victor standing in front of me. "Alpha Elijah, I was not expecting you at my place at this time at night. What brings you to my place?" Victor asked me in a low tone and I smiled awkwardly.

　　"Yeah! I didn't think I would be at your place too. Is Artemis home? Can I meet Artemis?" I asked Victor in a low tone. I was sniffing the air. I knew Artemis was inside the house. But I knew her better than her own mother. I knew she wouldn't see me.

　　I knew what I had done. And I couldn't fix that mess without talking to her. But at that time, I knew she needed me. I had to forget about everything else until she would be able to forget that horrible moment of her life. "Yes Alpha. She is inside. Let me just ask her." Victor replied to me and walked back into the house.

　　I was rubbing my palms on my jeans to get rid of the sweat. I was not sure why I was so nervous. Maybe I was questioning myself. Because she was assaulted. I knew that one moment would never be able to change my feelings for Artemis. But I could help but wonder how she would react. A few minutes later, Victor stepped out of the house. There was a disappointed look on his face. "I am so sorry, Alpha. Artemis doesn't want to meet you. She refused to see you." Victor told me in a low tone and I sighed.

　　"Oh God! It's all my fault." I whispered to myself while staring at the ground. Although I knew how she would react, I was still wondering if she would let me see her.

　　"What happened to her? She looks disturbed." Victor asked me in a concerned tone. His question made me look up at him. He was worried about Artemis. I couldn't possibly do anything for her but I knew I had to try to help her in any way possible.

　　"She was assaulted by the Alpha of a wild pack." I replied to the question Victor hand asked me. Hearing my response, Victor gasped loudly in surprise.

　　"Oh my God!" He whispered softly.

　　"Ryan and Artemis were on a mission. I fucked it up. I am not going to blame anyone for what happened. It was my fault." I replied to Victor in a low tone, shaking my head in a disappointed way. I didn't know how I would be able to fix that mess.

　　"Oh my God! How is Ryan? Is he okay?" Victor asked me in a concerned tone as he heard that Artemis was not the only one who was at the mission.

　　"He is fine. He was wounded. But thanks to Artemis, he made it out alive. Lauren patched him up. Artemis, on the other hand, was not that lucky. She got wounded and the wild pack surrounded her and the Alpha of the wild pack raped her. I just wanted to check if she was okay. I can't imagine what she went through." I replied to Victor in a low and guilty tone. I was informing a father that his son was wounded and his step daughter was raped while I was bathing in my apartment without thinking about the two pack members whom I had sent to sniff the wild pack out.

　　"Oh, thank God! You know, you don't have to feel guilty. Ryan is not a child. He can take care of himself. I can understand your situation. But Artemis doesn't want to see you." Victor placed his hand on my shoulder and replied to me in a low tone.

　　"Yeah! Because of what I did. I can understand if she doesn't want to see my face ever again. Will you do me a favour, Victor?" I added in a disappointed tone then asked Victor for a favour.

　　"Anything, Alpha. Just name it." Victor replied to me almost instantly.

　　"Ask her about the assault and get her patched up. Make her talk to you or anyone in the family. It will help her move on. You have two daughters of her age. She is like your daughter too. I know you will be able to handle her." I told Victor about the favour I wanted from him.

　　"Are you sure you want me to do it? I mean, she doesn't know me that well. She is not close to me. I can't say if she would open up with me." Victor asked me in a low tone as he heard about the favour I wanted from him.

　　I could understand his hesitation. Artemis didn't know Victor. I knew her well. She wouldn't say anything to her mother. That's why I wanted to talk to her myself. "Yeah! She wouldn't want to see me. I betrayed her trust. I will have to earn her trust again. But I don't want her to suffer. I know her well. She wouldn't tell her mother's anything. So please, help me out. Talk to her." I replied to Victor in a calmed tone. I just wanted Artemis to talk about it.

　　"I will do it, Alpha. I can't promise you anything. Because I am still a stranger to her." Victor honestly informed me. I knew she wouldn't open up that easily. But I wanted Victor to try.

　　"Just try your best, Victor. Amy will be home soon. She will patch Artemis. Just talk to her." I told Victor as I stepped away from the door.

　　"Sure thing. You can trust me." Victor added in a low tone. I looked at his face and found him smiling.

　　"I know. Thank you so much. I owe you one." I spoke in a low tone. I had known Victor and his family since my father was the alpha. And he was always there to help me whenever I wanted.

　　"You don't owe me anything, Alpha. She is like Amy and Amira. She is like a daughter to me." Victor replied as he heard me. I smiled and nodded my head.

　　"I know. But still. Thank you." I thanked Victor again as I walked towards my car. I hopped into my car and started the engine. I nodded at Victor and he nodded back at me. I stepped on the gas and drove away. I didn't want to go back home but I also didn't want to stay there and make the situation more uncomfortable for Artemis. She needed time to process everything.