THIRD PERSON'S POV:-

Elijah stepped out of the pack's meeting place and walked towards the elevator. He had to hold Artemis in his arms to calm Dean down. He needed to see her sweet smiling face to control his anger. Dean growled angrily. "Why the fuck is she here? Why didn't you kill her once Artemis left?" Dean asked Elijah angrily. The day they both lost their father, Elijah decided to kill her for good if he would ever see her again.

There was a reason why his father died. He was living his life with a hope. To find his wife one day. That's what he wanted. Then a day came when Elijah and his father saw Grace with another man. That man's tongue was shoved down her throat. They were making out openly.

His father lost all of his hopes that day. He lost the interest to live anymore. A few days later, he passed away. Elijah saw his father crying in the corner of his room. He saw her breaking. He saw her losing. After all that, he knew there was nothing else left. Until the day came, Elijah lost his father. That day, he promised himself that he would kill his mother whenever he would see her face again. "I don't want her dirty blood to touch me ever again." Elijah growled in disgust as he heard Dean's questions.

Disgust! Elijah was disgusted by his mother. Her face reminded her of that moment again and again when he saw her sitting on another man's lap. Dean felt the same way. He was also disgusted by the very existence of the woman who gave birth to Elijah. "I have a feeling. As if we are making a mistake as we are walking away." Dean growled in concern. He was concerned about his pack, his mate and his people.

Elijah didn't disagree with Dean's suspicion. He knew Dean was practically speaking how Elijah actually felt. He had the same kind of doubts. "I feel that too. Let's just stay sane. We can't jump to conclusions." Elijah replied to Dean in a low tone. Knowing well why Dean was suddenly so impatient.

Dean was wondering the reason why Grace would even bother coming back to the pack after so many years. If she wanted power or anything that she was bragging about, she would have done it soon after Elijah's father passed away. "There are no conclusions. Last time I told you to get rid of a woman and you didn't listen, Artemis almost died." Dean growled at Elijah out of annoyance.

The moment Grace spoke ill about Artemis, Dean felt this pure wake of rage inside and a need to kill that woman. "I know! That's why I will ask her to keep an eye on her. And this time, she will be all alone. So she can get out whenever she feels like." Elijah replied to Dean with a mischievous grin on his face.

The reason why Elijah kept Artemis' beast as a secret, he knew there would be many people after her to get to her. They wouldn't want her power. They would ha e wanted her dead.

The reason why Elijah wanted Artemis to do the job, he knew Grace wouldn't eben know what killed her. Artemis could be that fast. "I was thinking the same. Sending her alone is safer. The others don't listen to her." Dean replied to Elijah, knowing well, Artemis was capable of spying over Grace and eliminate her if needed.

Elijah was standing at the corner of the dining room in Gregor's home. He was leaning with the wall. His arms were wrapped around Artemis. He reasted his chin on Artemis' head. Artemis' head aS reasted on Elijah's chest. Elijah closed his eyes and let her warmth engulf his body. Elijah took breath, inhaling her scent as deeply as possible. Artemis' scent reached Dean as well. It calmed them both down. They were no longer angry. They were no longer shaking. A light knock on the door of the dining hall made Elijah open his eyes slightly. He found Lauren standing by the doorframe of the dining room. "Is everyone here?" Elijah asked Lauren in a calmed tone.

Seeing Elijah so peaceful, Lauren smiled widely. Knowing well the actual reason behind his peace. It's was none other than Artemis. Lauren smiled widely and nodded her head in response. "Yes, Alpha! Everyone has gathered in the living room. We are ready. You can begin the pack meeting." Lauren replied to Elijah calmly.

Elijah nodded his head and Lauren left them alone. Elijah placed a soft kiss on Artemis' head. He intertwined the fingers of one of his hands with her fingers. Elijah pulled Artemis out of the dining room and they walked towards the living room. Elijah and Artemis walked towards one of the couches. Elijah sad down on the single couch and as always, Artemis easily fitted into that same single couch. "Umm! May I ask the very first question? Why are we meeting here again?" Noah asked in a confused tone while staring at Elijah with a confused look on his face.

All eyes turned into Elijah's direction. They were all very surprised when Elijah first cancelled the meeting. Then he rearranged it at Gregor's house. They all wanted to know the reason. Since no one except for Elijah and Artemis had seen Grace, they were all unaware of what was happening around them.

Elijah narrowed his head, thinking about a simplest way to answer that question. After all, he had hidden the truth from his sister for years. Artemis smelled his nervousness and his anxiety about that single question. And as always, she was there for him. "Because Elijah's mom is here and Elijah doesn't trust her at all. Trust me, I understand him. I don't trust her either." Artemis replied to Noah's question in her usual calm tone.

Elijah's eyes went wide in shock as he heard Artemis answer that question for him. A part of him was grateful that Artemis answer that question for him. But the other part of him was even more anxious because he knew how Emma was going to behave. "Wait! What? You mean, Elijah and my mother?" Emma asked Artemis in a surprised tone.

As Elijah had expected, Emma was shocked to hear that truth. "Well, yeah! That's what I was told." Artemis replied to Emma calmly while she was playing with Elijah's hand on her lap.

Emma's eyes were about to pop out of their sockets any moment. She never thought that could ever happened. "It can't be! Elijah! You told me that she died a long time ago. Did you lie to me?" Emma asked her older brother angrily. It was unbelievable for her that her brother lied to her. It didn't matter of the reasons were dire.

Elijah growled angrily as he heard his sister almost yelling at him again. She had been keeping control ever since Artemis' incident. That day, Emma lost control yet again. "So what if I had? She left you to die in your crib. If it was not for Uncle Grey, you wouldn't be here with us today." Elijah growled back at his sister angrily.

Artemis looked at Elijah. She was pure rage and hatred in his eyes for anyone for the very first time. It was not fir Emma, Artemis was well aware of that reality. "That doesn't explain you lying to me about our mother's death. I deserved to know about her." Emma yelled back at Elijah angrily. She was questioning his decision.

"I was protecting you from the harsh truth. We both share the same curse full mother. She cursed our lives and our family. Now she is back to ruin us all over again." Elijah yelled at Emma angrily. He was already disturbed because Uncle Grey was missing. Then his trouble making mother was back in their lives. He was getting out of control.

Artemis rolled her eyes in annoyance. She knew she was supposed to stop that sibling fight. "Elijah! Calm down! It's not Emma's fault." Artemis called out as she placed her hand on Elijah's chest.

Elijah looked at Artemis and gritted his teeth. "She should understand what I am going through. She can't just ask those questions." Elijah tried to explain to Artemis why he had to lie to his sister.

Artemis understood his reasons. She knew how much Elijah cared about his sister. That's why he had been patient with her all that long. "She wouldn't have if you have ever told her the truth. You said it yourself. Everyone deserves to know the truth. Not knowing is the worst kind of torture." Artemis reasoned with Elijah first, knowing well that stopping Emma was useless at that point.

Elijah zipped his mouth as he heard Artemis. Then Artemis turned to look at Emma. "And Emma! You really want to talk about the woman who left you when you were a baby? Or you want to figure out what happened to your uncle who sacrificed his life for you? Who would you choose?" Artemis asked Emma in a low tone. She gave Emma two options. Artemis already knew whom Emma was going to choose.

For a moment, Emma was dumbfounded. She blincked a few times as she processed what Artemis asked Emma. "Of course, Uncle Grey. He is the only parent I have ever known. I don't even know that woman, whoever she is." Emma replied to Artemis in an obvious tone. Artemis was well aware what Emma was going to say. That was the reason why Emma was given two options. She knew that Uncle Grey was the most important person in both of their lives. And there was no way any of them were going to ever choose their mother. With a cheeky smile on her face, she looked at Elijah and winked at him.

Then we better focus on what we have in our hands. We need to find him soon. I have this feeling that he is not alright.

I have this same feeling. What did you find out, Artemis? You were the only one who followed a scent. Did it lead you anywhere?

The trail ended the moment we entered the meeting hall.

Fuck! I actually thought we had something in our hands.

Let's not lose hope. I found another thing.

What was that? You didn't tell me anything about it.

I didn't want to say anything in front of your mom. I don't trust her. And Tracy has a beef with her.

Anyways, when I attacked her, I was simply checking all the possibilities. She did a good job hiding it, but I was able to catch the scent again.

What are you talking about?

The trail never ended. Your mother had that scent on her.

You are saying she was in Uncle Grey's apartment. That she was behind his abduction?

No! I am saying that she is somehow involved. A single touch might have left the traces of that scent on your mother.

In that case, we need someone on her tail.

Alright then, I have tasks for all of you. Now listen closely. I have different tasks for each of you.