Page 5 of Shapeshifter's Vengeance

“Don’t apologize,” I say, squeezing his hands. “We’ll get through this. Together.”

“We need to handle this the right way,” I tell him, gripping his shoulders. “No secrets. We can’t cover this up.”

He nods, swallowing hard. “What do we do?”

“Brace yourself for the next few days,” I say, pulling out my phone. “This won’t be easy.”

I call the sheriff’s department, my voice steady despite the chaos. “I need deputies at the old Whitman house immediately. There’s been a... situation.”

Alexei sits down, his head in his hands. “What will happen to me?”

“We’ll get through this,” I assure him. “But you have to trust me.”

The deputies arrive quickly, their faces a mix of confusion and horror as they take in the scene. I explain the situation, keeping my voice calm. Alexei is taken away in the back of a sheriff's car, his eyes filled with anguish as he looks at me.

“I’ll handle this,” I promise, watching the car drive away.

Once they’re gone, I call Karla, the leader of the Luminara Coven. Her voice is sharp with concern. “Evelyn, what’s going on?”

“There’s been an incident,” I say, my voice heavy. “Six of our elders are dead. Alexei is involved. You need to come immediately.”

She’s silent for a moment, then her voice hardens. “I’ll be there instantly.”

I hang up, my hands shaking. The gravity of the situation dawns on me. Alexei’s innocence isn’t all that matters right now; it’s the town’s perception that will destroy us.

I wait outside the house, pacing back and forth. Karla arrives, her expression a mix of shock and determination.

“Show me,” she says.

I lead her inside, and she gasps at the sight. “This is...”

“I know,” I say, my voice breaking. “We need to figure out what happened.”

“We will,” she says, her eyes hard. It is a lot to take in; walking into a room and finding six of your elders dead is overwhelming.

“I’ve already logged it officially,” I tell her. “No secrets. We will investigate this just like we would investigate any murder in town.”

She nods, her expression unreadable. “Good. We need transparency.”

We leave the old house, our minds heavy with unanswered questions. I head to the station, my heart aching for Alexei.

We enter the station and I see Alexei in the holding cell, his expression a mix of fear and exhaustion. He looks up as we approach, his eyes locking onto mine.

“Evelyn,” he says, looking up as I approach.

“We’re working on it,” I say, my voice gentle. “Karla is here to help. We’ll find out what happened.” I say softly, trying to reassure him.

“I don’t remember anything,” he repeats, his voice hollow.

“We’ll get to the bottom of this,” I assure him. “You’re not alone. I love you.”

He nods, his eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you. I love you too,” he says, his voice barely a whisper.

“Do you need anything to eat or something?” I ask, unable to watch him like that any longer.

“No, I am fine. Don’t worry about me, I just need all of this to be over,” he replied, his voice hoarse. I wonder how much he must be beating himself for not being able to remember anything from last night.

The town is waking up, unaware of the turmoil brewing beneath the surface. Harmony Grove is a delicate balance, and this could tip the scales.

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