Chapter 11 Despite my intensive studies regarding all of the territories ' packs , including their crests , this one was unfamiliar to me - which meant that it was likely unfamiliar to most people . In fact , when I called Maeve to my room to show her , she didn't know what it was , either . " I'm sorry , Elena , " she said quietly , handing the paper back to me . " I've never seen that symbol before ," I chewed my lip with frustration . " I guess I'll have to do some more digging , then , " I mused , Maeve hesitated , then whispered , " There might actually be someone who can help … " Killian As I watched Elena leave my study , her spine rigid , a strange feeling came over me- one that I hadn't felt before , Guilt . I had wrongly accused her of a heinous crime , only to find out that she had Indeed been framed by a member of our very own household staff . I hadn't even given her a chance to explain herself before I threatened to lock her up in her own home . " You should apologize , " my wolf snarled . I sighed , scratching my head . I supposed I should , shouldn't I ? Maybe it would make her stop resenting me so much , too - something that I couldn't risk right now with the election coming up . Swallowing my pride , I made my way up to her room . When I entered , Elena was alone . She was sitting in front of her fireplace , which was lit , warming her hands . She didn't look up at me . For a moment I just stood there , taking in the sight of her . In the flickering light of the fire , her white hair almost seemed translucent . Her side profile was slender and delicate , her nose daintily swooped up into a curve at the tip , freckles dotted across her pale skin . Elena was always beautiful in an exotic sort of way , but there was something different about her lately - a haunted look to her reddish eyes , a hard set to her small mouth . Like she had made a harsh decision on her own , although what or why , I wasn't sure . " Elena , I … " I took a step forward , but the words wouldn't corne , I wasn't used to apologizing to anyone , especially not her . She had certainly never expected apologies before . Rather , I did the next best thing : I approached her , pulled her to her feet , and kissed her . She stiffened in my arms , but allowed me to touch her . Elena always loved it when I provided her with intimacy , the one thing she always craved the most . I never wanted to admit it , but I enjoyed it , too ; it was the one time I could feel close to her, the one time when I felt the fated mate bond we shared , that primal drive that pulled us together like an invisible thread . She had been inexperienced when I married her , but the sex eventually got better , more passionate and intimate . Even now , I found myself falling into our usual routine . My hands slipped up her shirt as my mouth slanted across hers . Her slender waist was cool and smooth beneath my touch , her breasts supple , nipples peaking when I brushed my thumb across them . I heard her moan softly into my mouth , a sound so faint I almost didn't hear it , and it made me stiff with arousal already . If she was so hateful of me , then I would change her mind with one good night in bed . Maybe we both needed that . But before I could lift her into my arms and carry her to the bed , she pushed away , I blinked , surprised , as she wiped her mouth with the back of her hand and stepped back , seemingly unaffected by my touch . " There's no need for that , " she said curtly . " Our marriage is only for appearances . I don't want to pretend in private anymore . " Her words stang more than I wanted to admit , and when she simply took her seat again and pretended I wasn't even there , I decided not to give her the satisfaction of the argument she clearly wanted so badly . So I left , and a little while later , I found myself at the Silver Ale - a seedy tavern by the outskirts of the village , where the lighting was dim and the air filled with cigar smoke . The type of place where no one would care if the Alpha was drinking his sorrows away . I was halfway through my second glass of bourbon when I noticed a slender figure in a cloak enter the bar - not out of the ordinary for a place like this , but a flash of white hair from beneath the hood made me look up . Chapter 11 Elena ? The figure was already gone , and I shook my head . No. The Elena I knew would never come to a place like this .