Chapter 18 Killian When Elena calmly said that she wouldn't be cooking for me anymore , my hand tightened around my fork . But I willed myself not to react negatively ; by now , it was becoming more clear to me that something was indeed going on with her lately , medically or otherwise , even if she insisted she was fine . " Elena , " I said slowly , setting down my fork , " can you please tell me what's going on with you now ? " She didn't respond . Just continued to stare at me with an impassive expression , as if she too were holding herself back . I sighed . " If this is about Natalie , then we can both take a step back . But you have to understand that Natalie is already … " My throat bobbed . " … Dead . You're my only Lama . And I apologize if I haven't treated you well in the past , but I'll do my best to be a better husband to you from now on . " Elena's eyes flickered with something unreadable , and I saw her fingers curl around the edge of the table , picking at a loose thread on the tablecloth . It seemed I had struck a nerve ; was she really jealous of Natalie ? Even now ? Natalie was long gone . I felt I had made enough of a compromise to please her , but it seemed she still intended to keep her distance . Fine , then . If distance was what she needed , then I wouldn't push it . So I returned to eating the food she had made and tried not to stare at her too long . After a few moments of silence , the room filled only with the sound of my cutlery against the plate and my chewing , she spoke . " What would you do if she came back ? " " What ? " Elena took a deep breath as if steeling herself . " If Natalie came back to life , what would you do? " A sharp pang lanced through my chest at the very thought of my first love returning from the grave , but I tried my best to keep my expression as neutral as possible . Slowly , I set my wine glass down and looked at Elena . " She's dead , Elena , " I insisted , even if it hurt to say the words out loud . " Gone . Why ask questions like that ? " Her face hardened . " Humor me . " I didn't know how to react for a long time . Clearly , Elena wasn't going to back down from this . Finally , I huffed and said , " I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't be greatly relieved . But if you're asking if I would leave you for her , the answer is no . Are you satisfied now ? " But Elena's eyes simply narrowed as if she didn't believe me . I threw my hands up in the air . " You're my fated mate , Elena . My Luna . Even if Natalie came back , that wouldn't change , " Elena's upper lip curled to reveal semi - extended fangs . She was clearly angry , so much so that her wolf was pushing just beneath the surface of her skin . And for what ? A hypothetical that would never happen ? Before I could say anything , she abruptly pushed her chair back , causing the legs to scrape loudly against the hardwood floor . " Liar , " she snarled , and just like that , she stormed out . I heard her footsteps pound up the stairs , and a few moments later , the slam of her bedroom door echoed through the house . I sat there now , alone , staring at the spot where she'd been sitting just a minute ago . For a moment , I had almost felt as if we could reach a tentative peace ; Elena was clearly unhappy in our relationship , and had seemingly been unhappy for some time but had just lacked the confidence to say it . Maybe I didn't love her , but she was still my mate . I wanted us both to be happy , and if she had complaints about the way I treated her , then I was willing to work to be a better husband . But now , I wondered if she was angry with me for things that were out of my control . Natalie was dead , had been dead for two years , and wasn't coming back . And yet Elena was acting as if her dead adoptive sister were about to waltz right through the front door and take everything from her . The following morning , I found myself sitting in the stuffy chambers of the Alpha Council . The room was just as old as most of its current inhabitants - creaky wooden floors , an even creakier mahogany table in the shape of a crescent , and the most uncomfortable chairs known to