Chapter 19 The Council had been agonizing over a new trade agreement between the northern and southern territories for nearly an hour now , as was typical for our meetings . I tried not to look at Jaxon Adler across the table , although my gaze kept travelling in his direction anyway . Usually , I was fully present at these meetings , even when they felt tedious . But today , I couldn't get Elena out of my mind . I kept thinking about her strange behavior and Jaxon and everything that had occurred over the past week , and I couldn't decide if I was frustrated or angry or maybe even attracted to this strange new side of her . By the time the meeting ended , I was no closer to figuring that out . I made my way to my private office in the Council hall and ran my hand through my hair , relieved to be alone for a minute . My relief , however , was short - lived . " Everything alright , Alpha ? You seemed distracted at today's meeting . " I looked up to see Tiffany Lovelace , my fernale Beta and Elena's fill - in , standing in the doorway with her notebook pressed to her chest . Tiffany was tall and proper , with thin - framed glasses perched on the end of her nose and her brunette hair cut into a severe bob . She made a good female Beta , although sometimes I overheard the other Alphas joking that she only had the position because she was sleeping with me . Truthfully , I had hired Tiffany because Elena had never shown any interest in her Luna duties . Hosting charity events , running household finances , leading any and all party planning work , and more … She didn't seem interested or , frankly , capable . What about now , I wondered ? Elena had pleasantly surprised me when she hatched the scheme to catch the jewelry thief , subsequently catching the very same person who had dug up Natalie's grave . She had also shown initiative at the auction when she had sold her own jewelry - which , I had to admit , did have a positive effect on our reputation already - as well as when she had talked to Jaxon , although I still wasn't happy about that part . Would she have an interest in her duties now ? Probably not . No one could change that much in the span of a week unless something huge had truly happened as a catalyst , and aside from fainting in her bathroom , I could think of nothing . I realized Tiffany was staring at me by now , waiting for a response , and I sighed . " Do you think there's something wrong with Elena ? " The words slipped out before I could stop them , but I knew Tiffany well enough to be honest about such things . Tiffany stepped into the room and tilted her head . " What's making you say that ? " I shrugged . " She's just been acting … different . " " Acting up , you mean , " Tiffany scoffed , setting aside her notebook . I frowned . At first I had thought Elena was just acting up like a toddler throwing a tantrum , but after last night , I was beginning to think she was really serious . It seemed she had something planned , although I wasn't sure what . Did she still intend to divorce me ? My silence must have been confirmation , because Tiffany clicked her tongue and moved closer , reaching for my tie . " You mustn't let her mood swings get in the way of your duties . With the election coming up , you have to be on your best game . " She adjusted my tie , and I felt a muscle in my jaw tick . She was right , of course . Just then , the door opened and Elena , who I hadn't expected to be here today , or ever really , strode in . She froze when she saw the scene- Tiffany with her hand on my chest , the two of us standing close . I instantly took a step back . " Elena , I can explain- " " No need . " Elena smoothed down the front of her shirt and pulled her shoulders back , and something about her coolness struck me to my core . Last night , I had been so overcome with jealousy over her talking to Jaxon that I had nearly lost my mind in public . But Elena had just walked in on another woman putting her hands on me , and she hardly reacted at all . Had she truly fallen out of love with me after all ? Was she intending to divorce me ? No. Elena would never leave me . COIN BUNDLE : get more free bonus