Chapter 9 Killian It was late by the time I returned that night , weary from a long day , and I expected Elena to be waiting for me at the mansion . Whenever I worked late , she was there , waiting for me by the door with my slippers and a glass of whiskey . She always wanted to hear about my day , rub my shoulders and listen to my troubles . But that night , she wasn't waiting for me . She didn't even seem to be home . Was she out ? Or perhaps sleeping early again ? Maybe her illness had returned after all . Or was she still in her foul mood ? I didn't have a chance to check her bedroom , however , before one of my subordinates , a Gamma named Henry , approached with something in his hand . " Sir , " Henry said , bowing his head respectfully , " there's something you must know . " I resisted the urge to sigh . I'd already spent the entire day working , and the last thing I wanted was more trouble to deal with . But of course, my mind went right to Elena , and I couldn't help but wonder what other naughty things she had done while I was out . " What is it ? " Henry's face was grim . " Natalie's grave was dug up . And this was found beside it . " He held up what was in his hand , revealing a small golden locket with the initials " E.H. " engraved on the front . Elena Hart . My breath lodged in my throat . Someone had dug up the grave , and beside it …. I would recognize that locket anywhere . Elena wore it often ; it was a gift from her father before he died . Jaw ticking , I snatched the locket away and felt a flare of white - hot anger rip through me . If Elena had dug up Natalie's grave , then this was serious . Far more serious than bumping her head during a fainting spell . Whatever had come over her in the past two days suddenly felt far clearer : she was acting out against Natalie . Why , exactly , I wasn't entirely sure . Spite , maybe ? She'd always hated that Natalie was my fiancee and not her , and I knew she loved me since the moment she set eyes on me . But why do something like this now ? Natalie was dead , and she had died protecting this pack - how could Elena still see her in such a negative light ? Elena had nothing to gain from doing something so horrible , and it certainly wouldn't make me love her like she so badly wanted . Then again , I recalled the words she had said in her sleep last night : " Killian … I hate you so much . " Did she do this simply because she had somehow grown to hate me in the span of a day ? Was she just trying to hurt me by sullying my past love's grave ? I was just turning to leave again in the hopes of finding and confronting her when the door swung open behind me . Elena marched in with Lucas on her heels . " There you are , " I said , storming over to her and shoving the locket in her face . " Why did you dig Natalie's grave up ? To spite her ? Or just to spite me ? " Elena calmly stared at me , then the necklace , then me again . " I have no clue what you're talking about , Killian . " " Is that so ? " I dropped my hand back to my side . " Given your behavior these past two days , I'd beg to differ . Did you dig up her grave to get back at me for something ? " " No , " she replied . " I don't know why my necklace was there , but I can assure you that I didn't have anything to do with the incident- " Bullshit . You're making excuses . " " I'm not " An apology is in order at the very least , " I snapped , my lip curling to reveal half - extended fangs . " A public one . Until then , you're not to leave this house . " To my surprise , Elena scoffed . Scoffed . Then , she pointed at Lucas . " I was at my parents ' home all day . You can ask Lucas . I couldn't have possibly slipped away to dig up a grave that's located all the way on the other side of the village . " I whipped my head toward my Beta , who at least had the decency to look somewhat sheepish for being caught alone with Elena - again . But he nodded firmly . " It's true , Alpha . Lama Elena asked me to drive her to her family's home today . " Choge U having an affair . +25 Bonus Without hesitation , Lucas strode out . A moment later , he returned with the black box from the car . Indeed , upon plugging it into the computer in my office and checking the footage , it was true : they had driven to Elena's adoptive parents ' house earlier that day , where they had remained all day . Afterwards , they had driven straight back to the mansion . They had gone nowhere else . I fell silent as I stared at the footage . Beside me , Elena folded her arms . I could feel her indignance without even having to look at her . " Still think I need to be locked up like a prisoner until I give a public apology ? " she muttered . I scrubbed my hand over my face and sighed , leaning back in my chair . " Why didn't you say so earlier ? " Elena laughed haughtily . " I did say so , Killian . You just weren't listening to me . As usual . " Despite my frustration with her behavior lately , I couldn't help but realize she was right . Elena might have been royally pissing me off these past two days , but I felt somewhat ashamed for immediately assuming my wife and mate had done something so heinous as to dig up Natalie's grave . I hadn't even given her a chance to explain herself . Just then , Henry spoke up . His voice was harsh and hateful as he said , " You're really going to believe her , Alpha ? You know she always hated Miss Natalie . She could have snuck out the back door of her parents ' house without the dashcam footage picking it up . Or she hired someone and left the necklace behind as payment . I believe she's a conniving- " " Enough , " I snarled , glaring daggers at Henry . His mouth immediately snapped shut , face going pale . Regardless of my gripes with Elena , I wouldn't let a subordinate speak about my Luna like that . I waved Henry away , and once he was gone , I stood and went to leave . Before I reached the door , I turned to Elena and gave her a single nod . " We'll drop the matter from here . " Elena looked momentarily surprised , then said , " Drop it ?! " I hesitated in the doorway . " Well , it clearly wasn't you , so why do you care ? " She gestured to the necklace . " My necklace was at the scene . Don't you think someone might have been trying to frame me ? " The determination in those red eyes , like two clumps of burnt umber , gave me pause . It was a look I'd never seen in them before , and something about it … impressed me . Maybe my mate wasn't as weak as I once thought . Suddenly , Lucas's eyes glowed , indicating an incoming mind link . Elena and I both turned to him , waiting . When it was finished , I was surprised to see him look at Elena and not me . " Luna , the person you were looking for has been found . "