The Secret That Refused to Stay Buried and That Followed Us Home 7

The Secret That Refused to Stay Buried and That Followed Us Home 7 Summary

 

Elena and Derek share a tender moment before they are interrupted by the town sheriff, who alerts them to an emergency at the shelter where Riley and other kids are staying. Rushing there, they find the shelter ransacked and Scott severely wounded, bleeding from a silver-tainted chest wound. Despite Elena’s hatred for Scott, she feels a complex mixture of responsibility and pity and decides to try healing him using her mysterious abilities.

 

As Elena focuses, she recalls the Moon Goddess’s words about the power of strong emotions, and a golden light flows from her hands, healing Scott’s wounds. Riley, safe in the basement, witnesses the miracle and calls Elena a messenger of the Moon Goddess. Once healed, Scott questions why Elena saved him, and she makes it clear it was to prevent the shelter from becoming a crime scene. This moment strengthens Elena’s resolve to break free from Scott’s influence.

 

Elena confronts Scott about the mate bond that ties them, explaining her intention to break it using an amulet given by an old shaman. Scott is shocked and fearful, warning her of the consequences, but Elena is determined, seeking true freedom from their bond. She calls upon the Moon Goddess, who acknowledges Elena’s rare will and grants her the power to choose her own path.

 

The bond between Elena and Scott is painfully severed, leaving both of them shaken. Scott realizes Elena’s choice to reject him and embrace her own happiness with Derek, who stands silently by her side. Scott, though hurt, accepts her decision and vows to leave town, expressing gratitude for what he learned from her. Elena feels a newfound peace and strength as she moves forward, supported by Derek’s presence.

I looked up and met his eyes. This close, I could smell the faint scent of pine on him. My heart hammered, and a strange warmth spread through me. 

“Thanks,” I whispered. 

He didn’t let go right away, just looked down at me, his eyes full of tenderness. “Elena, I-” 

“Derek! Elena!” An anxious voice cut him off. It was the town sheriff. “Trouble at the shelter! Someone reported seeing strangers breaking in!” 

“Riley and the other kids are still there!” 

Derek and I sprinted to the parking lot. My heart was pounding so hard I thought it would burst. If those Bloodfang wolves hurt Riley… 

When we got to the shelter, the main door was wide open, and the place was a wreck. Chairs were overturned, medicine scattered everywhere. But what scared me more was the heavy smell of blood. 

“Riley!” I yelled. 

No answer. 

We carefully went inside and found Scott on the floor, covered in wounds. There was a nasty gash on his chest, bleeding heavily. 

“Scott!” I rushed to him. Even though I hated him, right then, all I felt was fear. “Riley and the kids?” 

“Basement… safe…” Scott coughed up blood. “I… held them off… but they said… they’ll be back…” 

Derek was already calling for an ambulance. “He’s lost too much blood. Needs to get to a hospital, now.” 

“No,” Scott struggled to sit up. “A normal hospital… can’t treat… silver wounds.” 

I saw it then; the edges of the wound on his chest were tinged green–silver poisoning. 

“You can save him, Elena,” Derek said suddenly. “With your abilities.” 

I froze. I knew I had some healing ability, but I’d never really understood where it came from or how it worked. And why should I save Scott? He deserved this! 

But looking at his pained face, a flicker of something uneasy stirred deep inside me. Not love, but… responsibility? Pity? Or something more complicated? 

“I don’t know if I can,” I hesitated. 

“I know you hate him,” Derek knelt beside me, his voice gentle but firm. “But if you let him die, you’ll always wonder if you could have chosen differently.” 

Derek’s words hit me. Yes, I hated Scott. But letting him die wouldn’t erase my pain; it might even haunt me for the rest of my life. 

“Okay, I’ll try.” 

I placed my hands on Scott’s chest, closed my eyes, and tried to recall that feeling of energy. 

Nothing. 

“Focus,” I told myself. 

I remembered the Moon Goddess’s voice: “Great pain and great love are equally powerful. Your heart has grown strong through both hatred and love.” 

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Yes, to escape the shadows of my past life, I’d been willing to give anything. 

That intense emotion, that determination, was the true source of my power. 

A warm, golden light flowed from my fingertips, surrounding Scott’s wound. 

“What’s happening?” Derek stepped back, amazed. 

“She’s healing him,” Riley’s little head poked out from the basement door, eyes wide with awe. “Elena is a messenger of the 

Moon Goddess!” 

The golden light grew stronger, filling the room. I could feel Scott’s wounds knitting together, his life force returning. 

Finally, the light faded. Scott’s wounds were completely healed, leaving only faint scars. 

He opened his eyes, staring at me in shock. “You saved me… Why?” 

“Don’t get any ideas,” I said coolly. “I just didn’t want the shelter to become a crime scene.” 

Standing up, I felt a new wave of determination. 

It was time–time to completely break my link with Scott and be truly free. 

“I know why you came,” I said to Scott. “Because of the mate bond. As long as it exists, the Bloodfang pack will keep hunting us, because I’m your weakness.” 

Scott nodded weakly. “I’m so sorry for dragging you into all this…” 

“Don’t be sorry,” I cut him off, my voice firm. “Because I’m going to end it.” 

Scott looked up, shocked. “What?” 

“I’m going to break our mate bond,” I announced. “For good.” 

“No… that’s impossible…” Scott’s voice trembled with fear. “Mate bonds can’t be broken.” 

“The old shaman gave me an amulet.” I pulled out the amulet with the broken chain rune from around my neck. “The Moon Goddess will give the right to choose to those who are determined enough.” 

“Elena, think about this…” Scott said desperately. “Do you know what breaking the bond means for an Alpha? I’ll lose the chance to ever find a true mate, to ever complete a true marking…” 

“I’ve thought it through,” I said coldly. “This is what I’ve wanted from day one. True freedom.” 

Scott closed his eyes in pain. “If this is your choice…” 

“It is,” I said firmly. 

I closed my eyes, clutched the amulet, and called out to the Moon Goddess. A silvery white light descended from the sky, enveloping me. 

“Child,” the Goddess’s voice echoed in my mind, “are you sure you want to do this?” 

“Yes,” I answered without hesitation. “I don’t want to be bound by fate. I want to choose my own path, my own love.” 

The Goddess was silent for a moment. “Your hatred is so deep, yet you can channel healing. That is rare.” 

“My power comes from my desire for freedom,” I explained. “Healing others makes me feel like I’m more than just fate’s puppet.” 

“You have a rare will, Elena,” the Goddess said. “That is why I gave you the gift of healing. You have the right to make your own 

choice.” 

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I felt a force wrench from my heart, the sensation of my link with Scott being torn away. Agony ripped through me, but I gritted my teeth and held on. 

The light faded. I felt an emptiness in my chest, but then an incredible sense of relief washed over me. That feeling of being connected to Scott, mind to mind, was gone. In its place was complete freedom. 

Scott was on his knees, gasping in pain. “The link… it’s broken…” 

He looked at me, stunned, his eyes filled with disbelief and a deep, raw hurt. “Elena, do you really hate me that much?” 

“I don’t hate you, Scott,” I said calmly. “I just chose myself.” 

Derek came to my side, a silent support. He didn’t speak, but his presence gave me strength. 

Scott looked at us, and finally, understanding dawned. “You chose him.” 

“I chose happiness,” I replied. “I chose someone who respects me, who cherishes me.” 

Scott closed his eyes, a look of deep pain on his face. “I understand.” He slowly got to his feet. “I’ll leave this town. I won’t bother you again.” 

“Thank you,” I said simply. 

Scott walked to the door, then paused. “Even though this isn’t how I wanted it to end, I’m still glad I met you, Elena. You taught me what true love and responsibility really mean.” 

His voice held genuine regret and a blessing. “May you find true happiness.” 

I didn’t answer. Watching him leave, I no longer felt the old resentment, just a strange kind of peace. 

Derek gently took my hand. “Are you okay?” 

“Better than I’ve ever been,” I answered. 

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