Beta Xavier Costa.

Eleanor Amato - POV

I stayed in the bathroom for about an hour when I finally walked out and made my way into the closet. Since Xavier said that it was a family dinner, we were bound to have guests, so I chose to wear a red silk long-sleeved shirt paired with black pants.

After combing my hair and arranging my curls, I walked downstairs. When I entered the kitchen, I saw Mom was setting the table with Marquez helping her out. “Hello, Ellie. How was your run?” Marquez asked me as he saw me walk toward the kitchen counter.

“The run was good,” I said in a dejected tone, which made him pause what he was doing and he turned around to face me.

“Did something happen?” he asked, concern clear in his voice.

“Nothing dramatic. But when I got back from my run, I realized someone had stolen my clothes, so I had to come back home still in my wolf form.” I told him, and this made him frown.

“That is strange, who would take your clothes,” he asked out loud.

“It must be the teenagers. I have been pranked like that before.” Mom replied as she gave me the salad dressing she just made. I poured the contents into the salad and started tossing the green veggies.

“I haven't experienced that before,” Marquez exclaimed.

“It happened a long time ago when Henry was still the beta. But after that incident, he warned all the teenagers and that never happened again.” Mom said.

“Well, I think I will have to do the same too. I mean, I don't think it's funny to steal someone’s clothes.” Marquez replied as he took the drinks to the table. Even though I was happy Marquez was going to warn the kids, my heart squeezed in agony when I realized that my mate couldn't care less what happened to me.

After the three of us arranged the table, Marquez left the kitchen to go and call everyone while Mom came and took a seat next to me. “What is on your agenda tomorrow?”

“Nothing, a few meetings, and I have to go to the bakery to bake a few cakes,” I answered.

“Would you like to go shopping with me?” Mom asked me, and I nodded my head. Right then, the men walked back into the kitchen and took their seats.

“Looks like you have cooked a feast, Aunt Sam,” Samuel said as his eyes twinkled while scanning everything that was on the table.

“I thought of renewing the weekly ritual that we used to have.” Mom said as she started plating the food and handing it over to everyone.

“I wouldn't say no to that,” Marquez said, and soon we began eating. Every bite of food that I took felt like it got stuck in my throat with the intense stare that Xavier was throwing at me. I looked up at him to see that he was glaring at me, and this made me quickly look down at my food again.

After dinner was done, everyone went to the living room. “Samuel?” I called out as he was about to leave the kitchen.

“Yes, Eleanor?”

“Can I speak to you for a moment?” I asked him, and he nodded his head. He walked out of the kitchen, and I followed him, and we walked out of the house through the back entrance. Once we were a safe distance away from the house, he turned around to face me.

“What is it, Eleanor?”

“Well, while I was on patrol today, I encountered two rogues who were inside our pack borders,” I said, and this made his body stiffen.

“Did they do anything to you?” he asked me, but I shook my head.

“No, they were only talking to each other before they left the pack.”

“Talking? What were they talking about?” Samuel asked me, so I told him everything I heard.

“I think someone inside the pack is helping them. But I don't know why they want to attack this pack.” I wondered, but I saw that Samuel looked stressed.

“This the very reason we are trying to form an alliance with other packs.” he began. “The rogues are getting out of hand. And they don't look like random attacks. They are well-coordinated, and I have a feeling that a war would knock at our door very soon.”

“Do you know why they are planning to attack?” I asked him, but he shook his head.

“That is what I am trying to figure out. We have captured a few rogues, and we tried everything to get them to speak, but they wouldn't utter a single word. And after twenty-fours of capturing them, they mysteriously die.” he said, and this sent a shiver down my spine.

“That is not possible. How do they die?”

“I don't know. I thought that Xavier was too harsh with them, so I forbade him from going to the cells, but even after doing that, they died.”

“I think they are being murdered, Samuel,” I said, and this made him look at me with shock.

“I had the same thought, but I didn't have any solid evidence to prove it after you said that, I think the person working inside my pack is responsible for this,” Samuel said, and I nodded my head. “Do you have any suspicions about anyone, Eleanor?” he asked me, and this made me freeze.

Ivan’s face came into my mind, but I shut my mouth. I can never accuse him of something so big unless I caught him in the act.

“Not yet, Samuel. But if I find anything, I will let you know.” I said, and he nodded his head.

“Let's head inside, it's getting cold outside,” Samuel suggested.

“You go in, I will come in later,”

“Thank you for sharing this information with me, Eleanor. But next time, please take someone with you on patrol.”

“I will be fine, Samuel.” I insisted.

“At least do it for me, Eleanor,” he asked me, so I nodded my head.