The hidden piece

As much as you'd like to go and help her, she does need to calm down first, so you decide to follow Edward in the meantime. Besides that, once you find out what is really happening here, you'll know what you need to do to be able to fix things.

"Max, no ... please..."

Edward enters first.

"Guests?... welcome, welcome..." You hear from the bedroom. The voice is somewhat familiar, but you have trouble putting a face on it. "I'm sorry I can't get up to greet you..."

You finally see who the mystery man is. Tom is sitting on a chair, tied with heavy iron chains around his legs and hands. The chains dig into his flesh, creating a nasty looking wound. They look like they hurt like hell. He also has blood all over his shirt, which has dripped down, soaking the floor.

Has Leyla gone insane? What can she achieve by **** her boyfriend and torturing the poor guy? Did she tell him about that night and he wanted to break up? Is it my fault once again?

Your brain is working overtime to come up with a logical answer for what you see, so you end up standing in the doorway, blocking Amanda's way.

"Move!" you hear from behind.

Amanda's words divert Tom's attention from Edward, and you make eye contact.

"Oh, Max, you're also one of them? I should have known when you suddenly started to grow muscles ..."

"Tom, what the hell ..." You take a few steps forward wanting to untie your friend. Unfortunately, his words stop you.

"So what do the dogs want from me?"

"Wha..." You refused to believe your instincts at first, but now that he said it, you can't unsee it. It's as if a veil has been lifted. The smell is not from the blood on his clothes but from his body. He smells like a damn vampire. "When... How?" you ask in disbelief.

"Tom Barley?" says Edward.

"The one and only! Can you hurry up? It's hard to breathe in here. You guys smell like shit..."

Having had enough of his antics, Edwards simply kicks him in the chest, sending him flying off his chair.

"Hey, what the hell are you doing..." you immediately react and push past Edward to help Tom. He is your best friend after all.

*cough* *cough* "Fucking hell, You must be the queen bitch, huh? You hit like a girl!"

"Are you nuts? Stop talking!" you snap at him. Vampire or not, he is all alone and surrounded by wolves everywhere. It's in his best interest to shut up and comply with everything.

"Stay away from me, you fucking monster." He snaps back when you try to help him up from the ground. "Even my mother-in-law is one of them."

"Who's your mother-in-law? Leyla will get over you easily. I'll make sure she finds someone more suitable, and once you disappear, she will forget you ever existed. In fact, she already has someone else."

"No doubt. I heard you guys fuck each other like animals. You have no decency at all..."

"What do..." Amanda starts talking but gets interrupted.

"Are you done?" Edward interjects.

"Yes," She responds obediently.

"Good. Now let's get to why we're here. I believe you already know each other, isn't that right, Max?"

"Yes"

"Then you can kill him."

"What?"

"We can't let him go since he is the former boyfriend of a pack member. Especially when she still holds feelings for him. They would be a huge liability. One that the pack can't afford at the moment."

"We cannot kill him!"

He frowns at your reaction. "That's an order! You wouldn't collude with a vampire against your Alpha, would you, Max?"