Mated To The Crippled Alpha-Chapter 304: Sister’s Help

I used to believe Lewis was the one person in this world who would never make me cry.

He loved me in that quiet, fierce way that left no room for doubt. He never let anyone wrong me. Never let me feel small. Never let me stand alone.

So how could he be the reason my chest hurt like this?

But the moment I thought about what he might have silently given up for me... the tears came anyway. They weren’t loud. They just fell, one after another, like my body couldn’t hold them back.

I turned on the tap and splashed water on my face, letting it run down my cheeks so it looked like nothing. Like I wasn’t breaking in the bathroom while my mate waited in the next room.

Lewis... what did I do to deserve you?

What did I do to deserve someone who would trade away everything for me... even his own life?

I sank to the floor and hugged my knees tight. My instincts paced inside me, restless and angry, like a caged thing. It wasn’t us who deserved to suffer. It was the devils who started all this.

So why did Lewis and I have to pay the price?

Amber wasn’t ordinary. One glance at that stone and she knew its origin. Its purpose. The way her eyes sharpened on me... it felt like she wasn’t just seeing my face. It felt like she was seeing through me.

When she spoke those strange words... did she already guess who I really was?

How could a stranger even think of something as crazy as a soul coming back?

Unless...

She was involved too.

Peter. Amber.

My mind ran in circles, connecting dots that didn’t want to connect. Could they be the missing Hale twins?

But Peter didn’t look like Adam. He didn’t resemble Julian either.

Unless their faces had been altered.

Then another thought slammed into me if they were the twins, it still didn’t make sense. Weren’t they the ones who caused the accident? The one that nearly destroyed Esther... and Lewis?

And yet, if they truly wanted Lewis harmed, they had years. Countless openings. But today, they treated him with warmth. Familiarity.

The truth was right in front of me, but it felt covered in fog. Every time I reached for it, it slid away.

Where did I go wrong?

One thing was clear, though.

Even if they showed Lewis kindness, it didn’t mean they would treat me the same way.

Especially if Amber had figured out my identity.

Then I was the one in danger.

They had tried to kill me once already.

They could try again.

I had to stay away from them.

I forced my breathing to slow. I washed my face properly, pressed a towel to my eyes until the redness faded, and walked out like nothing happened.

Lewis was already in his pajamas.

He stepped close and gently placed the Soulstone back around my neck, his hands careful, almost reverent. The stone was cold when it touched my chest. I shivered without meaning to.

He noticed immediately and rubbed it between his palms, warming it before letting it settle against my skin again.

So gentle.

So attentive.

And suddenly I couldn’t bear to meet his eyes.

"Lewis," I said softly, keeping my voice even, "I’m going to check on Riley."

"Okay," he replied, relaxed, trusting.

I used to think that stone was my lucky charm.

Now it felt like a bell tied to my throat. Like an omen I couldn’t take off.

As I turned the corner on the stairs, feathers drifted through the air like snow.

I stopped.

Riley and Harlan had somehow ripped open a pillow, and the down was everywhere. The hallway looked like a storm had passed through it.

In the middle of the feathers, Riley was sitting on Harlan’s waist, laughing as she smacked him with the pillow like it was a weapon and he was her prisoner.

Their carefree energy hit me like sunlight. For a second, it made my heavy heart lift.

Harlan had to be too lenient with her. That was the only way she could pin him down like this and get away with it.

I leaned against the stair rail and let out a wry smile. "Wow. Very... peaceful."

Riley froze mid-swing and dropped the pillow, suddenly noticing the mess around her. "Um... I didn’t mean for it to explode. It’s Harlan’s fault. He tempted me."

Harlan looked offended. "All I did was kiss you once. Why are you acting like I committed a crime?"

Riley’s eyes widened. "How dare you say that out loud, you rogue!"

They went back and forth, playful and loud, like nothing in the world could touch them.

And my chest tightened again.

I wanted to be like that too. I wanted to curl into Lewis’s arms and believe everything was safe. That nothing had a hidden cost.

But the truth sat on my shoulders like weight. And I couldn’t stop thinking about how much Lewis must have been carrying alone, keeping secrets that cut him first.

I cleared my throat. "Mr. Pearson. Riley and I need to talk. Privately. Can you let her go?"

Riley slid off his lap quickly and grabbed my hand, dragging me into the bedroom like she’d been waiting for an excuse.

The moment the door shut, she spoke in a rush. "Elena, I swear it wasn’t on purpose! He just leaned in and his lips were like puckered and I didn’t even have time to react!"

I couldn’t help smiling, even with everything twisting inside me. "Why are you explaining to me? I’m not your headmistress. I’m not here to ban you from seeing boys."

Riley blinked. "Then why "

"Riley," I said, lowering my voice, "I need your help."

Her face turned serious immediately. "What is it?"

"I need you to come with me to that town again," I said. "But this time... Lewis can’t know."

Riley frowned. "Why? You two are always together."

"It’s a long story," I said, choosing my words carefully. "But it’s important. Not just for me. For Lewis too."

I paused, then added, "Harlan can’t know either. Tell him you miss your mom, and I’ll go with you."

Riley studied me for a beat, like she was weighing the danger in my eyes. Then she nodded slowly. "Okay. I understand."

I grabbed her hand tighter. "Riley, I’m not joking. If this gets out... one of us Lewis or me might end up dead."

Her face drained. "Don’t say that."

"I’m serious," I whispered. "I think someone might already be watching me. We need my dad to pick us up. It’ll be safer that way."

Riley swallowed hard, then nodded again. "Okay. I’ll get Dad to arrange a private plane. Don’t worry."

Her grip on my hand became firm, protective, like she was bracing herself to stand in front of me if she had to.

"This time," she said solemnly, "with me, Lewis, and my parents... we’ll protect you. No one is hurting you again."

Her words hit me in the softest part of my chest. I pulled her into a tight hug.

"Thank you, Riley," I whispered.

She hugged me back just as hard. "No. Thank you, Elena. You saved our family once."

Then she leaned back and tried to smile through her own fear.

"This time," she said, voice steady, "the odds will be on your side."