[Elara's POV]
"You're really giving him the core of the defense system?" Liana's jaw dropped after I told her the terms of my rejection.
"I'm giving him the system. Whether he can use it is another matter," I said coolly. "My work isn't that easy to handle."
Liana's expression immediately relaxed. She knew I always had a contingency. "And what about you? What are you getting from him?"
"I asked for one hundred and fifty-three Origin Crystals," I said. It was the only other demand I had made before leaving the Alpha's House.
"What? Only a hundred and fifty-three?" she cried. "You single-handedly built his Pack into what it is today! According to the Mate Law, you're entitled to half of everything!"
"The Blackwood Pack has no liquid assets. His cash flow is gone, and his properties are mortgaged to the Abundant Vein Consortium. Even if he has future profit rights, they won't mature for another three years. He couldn't pay me more even if I asked for it," I explained. "Besides, I just want this over with. I don't want to be tied to him any longer."
"Then you should have made him sign a contract! To give you your share in three years!" she argued.
I shook my head. "I don't think his profit rights will be worth anything in three years." I had no interest in fighting for a future that would be worthless.
Liana understood immediately. Kaelen, on his own, could never manage a Pack of this scale. The Blackwood Pack's success was entirely my creation. And Kaelen was completely oblivious to that fact. She shuddered to think what would become of his Pack in three years.
"Then why one hundred and fifty-three Origin Crystals? It's not even a round number," Liana asked, confused.
A bitter taste filled my mouth. "That was the death benefit the Elder Council paid out after my parents' sacrifice. I used that money to help Kaelen secure his position as Alpha. Now that we're settling our accounts, I want that, at least, back."
Liana's face contorted with rage. "That son of a bitch. He built his Pack on your parents' death benefit, and he couldn't even be bothered to go and receive their Spirit Stones. If your brother ever comes back and finds out you mated with a creature like that, he'll tear you a new one."
A sad smile touched my lips. "Yes. He would." My brother, who had always doted on me, had a sharp tongue but an ironclad sense of responsibility. I used to dread his lectures, which could go on for hours without a single curse word, until my ears were numb. But now… I missed the sound of his scolding.
"Just you wait. You'll be getting that lecture soon enough," Liana said gruffly.
I smiled. I knew she was just trying to comfort me, to give me hope that I would find him.
"After the rejection is finalized, I'll take my parents back to the western lands for their final rites. Then, I'm going to the border territories to search for my brother. It might be a while before I can officially start at the Azure Fang. But I'll work on the new defense system project in my spare time."
"Forget about work. Just go find your brother. Your position will be waiting for you whenever you're ready," Liana said, patting my shoulder. "I hope you find him soon."
I lowered my gaze. I will, I thought. I have to.
————
In the dining hall of the Stormcliff Pack, Seraphina looked at Kaelen. "She really agreed to give you the core of the defense system?"
"Yes. As long as I convene a Pack assembly and publicly announce our rejection, she'll hand it over," Kaelen said. He felt like a heel. He had never imagined he would use their bond as a bargaining chip. But the Pack's survival depended on it.
"And what about her? Did she make any demands?" Seraphina asked, a careful note in her voice. The less Elara gets, the more will be left for me, she thought.
"Nothing much. Just a payment of one hundred and fifty-three Origin Crystals as a settlement," Kaelen said.
"One hundred and fifty-three?" Seraphina was confused. "Why that number?"
"Who knows. She probably just picked a number at random." He had long since forgotten the amount of the first seed money he had ever received from me.
"And are you going to pay it?" she asked. One hundred and fifty-three was a small price to pay to make Kaelen single again.
Kaelen hesitated, his face flushing with embarrassment. In recent years, his success had made him generous. He was used to giving, not asking. Especially not for money. "Seraphina, there's something I need to discuss with you. As you know, the Pack's funds are tight. It would be difficult for me to come up with that many Origin Crystals right now, so I was hoping…"
"Oh…" Seraphina's face fell. "I've only just become War Master. I don't have that many crystals myself. My parents' wealth is mostly tied up in artifacts, jewelry, and land. We don't have much cash."
Disappointment flashed across Kaelen's face.
"I have about ten Origin Crystals. I can lend you those," she offered.
"It's fine. I'll figure something else out," Kaelen said. Ten was a drop in the ocean.
Seraphina looked guilty. "I'm sorry, Kaelen. I wish I could help."
"It's alright."
"But you don't necessarily have to give her cash," Seraphina suggested. "You could sign over the future profit rights to that non-tradable satellite mine you own. It would solve your cash flow problem."
Kaelen considered it. "That could work. I'll do that." He couldn't bring himself to borrow from anyone else.
After their meal, Kaelen walked Seraphina back to her quarters. As they entered the corridor, they saw me stepping out of the Stormcliff Alpha's office.
Our eyes met.
My face was a blank mask. I moved to walk past them, but Seraphina blocked my path. "Elara, what are you doing here?"
"None of your business," I said coldly.
"Don't lie! You were in my father's office, weren't you? You came here to complain, to slander me!" she accused. "I can't believe how petty you are. Instead of reflecting on why your own mating failed, you're trying to blame everyone else."
Kaelen's brow furrowed as he glared at me. "Did you really come here to file a complaint? If Seraphina suffers any unfair treatment in her own Pack because of you, I will not let you get away with it."
I looked at the two of them, and a cold, dead smile touched my lips. "Why would I bother complaining about someone I don't give a damn about? Kaelen, you're not worth that much to me."
The blood rushed to his face, a mixture of anger and humiliation.
I turned my gaze to Seraphina. "The reason my mating with Kaelen is over is because of him. If he had been loyal, if he had respected his mate, he never would have run to you time and time again. And if it hadn't been you, it would have been someone else. So, this piece of trash… I'm throwing him away. You're welcome to him."