Elara
I didn't sleep.
I'm not sure I even closed my eyes.
As Adrian carried me farther into pack territory, the trees blurred past me, my body nestled against his chest as though I might break if he let go. The moon sunk lower but never lost its presence. Like it was watching, waiting, it stayed in my bones and murmured quietly.
Anticipation of me accepting something I was not ready to identify.
We passed an invisible line, and the air became clear suddenly.
It appeared heavier. Senior. Charged. "This is Oakhaven," Selena remarked as we slowed. "Pack lands.
Had I not been paralyzed, I could have laughed at the understatement.
Around a large valley stood enormous trees, their trunks inscribed with symbols that murmured softly as I walked by. The cabins were strewn around the clearing, naturally mixing with the trees as though they had sprung there rather than been constructed. Some half-shifted, some human wolves stopped in mid-motion and gazed at me. At our site.
Whispers spread outward.
That's her. The connection burst open. "She stopped a rogue without touching him."
Every word seemed like a burden on my chest.
Adrian placed me gently down, but his hands remained attached to me. One arm wrapped around my waist, possessive and grounding all at once.
I saw the looks first. Curiosity. Awe. Fear as well as hatred.
A tall man approached, his face carved with authority and his dark hair dragged back from a furious expression. His gaze moved from me to Adrian and turned flinty.
"So it's true," he remarked. You brought her here.
Adrian replied coolly, "Darius". "Stand down. "
Darius sneered. "You no longer have the authority to issue directives. Not once you had left.
My belly churned. Left behind from what source?
Selene interjected between them. " Enough. The girl hardly made it through an erratic attack and an unbridled surge. Should you have issues, bring them up later.
Darius turned to me, sharp and evaluating. She is a person.
Selene said, "She was." Not now.
Darius saw something flashing in his eyes. like alarm.
"Get her inside," Selene instructed. "Ward the perimeter". Two patrols. If the rascals find her, others will also.
With military accuracy, the pack sprang into motion immediately.
Adrian led me toward the biggest cabin in the clearing's center. Each move seemed strange as though I were going across someone else's nightmare.
Inside, the scent of cedar and something musky enveloping me was warm. The fireplace murmured faintly, creating shadows on the walls.
The door closed behind us. Adrian only then let go at last.
I swirled. He got me right away again. "Sit."
I collapsed onto the couch, my hands still slightly shaking. The silver sheen had gone now, but I could sense it coiled and restless under my skin.
Arms crossed, Selene leant against the far wall. "You're managing better than most."
"That doesn't reassure me," I croaked.
Her lips flicked. "No" Still, it's amazing."
I turned to Adrian. "You knew," I murmured.
His shoulders clenched.
I went on, "You knew about werewolves." "Regarding packs". Concerning bonds. You still let me..
He spoke curtly, "I let you do nothing." "I aimed to avoid."
I giggled, hollow and brittle. "You became my teacher."
His jaw tightened. "To safeguard you." "From what?" I lost it. "The reality?"
Between us stretched silence, thick and weighty.
Selene observed intently. "Maybe this talk should wait."
"No," I added. "I want answers now."
Adrian exhaled slowly, like he was getting ready for a crash. He said, "I felt the bond the moment you kissed me." "But at first I didn't realize it was you. I just knew my partner was close by.
Mate? The word caused agonising constriction of my chest still.
"I suspected when I smelled you in the hallway. My grasp practically shattered as my wolf responded so vehemently. You were nevertheless human. Not yet old enough. Not touched by the awakening.
"So you stayed," I said harshly. Observed me.
"I stayed because if I hadn't," he murmured, "someone else would have found you. And they would not have given a damn about your readiness.
Selene pushed off the wall. "Adrian's restraint is the sole reason you weren't hauled years ago."
I frowned. "Taken by whom?"
She met my gaze unwaveringly. "The Council." The word gave me goosebumps.
"You said my father was executed," I replied. "Why?" Selene stopped herself.
Adrian spoke instead. "Because he opposed the power of the Council. He thought that people like him and you should not be ruled by fear and that ancient bloodlines should be respected.
They killed him for this?
"They made an example of him," Selene remarked flatly. "And when you were born, they marked you."
My breath stopped. "Marked me how?"
She moved closer. "With a dormant seal. One who kept your wolf down until the connection made it come alive.
I shook my head. "Thus, my whole life.."
"Was closely watched," Selene completed. "Every move. Every Record. Even your college.
My heart throbbed violently. "Crestwood High?"
Adrian nodded darkly. Constructed near ley lines. A place to keep awakenings under control.
"Under control?" I turned sharply. "So my life was not mine. It was a waiting room.
"Elara," Adrian said, trying to reach for me.
I pulled away. "Don't you touch me." The ache in his eyes ran far, yet I could not stop.
"You saw me fall in love with Mark," I replied. You watched him hurt me.
His voice broke. "I didn't ever want you to suffer."
"But you let me". The room sank into quiet.
Clearing her throat, Selene straightened up. "There's a lot you have yet to learn."
I turned toward her abruptly. "Naturally, there is."
She said, "The Council does not just want you dead." "They want total control of you."
My heart sank. "Control how?" She waited before replying.
Adrian did indeed. Quietly he remarked, "They can force a bond." "Override option. Connect you to someone loyal to them.
The space spun around. "You mean," I murmured, "they might make me.."
" Mate someone else," Selene advised. "Yes."
A terrible, irrational, and horrifying agony tore across my chest, sharp and visceral.
Adrian shared it too.
He stumbled somewhat, one hand on the wall, eyes flaming as his wolf came perilously near to the surface.
"No," he snarled. "They will not touch her."
Selene observed him closely. You are not alpha any more.
"I don't need a title to kill," he retorted. I gazed at him dumbfoundedly.
Softly I asked, "You would start a war?"
"For you?" His unreserved and raw eyes met mine. "without thinking twice."
My heart shattered. Before I could react, the cabin reverberated with a piercing knock.
Selene tightened. "Enter."
A young woman appeared behind the door, her demeanor strained. She remarked, "Alpha Selene." The perimeter wards just tripped.
Adrian froze still. How?
She remarked slowly, "They weren't breached." "They were recognized."
The sense struck us suddenly.
Selene's expression turned hard. "They're already inside.
Far off, a low, powerful, unknown wail swept across the valley.
Every fibre in my being cried out.
Adrian replied darkly, "That's not a rogue."
Council Enforcers, Selene verified.
My heart pounded in my ears. "They're here... for me?"
"Yes," she replied simply. "And Elara, this is the problem."
The cabin lights winked.
The fire blazed unusually high.
I felt the tug again, more powerful than before, pulling something up from way inside my chest.
"They know you've awakened," Selene kept going. "And if they arrive this fast...?"
Her focus fixed on mine.
"They are not here to discuss."
Outside, the howls grew.
Adrian took my hand firmly. He pleaded, "listen to me. If things get tough, you run. Keep moving forward; avoid looking back.
My eyesight went blurry. "I'm tired of running."
His gaze turned soft. "Then fight." The cabin door blew open inward.
...and everything went to hell.