Chapter 2
Elara's POV
The evening stretched out calm and hushed, the one stretch of time that truly belonged to me. Even with all the mistreatment I endured, they at least let me rest undisturbed at night, figuring it helped my blood regenerate properly.
These quiet hours had become my absolute favorite. It was the only window I had to sneak away and see the person I loved most, without anyone spying on me.
A soft, familiar rap at my door pulled me from my thoughts. I hurriedly shoved my ripped dress under the bed, stole a quick peek in the mirror to check that I looked presentable, and then cracked the door open.
"Hey there, Elara?" Kael's voice came out in a gentle murmur, like he was worried about rousing the whole place.
Just seeing him made my heart flutter with joy. I broke into a big smile.
"You made it," I breathed, stepping aside and pulling the door wider.
Kael slipped into my cramped little space, and I shut the door softly behind him. I felt a rush of relief that he'd managed to show up tonight.
Prince Kael was hands down the brightest spot in my life within this pack. As the Alpha's son and the next in line, he was the only one who actually gave a damn about me, checking in on how my day had gone every single night.
Sure, he could only drop by after dark, but I treasured every second we shared anyway.
"How's my princess holding up today?" he asked, his eyes locking onto mine.
I moved closer, slipping my arms around his waist, brushing off the faint twinges of pain in my limbs.
"I'm worn out tonight, but you being here makes it all okay," I murmured.
It wasn't just exhaustion, though—I was in real pain. My body still throbbed from Seraphina's earlier attack. But I'd gotten pretty good at hiding it all. I didn't want to burden him, so I acted like I wasn't the one they drained like a resource every day.
Kael wrapped me in his arms and planted a kiss on the top of my head. At five-foot-seven, I felt tiny next to him—he loomed way above me. He held me carefully, almost like he thought I might break if he squeezed too hard.
"You can hold me closer, you know," I mumbled, breathing in his comforting sandalwood aroma.
I felt him draw in a long breath before he eased back and sat down on my bed. Kael looked beat himself. Those dark circles under his eyes were prominent, and his shirt buttons were all messed up. It brought a small smile to my face, reminding me that he wasn't flawless either.
"I'm really sorry I haven't been able to come see you this past week. Things have been hectic, and with the mating ceremony on the horizon, I've been getting ready to step up once I find my mate."
My heart stuttered at the word "mate."
I shook my head—no need for apologies from him.
"It's okay. You're about to become Alpha, and..." I trailed off, a knot of fear forming about the ceremony ahead.
"And you'll be my Luna," he finished, taking my shaky hands in his.
My eyes went wide for a second. Was I that transparent?
"I know what's running through your mind, Elara, and I promise it won't happen like that. I love you, and I'll pick you to be my Luna. If the Moon Goddess pairs me with someone else, I'll turn her down so I can stay with you."
"Really?" I asked, feeling a wave of uncertainty.
Rejecting a mate wasn't unheard of, but most alphas stuck with whoever they got, love or no love.
"Yeah, we've been together for three years now. I can't imagine a better Luna for the pack."
His reassurance dissolved all my worries. Yeah, we'd been seeing each other in secret for three whole years. Time had slipped by so quickly—now I was nineteen, and he was twenty-one.
For regular wolves, mates usually showed up around eighteen, but lycans only discovered theirs under a full moon during the mating ceremony.
I desperately wanted to be Kael's. I'd begged the Moon Goddess not to tear us apart. If he wasn't meant for me, my place in the pack would crumble, and my suffering would only get worse.
Kael looked at me with those intense brown eyes, like warm coffee.
"I love you, Kael," I said, a little breathless.
"I love you too," he answered, giving my arm a gentle tug. I followed, and he drew me in for a kiss.
Everything else faded away, leaving just us in that perfect bubble. I kissed him back, channeling all the pent-up yearning and affection, hoping it would chase off the nagging doubts in my mind.
Before I could blink, the mating ceremony was right around the corner. Nerves twisted inside me because tonight could either break me completely or turn everything around. I was praying for the good outcome.
I smoothed out my worn blue dress with the iron, studying my reflection. My face hadn't changed much in three years—still ghostly pale, with shadowed eyes and flushed cheeks.
Others might call me pretty, but I never saw it that way. Kael's voice echoed in my head from one night.
"You're the most stunning girl I've ever seen," he'd whispered in my ear, thinking I was asleep before he slipped out.
It was the sweetest thing anyone had ever said to me, and for a brief moment, I believed it. Then Seraphina would snap me back to reality, calling me nothing more than a walking blood supply.
I gave myself one final look before heading out. Dr. Alder was waiting right outside my door. I wasn't really allowed to join the ceremony since no one wanted me there, but he insisted I come along in case of any emergencies.
We made our way to the garden, where all the young women were chattering excitedly. They were decked out in gorgeous gowns, looking every bit like royalty—nothing like me.
Dr. Alder led me to a spot off to the side, where I stood alone.
"Why the heck is that weirdo here?" a girl named Talia muttered when she spotted me.
"You think she's actually gonna find a mate tonight?" Ivy snickered to her friend, and they all burst into giggles.
I tried tuning them out, but they were talking loud enough for me to hear on purpose. I gripped my dress tightly and focused on Kael instead.
The full moon was high, so he should appear any second.
And there he was. Kael strode into the center of the clearing with effortless confidence. He carried himself like a true prince, radiating power and charisma that drew everyone's eyes.
I slipped away from the group and positioned myself on the far side of the garden, near the entrance. If he wasn't my mate, I planned to sneak off quietly and cry it out alone.
The moment arrived, and we all held our breath. Suddenly, a guy growled and charged toward a girl, scooping her up and kissing her with pure joy. Everyone clapped for them—he'd found his match.
I kept my eyes on Kael as he scanned the crowd, and for a heartbeat, his gaze landed on me. My pulse froze. He saw me.
My wolf, dormant for so long, stirred inside and let out a soft growl. Chills raced over my skin, and the air filled with scents of cinnamon and lotus.
His nose twitched, and he started toward me. He halted a short distance away, staring deep into my eyes. "Mate," he rumbled, and shocked gasps rippled through the crowd.
A huge grin spread across my face. Happiness flooded me like never before. The Moon Goddess had listened to my pleas, and I silently thanked her for granting my wish.
I dashed forward and launched myself at him, but to my horror, he stepped aside, and I crashed to the ground.
"Unbelievable," he grumbled, and his expression hardened—jaw tight, eyes cold and furious in a way I'd never seen.
"Ka... Kael," I stammered, scrambling up. "What's going on? This is what we've wanted, right?"
"Shut your mouth!" he barked, jabbing a finger at me.
"This can't be real. You can't be my mate," he snarled.
My mouth fell open, and I felt my wolf whimper inside.
"Wait, what do you mean? You promised..."
"I promised you nothing, you freak!" he shouted, advancing on me menacingly.
I stood there, stunned. This had to be some nightmare, didn't it?
"The Moon Goddess must be messing with me. Did you really think I'd accept you? A girl who's been violated!" He spat on the dirt in disgust.
I blinked hard, praying this was a dream. The cruel figure before me couldn't be my Kael. My Kael would never hurl such words at me.
I hadn't been raped—he knew that. I'd been attacked, but he rescued me just in time. He'd sworn his love, vowed to do whatever it took to make me happy. So why this sudden flip?
I looked around at the mocking grins on everyone's faces. It was too much, and I lunged forward, clutching his shirt.
"Please, Kael, did I do something? If I did, forgive me. Why are you acting like this?" My voice shook as tears poured out.
Kael shoved my hands off and erupted into wild laughter. The other girls joined in, cackling along.
"You seriously believed I was in love with you?" he jeered.
My lips quivered, tears blurring my vision.
He fixed me with a glare and declared, "I, Kael Lincoln, reject you, Elara, as my mate."