Chapter 79
ELARA’S POV
The time since Ronan’s unexpected appearance had blurred into a haze of strained interactions and uncomfortable incidents. His unyielding determination to remain in the Lycan territory had turned into the hottest topic of gossip around the palace, murmured quietly among the chattering staff and argued over by the puzzled council members.
A werewolf Alpha essentially setting up camp in their most secure stronghold, all because of some ordinary blood healer and claims of love? It felt like a direct slap to their power, a bold defiance of their control, and honestly, completely absurd.
And there wasn’t a single thing I could do to change it. Every effort to talk sense into Ronan, to highlight how ridiculous the whole setup was, met with that same stubbornly fixed stare and the aggravatingly straightforward assertion.
‘I’m not going anywhere without you. End of story.’
Dodging both him and Kael had become my main occupation. Which was turning out to be quite the challenge, given that I was stuck in a palace with few spots to hide and two incredibly persistent figures in charge. On top of that, the wonderful little secret I was concealing from Ronan—one that would crank the drama up to unbearable levels—and I was convinced I was heading straight for a total meltdown.
A weary breath left my mouth as I perched on the side of my bed, my fingers pressing firmly against my pounding forehead. The pain had been steadily intensifying for hours, a persistent, throbbing discomfort that felt like it might burst right behind my eyelids. Rubbing my temples provided a brief moment of relief, but it was about as effective as dousing a massive blaze with a tiny splash of water.
All at once, my stomach twisted fiercely, and I dashed toward the bathroom, just barely reaching the sink or toilet in time before everything I’d eaten decided to make a dramatic exit. I dropped to my knees on the cool floor, heaving and coughing, feeling absolutely wretched and revolted.
Right at that instant, the door let out a soft creak, and I tilted my head, squinting against the brightness, to spot Clara framed in the entrance, her expression frozen in astonishment and dismay.
“Miss Elara!” She exclaimed, hurrying over to kneel next to me. Her gaze roamed quickly over my form, hunting for any other signs of trouble—or whatever she thought might be wrong.
“Are you okay? What on earth happened? Did you eat something bad?”
“I’m alright,” I croaked, dabbing at my mouth with the cuff of my sweater. “It just… hit me out of nowhere.” I attempted to muster a comforting grin, but I’m positive it came across more like a pained wince.
My inner wolf was feeling off too; maybe this was another bout of morning sickness tied to the pregnancy, or perhaps something more? A side effect of all the pressure? I suppose even a blood healer, regardless of their abilities, couldn’t outsmart biology. I felt awful, but calling for a healer would be too risky—just one simple examination, and they’d uncover that I was expecting. It would only take a single person finding out, and no matter how much Kael intimidated them, eventually, the truth would leak out.
And to be honest, my belly was expanding a little more each day. I seriously doubted I’d manage to conceal it much longer.
Clara’s expression softened with sympathy, and she let out a concerned breath. “Hold on, Miss Elara. I’ll prepare a bath for you and tidy this up. Would you like me to bring you some food?”
“No,” I shook my head, the motion stirring up another ripple of queasiness. “Eating… not at the moment, definitely not. I’m just so annoyed and unsettled. Though maybe something warm to drink could settle things.”
“Got it,” she agreed, her forehead still wrinkled with worry. “I have just the right remedy in mind, but first, you need to soak.” She carefully assisted me up and led me over to the toilet seat, where I collapsed heavily. My eyes tracked her every action as she moved efficiently around the bathroom, her face still showing clear signs of anxiety, but my thoughts were trapped in the unending turmoil that had overtaken my existence.
How was I supposed to navigate all of this? Especially, how could I slip away from Darius without putting at risk everyone I held dear? I couldn’t possibly bring my child into a reality like this, one where their mother was pursued like some fugitive.
What could be a more merciless twist of destiny than that?
After soaking in the soothing bath Clara had drawn, infused with calming lavender essences, I slipped into bed and drifted into a deep slumber, giving strict orders that nobody—not even Kael or Ronan—was permitted to enter my space.
I craved solitude, a refuge from the relentless strain and expectations.
Bless Kael for grasping what I required. He understood the strain the pregnancy was placing on me—the erratic emotional shifts, abrupt bouts of sickness, and crushing weariness. Ronan, conversely, was like a pressure bomb waiting to detonate, and revealing our child to him would only heighten the intensity.
I roused from my rest, the room bathed in the soft glow of the late afternoon sunlight seeping through the drapes. The headache had dulled to a faint pulse, and the nausea had faded, leaving only a mild discomfort in its wake. I got up, feeling a bit more refreshed. I snatched a light wrap from the chair and resolved to go for a stroll to breathe in some crisp air. Since shifting wasn’t an option due to the pregnancy, I had to discover alternative methods to satisfy that urge.
“Miss Elara,” Liam acknowledged as I emerged from my room, his posture instantly sharpening to alertness.
I gave him a faint, fatigued smile. “I’m heading out for a bit of fresh air. Liam, I take it you’ll be coming along?”
“Naturally. My role is to protect you, wherever you might go.”
A quiet sigh slipped from me as I nodded. “You’re correct. That’s what you were tasked with—I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize,” He responded with a slight grin. “At least for once, I’ve been given a meaningful assignment.”
I let out a soft laugh and kept quiet. We descended the staircase, our footfalls resonating gently in the serene corridor. As we reached the bottom, I spotted a silhouette lurking in the dimness by one of the grand windows. It was a sentinel, but not one I knew.
Abruptly, as though he detected us, he pivoted to look at me, offered a hasty bow, and then strode off.
“Liam,” I murmured. “Who was that?”
Liam’s eyes narrowed as he tracked the guard’s retreating form. “I’m not sure, Miss Elara. He’s not assigned to this area, and I don’t recall ever seeing his face around here.”
But I had. I thought to myself—I couldn’t quite pinpoint it, but that visage seemed known, and so did the odd vibe surrounding him. I’d encountered him previously, for sure. But where?