Chapter 77
Elena's POV
The elevator ride down felt endless.
Father and Marcus walked ahead, already deep in animated discussion about ceremony venues and guest lists. Their voices echoed in the narrow space, cheerful and businesslike, as if they'd just finalized a merger rather than my entire future.
"The engagement should be held at Blackwood Manor, naturally," Marcus was saying. "We'll invite all the major pack leaders as witnesses. Show the territories that our alliance is solid."
"Perfect," Father nodded eagerly. "And for the bonding ceremony after graduation, perhaps we could—"
I stood at the back of the elevator, pressed against the cold metal wall. Mother's hand gripped mine lightly, but she said nothing. Just stood there.
Damon lingered near the doors, shoulders tense, staring at the descending floor numbers.
Say something, I thought desperately.
The elevator dinged. Parking garage.
---
Damon's POV
We stood in the parking garage, supposedly saying goodbye, but really just prolonging this nightmare.
Dad and Elena's father were still talking—something about financial arrangements. I'd stopped listening ten minutes ago.
I pulled Elena aside, lowering my voice. "The things they said up there... about the engagement..." I hesitated, searching her face for some reaction. "That was just to make Grandpa feel better, right? We don't have to—"
"Damon!" Dad's voice boomed across the garage. "Come here. We need to discuss the timeline."
Elena's mouth opened, but before she could answer, Marcus was already pulling me toward where he and Donald stood by the cars.
"The engagement should happen within the month," Marcus was saying, his tone brooking no argument.
"We'll need to arrange for Elena to move into the estate after graduation, to begin her training—"
"Wait." The word burst out of me before I could stop it. "You're planning all this without even asking—"
Marcus's hand clamped down on my shoulder, hard enough to hurt. His smile didn't waver, but his eyes turned to ice. "Asking what, exactly?"
I swallowed. "If I... if we..."
"If you what?" His grip tightened. "If you want to keep chasing after that woman? Is that what you're trying to say?"
"She's—" I started, but Marcus cut me off.
"She's nothing." His voice dropped to a lethal whisper meant only for me. "She's the daughter of a failure who lost everything in a pathetic power grab. She brings nothing to this family except shame."
The words hit like a punch.
Marcus turned to Elena's father, his expression smoothing. "Forgive the interruption. My son is still adjusting to the weight of his responsibilities. But I assure you, Elena will be treated with the respect and status she deserves as future Luna of the Vance pack."
Donald practically glowed with relief. "Of course, of course. We have complete faith in your family's integrity."
I looked past them to where Elena stood. She hadn't moved. Hadn't reacted. Just stood there like a statue.
A surge of anger rose in my chest.
---
Elena's POV
Something cracked in Damon's expression. Frustration, resentment.
"You know what?" His voice rose, sharp and cutting. "If you all want this so badly, maybe you should marry her yourselves!"
The garage fell silent.
Damon's chest heaved. "I won't accept that. Elena was never what I wanted!"
The words echoed off the concrete walls, brutal and vicious.
I felt them hit me like physical blows. My vision blurred.
Marcus's hand flew up, and for a second I thought he was actually going to strike Damon. But Isabella caught his wrist, her expression calm though her grip was firm.
Mother stepped in front of me. "Our daughter is not a consolation prize to be rejected in a parking garage."
Father shot her a sharp glance—but she ignored him.
"Elena has choices," Mother continued, her voice growing stronger. "She's not desperate."
"Vivian—" Father began, warning in his tone.
But Mother wasn't finished. Her hand tightened on my arm, protective in a way she hadn't been in years. "We'll discuss this properly. When everyone has cooled down."
Marcus exhaled slowly, visibly forcing himself back under control. He looked past Mother to me, his expression smoothing into something almost apologetic. "When Randy is stable, we'll arrange a formal meeting to finalize details. Elena—" his gaze found mine. "—you won't regret this choice. The Vance family keeps its word."
Mother guided me toward our car, her hand steady on my back. Father followed reluctantly, clearly disappointed to end the conversation but unwilling to contradict his wife in front of Marcus.
Mother and I got into the back seat, Father sliding in last. As the car started, I turned my head.
Damon stood in the garage, frozen between his parents. His eyes found mine across the narrowing gap.
For that suspended moment, we just stared at each other.
---
Damon's POV
I escaped the garage, unable to face the drive home with my parents. Unable to face their lectures, their endless expectations.
My phone buzzed. Scarlett's name lit up the screen.
My thumb hovered over the keyboard. I wanted to reply. Wanted to sink into the easy comfort of her messages, where I didn't feel like a constant disappointment.
But something stopped me.
Elena's eyes.
That look she gave me as the car doors closed. I couldn't shake it.
Over the years, I'd seen Elena look at me in a thousand different ways.
But I'd never seen that expression.
That complete and utter absence.
Like she'd finally stopped seeing me as someone worth caring about. Like she'd looked at me and decided I wasn't worth the effort anymore.