A New Plan

A New Plan

Chapter 47
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Elena

Kael didn’t speak to me all day.
He sat at the war table with the generals. I stood beside him like usual, but he didn’t look at me. He didn't even ask if I slept well, and that's when I knew I screwed up.
Well I didn’t blame him, but I'd be lying if I said it didn't hurt.
Every time I opened my mouth, I stopped myself.
Every time I turned to him, he looked the other way.
Even when the meeting ended, he didn’t say goodbye. He just got up and left the room.
And I stood there like a ghost.
I walked to the training grounds after.
It wasn’t to train, It was to see the younger wolves training.
That’s where I found Rhea. She had a blade in her hand, slicing through the air with clean swings. She saw me and paused.
“You look like shit,” she said.
“Thanks.”
She chuckled and grabbed a towel, then tossed it at me.
I caught it.
“Come on, you are too dull today,” She said.
I didn't respond back. What was I even supposed to say?
She took in a few deep breaths. “He’s not talking to you, is he?”
“Nope.”
She nodded. “I thought as much.”
There was silence for a while, only the sound of steel hitting targets.
Then she said, “You should tell him everything.”
“I did.”
“Tell him again.”
“I don’t think he wants to hear it.”
“Well too bad. If you want him, fight for him.”
I looked at her. “Are you on my side?”
“I’m on the side of the truth. I’m not sure which one of you has it yet.”
That stung more than I wanted it to, but I nodded.
Fair enough.
Later that afternoon, I went to Kael’s office. I waited outside until the others left, then I slipped in.
He was at his desk, reading a report.
He didn’t look up. I stood there for a full minute before I spoke.
“I just want to talk.”
He didn’t stop writing. “I’m busy.”
“I know.”
He still didn’t look at me.
“Look,” I exhaled deeply. “I’m not making excuses,” I said. “I messed up, and I know that.”
He still didn't say anything.
“But I walked out. I stopped it, doesn’t that count for something?”
He finally looked up. His eyes were cold.
“I don’t want pieces, Elena,” he said. “I want all of you, and if even one part of you still wants him…”
“I don’t.”
“You hesitated.”
“Only because I was shocked, not because I wanted him.”
He leaned back in his chair. “Do you know how hard it is to sit beside you and wonder if you’re still thinking about him?”
I shook my head. “I’m not.”
“I want to believe you,” he said. “But right now, I can’t.”
His words broke me a little more than I thought they would.
But I nodded. “Okay.”
I walked out, and heaven knew I was so close to shutting down.

Elara

The walls had ears, and so did I.
I heard them. I heard everything.
Kael shutting her out, Elena begging in her quiet way.
It was pathetic, and yet quite interesting.
I smiled to myself. It was a perfect chance to slip through this crack.
Lucian was pacing outside the main wing when I found him. He looked pretty annoyed.
“Still waiting for her to fall into your arms?” I asked.
He glared at me. “She’s more stubborn than I thought.”
“She’s broken. You just picked the wrong crack to press on.”
“She kissed me.”
“Barely,” I said. “And now she regrets it. You need a new plan.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Got one?”
I shrugged. “You want her? Break Kael first.”
He tilted his head. “Go on.”
“Make Kael doubt her more, show the rest of the pack that she’s unstable, let him feel like she’s a liability.”
“But of course, you need to be careful. Kael is still the Alpha, and he can exile you at any point.”
“He will need approval from the council before getting rid of a loyal beta like me.”
“Loyal? You?” I laughed out loud. “Whatever, I just want Kael to myself, and you can have my sister.”
Lucian smirked. “And I suppose you’ll help?”
“I’m bored,” I said. “I might as well have fun.”
He laughed, and we shook hands like devils.


Elena
In the evening, I went to the garden with Myra.
She was a nature lover, so we enjoyed the quietness. I also needed it too.
We sat in the grass under the old tree.
“Did something happen?” she asked.
I smiled at her. “Why?”
“You look sad.”
Kids always knew.
“I made a mistake,” I said. “And someone I care about won’t forgive me yet.”
She thought about it. Then said, “Say sorry with cake.”
I laughed. “That works for you?”
“All the time.”
“Seems solid, I'll try that method some times.” I said laughing.
That night, I knocked on Kael’s door with a tray in my hand.
It was some sliced coconut bread, tea and cake. It was his favourite.
There was no answer.
I knocked again. “I’m not here to talk, just eat something.”
Still nothing.
I sighed and left the tray on the floor. I walked back to my room all cold and alone.
But when I came back in the morning…The tray was empty.
He really was stubborn.
Rhea
I watched her leave the tray, and I watched him open the door later and stare at it.
He didn’t smile, but he took it inside.
At least he didn't let the food go to waste, which meant he just needed some time to come around.
Elara was smiling too much lately, and I had noticed Lucian was always with her. Elara was one problem to deal with, but Lucian too? I was curious to know what they were scheming, because Elara in the picture definitely meant trouble, and she was going to use this crack to her fullest advantage.