Chapter 70 The After Effects

Chapter 70 The After Effects
Lara

The warmth beside me disappeared before I fully woke up.

I frowned slightly against the pillow, my eyes still closed as I stretched my hand across the bed only to touch cold sheets. A quiet sigh escaped me as I slowly opened my eyes.

Morning light filtered through the curtains softly, casting golden streaks across the room. For a few seconds, I simply lay there staring at the ceiling while memories from the past two days came rushing back one after another.

Running away from my wedding.

Choosing Elijah.

Returning to Moonlight Pack.

Then attending Ciara’s coronation with Elijah and the others.

Moon Goddess.

I still couldn’t believe how much my life had changed in less than two days. A part of me expected to wake up back in the Silver Pack with Vera preparing me for another ceremony while the elders discussed my future like I wasn’t standing there.

But instead, I was here.

In Elijah’s room.

In Elijah’s bed.

The thought sent another wave of heat rushing to my face.

I groaned softly before finally forcing myself out of bed.

The house was quieter than usual when I stepped downstairs dressed in one of Elijah’s sweaters. The smell of breakfast lingered faintly in the air which meant Marissa had probably come by earlier before leaving food in the kitchen as usual.

Tristan was seated near the fireplace with a book resting lazily against his knee. He looked up briefly when I entered before giving a small nod in greeting.

“You’re finally awake.”

I narrowed my eyes slightly. “You sound disappointed.”

“I lost a bet.”

That immediately caught my attention. “What bet?”

A smirk tugged at his lips before he answered, “Ron thought you wouldn’t come downstairs until noon.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

“Why are people discussing my sleeping schedule?”

“Because this house is boring and everyone needs entertainment.”

I scoffed quietly while walking toward the kitchen counter where food had already been set aside for me.

“Where is everyone?”

“Elijah’s outside annoying the patrol guards,” Tristan replied casually.

My brows furrowed slightly.

“Annoying them?”

Tristan shrugged before returning his attention to his book. “He’s been doing that since morning.”

That uneasy feeling returned immediately.

I grabbed a cup of tea before heading toward the front door.

Cold air brushed against my skin the moment I stepped outside. The village looked peaceful beneath the pale winter sunlight. A few villagers moved between houses while soldiers patrolled near the borders carrying weapons across their backs.

More soldiers than usual.

Definitely more.

My gaze quickly found Elijah standing near the entrance gates with Axel and Ron.

Even from afar, Elijah carried that same presence that always drew attention naturally. Tall. Calm. Dangerous.

He was speaking quietly with Axel while Ron leaned against the wooden fence nearby listening with his arms crossed. The closer I got, the more I noticed the tension in the conversation.

“…double the western patrol after sunset,” Elijah was saying.

Axel nodded once. “Already done.”

“And the north routes?”

“Covered.”

Ron noticed me first.

“Well look who finally decided to join society. Welcome back.”

I ignored him immediately. “Good morning to you too.”

A grin spread across his face while Axel gave me a polite nod in greeting.

Elijah’s eyes settled on me last.

And just like always lately, something in my chest tightened slightly. It was ridiculous how much one look from him affected me now.

“You should’ve stayed inside,” he said after a moment.

I frowned. “Why?”

“It’s cold.”

Ron looked between both of us before muttering dramatically, “That’s the sweetest thing I’ve heard all week.”

Elijah didn’t even look at him. “Nobody asked you to speak.”

Ron grinned wider instead of looking offended.

I tried ignoring the warmth spreading across my face while taking another sip of tea.

“You’ve been outside since morning?” I asked Elijah.

“Yes.”

“Why?”

His gaze shifted briefly toward the patrol guards moving near the borders.

“Routine checks.”

Axel looked like he wanted to say something but wisely stayed quiet. I looked around again, noticing how alert everyone seemed despite the calm atmosphere in the village. That was when I finally understood.

Elijah wasn’t reacting to danger.

He was anticipating it.

“Jacob,” I said softly.

His eyes returned to mine immediately.

“He just became Alpha,” Elijah replied calmly. “I’d rather be careful now than unprepared later.”

The words settled heavily in my chest. Part of me knew he was right. Jacob had spent years preparing for the Alpha position. He had finally gotten it, only for me to publicly leave him for Elijah immediately afterward.

Humiliation like that didn’t disappear quietly.

Still…

“I don’t think he’ll attack this soon,” I admitted.

“No,” Elijah agreed. “Not soon.”

Something about the certainty in his tone made me uneasy.

Ron pushed himself off the fence before speaking. “Silver Pack is still busy stabilizing after the coronation anyway.”

“Exactly,” Axel added. “Which makes this the best time to strengthen our own defenses before they start paying attention to us again.”

Us.

The word lingered strangely in my mind.

Not Moonlight Pack.

Us.

I looked toward the village slowly.

Toward the homes.

The guards.

The people moving casually through the streets.

This was my side now.

The realization still felt surreal.

“Elijah!”

A guard jogged toward us quickly before stopping respectfully a few feet away.

“The eastern patrol returned.”

Elijah nodded once. “Report.”

“Everything’s clear.”

I watched Elijah carefully as the guard continued speaking. Even though his expression remained calm, there was still tension beneath it. A quiet alertness that hadn’t been there before.

Or maybe I simply never noticed it until now.

Being Alpha really meant carrying everyone’s safety constantly.

The pressure.

The responsibility.

The fear of making the wrong decision.

I suddenly understood Elijah a little better.

The guard left after giving the rest of his report, leaving a brief silence between us. Then Ron stretched lazily before speaking again.

“Well, since nobody is actively dying this morning, I’m going to eat before Marissa murders me for missing breakfast again.”

“She would never murder anyone,” I said.

Ron looked horrified. “Clearly you’ve never seen her angry.”

Axel snorted quietly.

Even Elijah’s lips twitched slightly.

Ron pointed accusingly at both of them. “You people laugh now until she starts throwing pans at your heads.”

“You deserved it,” Axel replied.

“I was hungry!”

“You stole food meant for the entire patrol.”

“That sounds like a leadership problem.”

I shook my head while Ron continued defending himself dramatically.

For a moment, everything felt normal again.

Then Elijah’s hand brushed lightly against my lower back as he walked past me toward the gates.

The touch lasted barely a second.

Subtle.

Instinctive.

Yet my entire body reacted immediately.

He paused slightly after realizing what he had done before glancing toward me briefly and a smile spread on his face before he took my hand in his and led me inside for breakfast. We might not have the strongest defense now but I wouldn’t trade this for any other thing.