Chapter 10
ELARA'S POV
I reached my arms up toward the sky, feeling the crisp afternoon breeze graze my bare skin as I lingered by myself in the vast clearing. The blades of grass danced lightly under my toes. "Oh, this hits the spot," I breathed out, soaking in the peaceful view all around.
Thankfully, the area was deserted today—the training sessions had wrapped up. And the breeze was perfect... ideal for letting loose with a good sprint.
"Ready for this, Kayla?" I murmured to the wolf stirring deep inside me. She was itching to burst out and tear across the land without restraint.
A quick chill raced along my back as the change kicked in. Everything around me hazed over while my bones realigned with that familiar sting. Soft, snowy-white fur sprouted over my body, and my senses sharpened to an extreme—the rich aroma of the soil, the distant chatter of birds echoing from afar. I glanced at what used to be my hands and feet, now powerful paws with claws sinking into the earth.
We bounded forward into the open air, the wind weaving through our coat and sending shivers of thrill across our frame. We bolted toward the tree line, looping in broad arcs, staying mindful not to venture too deep or cross into restricted zones—worse comes to worst.
A full week had gone by since that whole ordeal with Elder Ryder's granddaughter. Word had ripped through the pack like a blaze. To my surprise—or maybe not—the way folks treated me flipped almost instantly. Where I'd once gotten nothing but icy glares and muttered suspicions, now there was this shift... something warmer and more real, like actual appreciation mixed with a touch of awe... but awe laced with respect, and yeah, a bit of fear too.
Well, everyone except Marceline. These days, she acted like I was some massive danger lurking in the shadows. Fingers crossed she hadn't pieced together that Ronan and I were second-chance mates—not that it really counted for much. But I shuddered at the thought of her ramping up her harassment just because of him.
At the start, I'd been set on bolting—escaping like I always did when things got too heavy and claustrophobic. But watching how they'd started seeing me in a new light made me pause and think if this place could be different from what I'd known with Kael. What if they wouldn't turn on me or get all greedy? Was that even realistic? Anyway, I'd chosen to hang around for the time being... until some other twist came along to shake things up again.
~
"Where the heck have you been?!" Martha's shout pierced the quiet as she jogged over, her breaths coming in heavy gasps. I pivoted to meet her, a little grin tugging at my mouth.
"Just out for a sprint with Kayla," I explained, tucking a loose strand behind my ear. "It's been forever—she was dying for it. I've kept her cooped up way too long."
She halted, folding her arms over her chest with a pout forming. "Yeah, obviously. But next time, clue somebody in? We were all freaking out!"
I gave a casual lift of my shoulders, still adjusting to this unexpected outpouring of concern from people. It threw me off. I'd always craved feeling like I belonged, but this switch was so abrupt.
Maybe I was just gun-shy from all the crap I'd been through before?
"Yeah, got it. My bad," I mumbled softly. She drew in a big breath and dropped down next to me on the lawn.
"Sooo..." she started, "What's it like, having a wolf?"
"Huh?" I turned her way, totally caught off guard. "Break that down for me."
"Yeah," she replied with a soft grin, her fingers trailing through the grass, "I don't have one myself."
"What?"
"I came into the world without one. Grew up in a line of tough, mighty fighters," she sighed, her gaze dimming like she was reliving some rough memories, "Couldn't handle the constant crap anymore, so I took off. And... that's how I landed here. My folks never gave a damn, even when I tried reaching out once—they ghosted me. Probably for the best, you know?"
"I'm really sorry," I said, my voice dropping as I took it in. "That sounds brutal. It's not right."
"Yeah, tell me about it?" She paused, then offered a weak smile. "But I bet it's nothing next to what you've dealt with."
On reflex, my posture sagged, not eager to dive into my own history. Flashes of Kael and me flickered through my head, and all it brought was a fresh wave of hurt.
"Probably. Let's switch topics for now."
"Deal."
We lounged there, chatting for close to an hour—mostly light stuff, steering clear of our baggage. I watched the sun sink lower, splashing the horizon with shades of tangerine and violet. As the dusk stretched out, we made our way back indoors.
Martha headed off to her tasks, and I aimed for our shared space. Since that day, Ronan had decreed I was off maid duty. Instead, I was to blend in with them, treated like part of the group—they'd even set aside a private room for me, but it needed fixing up. So, for the moment, I was still bunking with Martha.
Truth be told, I wouldn't mind sticking with her a while longer.
As my fingers brushed the knob, I spotted a shadow shift out of the corner of my eye. It was Ronan. My pulse skipped as he paused a short distance off, hands buried in his pockets.
"We need to talk," he stated firmly. "My office. Right now."
He didn't wait for a reply, just spun and marched off. I lingered for a beat, then released the handle and trailed after him.
In his workspace, I hovered awkwardly in the middle until he gestured to a seat.
"Have a seat."
Gulping down nerves, I lowered myself, my digits fidgeting with the edge of my dress.
"Um...." I nibbled my lip, at a loss for how to start.
He settled back in his chair, one elbow propped on the armrest with his chin resting there, eyeing me steadily. "Thought about my proposal yet?"
"Staying put? Um... not fully?"
"Why not?"
"It's all happening too fast."
He regarded me with a keen stare. "Am I rushing you?"
"No," I hurried to say. "It's more like... a week back, I was zilch in this pack, just a bother to everybody, and now, out of nowhere, because of one thing I did, you want me to stick around? Like I'm actually part of the crew?"
He pressed his lips together, like he was hunting for the right phrasing. After a drawn-out quiet, he finally responded. "You preserved a life, Elara. It's the minimum I can offer."
"I get that, but still—setting up a whole room just for me? Pulling me off servant work? It's a lot all at once. I appreciate it, really, but..."
"You're worried we'll exploit your abilities?" he cut in, his gaze probing mine.
I went rigid, words failing me. He'd nailed my biggest dread.
"Guess I hit the mark."
I wrung my hands, letting out a tense sigh. "Yeah, maybe."
"You don't need to be," he replied softly. "We might require your aid, but it's your essence, your gift. I'm only asking for your support to safeguard my people—not to take advantage."
Oddly enough, his assurance landed on me with a certain gravity, not heavy in a bad way, but comforting somehow.
"Well," he cleared his throat, shattering the uneasy hush. "No rush. But give it some real thought."
"I'll do my best," I said, rising to head out. Then I paused, glancing back. "If I do decide to hang around, put me in the healing ward."
He stayed quiet for a stretch, his eyes still assessing me like he was trying to gauge my feelings. "Fine. It'll be arranged, once you've decided."
"Thanks."