Chapter 18
ELARA’S POV
“We can’t thank you enough, Elara. You’ve saved us all,” Alpha Kane, the Moon White Pack’s leader, said, a rare, sincere smile breaking across his face.
“It’s nothing, Alpha,” I replied, dipping into a polite bow that sent a familiar ache through my body. “I’m just doing what I can, fulfilling my role.”
My role—a fancy way to justify nearly bleeding myself dry for people I barely knew.
It had been nearly a month since I’d arrived at the Moon White Pack and started working in the infirmary with the local healers and Mia. To my great relief—and honestly, a touch of surprise—the pack members were recovering at an incredible pace. I’d distributed my blood-mixed remedies to almost everyone, even those who weren’t sick, as a precaution. The Alpha, his Luna, and the rest of the leadership had taken it too. But while they all improved, my own strength was fading fast. The amount of blood I’d drawn in those days could’ve stocked antidotes for years back in Mountain Dew.
As I’d suspected, Orion’s mother was the cause of the pack’s sickness… Well, to cut a long story short, she’d unknowingly brewed a toxic mix from unfamiliar poisonous herbs and passed it off as a daily wellness tonic for the people and the royals. It sounded unbelievable at first, but Eliza’s suspicions added up. The illness wasn’t contagious—if it had been, the healers and I would’ve caught it too—but the pack had overlooked that in the chaos of trying to save their own.
She was locked in the dungeon now, waiting for her fate. I felt a pang of pity for her, but her carelessness had nearly destroyed everything; she had it coming.
I exhaled deeply. Coming to the Moon White Pack had turned into an unexpected journey—exciting in a way, but utterly exhausting.
“Elara?” Elder Theo’s kind voice pulled me from my thoughts.
“Yes!” I said, snapping my head up.
“You zoned out a bit there, dear,” he said, his eyes crinkling with a gentle smile. He’d quickly become my favorite person here.
“Oh,” heat rushed to my cheeks, embarrassing and hot. “I’m sorry.” I turned to Alpha Kane, who waited patiently, his face surprisingly kind. “Really, Alpha, I apologize… I was lost in thought…”
Instead of scolding me, he smiled warmly. “You must be worn out, Elara. That’s fair. I’m sorry for the strain we’ve put on you.”
“Exhaustion doesn’t even cover it, but thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty.”
“Well,” he said, clapping his hands together. “How about a short break? Take some time to enjoy the pack, even if it’s still recovering from the damage.” A shadow of sorrow crossed his features, quickly giving way to hopeful resolve. “I promise, the Moon White Pack has plenty of life and fun to offer. You’d have a good time if you gave it a chance.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty,” I said, bowing low. His offer touched me, but I couldn’t linger. A few days off sounded like bliss… time to just be, without the constant draining. But it wasn’t possible. “I can’t stay much longer.”
His brow furrowed, a frown forming. “Why, if I may ask?”
“Alpha, as you know, I belong to the Mountain Dew Pack. It’s my home, and I’ve been away too long.”
My words hung in the air, met with quiet. No one spoke, and for a heart-pounding second, I worried I’d overstepped, maybe insulted him. Damn.
I dropped to my knees. “Forgive me if I—”
A rich chuckle cut me off, making me startle. It was Alpha Kane. “Oh, Elara,” he said, “I don’t plan to keep you here forever. But you do have a bit more to finish. I was just suggesting you rest first—your body could use it. The remedies you prepared will hold for now, and our healers can handle the rest.”
“Oh,” I said, standing up, my head bowed in shame. I could hear the quiet laughs from the guards and Elder Theo. I wished the ground would swallow me.
“I’m sorry, I totally misread that.”
“It’s fine,” he said with a shrug, stepping closer. “It’s not like the idea of keeping you hadn’t crossed my mind, but,” he leaned in, “your Alpha would never allow it.”
What? My eyes shot up, meeting his. “I don’t follow…”
“You do,” he said, before straightening. He cleared his throat. “I should go now, Elara. Take care.”
He strode past, his beta and guards trailing behind. I watched them exit the throne room, leaving me alone with Elder Theo.
What had Alpha Kane meant? Was it a subtle nod to Ronan’s possessiveness? Or more?
Elder Theo approached, hands clasped behind his back. “How about a walk to clear your head, dear?”
“Ah—yes,” I said, nodding. “That sounds perfect, thank you.”
We stepped out of the office into the late morning light. Outside, I saw Mia and Selene, the maid Ronan had assigned me, sitting on the grass in the garden, talking softly.
We all deserved breaks like that.
Elder Theo guided me around the palace grounds, mostly outdoors. I had to admit, even with the damage, the Moon White Pack’s scenery was stunning. It had a wild, almost magical vibe, different from Mountain Dew’s more structured, controlled feel. Here, nature still ruled, fierce and free.
“Enjoying the stroll?”
“I’m soaking in the sights more,” I said, smiling as the wind brushed my face, tousling my hair. “It’s so serene here. It breaks my heart that it fell apart so quickly.”
“Actually,” Elder Theo paused, his gaze on a nearby lagoon, “the Moon White Pack was already crumbling before the sickness hit.”
“Oh,” my expression dropped. “I’d never heard much about the Moon White Pack until recently. What happened? Was it bad?”
His eyes shadowed, like he was reliving something grim. “Very,” he said, then his bright smile returned. “But that’s behind us now.”
I stayed quiet, standing beside him, taking in the view. Then, in the lagoon’s calm reflection, I caught it again—for the fourth time since that day in the infirmary—a quick, dark shape. My amusement vanished, my pulse racing. We weren’t alone.
Not wind, not wildlife. A person. Watching us… watching me.