Chapter 35

Chapter 35
## Elara's POV

I jolted awake, heart pounding against my ribs. The darkness of my dormitory enveloped me like a shroud, the digital clock glowing 3:00 AM in harsh red digits. I hadn't been dreaming yet a profound sense of unease gripped me.

Across the room, Audrey slept peacefully, her gentle breathing the only sound breaking the silence. Hours earlier, my mother had returned to Celestria after helping me regain control of my Volana abilities. She'd promised to teach me more when I visited home this weekend, assuring me that maintaining calm was the key to mastering my powers.

Something's wrong, I thought, focusing on deep breaths to center myself. Maybe this was just another manifestation of my abilities responding to the full moon.

It's not our powers, Anna's voice suddenly resonated within me, alert and anxious. It's our mate. Something's wrong!

My blood ran cold. Without hesitation, I slipped from bed and changed into jeans and a sweatshirt, careful not to wake Audrey. Outside, the campus was eerily quiet as I made my way to the edge of the grounds.

Let me take over, Anna urged. I can track him faster.

I surrendered to my wolf, the transformation smoother than before thanks to my mother's guidance. Anna immediately took off toward Thalassian Reach. His scent lingered in the air, drawing us forward, but another smell soon overpowered it.

Blood. Fresh and abundant.

A weak groan guided us deeper into the forest. There, slumped against an ancient oak, was Caius. Moonlight illuminated his ashen face, blood soaking through his torn clothing. A silver dagger protruded from his back, the wound edges blackened with poison.

That's a silver dagger... Anna whimpered painfully.

I shifted back to human form, terror gripping my heart. Silver was lethal to werewolves—an ordinary wolf would already be dead. Only Caius's Alpha strength was keeping him alive.

"What are you doing here?" Caius asked through gritted teeth, his voice barely audible.

"I'm here to help you," I replied with a calmness I didn't feel. "I just need you to relax."

"Easy for you to say," he muttered. "You're not the one with silver in your system."

With a sudden movement that made me wince, Caius reached behind himself and yanked out the dagger, revealing a gaping wound in his abdomen. The wound's edges were blackened, veins of darkness spreading across his skin.

"Once I heal you, you're going to tell me who did this," I said firmly, kneeling beside him.

I recalled my mother's lesson from just hours before—how Volana wolves possessed healing abilities beyond ordinary shifters. I'd never attempted it, but instinct told me what to do.

Cupping Caius's face between my palms, I felt his fevered skin burning against mine. His blue eyes, dulled with pain, met mine with confusion and vulnerability.

"Just breathe," I whispered, moving my hands to cover his wound.

Closing my eyes, I concentrated on drawing energy from the moonlight bathing us. I pictured it flowing through me and into Caius, mending tissue, purging poison, restoring life. A tingling warmth spread from my core down my arms and through my fingertips.

Caius's body tensed, then gradually relaxed. His labored breathing steadied, followed by a sharp intake of breath. When I opened my eyes, the wound had vanished completely, leaving only dried blood on unblemished skin.

"You just saved my life..." Caius whispered in awe.

"Yeah, looks like it," I responded after a moment.

"How did you know you could do that?" he asked, staring at me. "I didn't know Volana wolves could heal."

"My mother taught me," I explained simply.

Caius slowly stood, testing his restored strength. "That's not important," he muttered.

"Was it the same wolf who attacked your mother?" I pressed, anger rising within me. "Was it the one who stabbed you? Is it the same wolf?"

"This doesn't concern you, Elara," Caius warned, eyes flashing with barely contained fury. "Stay out of it."

"Someone just tried to kill you with a silver dagger!" I exclaimed. "And you're not going to do anything about it?"

"I didn't say that," he growled. "But this isn't your fight."

We walked in tense silence toward the Ash Pack residence. The moonlight cast long shadows across the forest floor, our footsteps crunching softly on fallen leaves.

"I saw my portrait in the art room," Caius suddenly stated, his voice cold.

My heart sank. "I grabbed the wrong canvas. I was supposed to bring my architectural design assignment. But I took yours instead..." I tried to explain.

"And you didn't think to correct that mistake? Instead, you let Miss Calliope believe I gave you permission to display my portrait as your project. You lied to her and left me to clean up your mess."

"I thought you said you cleaned up the mess," I called after him.

"I did," he said quietly. "I confirmed your lie and told her I gave you permission."

I stared at him in shock, a mixture of relief and confusion washing over me. After everything that had happened this was what he wanted to discuss?

Caius paused, turning back to look at my stunned expression. "Now we're even."

This makes no sense, Anna whispered inside me. I just don't understand him.

Neither did I. But as I watched Caius disappear into the darkness ahead, I realized that despite everything, I still couldn't bring myself to regret saving him.