Chapter 41

Chapter 41
## Elara's POV

My heart hammered wildly as Caius lifted me onto the bathroom counter, my legs instinctively wrapping around him for balance. His body pressed against mine, solid and warm, leaving no doubt about his arousal. I wound my arms around his neck, surrendering to the kiss that made me forget everything.

I breathed in his intoxicating scent of pine and rain-soaked earth, feeling dizzy with desire. Anna practically purred with satisfaction within me, delighting in our proximity to Max.

Finally, she whispered in my mind, her voice thick with satisfaction. This is how it should be. This is what we've been waiting for.

Caius gently bit my lower lip, drawing a soft gasp from me. His hands trailed down my back, his fingers leaving trails of fire across my skin, sending shivers through my body as he began tugging at the zipper of my red dress. The sound of metal teeth separating seemed impossibly loud in the quiet bathroom. My heart pounded so hard I was certain he could feel it against his chest.

"Elara," he breathed against my lips.

The bathroom door suddenly swung open with a jarring creak.

Margaret's shocked gasp broke through our haze of passion like ice water. Caius jumped away from me so quickly that I nearly tumbled to the floor, though his reflexes allowed him to catch me before I fell completely, his strong hands steadying me before reluctantly letting go.

"Elara?!" Margaret's voice pitched higher in surprise, nearly breaking at the end. Her eyes darted between us, widening further with each passing second. "Oh, Moon Goddess!"

"Marg..." I tried to keep my voice steady, failing miserably as I fumbled with my zipper, hands shaking so badly I could barely grasp the small metal tab. "I can explain..."

Caius cleared his throat, his composure returning with remarkable speed. His face revealed nothing of the passion that had consumed him moments before.

"Miss Thorn was feeling unwell," he said, his voice steady and authoritative. "I was ensuring she didn't faint."

Margaret's expression made it clear she didn't believe a word, but she nodded anyway, too stunned to challenge an Alpha directly.

"I'll leave you ladies to talk," Caius said, straightening his tie as he moved toward the door. His eyes met mine briefly before he exited.

I took a moment to collect myself, splashing cold water on my flushed face and reapplying the lip gloss that Caius had thoroughly kissed away.

"Elara Thorn," Margaret hissed once we were alone, her initial shock transforming into excited curiosity. "What in the Moon Goddess's name was that?"

"It's... complicated," I whispered, checking that the bathroom was truly empty.

"Complicated?! You were wrapped around Professor Caius like ivy on a tree trunk!" Her voice was barely contained, excitement bubbling just beneath the surface. "When did this start? How did this start? Does anyone else know?"

"Shh!" I pressed my finger to my lips. "Please, Marg. Not here."

Back in the exhibition hall, the crowd continued to move like a living organism, guests admiring the artwork, clustered especially around Caius's portrait. Lily was deep in conversation with potential sponsors, her elegant hand gestures emphasizing whatever point she was making. My father stood with a group of Alphas, his commanding presence unmistakable even across the room. Caius was walking purposefully toward them, his stride confident and unhurried, his face revealing nothing of what had just happened between us.

My throat tightened with embarrassment and confusion, a hot knot of emotion that made it difficult to swallow. I needed to find some air.

"Come on," I whispered to Margaret, grabbing her hand and leading her toward the exit.

Outside, the evening air had cooled, carrying the fresh scent of recent rain. We found a quiet spot away from the smokers congregating near the entrance.

"Okay, spill everything," Margaret demanded, crossing her arms. "And don't leave out a single detail."

"I can't control who my destined mate is," I blurted out, the truth escaping before I could consider a more tactful approach. "Believe me... I've tried to resist the connection."

Margaret's jaw dropped. "Destined mate? Alpha Caius is your destined mate?" Her voice carried too loudly in the quiet street.

I quickly covered her mouth with my hand. "Nobody knows, Marg. You can't tell anyone."

"You're serious..." she whispered when I removed my hand, awe replacing shock in her expression. "He's really your mate..."

"I wish I wasn't. This isn't how I imagined finding my destined mate would be."

"How could you not tell me?! We tell each other everything!"

I sighed, leaning against the wall. "I haven't told anyone. I don't know what to make of it. Caius doesn't want a mate, and I'm not sure I want him as mine either."

"You two certainly looked like you wanted each other back there," Margaret said, a sly smile playing at her lips. "What happened to 'Professor Caius is so serious and boring'? That didn't look boring to me."

"He's not the romantic type," I explained. "He's not always kind to me. He cares more about his work and the Ash Pack than anything else. He doesn't want a mate—thinks it's a distraction. He doesn't believe in love."

"And you need someone who believes in love like you do," Margaret nodded understandingly. "But unless you try, you'll never know if there's more to him. From what I saw in the bathroom, he seems willing to try getting closer to you."

I glanced at my watch and gasped. "Oh! I need to get to the hospital." I'd nearly forgotten I wanted to visit Violet before visiting hours ended.

"Go," Margaret urged. "I'll cover for you. Tell them you felt sick and I drove you back to campus."

I hugged her tightly. "Thank you. I love you."

"I love you too, sweetie," she replied, squeezing me back. "But when you get back, I want every detail about how this started."

As I turned to leave, she called after me: "And Elara? He might be your destined mate, but if he hurts you, Alpha or not, I'll kick his ass."

I smiled gratefully at her loyalty before hurrying to catch a taxi to the hospital.

---

I arrived at the hospital with thirty minutes left of visiting hours, my heels echoing on the polished floors as I hurried through the sterile corridors. Violet's room was easy to find.

The hospital room was bathed in the artificial glow of fluorescent lights that seemed to drain color from everything they touched. Violet lay in bed listlessly scrolling through her phone, IV lines snaking from her pale arms like transparent vines.

When she looked up and saw me standing in the doorway, her eyes widened in recognition, then narrowed with something that made my stomach drop—fear.

"Violet..." I whispered, fighting back tears that threatened to spill over. The bouquet of daisies I'd brought suddenly felt inadequate, almost ridiculous in my hands.

She shrank back against her pillows, pulling the thin blanket higher as if for protection. Her voice trembled when she spoke, barely above a whisper. "What did you do to me...?"