Chapter 20 Move Back
Elara's POV
I took a deep breath, forcing my fingers to relax their grip on the couch. Sebastian was still watching me, waiting for an answer with an expression that bordered on desperate hope.
"I'll move back," I said quietly, and I watched Sebastian's entire body jerk with surprise, his eyes going wide.
"I don't need anyone to apologize," I said, meeting his gaze directly. "What happened in the past is over. There's no point in dwelling on it."
Sebastian stood here in my tiny apartment, willing to throw away his position and status for me, I realized that maybe his regret was genuine after all. He was willing to give up so much for me. Besides, in two months I would be leaving for university anyway, starting a new chapter where none of this would matter anymore. I didn't want to be the reason the Pack fractured, didn't want to be the cause of Sebastian abandoning his responsibilities.
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The convoy of black SUVs rolled through Silverstone territory. I sat in the back seat of the lead vehicle with Sebastian, Maple curled up on my lap and sleeping peacefully despite the rumble of the engine.
When we pulled up to the Pack House entrance, I could see figures waiting on the steps. Damian stood at the center of the group, his posture relaxed but his eyes sharp as he watched our convoy approach. When the SUV came to a stop and Sebastian opened the door, Damian stepped forward with a smile that looked genuinely warm.
"Welcome home, Elara," he said, his voice carrying clearly in the evening air.
I climbed out of the vehicle with Maple still in my arms, and I saw the way Damian's eyes softened as he looked at the small dog. Behind him, I could see other Pack members gathered to witness my return.
Then Aurora herself emerged from the side entrance, moving with that graceful, almost ethereal quality that made her look like she was floating rather than walking. She was wearing a soft lavender dress that complemented her pale coloring perfectly, her long blonde hair cascading over her shoulders in artful waves. When she spoke, her voice was clear and sweet.
"Welcome back, Elara," she said, her blue eyes meeting mine with an expression that might have been genuine concern. "I'm so glad you decided to return. It wouldn't have been right to hold tonight's banquet without you here. After all, it's such an important event."
I felt something tighten in my chest at the subtle implication in her words, the suggestion that my return was motivated by the Recognition Ceremony rather than any desire to actually be here. I shifted Maple's weight in my arms and met Aurora's gaze with deliberate coolness.
"It's just a dinner party," I said, keeping my tone neutral and factual. "If it couldn't happen tonight, it could happen tomorrow. I didn't come back because of some banquet."
The words hung in the air for a moment, and I saw Aurora's carefully maintained smile falter just slightly. Beside me, Damian cleared his throat and stepped in smoothly, his voice warm with unmistakable approval.
"Exactly right," he said, looking at me with pride. "You're Alpha's true daughter, Elara. Your place here is irreplaceable."
The moment the words left Damian's mouth, I saw the color drain from Aurora's face, saw the way her hands clenched into small fists at her sides before she forced them to relax. For just a moment, the mask of gentle sweetness slipped, and I caught a glimpse of something harder underneath before she smoothed her expression back into careful neutrality.
Sebastian cleared his throat and gestured toward the entrance, cutting off whatever response might have followed, and within minutes I found myself being escorted through the Pack House's main corridors and up to the third floor where my new suite had been prepared.
The third-floor suite was nothing like the bedroom I'd left behind—floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the forest, furniture that looked like it belonged in a design magazine filled the space, and a walk-in closet that was larger than my entire apartment kitchen waited to be explored.
Three garment bags hung in the center of the closet, each one presumably containing a dress for tomorrow's Recognition Ceremony. A team of stylists and assistants bustled around the room, setting up equipment and organizing accessories. Sebastian and Damian stood near the door, watching me with expressions that were hard to read.
I walked over to the garment bags and unzipped the first one, revealing a champagne-colored gown with intricate beading that caught the light. It was beautiful in an understated way, elegant and refined. I zipped it back up and moved to the second bag, which contained a deep emerald dress with a flowing skirt and delicate lace overlay. Also beautiful, also not quite right.
The third bag held a dress in black and silver, and the moment I saw it, I knew this was the one. The bodice was made of black velvet in an off-shoulder design that would leave my collarbones and shoulders bare, fitted through the waist before flaring into a high-low mermaid skirt.
The shorter front hem would fall to just above my knees, while the back swept down in an elegant train. Hand-stitched across the fabric were intricate moon phases in silver thread, each one outlined with tiny moonstones that would catch and reflect light with every movement.
I pulled the dress from the bag without hesitation. The head stylist Margaret made a small sound of approval.
"That one is exquisite," she said, moving closer to examine the details. "The moonstones are all natural, and the embroidery took over three hundred hours to complete. It's a true work of art."
Around the neckline, a black velvet ribbon was meant to be tied, with a large moonstone pendant hanging from the center. I disappeared into the adjoining dressing room with Margaret's help, letting her assist me into the gown. The velvet was soft against my skin, the fit perfect despite the fact that I'd never been measured for it. When I emerged from the dressing room, the entire room fell silent.
Sebastian's coffee cup trembled in his hand, his eyes going wide as he took in the sight of me. "Perfect," he breathed, his voice hoarse with emotion.
Damian's expression was one of unmistakable pride. "You look incredible, Elara."
Margaret circled around me with a critical eye, making small adjustments to the fall of the skirt and the placement of the neckline ribbon. "The moon phases look like they were designed specifically for you. I've never seen a dress suit someone so perfectly on the first try."
I looked at myself in the mirror, taking in the dramatic contrast of black and silver, the way the moonstones caught the light. It was beautiful, but also far more elaborate than anything I'd ever worn before. I frowned slightly, feeling oddly exposed in such a striking gown.
"Isn't it a bit much?" I asked, turning to look at Margaret. "It feels very dramatic."
I wasn't used to this kind of attention, had never been comfortable standing out or drawing eyes to myself.
"Can we keep the hairstyle simple?" I asked. "I don't want anything too complicated."
"Of course," Margaret agreed. "A simple half-up style would work beautifully. We'll keep it elegant but unfussy."
As Margaret and I discussed the details of the hairstyle, I heard voices from the hallway. Through the partially open door, I caught a glimpse of white fabric and heard James's enthusiastic voice.
"Aurora, you look absolutely stunning! Like something out of a fairy tale."
"She really does," Ryan agreed warmly. "That dress is gorgeous."
I turned back to Margaret, deliberately focusing on our conversation. "I think the half-up style sounds good. Nothing with too many pins. Just something clean and simple."
From the hallway, more voices joined in to compliment Aurora, their tones bright with genuine admiration. I didn't look toward the door, keeping my attention on Margaret as we discussed whether to add crystal pins or leave the style completely unadorned.
"No pins," I decided. "Just the hair itself."
"Perfect choice," Margaret said warmly.
There was a brief pause in the hallway chatter, and then I heard Aurora's voice, softer and tinged with something that might have been sadness. "You're all too kind, but tonight isn't about me. Elara is the guest of honor, the true star of tonight's ceremony."
Nolan's voice immediately jumped in with protest. "Don't say that, Aurora. You're important too."
"Yeah," James added. "Just because Elara is being recognized doesn't mean you don't matter."
I kept my eyes on Margaret, completely uninterested in the performance happening in the hallway. We were discussing the exact placement of the half-up section when I heard Aurora speak again, her voice taking on a slightly wounded quality.
"Of course Elara matters more. She's Alpha's real daughter after all. How could someone like me ever compare to that?"
From somewhere down the hall, I heard Nolan's voice again, lower this time but still audible, carrying a clear note of complaint. "Some people get everything handed to them just because they came back at the right time."