Chapter 45
Zara’s POV
Elara fastened her seatbelt with effortless grace, like everything she did came naturally very refined, polished and untouchable.
I mirrored her actions silently, pulling mine across my chest as the engine purred to life beneath us and within seconds, the car glided onto the road, smooth and powerful, carrying us straight toward Darius’ penthouse.
The silence between us stretched… thick, uncomfortable then she broke it.
“I hope my brother hasn’t been giving you too much trouble,” she said lightly, her fingers tapping against the steering wheel. “He has a habit of driving his tutors away and honestly, I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
Her tone carried a mixture of fondness and exhaustion, I glanced at her briefly before looking ahead again.
“He’s not difficult,” I replied honestly. “If anything, he just wants attention and he’ll get it however he can.”
She didn’t respond immediately, so I continued, choosing my words carefully.
“With your father running an entire pack and business empire and you being busy with your wedding…” I hesitated slightly before finishing, “he probably just feels alone.”
The word wedding tasted bitter in my mouth.
I shouldn’t have said it but Elara didn’t seem to notice.
Instead, she sighed softly, her grip tightening slightly on the wheel.
“I suppose I have been distracted,” she admitted. “But I can’t help it, I love Kaelan so much and being away from him even for a little while feels wrong for both me and my wolf.”
My stomach twisted painfully and I wished she would stop talking and stop saying his name like that but then, something she said caught my attention.
“Your wolf?” I asked, my voice quieter than I intended and she let out a soft laugh, almost amused.
“Yes,” she said. “I mean… we both know he isn’t my fated mate.”
My heart skipped. “…but that doesn’t matter,” she continued smoothly. “From the moment we met, he treated me like I was everything. My wolf chose him, claimed him and honestly… I agree with her.”
Each word felt like a blade sliding deeper into my chest, so I lowered my gaze to my hands, suddenly unable to breathe properly.
So that was it, she actually knew and she didn’t care, so love… chosen over fate while mine had been… discarded.
She must have sensed the shift in my silence because her eyes flickered toward me as we stopped at a red light.
“Have you ever been in love?” she asked suddenly.
The question hit too close and sharp.
I looked up at her, startled, only to find her watching me with quiet curiosity.
I couldn’t tell her the truth and I couldn’t tell her that the man she was planning to marry… had once been mine.
That he had marked me, claimed me, promised me forever and then walked away like I meant nothing.
“I thought I was,” I said slowly. “But… it turns out he didn’t feel the same way.”
A flicker of something sympathy, maybe crossed her face and before she could respond, a loud honk sounded behind us, snapping her attention back to the road. The light had turned green.
She pressed the accelerator, and we drove on.
Soon, the towering gates of the Northern Pack came into view and guards straightened immediately upon recognizing her car, bowing their heads in respect as we passed through without question , this is power and authority on display.
A life I had once belonged to… and no longer did.
“He’s a fool, whoever he is,” Elara said after a moment, her tone softer now. “Any man would be lucky to have you.”
I didn’t respond because I couldn’t.
Instead, I turned toward the window, watching the scenery blur past as we approached the massive penthouse ahead.
Darius’ territory and world but somehow… mine too now.
The car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the grand entrance and we both stepped out, the air around us heavy with quiet tension.
“Thank you for the ride,” I said politely, adjusting my bag on my shoulder. “I won’t keep you. I’m sure you have more wedding plans to deal with.”
She nodded, though her expression shifted to something almost lonely flickering in her eyes.
“I do,” she admitted. “But Kaelan has meetings today, so I’ve been… alone.”
For a brief second, she looked almost vulnerable then it was gone.
“Maybe we can talk again later?” she added.
I forced a small smile. “Maybe.”
I didn’t wait for anything else, turning away, I walked into the penthouse, the heavy doors closing behind me like a barrier between two worlds.
“Good evening.”
Mike voice greeted me as I stepped inside but I barely glanced at him.
There was a time I thought we might get along that maybe he was someone I could trust nut after what he pulled and he actually tried to sabotage me then I kept my distance.
Trust wasn’t something I gave easily anymore.
“Where’s Ethan?” I asked curtly. “Out back,” he replied. “Training, he’s anxious about his combat evaluation next week.”
I nodded once and headed outside without another word.
The training grounds stretched wide behind the penthouse, the sound of clashing steel echoing through the air so I found Ethan quickly.
His movements were sharp, focused but there was hesitation there, doubt.
“Again,” I instructed, stepping in front of him.
We trained for nearly an hour and I corrected his stance, adjusted his grip, showed him how to move faster, smarter not just harder and slowly he improved.
“Disarm me,” I challenged finally, tightening my hold on the sword. “Take it from me.”
His eyes sharpened and this time he didn’t hesitate, he moved exactly how I had taught him swift and precise. His blade twisted against mine, forcing my grip to weaken.and then clang.
My sword hit the ground and before I could react, he had the advantage, his blade raised toward me in victory but he misjudged the distance.
The tip of the sword caught the fabric of my blouse and it got ripped, the sound sliced through the air and everything froze.
The fabric tore open just enough to expose skin beneath, the cool air brushing against me instantly, Ethan eyes widened in shock and for a split second, I felt it that shift in the atmosphere.
That dangerous, invisible pull like someone was watching closely and I didn’t need to turn around to know exactly who it was.