Elsher

Elsher
"Oh my goddess, is that you? Elsher! Elsher! You're alive. You're home!" Olivia jumped at me, almost knocking me off my feet.
My heart melted. I wrapped my hands around Olivia. “Olivia, I'm so sorry. I'm so sorry for making all of you worry."
Olivia parted from me and shook her head, tears dripping from her eyes. "No, Elsher. It's good that you're alive. It's good."
I looked at her stomach, now flat. "What's the gender?"
"A girl." She sniffed. "Her name is Elsher."
My eyes flew wide open. I looked at her in shock. "Olivia..."
"I was so afraid, Elsher. So afraid." She wrapped her hand around me.
My heart pooled with warmth. This is what family is. What true love is.
I was very lucky. If it had been some other pack, they wouldn't have cared that I had gone.
Rather, it would have been all war about who was going to take over the pack. Yet it wasn't like this in my case.
I was surrounded by people who cared about me, who were concerned for me.
Olivia held my hand, and we walked into the bedroom. A pang of feeling hit me in the heart.
All these years of suffering… now it was finally about to be over.
Perhaps what Tiara’s attack had done was lead me to my destiny.
If it wasn't for the attack, I might not have gotten my wolf yet, and the world might not be about to get the change it needed.
"Olivia, meet Elena."
"Elena!" Olivia's eyes widened. "You are a hybrid now? That badass hybrid only mentioned in legends?"
"I am Elsher, not a hybrid." I only feel a tremendous power coursing through me. I don't feel any different.
"It's still the same—both are your identity." Olivia leaned forward and blinked. "So tell me, how do you feel? Do you feel different? Anything about your power? Spill."
I smiled. Even though we hadn't met in months, the moment we reunited, it was instant clicking.
I began to take off my clothes and explained. "There's a difference. The power is tremendous. And most exceptionally, I love my wolf. I think that's the most beautiful thing about being a werewolf."
"I love you too, Elsher." Elena giggled.
"So, have you transitioned into your wolf yet?" Olivia tilted her head in curiosity.
"I just woke up from my slumber, Olivia." Now I'm quite interested in how my wolf will be upon transitioning and how tall it would be. My first transition—it will be so interesting. I can't wait.
I began to make my way into the restroom.
"Have you seen Verlice yet?" Olivia's voice suddenly spoke up.
I paused in my tracks. Nobody had asked me if I had seen Verlice. Olivia would be the first.
"After what happened… do you still think there’s a chance that you can get together?" Olivia asked softly.
I turned to her and spoke softly, "You have been rooting for us from the beginning. Do you want us to?"
Olivia hesitated and spoke carefully as if she was afraid of making me unhappy. "I think you two look perfect together. I think Tiara doesn't deserve a man like Verlice. Elsher, both of you suffered together. It would be bad if you just let go of him. You and Verlice deserve happiness." She whispered.
My heart warmed, and I hugged her. "Thank you, Olivia. You've always supported us."
Olivia smiled and separated from me. "I think my father does. I also think Verlice is a good man." She whispered.
I paused. "Why did you say that?"
Olivia explained, "Do you know Verlice refused to meet with any of us? He believed you left on your own after hearing the news from his guards. Yet despite all the hatred, he was holding meetings with alphas to prevent the Starry Pack from being attacked…"
"He did that?" My heart skipped a beat, and my eyes widened in astonishment.
That was right. Without me or my father overseeing the pack, and with the pack’s total state already out in the public, it would have given other hungry packs the chance to attack.
And yet, when I returned, my pack was perfectly as I left it. If it wasn't Verlice, who else could it be?
It reminded me how Verlice had gone behind my back to organize a meeting with the alphas during the gathering event. Verlice had always cared for me, hadn’t he?
"Our big pack was suddenly thrust into the public eye. Of course, several alphas began to gather while others sharpened their swords. Some even went as far as openly sending threat letters demanding submission within the mentioned date. We couldn't fight them all."
Olivia took a deep breath, obviously still shaken by the accident. "We were beginning to think it was over. But then all of them suddenly went quiet. It was very strange to see the switch."
She held my hand seriously. “Elsher, I think Verlice really liked you. You deserve a man like Verlice. Even with the hatred, he couldn't watch your things get destroyed. It takes more than love for that."
My heart pooled. Olivia was right. Verlice and I… we both deserve each other. And I will fight until the end for both of us.
Still, I reached out to pinch Olivia's cheeks. "Look at you being all knowledgeable. What went on during my absence? Where's my bubbly Olivia?" I teased.
She shook her head and sighed. "Responsibilities change you. I am a married woman, a mother, and I have to care for the pack too. Even though it wasn't as much as them, it made me realize just how much you have done for the pack. Elsher, I truly admire you from the bottom of my heart. Thank you. Thank you for not giving up. Thank you for coming to us. And thank you for always loving the pack and putting the pack first."
Hearing Olivia's words made tears pool in my eyes. I hugged her and revealed, "Just so you know, I just came from the Red Moon Pack…"
"Ahhhh!" Olivia shrieked.
I quickly let go of her and covered my ears.
She pointed at me and exploded. "You betrayer!"
Olivia placed her hands on her hips. "You already went to see him, and here I was thinking about how to get you back. Dammit, Elsher Caddel! I will kill you."
I burst into laughter and fled into the restroom, shutting the door behind me.
My heart raced, and a silly smile tugged at my lips.
It's good to be home.
After a few minutes of silence, Olivia whispered, "So tell me, what happened?"
Olivia’s curiosity won after all.
I shook my head and picked up a clean brush. "Let me get out of here first."
I heard receding footsteps and concentrated on cleaning up.
It's been months since I cleaned myself up. The witch pack members had been in charge. Now, doing it all by myself made me realize just how wonderful it was to be healthy.