Chapter 2 Elara’s POV
My lips parted in shock but no words came out of it. There was silence and it felt like the world went still for a second.
Alpha Kaden was my mate?
The door suddenly opened behind him.
“Alpha?” It was Selena's voice.
She stepped inside the room, she was wearing a silk dress and the light made it glittered. Selena's eyes went to Alpha Kaden's hand where he was still holding me and her expression changed.
“What’s going on here?” She asked angrily.
Kaden released me, stepping back as if nothing had happened. His voice went cold again. “It’s nothing, she was leaving.”
Selena’s eyes snapped to me. “Leaving? She shouldn’t have been here in the first place.” She said,
“I….I was just doing my job.” I stammered.
“Do you think you are special?” She said, her voice rising. “You think you can enter into the Alpha’s wing because you are pretty enough to be noticed?”
“No, I swear…”
Her hand flew faster across my face than I expected. My cheek stung, but I didn’t move.
Selena turned to Kaden. “You let her touch you?”
He said nothing, his face was unreadable and she faced me again. “Get out before I drag you out myself.”
I didn’t wait, I bowed quickly, whispering, “Forgive me.” Then bolted outside.
I ran back to the servant quarters to my room. Throughout the day I didn't step outside for fear of what they would do to me.
That night, I couldn’t sleep and my whole body was hurting. At first, I thought it was from all the work, the scrubbing, or the slap that Selena gave me. But the pain was different. It started in my chest, spreading like heat through my veins.
My heart beat beat too fast, and my skin felt like it was burning from the inside. I curled up on the mat, biting my lip to stop myself from crying out.
My breathing grew uneven, the ache deepened every time I tried to resist it. My heart hurt and my whole body trembled. The sweat flowed from my head to my neck heavily.
“What is happening to me?” I murmured in pain.
When I finally fell asleep my dreams were filled with flashes of silver eyes, and a wolf that was staring at me.
I woke before dawn again but this time I was weak and dizzy. I sat up slowly, pressing my palm to my chest.
“Elara!” The head maid’s voice boomed across the hall again.
I quickly forced myself to stand up. “I’m Coming!”
The chores of the day went on as usual. I swept the floor, washed the dishes, folded the bedsheets. Every movement I made my whole body ache and I felt like fainting. I couldn't tell anyone what I was feeling. If they found out that I was weak, they would give me a double portion of work.
When it was afternoon, I was almost done. I went to the training field to dry some rags. The warriors were laughing, talking loudly as they sharpened their weapons. I kept my head down and walked past them quietly.
But as I passed, I could hear their conversation.
“Did you hear? Alpha Kaden might take Luna soon.” One of them said,
“Of course Selena has been staying in his room lately.” Another replied. “It is just a matter of time.”
The third guard snorted. “Good, maybe that will calm down his temper. He has been on edge for days, he even napped at everyone during training this morning.”
So it was true, the rumors I had heard before weren't just gossip, he was really going to take Selena as his Luna.
I ran back to the kitchen, fell on my knees and wept. The pain from last night returned and this time it was severe.
“Are you crying?” Mara's voice came through and I froze.
I wiped my tears, quickly and stood up. “No.” My voice cracked.
“Good, the Alpha has a meeting and we have to serve them.” She pointed to the set of trays that were on the long table.
I did as she instructed my hands shook as I carried the trays down the hall. My chest burned again. It was the dull throbbing pain that wouldn’t stop, so I bit my tongue and kept walking.
Inside the dining room, the Beta and a few high ranking wolves were already seated but Alpha Kaden wasn’t there yet.
I placed the trays on the table, careful not to make noise. Then, suddenly, I felt it again. It was that pull.
The air in the dining room shifted again before I could even turn around. My heart started racing as he entered.
Alpha Kaden walked inside the room as soon as he entered the room and went silent instantly. Everyone bowed their heads. I did too, trying to make myself invisible.
But I felt his eyes on me. “Elara.” He called, his voice was low.
I stiffened in fear then I turned slowly. “Y…Yes, Alpha?”
He stared at me for a long time, his expression was still unreadable. “You may go.”
“Yes… Alpha.”
When I finally dragged myself back to my room, it was dark already. I wiped my face, trying to calm down, but my hands wouldn’t stop shaking.
It was then I heard a knock on the door.
I jumped, frightened “Who is it?”
“The Alpha wants to see you, now.” It was a guard voice.
I went still not expecting that word from him. “M….Me?”
“Yes, he said it is about punishment.” The guard added.
I swallowed my saliva in fear, standing slowly and my legs felt heavy.
“Yes, sir.” I said quietly.
As I followed the guard through the dark hallway, my chest tightened again. The closer we got to the Alpha’s wing, the stronger the pain grew.
He was there, I could feel him. It was that same pull and that same heat in my veins.
The guard stopped in front of the door. “Go in, he is waiting.”
I hesitated. “Did he say… what kind of punishment?”
The guard shrugged. “I didn’t ask but good luck, omega.”
He walked away, leaving me alone, my hand trembled as I reached for the door handle. I could hear footsteps pacing inside, it was slow and heavy.