Chapter 28 Elara's POV
"What do you want?" I asked, immediately on guard.
"I wanted to apologize." She stepped closer, her hands clasped in front of her.
"For the other day, barging into your room like that. It was inappropriate and I'm sorry."
I studied her face, looking for any sign of sincerity. All I saw was a carefully constructed mask.
"Are you?" I asked.
"Sorry, I mean because you seemed pretty convinced I didn't belong here."
"I was upset and confused. Kaden and I were supposed to-" She stopped, shaking her head.
"It doesn't matter, the point is, I was out of line. You are recovering from a terrible trauma, you didn't need me making things worse."
Everything about this felt wrong, her tone was too sweet. Her smile was too practiced. And something deep in my gut told me not to trust her.
A flash of memory hit me. Selena's face, twisted with contempt, her voice cutting and cruel.
"Stay away from the Alpha, omega. You are nothing but a servant who knows your place."
The memory was gone as quickly as it came, but it left behind certainty.
Selena had hurt me before. Maybe not physically, but she had definitely been cruel.
"Thank you for the apology." I said carefully.
"But I would appreciate it if you kept your distance from me."
Her smile faltered for just a moment. "Of course. I understand I just hope we can be civil to each other for the sake of the pack."
She left before I could respond.
I stood there for a long moment, my heart racing, trying to grasp at the memory that had surfaced but it was gone, lost in the fog again.
By evening, I was actually hungry, not just forcing myself to eat because Damian insisted.
A young servant appeared at my door, a girl maybe the same age as I am with kind eyes.
"Miss Elara? Dinner is ready. Would you like me to bring it to your room or would you prefer to eat in the dining room?"
"The dining room.” I said I was tired of being confined to these quarters.
She led me through the hallways to a large dining room with a table that could easily seat twenty people. But only one place was set at the far end, looking ridiculously isolated.
"Will the Alpha be joining me?" I asked.
"No, miss. He is in a council meeting and he asked that you eat without him."
Of course he did.
I looked at the servant girl. "What's your name?"
"Kara, miss."
"Have you eaten, Kara?"
She looked confused. "Not yet, miss. The servants eat after we've finished serving."
"Would you like to eat with me? This table is too big for just one person."
Her eyes widened. "Oh, I couldn't, that wouldn't be appropriate."
"Why not? I used to work in the kitchens, didn't I? I was one of you not that long ago."
"That's different now, miss. You're... you're important."
Important there was that word again.
"Please? I would really like the company."
Kara looked torn, clearly wanting to say yes but afraid of breaking some rule.
"I can't, miss. I'm sorry but I will stay nearby if you need anything."
She retreated to the corner of the room, standing at attention like a soldier.
I sat down alone at the massive table and looked at the food in front of me. Roasted chicken, vegetables, and fresh bread. It all looked delicious and it made me feel sick thinking about eating it alone in this giant room.
But I was hungry and the baby needed food.
I ate slowly, trying to ignore Kara standing there watching me. Trying to ignore how lonely this all felt.
The food was good, really good. I was halfway through my meal when I started to feel strange.
My head felt fuzzy as the room tilted slightly.
"Miss Elara? Are you alright?" Kara's voice sounded far away.
I tried to answer but my tongue felt thick and heavy. The dizziness got worse and my vision started to blur at the edges.
I stood up, thinking maybe I just needed some air, but my legs wouldn't support me.
I hit the floor hard, my head cracking against the tile.
"Miss Elara!"
Kara was beside me, her hands on my shoulders, but I couldn't focus on her face.
Something was very wrong with the baby. Oh God, the baby. I tried to speak, to tell Kara to get Damian, but no words came out.
Darkness was creeping in from all sides. My body felt numb and cold . I was dying. I was dying and my baby was dying with me.
No. No, I couldn't let that happen.
I reached out desperately, not with my hands but with something deeper, something instinctive that I didn't fully understand.
I reached through the bond I had tried so hard to ignore. The bond that still connected me to Kaden despite the rejection.
‘Help,’’ I called through it, putting every ounce of strength I had left into that single word.
‘Help us.’
I didn't know if he could hear me. Didn't know if the bond even worked that way anymore.
But it was my last hope then the darkness swallowed me completely.
And I knew nothing at all.