Chapter 73 Elara's POV
Pain woke me.
Not the sharp, burning agony from earlier. This was a deep ache in my leg that pulsed with every heartbeat.
I opened my eyes slowly, blinking against the bright lights of the medical wing.
"Easy," a familiar voice said. "Don't try to move too quickly."
Damian was sitting in the chair beside my bed, looking exhausted. Dark circles shadowed his eyes and his clothes were rumpled like he'd been there for hours.
"How long was I asleep?" I asked, my voice rough.
"About six hours, how are you feeling?"
I did a mental inventory. "Like I fell out of a second-story window and got stabbed with silver."
A small smile crossed his face. "That's your leg accurate?"
"Hurts but not as bad as before."
"Good, the pain medication is working then."
He stood and checked the monitors beside my bed. "Your vitals look stable, your heart rate is normal. Blood pressure is a bit elevated but that's expected given the trauma."
"And the baby?"
His expression softened. "The baby has a fine , strong heartbeat with no signs of distress. You did well protecting your stomach when you fell."
Relief flooded through me. My hand moved to my belly, feeling for movement. After a moment, I felt a small flutter still there, still fighting.
"Thank you," I said quietly.
"For taking care of us."
"That's my job."
"It's more than that you have been there for me since the beginning. Since you found me in that forest with no memory. You didn't have to do any of it, but you did anyway."
Damian was quiet for a moment, his expression unreadable. "You are easy to care about, Elara."
Something in his tone made me look at him more closely. There was something in his eyes, something sad and resigned that I couldn't quite identify.
"Are you okay?" I asked. "You look tired."
"I'm fine, just been a long night."
"Because of me."
"Because of an Erebus follower attacking you. That's not your fault."
I shifted slightly, trying to get more comfortable. The movement sent a spike of pain through my leg and I winced.
"Don't move too much," Damian said, adjusting my pillows.
"The bone is set but it needs time to heal. You will be on bed rest for at least a week, then crutches for several more weeks after that."
"A week in bed? I will go crazy."
"Better crazy than re-breaking your leg."
We talked for a while longer about nothing important. About the weather, about pack gossip, about anything that wasn't the attack or my injuries or the complications in my life.
It felt good, normal , like we were just two friends having a conversation instead of doctor and patient dealing with silver poisoning and assassination attempts.
A knock on the door interrupted us.
"Come in," Damian called.
Ethan entered, his expression grim. "How's the patient?"
"Awake and complaining," Damian said. "Which is a good sign."
"I'm not complaining," I protested.
"You said you would go crazy from bed rest."
"That's not complaining. That's stating facts."
Ethan smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Good to see you have your spirit back. We were worried when Kaden brought you in."
"Where is Kaden?" I asked, realizing I hadn't seen him since I woke up.
Ethan's expression darkened. "That's actually why I'm here. I thought you should know what's been happening while you were sleeping."
"What do you mean?"
He pulled up another chair and sat down heavily. "After you were stabilized, Kaden went back to finish the council meeting. Things got... heated."
"How is he?"
"The elders were pushing him again about making you leave the pack. Saying you're too dangerous. That the incident with the Luna aura proved you can't control your power."
Ethan ran his hand through his hair. "Elder Marcus brought up Kaden's mother. Said that choosing an omega mate destroyed Kaden's father and would destroy Kaden too."
I felt my stomach drop. "What did Kaden do?"
"He attacked him, shifted partially and grabbed Marcus by the throat. Nearly killed him right there in the council chamber."
"Oh God."
"Rowan and Vera managed to talk him down. But the damage was done. The elders are furious. They're saying Kaden is losing control. That he's becoming unstable just like his father did."
Damian swore under his breath. "How bad is it?"
"Bad the elders have called for a vote of no confidence. They are gathering support from pack members. There's already a group of them protesting outside the pack house, demanding Kaden step down as Alpha."
"They can't do that," I said.
"Can they?"
"If they have enough support from the pack, they can force a challenge. Another Alpha could fight Kaden for leadership. Or the council could invoke ancient pack law and remove him from power."
"Because of me this is all happening because of me."
"This is happening because the elders are power-hungry and Kaden won't back down,"
Ethan corrected. "But yes, you are the catalyst they're using."
I tried to sit up with pain shot through my leg but I ignored it. "I need to see him. I need to talk to the elders."
"Absolutely not," Damian said firmly.
"You are not going anywhere you need rest."
"I can't rest while Kaden's pack is falling apart because of me!"
"Elara, you have a broken leg and silver poisoning still in your system. Moving around could cause permanent damage."
"I don't care. I can't just lie here while-"
"You can and you will," Damian interrupted. "Doctor's orders."
I looked at Ethan desperately. "Where are the elders now?"
"In the main courtyard they've gathered a crowd. People are angry, confused , scared the elders are feeding into all of it."
"Are they calling for my exile?"
Ethan hesitated. "Some of them are calling for worse than exile."
The implication hung in the air that they wanted me dead.
"I need to talk to them," I said. "I need to make them understand."
"You're in no condition-" Damian started.
"Damian, please. I can't let Kaden lose everything because he's trying to protect me. If talking to the elders might help, I have to try."
"It might also make things worse. They're not exactly rational right now."
"Then I will be rational for them." I looked between Damian and Ethan. "Please. I'm asking as your friend, not as a patient to help me do this."
Damian closed his eyes, clearly warring with himself. "This is a terrible idea."
"Probably but it's my terrible idea and I'm going to do it with or without your help."
He opened his eyes and looked at me and really looked at me then he sighed in defeat.
"You are as stubborn as Kaden."
"Is that a yes?"
"It's a 'I'm going to regret this but I will help you anyway yes."
He stood. "I will get a wheelchair but if you show any signs of distress, any pain beyond manageable levels, we are coming straight back here understood?"
"Understood."
He left to find a wheelchair, muttering about stubborn patients and terrible decisions.
I looked at Ethan. "Take me to where the elders are. I want to face them directly."
Ethan studied my face. "Are you sure about this?"
"No. But I'm doing it anyway."
He nodded slowly. "Kaden's going to kill me for allowing this."
"Then we had better make sure it is worth it.”