Chapter 82 Elara
An hour later, we were at a baby store in the nearest town.
It was overwhelming. Aisles and aisles of tiny clothes, toys, furniture, equipment. Things I had never even heard of that apparently were essential for newborns.
"Do we need all of this?" I asked, staring at a wall of bottles.
"I have no idea." Kaden looked equally lost. "I've never done this before."
"Neither have I."
We looked at each other and both started laughing real laughter. The kind that released some of the tension from the awful morning.
"We are going to be terrible at this," I said.
"Probably but we will figure it out."
We started in the clothing section since we didn't know if the baby was a boy or a girl, we bought things in neutral colors: yellows, greens, and whites. Tiny onesies that seemed impossibly small.
"A person is going to fit in this?" Kaden held up a newborn outfit.
"Apparently."
"That's terrifying."
We moved through the store, gradually filling the cart. A crib that would need assembly. A changing table, blankets and towels and more clothes.
Kaden picked up a stuffed wolf and held it up. "Thoughts?"
"It's cute."
"Getting it." He put it in the cart.
For a while, I forgot about Selena and forgot about the party. Forgot about everything except this shopping for our baby with Kaden, planning for a future that felt more real with every item we selected.
"I need to use the bathroom," I said finally.
"I will wait here."
The store's bathroom was at the back, past the furniture displays. I used my crutches Damian had finally cleared me to try them for short distances and made my way carefully.
The bathroom was empty when I entered. Clean, well-lit, normal. I was washing my hands when the temperature dropped.
That same unnatural cold from last night, I looked up at the mirror. And saw the dark figure standing behind me in the reflection.
I spun around, my crutch clattering to the floor. Nothing, no one, I looked back at the mirror.
Still there, still standing right behind where I was. But when I looked at the actual space behind me, there was nothing.
My heart was racing, my hands were shaking. "What are you?" I whispered.
The figure in the mirror didn't move. Didn't respond. Just stood there, a darkness shaped like a person.
I grabbed my crutch and got out of that bathroom as fast as my injured leg would allow.
Kaden was exactly where I had left him, studying a package of diapers with intense concentration.
"Everything okay?" he asked, looking up.
"It just took longer than expected."
I didn't tell him about the figure. Didn't mention that I'd now seen it twice. In my room and in a public bathroom mirror.
Because what would I even say? That I was seeing shadow people that only appeared in reflections? That would sound insane. He would think the medication was affecting me. Or that the stress had pushed me over some edge.
So I said nothing.
We finished shopping, Kaden loading everything into the car while I sat in the passenger seat trying to calm my racing heart.
The drive back was quite comfortable. Kaden kept glancing at me like he wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
"Thank you," I said finally. "For today, for trying to make things better."
"I wish I could do more."
"This was enough."
When we pulled up to the pack house, something was wrong. I could feel it immediately. A tension in the air raised voices coming from inside.
Kaden and I exchanged glances. He got out quickly and I followed as fast as my crutches would allow.
The voices were coming from the main hall. We rounded the corner and stopped dead.
Damian had Xavier pinned against the wall. His hand was around Xavier's throat. His claws were extended, pressed against Xavier's skin, barely breaking the surface. A thin line of blood ran down Xavier's neck.
"Tell me the truth," Damian was saying, his voice low and dangerous. "Tell me why you are really here."
Xavier's face was calm despite the claws at his throat. "I told you the alliance-"
"Don't lie to me, not about this…not after everything."
"Damian-" Xavier started.
"You came here because of her, didn't you? Because of what happened fifteen years ago. Because you still blame me for what I couldn't stop."
The claws pressed deeper and more blood.
"Damian, stop!" I didn't think I just moved forward on my crutches as fast as I could.
Both of them looked at me. Damian's eyes were wild and feral ; his wolf was very close to the surface.
"Stay back, Elara," He growled.
"No." I moved closer. "Put him down."
"You don't understand-"
"I understand that you're about to kill someone in the middle of the pack house. That whatever happened between you two, this isn't the way to solve it."
"He needs to tell me the truth."
"Then let him breathe so he can talk." I kept my voice gentle and soothing. The way you would speak to a frightened animal. "Please, Damian. Let him go for me."
Something in my voice got through to him.
Slowly, reluctantly, his claws retracted. He released Xavier and stepped back, his chest heaving.
Xavier straightened, touching his throat where blood was still flowing. "Thank you, Elara."
"Don't thank me yet." I looked between them. "Someone wants to explain what's happening?"
Neither of them spoke.
Kaden appeared behind me, having caught up. "Damian, my office. Now."
"Kaden-" Damian started.
"That wasn't a request."
Damian looked at me one more time, something pleading in his expression. Then he turned and walked toward Kaden's office.
Xavier remained leaning against the wall, pressing a cloth to his bleeding throat.
"What happened?" I asked him. "What did you say to make him react like that?"
Xavier was quiet.