Chapter 96 Elara's POV
Damian arrived within minutes.
Kaden had carried me to his quarters, laid me on the bed, and called for the pack doctor immediately. I sat there bleeding from a dozen cuts, glass still embedded in some of them, my baby kicking frantically inside me.
Damian entered carrying his medical bag, took one look at me, and went pale.
"What happened?" he demanded.
"Selena threw a rock through the car window," Kaden said tightly. "While Elara was inside."
Damian's expression darkened. He set down his bag and moved to examine me, his hands gentle despite the fury radiating off him.
"This is deep," He said, checking a cut on my forearm. "Some of these will need stitches and there is still glass embedded in several wounds."
"Just fix her." Kaden said.
"I am fixing her. What I want to know is why this keeps happening!" Damian's voice rose.
"Why does Selena keep attacking Elara? Why is she still here? Why haven't you thrown her out permanently?"
"She had been arrested-"
"She should have been exiled months ago! After the poison! After everything!" Damian was practically shouting now.
"But you kept her here because of political pressure and alliance concerns and now look what happened! Elara is bleeding because you couldn't make the hard decision!"
"That's enough.” Kaden growled.
"No, it's not enough! This woman has tried to kill Elara three times now! Three times! And each time you've given her another chance because it's politically convenient!"
"I said that's enough!"
"When will it be enough, Kaden? When Elara is dead? When the baby is dead? When will you finally prioritize their safety over politics?"
"Get out."
"Gladly, but I'm taking Elara with me to the medical wing where I can properly treat her-"
"Both of you stop!" My voice came out as a scream. "Just stop!"
They both froze, staring at me.
"I can't take this anymore," I said, tears streaming down my face.
"I can't take the fighting and the arguing and everyone making decisions about my life without asking me! I'm not a thing to be protected or fought over! I'm a person!"
"Elara-" Damian started.
"Get out, both of you, just get out and leave me alone."
"You are injured, you need treatment-"
"Then leave the supplies and I will do it myself. I don't want either of you here right now."
Damian looked hurt but he set down his medical bag. "Everything you need is in there. If the baby shows any signs of distress, call me immediately, promise me."
"I promise now please go."
They left reluctantly, both of them looking back like they wanted to say more.
I sat alone in silence, staring at the medical bag.
Then I started treating myself, removing glass shards with tweezers. Cleaning wounds with disinfectant that burned. Stitching the deeper cuts with trembling hands.
It was painful and difficult and took forever.
But it was mine to do, my choice, my control over something in a life that felt increasingly out of my control.
By the time I finished, it was past midnight. I was exhausted, hurting, and emotionally drained.
I fell asleep in Kaden's bed, still wearing the ruined blue dress, blood staining the beautiful fabric.
The next morning, I left before Kaden could return.
I needed to talk to someone, someone who might understand. Someone who could help me make sense of everything.
I found Helena in the guest quarters, already awake and drinking coffee.
"Elara," She said, immediately noticing my bandaged arms. "What happened?"
"Selena. Again." I sat down heavily in the chair across from her. "Can we talk?"
"Of course."
I told her everything about the marking at the celebration. About running away, about Selena throwing the rock about fighting with Kaden and Damian.
Helena listened without interrupting, her expression growing more troubled with each word.
"I can't stay here," I said finally.
"I can't keep living like this, always under threat. Always being fought over, always having decisions made for me."
"What do you want to do?"
"I want to learn about my past, Elena Silvercrest. About the Silver Moon Pack.”
I looked at her directly. "I want to come with you. To your territory to understand where I came from before all of this."
Helena was quiet for a long moment. "That's a significant request."
"I know but I need this. I need to understand who I was before I can figure out who I want to be."
"And Kaden? Have you discussed this with him?"
"No. Because he will say no, he will insist that I need to stay here where he can protect me. But I don't want his protection anymore. I want my freedom."
"Freedom and safety aren't always compatible. Especially with Erebus hunting you."
"I know, but I will take the risk I have to, for my own sanity."
Helena studied my face. "If you come with me, it would be temporary. A few weeks at most. Just long enough to visit the old Silver Moon territory, to meet people who knew your family, to piece together your history."
"That's all I'm asking for."
"When would you want to leave?"
"As soon as possible today, if we can."
"Elara-"
The door burst open.
Kaden stood there, his expression thunderous. "You are not going anywhere."
I stood, anger flaring. "How did you know I was here?"
"One of the servants saw you heading to the guest quarters. I knew you would try something like this."
He looked at Helena. "Thank you for entertaining her request, but Elara is staying here, where she is safe."
"That's not your decision," I said.
"Yes, you are my mate, you are carrying my child. You're under my protection whether you like it or not."
"I don't like it! I don't want your protection! I want to make my own choices about my own life!"
"Not when those choices put you and the baby in danger."
Helena stood. "Perhaps I should give you two some privacy-"
"No," I said quickly.
"Stay. Because I'm not backing down on this. I'm going with you to learn about my past. Kaden can't stop me."
"Watch me," Kaden said.
"I'm doubling security. No one enters or leaves this pack without my explicit permission that includes you."
"You can't keep me prisoner!"
"I can and I will if it means keeping you alive!"
"This isn't about keeping me alive! This is about you controlling me! Just like you controlled everything else in our relationship!"
"I'm trying to protect you!"
"I don't need protection! I need freedom! I need space! I need to not be suffocated by your guilt and your fear and your constant hovering!"
We stood there glaring at each other, both of us breathing hard.
Helena quietly left the room, closing the door behind her.