Chapter 175: CHAPTER 175

Elara woke before the sun had fully risen, the soft grey light of early morning filtering through the curtains of the third‑floor bedroom. Kaelan still slept beside her, one arm draped loosely across her waist, his breathing slow and even. The warmth of him, the quiet of the house, the comfort of their new home, none of it eased the ache in her chest the way it should.

She had tried to sleep. She had tried to let the peace of the night settle into her bones. But every time she closed her eyes, she saw Talia’s face, blank, hollow, and totally stripped of the spark that had once made her so fiercely alive.

Elara slipped carefully from beneath Kaelan’s arm, pressing a soft kiss to his shoulder before rising. She dressed quietly, pulling on a soft jumper and leggings, then padded down the stairs to the kitchen. The house was still, the air cool and fresh, carrying the faint scent of freshly made bread.

She opened the pantry and found the cake the pack had left for them. It was a simple vanilla sponge with thick icing and sprinkles that Emmy had insisted on adding. Beside it sat a basket of fruit and a jug of milk. Elara hesitated only a moment before gathering everything she needed. Cake and milkshakes. Something that might coax even the smallest reaction from Talia. She blended the milkshakes, pouring them into two tall glasses, then placed everything on a tray.

Kaelan appeared at the bottom of the stairs, rubbing sleep from his eyes. “Elara…?”

“I need to check on her,” she said softly. “I can’t wait anymore.”

He nodded, stepping closer to press a kiss to her forehead. “Go. I’ll be here when you get back.”

“Thank you,” She said, giving him a quick peck. “With any luck, I will be returning with her.”

Elara carried the tray outside, the morning air cool against her skin. The clearing was quiet, the pack still asleep or just beginning to stir. The cabin stood alone at the edge of the trees, its small windows dark, its door closed. Elara’s heart tightened.

She approached slowly, balancing the tray carefully. When she reached the door, she knocked gently. “Talia? It’s Elara.”

Silence. She waited, listening for footsteps, for a shift of movement, for anything. But there was nothing.

She knocked again, a little louder. “Sweetheart… I brought breakfast. Cake and milkshakes.”

Still nothing.

Elara swallowed, her voice softening. “I’m coming in, okay? I won’t stay if you don’t want me to. But I need to see you.”

She nudged the door open with her shoulder. The cabin was dim, the curtains drawn, and the air felt heavy. Elara stepped inside, her eyes adjusting to the low light.

Then she saw her.

Talia was curled in the far corner, knees pulled tightly to her chest, her arms wrapped around them. Her blonde hair fell in tangled waves around her face, and tears streamed silently down her cheeks. Her eyes were red and swollen, but she didn’t sob. She didn’t make a sound. She simply cried as though she had forgotten how to do anything else.

Elara set the tray down on the small table and crossed the room, crouching down in front of her.

“Talia…”

Talia flinched, turning her face away. “Go away.”

Elara’s heart cracked. “No.”

“I said go away,” Talia whispered, her voice breaking. “Please.”

Elara lowered herself fully to the floor beside her, and she wrapped an arm gently around Talia’s shoulders.

“I’m not leaving you,” she said softly. “Not now. Not ever.”

Talia shook her head, her breath hitching. “You should. I don’t… I don’t want you to see me like this.”

Elara pulled her closer, guiding Talia’s head to her shoulder. “I’ve seen you scared, brave, angry, laugh, and cry. So I can see you through this, too.”

Talia’s body trembled, and for a moment she resisted, but then she collapsed into Elara’s arms, her fingers clutching at her jumper.

“I never even got to meet her,” Talia sobbed. “My wolf. I never got to see what she looked like. I never felt her. Everyone else gets to feel whole and I… I don’t. I feel like half of me is missing.”

Elara stroked her hair gently. “I know. I’m so sorry.”

“It’s not fair,” Talia cried, her voice raw. “I didn’t do anything wrong. I didn’t ask for any of this. I didn’t ask for the seed or Circe or any of it. I just wanted a family. I just wanted a life.”

“You have a life,” Elara whispered. “You have a family.”

“No, I don’t.” Talia pulled back, her eyes blazing with grief. “I’m human. I don’t belong to a pack. I don’t have a wolf. I don’t have magic. I don’t have anything. I’m nothing now.”

Elara cupped her face gently, forcing Talia to meet her gaze. “You are not nothing. You are Talia. You are brave and kind and stubborn and strong, and you are part of my family, my daughter.”

Talia looked at her. “What?” she whispered.

“You heard me,” Elara said softly. “You are my daughter.”

Talia’s breath caught, her eyes widening. “I… I’m not…”

“You are, you have been since the moment you came to live here. And nothing, no magic, no wolf, no curse, will ever change that.” Elara said firmly. “I may not be your birth mother, and I would never try to replace her. But I see you as mine, and I will do everything in my power to make you happy here.”

Talia’s face crumpled, and she buried herself in Elara’s arms again, sobbing harder than before. Elara held her tightly, rocking her gently, whispering soothing words until the sobs softened into quiet sniffles.

When Talia finally lifted her head, her voice was small. “What do I do now?”

“You take all the time you need,” Elara said. “But you’re not staying here alone. You’re coming to live with us in the pack house.”

Talia hesitated. “Is it… finished?”

Elara smiled softly. “Yes. And we made your room beautiful.”

Talia wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Can I… see it?”

“Of course.”

Elara helped her stand, keeping an arm around her as they gathered the tray.

When they reached the third floor of the pack house, Kaelan was waiting outside Talia’s room, leaning against the wall with a milkshake in hand. He smiled softly when he saw them.

“Thought you two might want company.”

Talia blinked at him, surprised, then she looked at Elara, her eyes softening.

They stepped into Talia’s new room together, and as soon as they entered, Talia’s eyes widened as she took in her surroundings.

Elara set the tray on the bed. “Cake?” she offered.

Talia hesitated, then she nodded as she turned back to them.

The three of them sat together on the floor, sharing cake and milkshakes. Talia took a small bite, then another. And then, for the first time since the extraction, she smiled.