Chapter 83: I can

As your arms pull away from Elle, the connection you feel between the two of you still lingers in the air—frail and unspoken. But before you can fully process what’s happening, Elle speaks, her voice breaking through the tension.

“I know,” she says, her tone quiet but unwavering. “I know what the Lycan King wants, and I know what he plans to do.” Her gaze holds yours, clear and resolute, as if she’s already made a decision, one that you weren’t prepared to hear.

You stare at her, confused, heart pounding in your chest. “What are you talking about?” you ask, though the dread that coils in your gut tells you it’s not something you want to hear.

She steps back slightly, her eyes lowering just for a moment, before meeting yours again with that same quiet resolve. “I’ve already agreed to it,” she admits. “In return for pardoning Michael, you, and everyone else—I’ll give him my eggs. Until I find my fated mate.”

The words hit you like a slap in the face. Your heart sinks into your stomach as you process the enormity of her decision. “You—what?” you choke out, disbelief flooding you. “Elle, no. You can’t—”

“I can,” she interrupts, her voice growing stronger, though there’s a hint of sadness beneath the surface. “I have to. It’s the only way to keep us all safe. If I don’t, none of us will survive.” Her gaze flickers to the door, as if the weight of the world hangs just beyond it, waiting to close in on all of you. “I agreed because I can’t let him take you, or Michael, or anyone else.”

You feel a rage rise within you—fury at what the Lycan King is forcing her to do, but also at her willingness to sacrifice herself for the sake of others. “I won’t let you,” you say, your voice trembling with anger. “This is wrong.”

Before you can say anything more, you feel Davide’s presence next to you. His hand slips into yours, a firm, steady anchor, and his grip tightens slightly as he leads you away from Elle, pulling you gently but decisively.

“Let’s get out of here,” Davide’s voice rumbles, low and commanding, though there’s a tenderness in it that makes it impossible to resist. The bond between you flares to life, an insistent pull at your core that seems to answer his words before your mind can.

You try to resist. “No. I won’t leave without her.” Your voice is fierce, but there’s an undercurrent of hesitation, the strength of the bond between you subtly twisting your desires, making them harder to fight.

Davide doesn’t say a word in response. He simply steps closer, his hand still holding yours, and you feel a sudden, undeniable warmth flood through you. The pull is intense, impossible to ignore, and before you can stop yourself, you find yourself stepping forward, letting him guide you out of the room.

The world outside the door fades as you allow him to walk you away. The bond between the two of you hums with undeniable force, and despite everything that has happened, despite your fury and your fear, you feel the need to be with him, to be close to him. It’s like a part of you is willing to surrender to this bond, even if it means leaving behind the world you once knew.

Davide leads you to his room, his presence filling the space between you. When the door closes behind you, the weight of everything—the decisions, the choices, the painful truth—hangs heavy in the air.

As you stand there, unsure of what to say or do, Davide turns to face you, his expression soft, his gaze steady. "You’re safe here," he murmurs, his voice a calming presence amidst the chaos in your mind. "And I won’t let anything happen to you."

His words carry a quiet assurance, and for the first time in what feels like forever, you allow yourself to let go of the worry, even if only for a moment. The bond between you is undeniable, and despite everything that’s happened, despite the anger and confusion that still swirl within you, you feel something in your chest—something warm, something safe.

And for now, that’s enough.

Elle turned to leave, her mind still reeling from the conversation she’d had with her mother, but just as her hand was about to grasp the door handle, a voice halted her.

“Not so fast,” the Lycan King said, his tone firm but not without a trace of something else—something more calculating.

Elle turned to face him, her expression a mix of confusion and frustration. “What now?” she asked, her voice sharp, as the weight of the evening pressed heavily upon her.

The Lycan King’s gaze was steady, his posture commanding as always. “My brothers will be here shortly,” he said, pausing to let the words hang in the air. “I’m hoping you will naturally mate with one of them.”

Elle’s chest tightened, the words twisting in her gut. “What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as the realization began to sink in. “You’re making this about—about that?” Her eyes flashed with anger, the notion of being used in such a way sending a wave of defiance surging through her.

He didn’t flinch. “The future of this kingdom depends on it,” he reminded her, his tone unwavering. “It’s not just about you. It’s about everything we’ve worked for.”

Elle felt the anger bubble over, her heart racing. “I’m not some... prize to be handed around,” she snapped, her words harsh as they cut through the tension in the room. “I made a sacrifice. I agreed to give my eggs in exchange for your protection—for all of us. But I didn’t agree to become some... tool for your royal bloodline.”

The Lycan King’s eyes darkened, his patience thinning. “You’re not listening, Elle,” he said, his voice low, like a warning. “I didn’t make you this offer out of kindness. There are forces at work here that you can’t begin to understand. What’s at stake is far bigger than you or me. It’s the survival of this entire realm.” He took a step toward her, his presence commanding, suffocating almost. “You’re not just playing with your own life. You’re playing with the future of everyone.”

Elle’s breath hitched, her mind swirling with the weight of his words. She’d been trying to protect her mother and Michael, to do what was right, but now she felt like a pawn—an unwilling participant in a game much larger than her.

She stepped back, shaking her head. “I never asked for this. I never asked for any of this,” she muttered, her voice thick with frustration. She’d been manipulated and pushed into a corner, and the Lycan King knew it.

He looked at her coldly, no trace of empathy in his eyes. “You made the choice,” he reminded her, his voice like steel. “And now you will live with it.”

Elle opened her mouth to argue, but she found herself speechless, the weight of her situation pressing down on her chest. What could she say? How could she fight against this fate that had been forced upon her?

The Lycan King turned away, his gaze distant, calculating. “If you think this is bad,” he said softly, almost as an afterthought, “you don’t want to see what happens if you don’t comply.” His words were chilling, sending a shiver down her spine.

Elle stood in stunned silence, her mind racing. There was no winning against him, not right now. With a sharp exhale, she turned on her heel and walked toward her room, the weight of the Lycan King’s words hanging heavy in the air.