Married to the alpha, marked by another

Chapter 4

Drew’s pov

Before breakfast, Elara cornered me. She did, of course. I should have known better than to think the hallways of the palace would give me space. Silvermoon didn't breathe; it listened. And Elara had always known how to get around listening spaces without leaving any traces.

"Drew." Just my name. Gentle and Known. Close enough that my shoulders tightened before I even turned. I kept on walking.

"You're avoiding me," she said, clicking her heels to keep up with me. "That's not nice." I said, "I'm busy," in a flat voice. "And you're not on my schedule."

She chuckled. "You used to like it when I chased you, hun! “I stopped so suddenly that she almost ran into my back.

I turned slowly. We were the only ones in the east corridor, which had stone walls, tall windows, and morning light spilling across the floor.

There were no guards close enough to hear. No elders pretending not to see. Great. I said calmly, "Elara, you're here because the council made you come.

"Not because I asked. Don't mix up being close with being allowed. Her eyes got darker, but they didn't hurt. Just calculating.

She looked at me closely and said, "You're now so different." "More in control." "Colder." "Okay," I said. "That means I learned something." She turned her head. "Is it her?"

I didn't say anything. That was the first mistake. Her lips slowly turned. "I thought so."I said in a low voice, "You don't know anything about her," with a warning in every word.

Elara said, "I know she's an omega." "I know she came without a name or any proof of her past, and somehow your mother wrapped her in protection like a holy object.

"My jaw got tight."Be careful how you talk." She moved closer. Not touching, just close enough to test the line.

"Does she know?" Elara asked in a low voice."That the council already thinks she's a problem?" I bent down until we were looking each other in the eye.

"Does your dad know you're still trying to control me by hinting at things instead of obeying?" That worked.

Her breath caught, but not by much. "You always hated being trapped," she said softly. "And you always thought that provocation was power."Her smile faded. "Be careful," she said. "You're making enemies."

I stood up straight. "I already have them." At least they are being honest now. After a long look at me, she let out a big sigh.

"Okay." Let's be honest. She pointed to the window. "This pack is not stable. The elders are not at ease. Your mom is playing a long game that she hasn't told you about. And Sarah-"

I took a quick step forward. "Don't say her name as you own it."There was a sudden silence between us. Elara slowly raised her hands, pretending to be peaceful. "Take it easy. I'm trying to be helpful, she said.

"You don't help." "You leverage." She smiled a little. "Same thing." Different kinds of packaging. I looked away from her. "Go back to your room." "And what if I don't?" I turned around and looked.

"Then I make it very clear to you and the council that you are a guest here. Not the future Luna but a visitor.

Her eyes lit up. "You wouldn't." "I would," I said calmly. "And I will if you push me again."

She looked at my face. She really looked hard this time and stepped back. "…You've changed," she said again, this time in a quieter voice.

I said, "Yes." "And you're still where you used to be." I left her there.

I saw Sarah in the lower garden. She stood by the old stone fountain with her hands clasped in front of her and her eyes far away.

She was dressed like a woman from the palace. simple clothes with colors that aren't too bright.

The guards nearby had changed their stance without even knowing it. She had already changed the air around her. I walked up slowly. On purpose.

She knew I was there before I said anything. Without turning around, she said, "You're loud when you think." That surprised me. I said, "I didn't know that thinking made noise.

"She finally turned to me."It does. When it's mad. I looked at her. The morning light made her hair shine.

There were still shadows under her eyes. She looked more stable than she had last night. As if she had slept. It was like she was getting back to herself bit by bit. "Did Elara talk to you yet?" I asked.

Her forehead wrinkled. "The woman who looks at me like I stole something from her?" "Yes.""No," Sarah said. "But she's been going in circles." I snorted. "That sounds like her."

After a moment of hesitation, she asked in a low voice, "Is she dangerous? So I can avoid her” I didn't answer right away. I finally said, "Yes." "But not the way she wants to be."

Without hesitation, Sarah nodded her head. "That smell again,"

She said all of a sudden. "You keep responding to it." My back got stiff. "You see everything," I said. "I had to," she said softly. "Once." I got closer. Not too near. But not as close as last night.

I said, "It's not what you think." "Then tell me what it is," she said, not in an angry way.

Interesting. I opened my mouth. And then it closed again. I said, "Not yet." She looked into my eyes. For lying. For being weak. For having a purpose. "Fair," she finally said.

We stood there in silence, tense, charged, and not done. Then a guard came up and bowed quickly. "Alpha. There is a problem. I turned around.

"What problem?" Talk!

"The council chamber," he said slowly. "Your mother wants you to come. Right away. Sarah stiffened up.

I told her to "stay here." Her jaw got tight. "That wasn't a request." I looked her in the eye. She didn't turn away. "Be careful," she said in a low voice.

I was already too late for that. There was a lot of noise in the council chamber. Elders yelling. Voices that are too close together. Accusations flying fast and hard.

Mother Luna stood in the middle, as calm as death. As soon as I walked in, Elder Ben snapped, "Elara has formally petitioned to be recognized as provisional Luna-" "No," I cut in.

"She hasn't." Everyone looked. "I didn't agree with it," I said again. "That means it doesn't exist." Elara stood next to her father with a pale face and burning eyes.

"You can't just ignore-" Elder Mara said. "I can," I said in a cold voice. "And I have."

Mother Luna kept a close eye on me. Too closely. Elder Ben hissed, "You're ruining tradition." I said, "No." "I'm taking the parasites off of it."

A gasp from everyone. Then Mother Luna spoke. "That's enough," she said softly. There was no sound in the room. She looked at me.

"Drew, sit." I didn't. Her eyes got a little smaller. She warned, "You are forcing my hand." My heart raced.

"And you've been in charge of mine for years," I said back. "We're done pretending." It shook the room. Then the doors flew open.

A messenger came in, out of breath and with wild eyes. He gasped, "Alpha." "There has been an event." "What kind?" I asked. He swallowed."It's Sarah." I felt cold all over.

"What happened to her?" I said it slowly. He looked me in the eye.

“She collapsed"