Chapter 57 - The Fall
1653 Words
For one terrifying second, Elara was certain she was about to crash through every branch on her way to the ground.
Leaves whipped past her face while bark scraped against her arms. The world tilted violently, green and brown blurring together as panic seized her chest.
Then strong arms wrapped around her.
The impact knocked the air from both of them.
Thorne staggered backward beneath the force of her fall, one boot digging into the forest floor as he fought to keep his balance. Dry leaves crunched beneath him while his arm tightened instinctively around her waist, securing her against his chest.
For several heartbeats neither of them moved.
Elara's pulse thundered in her ears.
The scent of pine and earth filled her lungs, mingling with something far more familiar.
Thorne.
Only when she realized she wasn't falling anymore did she dare open her eyes.
Her breath caught.
Thorne was staring down at her.
His eyes glowed brightly, the vibrant gold almost luminous beneath the shade of the trees. His wolf sat dangerously close to the surface, fully alert after witnessing her tumble from the branch above.
The sight sent a ripple through her.
Deep inside, her own wolf stirred immediately in response.
The mate bond flared between them, warm and electric. It danced beneath her skin and wrapped around her chest, filling the space between them with an awareness that neither could ignore.
Suddenly, Elara became painfully aware of how close they were.
One arm remained firmly around her waist while the other supported her back. Her hands were pressed against his chest, and she could feel the powerful rhythm of his heartbeat beneath her palms.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
A breeze swept through the trees overhead, scattering leaves around them.
"Are you okay?" Thorne finally asked.
His voice sounded deeper than usual, rougher.
The concern in it caught her off guard.
Elara opened her mouth but couldn't get the a sound out.
Embarrassment crashed into her all at once.
She had just fallen out of a tree.
In front of Thorne.
"Put me down," she muttered.
One dark eyebrow lifted.
"You just fell out of a tree."
Heat rushed to her cheeks.
"I am aware."
"Are you?"
Elara narrowed her eyes.
"Put me down."
The corner of his mouth twitched.
Unfortunately, he did exactly as she asked.
The moment her feet touched the ground, a stinging sensation spread across her palms.
She hissed.
Thorne's expression immediately changed.
His gaze dropped to her hands.
Thin lines of blood streaked across both palms where bark had scraped away skin during the fall. Dirt clung to several shallow cuts while another scrape ran along her forearm.
"It's nothing," Elara said quickly.
Thorne looked unconvinced.
"You are bleeding."
"It's a scratch."
"It's blood."
"It's barely blood."
Without asking permission, he reached for her wrist.
Elara froze.
His fingers wrapped gently around her arm as he turned it to inspect the scrape running along her forearm.
The contact sent another pulse through the bond.
Thorne's jaw tightened slightly.
"Hold still."
"I'm fine."
Elara glared at him.
His eyes gleamed with amusement.
The infuriating wolf actually looked entertained.
"I should have let the ground catch me."
"You almost did."
A low chuckle escaped him.
The sound sent an entirely different kind of shiver through her.
For a brief moment, neither of them looked away.
Thorne cleared his throat and finally stepped back.
"Come on. We need to get that cleaned before it heals."
He released her wrist.
Without saying anything, Elara turned and started walking toward the pack house.
It didn't take long for Thorne to fall into step beside her.
The forest seemed much quieter now, though perhaps she was simply too aware of the Alpha walking at her side.
For several moments neither of them spoke.
The mate bond continued to hum between them. It was no longer as intense as before, but it remained impossible to ignore.
"What were you doing up there anyway?" Thorne finally asked.
Elara bit the inside of her cheek.
The last thing she wanted was to explain that she had been meeting Nyra.
Or that she had remained in the tree afterward because it reminded her of home.
"Enjoying the scenery," she finally said.
The answer sounded weak even to her own ears.
Thorne turned his head slightly.
She didn't need the mate bond to know he didn't believe a single word she had said. The connection pulsed between them, carrying a strange warmth that made her stomach tighten. If his wolf had sensed the lie, however, he chose not to comment on it.
To Elara's surprise, he simply nodded and continued walking.
The silence that followed felt strangely comfortable.
By the time they reached the pack house, the sting in her palms had dulled considerably.
Thorne headed directly toward the stairs.
Elara frowned but followed.
Only when he stopped outside his bedroom door did she finally speak.
"Why are we here?"
Thorne pulled the door open.
"I have a first aid kit in my room."
Elara narrowed her eyes.
"So does every room in the pack house."
His expression remained completely blank despite her protest, and the stubborn Alpha simply placed a hand against the small of her back before guiding her forward.
The contact made her jump.
Before she could protest, she found herself stepping into the room she had once shared with him.
The large bed remained in the same place while the dark furniture lined the walls exactly as she remembered. Even the faint scent of cedar and pine lingered in the air.
Everything felt familiar.
Thorne entered behind her and shut the door.
The soft click echoed through the room.
An awkward tension settled between them almost immediately.
"Sit."
The order was accompanied by a gesture toward the neatly made bed.
Elara rolled her eyes.
Right on cue, a low growl rumbled through the room.
A smirk tugged at her lips.
She knew exactly how much that annoyed him.
His wolf hated being dismissed, and the knowledge gave her far more satisfaction than it probably should have.
Without another word, she crossed the room and sat down.
Thorne disappeared into the bathroom.
A moment later he returned carrying a first aid kit.
Elara held out her hand, expecting him to pass it over.
Instead, he ignored the gesture completely.
Before she could react, Thorne crouched in front of her.
The sight momentarily stole her breath.
The Alpha of Draegon was kneeling at her feet while sorting through medical supplies like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"This isn't necessary."
"It is."
Elara huffed.
Thorne took her hand before she could argue further.
The alcohol stung when it touched her skin, and she immediately flinched.
His grip tightened slightly.
"Hold still."
The irritation in his voice was undercut by the gentleness of his actions.
Every movement was careful and every touch deliberate.
He cleaned the cuts one by one, removing dirt and bits of bark before moving to the scrape along her forearm.
The alcohol continued to sting, but Elara barely noticed.
Her attention remained fixed on him.
She watched the concentration etched across his features and the slight crease that appeared between his brows whenever he discovered another scrape.
Nothing about this should have felt important.
He was cleaning a few cuts.
That was all.
Yet she couldn't stop staring.
The male kneeling in front of her felt entirely different from the Alpha she had spent weeks arguing with.
This wasn't the cold, demanding leader who barked orders and expected obedience.
This wasn't the infuriating man who constantly challenged her.
This version was patient, careful and gentle.
When he reached for her arm, his touch remained impossibly light, and a strange ache settled inside her chest.
Elara found herself wondering whether Thorne even realized what he was doing to her.
The thought sent her pulse stumbling.
When he finally finished, he set the supplies aside and lifted his head.
Their gazes locked.
The mate bond immediately surged to life, sending warmth flooding through her chest until it burned beneath her skin.
Neither of them looked away.
For reasons she couldn't explain, Thorne leaned closer.
The movement was subtle, yet it seemed to steal every bit of air from her lungs.
His face was suddenly only inches from hers.
Golden flecks shimmered within his eyes.
Thorne was so close, she could feel the warmth of his breath against her skin.
The distance separating them seemed to vanish entirely.
"Better now?" he asked.
His voice carried a rough edge that sent another shiver through her.
Something inside her tightened.
Elara swallowed.
"Yes."
The answer emerged as little more than a whisper.
She wasn't entirely sure what she was agreeing to.
His gaze flickered briefly to her lips before returning to her face.
Awareness stretched between them, alive and pulsing with tension.
For several dangerous seconds, neither of them moved.
Every instinct told her to pull away.
Instead, she remained completely still.
The bond tightened.
Her heartbeat hammered against her ribs.
Then reality came crashing back.
Elara abruptly leaned away.
The moment shattered.
A slow smirk appeared on Thorne's face.
The infuriating male knew exactly what had happened.
Without commenting, he rose to his feet and began packing away the supplies.
Elara attempted to slow the frantic beating of her heart.
It wasn't working.
"Remember the pack dinner," Thorne said casually, as though neither of them had nearly drowned in the mate bond moments ago. "Be ready by seven."
With that, he closed the first aid kit and headed toward the door.
He left without another word, leaving the bedroom door open behind him.
Elara remained seated on the edge of the bed long after he had gone.
Her pulse refused to settle, and her thoughts were no less chaotic.
One question continued to echo through her mind.
What was that?
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