Mine
809 Words
Chapter Seven: Mine
Elara's POV
The ground trembled beneath our feet.
A deafening roar echoed through the forest.
Birds exploded from the treetops.
Even the wind seemed to stop.
Every wolf in the clearing became alert.
The man standing before me—Alpha Draven Nightshade—instantly shifted into a defensive stance.
His silver-gray eyes scanned the darkness surrounding us.
The warriors behind him drew their weapons.
One stepped closer.
"Alpha..."
Draven never looked away from the trees.
"I know."
His voice was calm.
Cold.
Commanding.
The kind of voice that expected to be obeyed.
Then...
Silence.
The roar didn't come again.
Only the sound of my uneven breathing filled the clearing.
I wrapped my arms around myself.
Everything hurt.
My chest still burned from Kaiden's rejection.
My heart hadn't stopped aching.
Now another Alpha stood before me claiming I was his mate.
It was too much.
Far too much.
"I can't."
The words slipped out before I realized I had spoken.
Draven finally looked back at me.
His expression softened immediately.
"You don't have to do anything tonight."
His answer surprised me.
"You... don't want me to accept you?"
A sad smile crossed his face.
"I want you to choose me."
Not because the Moon Goddess said so.
Not because fate demanded it.
"Because you trust me."
His words caught me off guard.
Kaiden had never asked what I wanted.
He had decided for both of us.
Draven was giving me a choice.
Lunara spoke quietly.
"He is different."
Vespera surprised me by agreeing.
"Much better looking, too."
I almost laughed.
Almost.
Draven noticed the tiny change in my expression.
"You smiled."
Heat rushed to my cheeks.
"I did not."
"You almost did."
"I absolutely didn't."
Behind him, several Nightshade warriors exchanged amused looks.
One of them—a broad-shouldered man with sandy brown hair—cleared his throat dramatically.
"Our Alpha has never smiled this much."
Another warrior nodded.
"I wasn't sure he knew how."
Draven shot them a warning glare.
"Enough."
The men immediately straightened.
"Yes, Alpha."
The silence lasted all of three seconds.
Then the sandy-haired warrior whispered loudly enough for everyone to hear,
"I think our Luna is pretty."
Another elbowed him.
"Obviously."
"She's tiny."
"She's terrifying."
"She has two spirits."
"Still pretty."
I stared at them.
They weren't laughing at me.
They weren't whispering insults.
They were...
welcoming me.
My chest tightened.
I didn't know what to do with that feeling.
No one had ever looked happy to see me before.
Ryder stepped forward and offered a respectful bow.
"My name is Ryder."
He smiled warmly.
"I'm Beta of Nightshade Pack."
I blinked.
He bowed...
to me?
"I know this is a terrible way for us to meet."
His expression became serious.
"But if our Alpha says you're his mate..."
He placed a fist over his heart.
"Then you're already family."
My throat closed.
Family.
One word.
One simple word.
Yet it nearly broke me.
Before I could answer—
A wave of pain crashed through my body.
I cried out and dropped to one knee.
The broken mate bond flared violently.
Draven reached me before I hit the ground.
Strong arms caught me.
Carefully.
Gently.
He never tried to claim me.
Never crossed a boundary.
He simply held me steady.
"What hurts?"
"The rejection..."
I whispered.
"It still burns."
Draven's eyes darkened.
"Who did this to you?"
I hesitated.
Then answered.
"Future Alpha Kaiden Silvercrest."
Every Nightshade warrior went completely silent.
Ryder's jaw clenched.
Another warrior muttered,
"He's an idiot."
Draven didn't speak.
He didn't have to.
The murderous rage in his eyes said enough.
Inside his mind, Orion snarled.
"He rejected our mate."
Lunara growled in response.
"He never deserved her."
Vespera's voice turned ice cold.
"If he hurts her again... I'll make him regret being born."
For the first time all night...
I didn't feel alone.
Then footsteps echoed through the forest.
Fast.
Urgent.
Dozens of them.
Ryder immediately drew his sword.
"Alpha..."
Draven slowly stood in front of me.
Shielding me with his body.
"Stay behind me."
The trees parted.
Several Silvercrest warriors burst into the clearing.
Leading them were Alpha Ronan...
and Luna Elena.
Luna Elena's eyes immediately found me.
Tears filled them.
"There you are!"
She rushed toward me—
Then stopped abruptly.
Her gaze shifted to Draven.
Then back to me.
Then to the undeniable mate bond between us.
The entire clearing fell silent.
Alpha Ronan looked at Draven.
Draven looked back without flinching.
Finally, Alpha Ronan spoke.
"Alpha Draven..."
His eyes settled on me.
"Is it true?"
Draven didn't hesitate.
"Yes."
His voice rang with absolute certainty.
"Elara is my fated mate."
The words echoed through the forest.
And somewhere, back in Silvercrest...
Kaiden suddenly clutched his chest.
For the first time since rejecting me...
He felt what it truly meant...
To lose me forever.
- Writer
