CHAPTER TWO: One Step Away from the Edge
1002 Words
Elara felt like she couldn't catch her breath. The walls of the dining hall felt closer to her. The heat from the candles made it hard to take in air. Her heart was beating so fast and loud that she could not hear the sound of cutlery, people talking, or the soft noise of dresses moving.
Kael spoke. His words stayed in the air. They felt heavy and hard to take.
“She’s always been right there.”
No one moved. No one spoke.
Elara turned and ran. She pushed open the big oak doors. The cool night air hit her face, sharp and cold. Tears filled her eyes, so the stars above looked blurry. She ran down the dirt path. She did not know where she would go, but she knew she had to get away from all those eyes on her.
Her legs took her to the river at the edge of Ashfang land. The moonlight moved across the rough water. She went down on her knees in the wet mud. She pushed her hands into the ground. Her breaths were short and rough.
He couldn’t have meant it. Kael, Alpha of Thornveil, claiming her as his mate? It was absurd. She was nothing but a servant, an orphan, a shadow at the edge of the pack’s notice.
Moon Goddess… why me?
Behind her, leaves shifted. Her wolf stirred, tense.
“Elara.”
She froze, not Kael’s voice.
Aria stepped into the moonlight, arms crossed, her face twisted in a smirk.
Elara wiped her cheeks and stood. “What do you want?” Her voice was hoarse.
“From you? Nothing,” Aria said, sauntering closer. “But running away from your big moment? Not exactly smart.”
“My big moment?” Elara’s brow furrowed. “You mean Kael?”
Aria’s smile sharpened. “You think he actually wants you? You think the great Alpha Kael looked across a room and decided you were worth claiming? Please. You’re a pretty distraction at best.”
“That’s not true.”
“Oh, it is,” Aria said. Her voice sounded cold. “You have always been the sad shadow that walks with me. You want someone to see you.” And now you’re letting yourself believe you belong anywhere near him?” She laughed, low and bitter. “You’ll only embarrass yourself.”
Elara’s throat tightened, but she stood taller. “I am not your shadow anymore.”
Aria stepped closer until they were nearly nose to nose. “If you had any self-respect, you’d vanish. Walk into that river and let it wash you away.”
For a heartbeat, silence hung heavy between them.
Elara’s voice was steady when she finally spoke. “Maybe I was small once. Maybe I believed every ugly word you told me. But not anymore. My worth isn’t for you to decide.”
Aria looked at her. Her eyes got smaller, but she did not talk. She turned fast and went into the trees. There was only the sound of branches breaking after she left.
Elara sat down on a rock with moss by the river. She looked at the water and saw the mud on her skin, the marks left by tears, and eyes that looked empty. She was not a maid. She was not Luna. Not now.
Something inside her had changed. And after a change like this, it can't go back to how it was before.
The pack house was still busy. You could hear glasses touching and people talking in low voices when Elara came back. She did not try to clean up. She wanted them to see her covered in mud, with her eyes puffy from crying.
She went right down the main hall. She stopped at Ryder’s door. One knock. It opened almost immediately.
Ryder stood there, arms crossed. “What now?”
“I’m leaving.”
He frowned. “Leaving the hall?”
“The pack,” she said evenly.
His frown deepened into a sneer. “You’re serious.”
“I’m done being your pawn,” she said. “If Kael truly means to take me, I won’t fight it. And if he doesn’t… I’ll still be gone.”
Ryder’s expression darkened. “You think leaving makes you strong? Kael will use you and toss you aside. You’ll come crawling back.”
“Maybe,” she said. “But if I make mistakes, they’ll be mine not yours.”
His eyes flashed. “You’re still a servant, Elara. Always will be. Kael doesn’t need a broken little nothing trailing after him.”
She stepped forward, her voice low and sharp. “You can’t call me ‘nothing’ anymore.”
For a moment, he just stared at her, his jaw tight. Then, with sudden force, he grabbed her wrist and yanked her toward him.
“You still belong to this pack,” he growled.
“No,” she said. “Not anymore.”
Then his mouth crashed down on hers. The kiss was not soft. It was about taking, having the upper hand, the feel of being in charge. Elara’s hands were at her sides. Her fists were tight.
A gasp from the doorway shattered the moment. They both turned.
Aria stood there. Her face was pale. Her eyes were wide with anger.
“What the hell is this?” she demanded.
Ryder released Elara as if her skin burned him. “It’s not what you think—”
“No?” Aria’s voice was sharp as broken glass. “It looked exactly like my mate kissing the girl he swore was worthless.”
Elara wiped her mouth with the back of her hand. Her voice was low but steady. “Think what you want, Aria. I’m done being part of your games. I’m leaving.”
She didn’t wait for either of them to answer. She walked away, her footsteps ringing against the floor, each one carrying her further from the girl she had been this morning.
- Writer
