CHAPTER 5
935 Words
Elara did not show up because of love or anything like that.
She was standing there in the courtyard under the torches, looking perfect, chin up high, every step she took planned out.
To everyone watching from the pack, she seemed like the right kind of mate for an Alpha, all elegant and sure of herself, powerful too. Like she was the answer to their problems, all wrapped up nice.
But what she really wanted inside was not warm at all.
She said yes to this for two main things.
The first one was the reward part.
Alpha James' mom promised her some real influence, safety, a spot where no one would question her. A life where she would not have to be under anyone ever again. Elara figured out a while back that power beats affection every time and it is safer anyway.
The other reason was stronger, like it burned.
It was Lucia.
She had heard the news fast, about how the Alpha picked an Omega instead of what the pack wanted, how he went against his own mom for some girl with nothing to her name.
A girl Elara used to ignore completely.
And now that girl had won somehow.
That stung, tasted so bitter.
So Elara just smiled, did her part right.
James stayed still though.
When Elara said she was his mate, something twisted in him, not happy, but like a memory hitting hard.
He thought back to her laugh from years ago, sharp but kind of pulling in. How she would walk into places like they were hers. His mom liked her right away.
Good family line. Right status. Lots of drive.
Everything Lucia lacked, at least on the surface.
He had been in love with Elara before.
The feelings were really deep and he had nothing to hold back.
Even when he didn't get signs from the Moon Goddess. Even when the bond never clicked.
He pushed aside the signs.
Especially after that one night.
The memory came up without him wanting it, those hours they stole away from everyone, the heat from wanting each other, thinking love could happen without all the fate stuff.
He woke up that morning figuring maybe he could force it to work.
That approval might fill in for destiny or something.
But she left before the sun came up.
No words. No word if she would come back.
His wolf kept howling for days after.
"You called her here without asking me," James said at last, voice even but icy.
His mom moved closer.
"I called the one who will be Luna here."
Lucia flinched next to him, even if she tried hiding it.
James noticed right away.
His wolf jumped up, ready to protect, madly.
"Elara is not my mate," he told them.
Elara's smile slipped a bit, but she covered it quickly.
"James," she said quietly, coming nearer. "You remember what we shared."
"What we had ended up messy," he shot back.
"And it was risky."
Murmurs started rippling through the wolves there.
"Elara has strength," his mom pushed.
"She gets respect. She will not split the pack like an Omega would."
James looked over at Lucia quickly.
She was quiet, fists tight, eyes on the ground, but under it all, her power was moving, nobody saw it right.
"She is not weak," he said.
His mom came back at him.
"She is a mystery. And mysteries ruin things."
James faced Lucia full on then.
That is when she shocked them all.
"She can stay."
Her words cut through the courtyard sharp, like metal hitting rock.
James just stared. "Lucia."
"She can stay," she said again, chin up now.
Her voice shook some, but she kept going. "Elara does not scare me."
Elara's eyes got narrow.
Lucia kept on, stepping up.
"If the pack is going to fall apart from fear and being too proud, then it is not about who is next to you. It is about what you will not look at."
Everyone went quiet, stunned.
James' mom laughed short.
"You think too big, Omega."
Lucia looked right at her, calmly.
"Maybe. But I figure the truth comes out on its own."
James tried reading her face, not getting why she would say that. "You do not need to do this."
"I know," she said lowly. "But I will not start any fighting."
Elara watched them, getting annoyed under her calm face.
So that is her plan, she thought. Acting all merciful.
Pathetic.
But tricky too.
"Fine," Elara said smoothly. "I take your kindness."
She looked at Lucia longer, eyes sharp, like she knew something. "For now anyway."
James wolf growled soft in him.
He turned to Elara. "You can stay. But know this, I will not tie myself to this setup."
Elara’s lips turned up. "We will find out."
That night nobody in the pack slept much.
Lucia was by herself on the balcony in her room, wind pulling at her hair, coldly.
She could not say why she let Elara stay.
Just that deep down, something said wait, not yet.
James came out quietly to join her.
"You did not have to stand up for me," he said.
She shook her head. "That was not for you."
He looked confused. "Then what?"
Lucia put her hand on her chest, feeling that old power move again.
"This stopped being just about love."
Down below, wolves were grouping up, some sticking by him, some mad, some scared.
The pack was breaking apart.
Lucia looked up at the moon and surprisingly this time, it felt like it spoke back.
- Writer
