chapter 4
1207 Words
Lucien's presence filled the room.
Elara had never seen her father look at anyone the way he looked at the alpha king.
Not with fear, not exactly. It was something deeper. Something that looked like guilt.
What did you do? Lucien repeated.
Her father said nothing
Elara stepped forward
no!
Both men looked at her
She stared at her father. Don't ask him
Lucien's eyes narrowed
Elara's hands trembled, but she refused to look away.
I'm tired of everyone speaking about me as if I'm not standing in the room.
Her father opened his mouth
. She raised her hand, no!
The word echoed through the room. I want answers.
Lucien studied her
. You want answers?
Elara turned to him. Yes!
Then ask your father
I did.
And?
He refused to tell me anything
Lucien's gaze moved to Alpha Veyne. Of course he did.
Elara's eyes narrowed.
What is that supposed to mean?
Lucien didn't answer immediately.
He walked into the room and closed the door behind them.
The sound of the door clicking into place made Elara's stomach tighten.
Her father noticed
Lucien, don't
The Alpha King's voice was cold. Don't say my name as if we're still friends.
Her father lowered his gaze. Elara looked between them
Were you friends?
Neither man answered.
Her frustration grew. Someone, please explain something to me!
The room fell silent. Elara's breathing became uneven.
My entire life, I've been told my mother died; I've been told I was born without a wolf; I've been told to stay away from questions about my past.
She looked at her father, and now a stranger entered my room and called me a queen.
She looked at Lucien. And now you rejected me because my family supposedly destroyed yours.
Her voice cracked, yet neither of you will tell me what actually happened.
Lucien's expression remained unreadable
Her father looked away. Elara laughed bitterly.
fine! She turned to the door.
Where are you going? Her father asked.
Since nobody wants to tell me the truth, I'm going away.
You can't leave.
Then watch me
She reached for the door handle; Lucien moved faster and then caught her wrist
The moment the skin touched hers, the bond between them exploded.
Elara gasped.
Lucien's expression changed; for a moment, neither of them moved
His hand was warm against her skin; his eyes dropped to her lips. Elara's heart began to race.
Then Lucien released her as if he had been burnt.
His face hardened. Don't leave the house
Elara stared at him. You rejected me
I know
So why do you care where I go?
I don't care
Then let go of me
I already did
Then stop giving me orders
His jaw tightened
You have no idea what is happening
Then explain it!
I can't
Elara stared at him. Of course you can't
She turned away
Lucien's eyes darkened
Your father is right about one thing
Elara stopped
Moonridge is no longer safe
She slowly turned back
why?
Because the people who murdered my family are still alive
Elara's heart skipped. And you think they are coming for me?
no!
Then why am I in danger
Lucien looked at the mark beneath her collarbone
Because they believe you are the key to finding something they spent years searching for.
What?
Lucien said nothing.
Her father finally spoke: the moonstone
Elara looked at him. What moonstone?
Lucien's expression changed
Her father closed his eyes
The silence was deafening
Elara looked at them. What moonstone?
Lucien looked at her. The moon throne
Elara laughed. It was a nervous, disbelieving sound. What are you talking about?
Lucien's face remained serious
There was once a kingdom older than every pack in existence.
Elara said nothing
The moon kingdom
Her father moved towards the window. A royal bloodline ruled it
Elara looked at him. The moon queen?
Her father nodded
The last queen was murdered eight years ago
Elara's heart began to pound
Lucien continued
Her kingdom was destroyed, her people were scattered, her enemies believed that the royal bloodline had ended
Elara looked at her father. Why are you telling me this?
Her father turned towards her.
Because it didn't
Elara's breath caught
Lucien's eyes remained on her
The queen had a child
The room became silent
Elara slowly shook her head
no
Her father looked at her. Elara.....
She took a step backward. No, don't!
Her father walked towards her. You deserve to know
to know what?
Her father looked at her with pain
You are the last surviving heir of the moon throne
Elara stared at him. For a moment, she couldn't understand the words
Then she laughed, no!
She shook her head harder, no!
Elara....
She stepped backward
no!
That isn't possible
It is
My mother was nobody
Her father flinched. no!
She died when I was a baby; she was the queen
Elara's body went cold. Lucien watched her carefully.
Was my mother the moon queen?
Her father nodded
Elara's knees weakened
She grabbed the edge of the table
Why didn't you tell me?
Because the people who killed her were searching for you
Why did you let me grow thinking I was weak?
Because if someone discovered who you are.......
You lied to me!
Her voice shook the room
Her father looked away
Elara's eyes filled with tears
You watched everyone call me a curse.
I was protecting you.
You let me believe I was defective
I was protecting you
Elara stared at him
Her father was breathing heavily
Then Lucien spoke. Why doesn't she have a wolf?
Neither of them answered
Lucien looked at Alpha Veyne. Answer me!
Her father slowly looked at Elara
She does.
Elara's heart skipped. What?
I have a wolf? Then why can't I feel her?
Because she was sealed.
Elara stared at him.
Who sealed her?
Her father said nothing
Lucien's gaze sharpened. Who?
Alpha Veyne looked at Elara
your mother
Elara felt as though the ground had disappeared beneath her
why?
Because your wolf is not ordinary.
The silver mark beneath her collarbone began to glow, and pain spread through her body.
Elara gasps
Her eyes flashed silver
Lucien stepped forward
Elara
she screamed
The windows shattered; a wave of power exploded through the room
Everyone was thrown backward; Elara fell to her knees.
Something roared inside her
Not a wolf
Not a small wolf
Something ancient, something powerful
Something that had been sleeping for twenty years.
A voice echoed inside her mind, "Finally"
Elara's eyes opened; they were no longer brown; they were silver, and somewhere far away in a place hidden beyond the mountains, a woman opened her eyes.
She has awakened
The man standing beside her turned. Are you certain?
The woman smiled.
The moon queen's heir is alive
Her smile disappeared, and now the alpha king knows.
Back in Moonridge, Lucien stared at Elara.
The girl he had rejected hours ago was on her knees, surrounded by shattered glass
Silver light pulsed beneath her skin
And for the first time since his family was murdered, Lucien felt something he had not felt in years.
Fear
Because the woman he had rejected as a Veyne was the last queen of the moon kingdom.
- Writer
