Chapter 35: Desperate
(Elara's POV)
The laughter of pups echoed through the air, blending with the soft rustle of leaves. Moon crystals hung like stars amid the trees, bathing the celebration in a pale, magical light.
I’d managed to step away from the main ceremony, seeking a moment of quiet to collect myself. But it wasn’t the festivities that had my nerves frayed—it was Rhys.
His energy had filled the space the moment he arrived, a force as suffocating as it was magnetic. Lumi practically clawed at my composure, reacting to his presence like a spark to dry timber.
I shook my head, leaning against a tree, my fingers digging into the rough bark. “Get it together,” I whispered under my breath.
But how could I? He wasn’t just there. He was watching me. That much was clear from th
