ELARA THE WARRIOR

SERVANT

ELARA

I keep my head down.

That’s the only way to survive this.

Tray in hand, movements steady, eyes lowered—I become invisible again. Just another servant moving between powerful wolves who don’t see me.

Or at least…

That’s what I try to be.

But it’s harder now.

Because I can feel him.

Alpha Scavia

Even without looking, I know where he is.

It’s like a pull beneath my skin—constant, quiet, but impossible to ignore.

So I avoid him.

Carefully.

Deliberately.

I keep my hood low, my sleeves long, hiding the subtle shift in my hair… the dangerous glow in my eyes.

I don’t look in his direction.

Not once.

Because I’m afraid if I do—

I won’t be able to look away.

Across the hall, Claire doesn’t bother hiding her intentions.

Claire

She moves toward him again, confidence in every step, like last night never happened.

Like she wasn’t pushed away.

Like she still has a claim.

I watch from the corner of my vision as she leans in close, her voice soft, trying to draw him in.

But something shifts.

Scavia’s expression hardens.

Subtly.

Almost unnoticeably.

But I see it.

He doesn’t react the way he should.

Doesn’t soften.

Doesn’t lean into her.

Instead—

He pulls back.

A fraction.

His jaw tightening.

His nose flaring slightly, like something is… off.

Unpleasant.

Claire falters.

Just for a second.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, forcing a smile.

“Nothing,” he says shortly.

But it’s a lie.

I can feel it from here.

Something about her—

Doesn’t sit right with him.

And for some reason…

That thought twists something deep inside my chest.

I turn away quickly.

Focus.

Don’t think.

Don’t feel.

The meeting begins soon after.

The hall grows quiet as the elders and council members take their places. The air thickens with authority, expectation pressing down on everyone present.

I remain at the edges, serving silently.

Listening.

Because servants always hear everything.

Alpha Darius stands at the head of the room.

Alpha Darius

Confident.

Controlled.

Performing.

“As discussed,” he begins, “a union between our packs would strengthen both territories.”

His gaze shifts toward Scavia.

“And there is no better way to ensure that… than through family.”

Claire straightens slightly, anticipation flickering across her face.

Everyone knows what’s coming.

“Your daughter,” Scavia says slowly, his tone unreadable.

“Yes,” Darius replies. “Claire would make a suitable match.”

Silence follows.

Heavy.

Waiting.

All eyes turn to Scavia.

Even mine—

just for a second.

And in that moment—

his gaze finds me.

My breath catches.

That pull—

stronger than ever.

Then he looks away.

His expression hardens.

“I’m not ready.”

The words fall flat.

Cold.

Final.

Darius’s smile tightens.

“Not ready… or not willing?”

Scavia leans back slightly, completely unfazed.

“I lead a powerful pack,” he says. “I don’t make commitments lightly.”

A polite refusal.

On the surface.

But beneath it—

Something sharper.

Claire’s face pales.

Humiliation creeping in.

“But—” Darius starts.

“No,” Scavia cuts in, his voice calm but firm. “Not now.”

Silence.

Tension coils through the room.

And then—

Something shifts.

Subtle.

Invisible.

But real.

Scavia’s expression darkens slightly, his gaze drifting again—

Not to Claire.

Not to Darius.

To me.

Just for a second.

But it’s enough.

Because I see it.

Anger.

Not at the proposal.

At something else.

Something personal.

Something… recent.

My stomach drops.

He knows.

Not everything.

But enough.

—

The meeting dissolves shortly after, tension lingering in the air like a storm waiting to break.

I move quickly, gathering empty cups, keeping my distance.

But it’s too late.

I feel him before I hear him.

“Darius.”

His voice is different now.

Harder.

Dangerous.

I freeze where I stand.

Across the room, Darius turns.

“What is it?” he asks, irritation barely concealed.

Scavia steps closer.

Not aggressive.

Not loud.

But controlled in a way that feels far more threatening.

“I noticed something,” he says.

Darius’s eyes narrow.

“And what would that be?”

A pause.

Then—

“The state of your servant.”

My grip tightens on the tray.

Don’t look.

Don’t react.

But the room has already gone still.

All attention shifting.

“To be specific,” Scavia continues, his voice quieter now, “the bruises.”

Darius’s jaw clenches.

“That is none of your concern.”

“On the contrary,” Scavia replies smoothly, “it reflects poorly on your leadership.”

A ripple moves through the council.

Darius steps closer.

Lowering his voice.

“Careful.”

Scavia doesn’t back down.

“If you cannot control your own household,” he says, “how do you expect to maintain an alliance?”

The words land like a blow.

Calculated.

Intentional.

Darius’s eyes darken.

“She is nothing,” he snaps. “A servant.”

Scavia’s gaze flicks to me again.

Brief.

But intense.

“No,” he says quietly.

And there’s something in his tone—

Something that sends a chill down my spine.

“Not quite.”

Silence.

Heavy.

Dangerous.

Then Scavia steps back, the moment breaking as quickly as it formed.

“We’ll continue this discussion later,” he says coolly.

And just like that—

It’s over.

But nothing feels the same anymore.

—

I don’t breathe properly until I’m alone again.

Hidden.

Safe.

Or as safe as I can be.

My hands tremble slightly.

Not from fear.

From something else.

Something I don’t understand.

Why did he do that?

Why does he care?

Why does it feel like—

I’m being seen…

for the first time?

I shake my head.

No.

That kind of thinking will get me killed.

Because if there’s one thing I know for certain—

Nothing good comes from being noticed.

*****

Something feels off.

Again.

But this time—

It’s not subtle.

It’s sharp.

Wrong.

Dangerous.

I’m alone in the storage wing, stacking supplies, keeping to myself like I’ve learned to do. Quiet. Invisible. Safe.

Or as safe as I can be.

Footsteps echo behind me.

Heavy.

Unfamiliar.

I don’t turn immediately.

I should have.

“Elara.”

My body stiffens.

Henry

I turn slowly.

He stands in the doorway, blocking the only exit.

His expression is different tonight.

Not calm.

Not observant.

Something darker.

Something… forced.

“What do you want?” I ask.

He doesn’t answer right away.

Instead, he steps inside.

The door shuts behind him.

A quiet click.

My pulse spikes.

Instinct rises immediately—sharp and alert beneath my skin.

Danger.

“You’ve become a problem,” he finally says.

My eyes narrow slightly.

“I stay out of everyone’s way.”

“That was before,” he replies. “Before he noticed you.”

I don’t need to ask who he means.

Alpha Scavia

My stomach tightens.

Henry exhales slowly, like he doesn’t want to be here.

But he is.

“Claire doesn’t like competition,” he continues. “And she doesn’t tolerate threats.”

“So she sent you?” I ask quietly.

He doesn’t deny it.

That’s all the answer I need.

A cold understanding settles over me.

“You don’t have to do this,” I say.

Something flickers in his eyes.

Conflict.

Gone just as quickly.

“I do,” he says.

And then he moves.

Fast.

Too fast for a normal servant to react.

But I’m not that anymore.

His hand shoots out—

I step back.

Twist.

Avoid.

The movement surprises him.

Good.

He reaches again, more aggressive this time, trying to pin me—

My wolf surges forward.

Not restrained this time.

Not silenced.

Enough.

I grab his wrist and shove him back with more force than I should have.

He stumbles.

Actually stumbles.

Shock flashes across his face.

“What—”

I don’t give him time to recover.

He lunges again.

I meet him.

This time—

I fight.

Not wildly.

Not blindly.

But with something new.

Something controlled.

Something sharp.

I duck his strike, pivot, and drive my elbow into his side.

He grunts, caught off guard.

My movements are faster now.

Cleaner.

Stronger.

Every instinct guiding me.

Every hit deliberate.

He swings again—

I block.

Twist.

Drive him into the wall.

The impact echoes through the room.

“Stop!” he snaps, breath uneven now.

But I don’t.

Because I know—

If I stop—

He won’t.

My wolf presses forward, fierce and unrelenting.

Protect.

Defend.

End the threat.

I shove him again, harder this time, sending him crashing into a stack of crates.

They collapse around him.

He doesn’t get up immediately.

Good.

I step back, breathing hard, my body humming with adrenaline.

“Tell Claire,” I say, my voice low but steady, “I’m not hers to break.”

Henry looks up at me, something like realization settling in.

“You’ve changed,” he mutters.

“Yes.”

I turn and leave before he can say anything else.

Before I lose control.

Before I become something I won’t be able to stop.

—

Across the pack—

Plans are being made.

Alpha Darius doesn’t like losing.

And he especially doesn’t like being refused.

“You will fix this,” he tells Claire coldly.

Claire stands rigid before him.

“He rejected me.”

“Then try again,” Darius snaps. “You will get close to him. You will make him want you. And you will secure this alliance.”

Claire’s jaw tightens.

“And if I don’t?”

His eyes darken.

“You will.”

The message is clear.

Failure is not an option.

—

That night—

Claire tries again.

She approaches Scavia with confidence, determination… desperation hidden beneath it.

But something is already wrong.

Scavia stills the moment she gets close.

His expression shifts.

Subtle.

But unmistakable.

Something about her—

Doesn’t sit right.

Her scent.

Her presence.

It clashes with something already burned into his senses.

“No,” he says, pulling away before she can get close enough to try again.

Claire freezes.

Humiliation flashing across her face.

“What is wrong with you?” she demands.

Scavia doesn’t answer.

Because even he doesn’t fully understand it.

Only that—

She isn’t what he wants.

And that truth irritates him more than anything.

—

Later—

The pack quiets.

Shadows stretch long across the halls.

And Scavia—

Doesn’t sleep.

He moves instead.

Restless.

Agitated.

Trying to ignore the one thing he shouldn’t want.

Elara

So he makes a choice.

A deliberate one.

A distraction.

Dinah

She’s easy.

Willing.

Close enough to Claire to make a statement.

Far enough to mean nothing.

And for a few hours—

He almost succeeds in forgetting.

Almost.

—

Morning comes with consequences.

Claire storms into Scavia’s quarters without warning.

Anger already burning in her chest.

“Scavia—”

She stops.

Something on the floor catches her eye.

Fabric.

Familiar.

Not hers.

Dinah’s.

Recognition hits instantly.

Her expression twists—shock, then fury.

“You—” her voice shakes. “You chose her?”

Scavia doesn’t rise to the bait.

Doesn’t explain.

Doesn’t care.

That only makes it worse.

Claire’s hands tremble.

Humiliation burning hotter than ever now.

Because this—

This wasn’t rejection.

This was replacement.

And she knows exactly why.

Her eyes darken.

“Elara,” she whispers.

And this time—

It’s not just jealousy.

It’s something far more dangerous.

—

By midday—

The pack feels different again.

Tighter.

Sharper.

Like something is building.

And I feel it.

Even without knowing everything.

Even without seeing it.

Because whatever happened last night—

It didn’t solve anything.

It made everything worse.