Rejected, not broken

Chapter four

Elara’s POV

Sunlight streamed through the curtains, warming my face. For a moment, I panicked thinking I was late for pack duties before the events of yesterday came rushing in the ceremony, Kevin, the rejection the tears it all felt unreal, like I had woken from a nightmare.

A slow smile tugged at my lips.

I couldn’t remember the last time I had slept so well, no whispers, no mocking laughter, no dreams of Kevin, just peace. The realization made something warm settle in my chest. Maybe Mrs Bennett was right, I would be safe here.

A soft knock interrupted my thoughts.

“Come in.”

The door opened.

Adelaide stepped inside carrying a tray.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.”

I glanced at the clock, a yawn escaping my mouth, my eyes widened.

“It’s noon!”

She shrugged.

“You were exhausted.” She said unbothered and set the tray on the bed.

The smell of pancakes immediately filled the room, my stomach growled. I looked at her sheepishly . Adelaide laughed.

“You really are predictable.”

I rolled my eyes and reached for a pancake. Halfway through my second bite, my attention drifted around the room, that was when I noticed it. A photograph sitting on the dresser.

I furrowed my brows slightly, I could have sworn it hadn’t been there last night. Something about it felt familiar, I climbed out of bed reaching for it, the closer I got, the harder my heart pounded.

Three women stood smiling in the picture. A younger Mrs. Bennett carrying an infant, a teenage boy barely 15 and… a face I knew all too well even though I hadn’t seen it in years.

The plate nearly slipped from my hands, the face, the smile, the eyes. I knew them by heart.

“Elara?” Adelaide called out but her voice sounded distant. My pulse roared in my ears, so many emotions passing through me all at once. I picked up the frame with trembling fingers.

“Why…”I started unable to keep my voice from cracking “Why do you have a picture of my mother?”

The room went completely silent, When I looked up, Adelaide looked pale yet composed. The seconds ticked before she whispered.

“Because your mother wasn’t who you think she was.”

I had expected something like this still I felt my wolf stir, angry, curious eager to get this over with.

“ where is your mother, I need to know everything … now”

“Tell me.”

The words came out sharper than I intended. Mrs. Bennett and Adelaide exchanged a glance. But honestly I was tired of the looks, the half-truths, of everyone acting like my life was some fragile secret that needed to be protected.

“Please,” I whispered. “I need to know.”

Mrs. Bennett studied me for a long moment.

Then she sighed.

“You look so much like her.”

“My mother?” I asked my throat tight

A sad smile crossed her face. “ yes”

She patted the space beside her on the couch, I sat, Adelaide settled beside me and quietly took my hand, I didn’t pull away.

Mrs. Bennett started.

“I met your mother when we were sixteen, Emily was Brilliant. Stubborn. Reckless.”

She smiled before she continued “ she was far too pretty Ang cunning for her own good, my exact opposite. Still we became best friends, life was good, we thought we’d grow old together… I mean we almost did” she paused the continued.

“Years later, your mother met your father.” My pulse quickened.

“No one knew exactly what he was at first.” I was confused.

“What do you mean?”

Mrs. Bennett looked at me carefully.

“Your father wasn’t an ordinary wolf, He was one of the last Lycans.”

Lycans? What did she mean by that like the ancient ones the royal bloodline?

“That’s impossible.” I felt it slip out of my mouth before I could stop myself.

“It isn’t.” Mrs. Bennett’s expression darkened. “ he was a powerful man, very terrifying and we had both met our mates it felt like fate. Your dad a Lycan and the alpha, my husband a lycan and he’s beta. It was a bit difficult for me but easier for Emily.”

“ why? She was human was she not?”

“Your mother wasn’t fully human either.”

The blood drained from my face.

“What?”

“She was half vampire.”

For a second, I thought I’d misheard her.

“No, that’s impossible.”

Mrs. Bennett’s eyes filled with sympathy.

“I know this is difficult.”

“Difficult?”

I stood abruptly.

“My entire life I’ve been told I was an omega.” My voice shook.”…A nobody.” I said memories flooding in, the tears sipping out of my eyes “Now you’re telling me my father was a Lycan and my mother was half vampire?”

Nobody answered, maybe because this was the truth. It hurt.

Mrs. Bennett waited until I sat back down before continuing.

“When you were born, everything changed, There were whispers, rumors, most especially fear.”

“Fear of what?” I interrupted, her explanation too slow for my liking, she coughed then her eyes met mine.

“You.”

The word hit harder than any insult ever had.

“Why?”

“Because nobody knew what a child born from those bloodlines would become.” A vampire and a wolf together was a taboo much less a half breed and a royal.” I said nothing.

Then Mrs. Bennett said the name that made my blood run cold.

“Delta Blackwood.”

Kevin’s father? My hands clenched.

“He wanted power.”

Her voice hardened.

“Your father stood in his way.”

I felt sick, like I wanted to throw up.

“He couldn’t challenge a Lycan openly, so he waited.”

The rest of the story came slowly but hit hard, my fathers death, the demotion of my family, the lies, my mother’s helplessness, The way Delta slowly destroyed the system and tightened his grip over the pack. And finally the hunting. I felt my breathing slow I wasn’t ready for this.

“He was looking for me?”

Mrs. Bennett nodded.

“When he realized you were still alive.”

“What happened to my mother?” She didn’t answer immediately instead she coughed, Adelaide rushed to her side. And suddenly I knew, the room blurred.

“No.” I cried, Adelaide looked at me pity in her eyes. Tears filled Mrs. Bennett’s eyes.

“She ran.” Mrs Bennett spoke, words barely audible. “She sealed your wolf to hide you,You were five, and she didn’t know what to do. Your wolf isn’t weak, Elara, it was locked away, we expected you earlier because the lock should be broken but you didn’t show up and I was terrified…” she was saying more but I couldn’t hear, my ears kept ringing, memories replaying, every insult, every cruel joke, the weakest of the weak even other omegas looked down on me, all of that was a lie. I didn’t know how to feel.

“ Elara” I heard as someone nudged my shoulders it was Adelaide she looked concerned, but Mrs Bennett continued.

“Your mother left you with your grandmother in Infernal Pack.” tears slid down her cheek “Then she tried to come back for you, they killed her.”

Hearing it said out loud, years of suspicion answered broke something inside of me. And for a long time, nobody spoke. My gaze drifted to the photograph sitting nearby, I lookedat the teenage boy, he looked happy standing beside my mother.

“Who is he?”

Mrs. Bennett followed my gaze, the first time all evening, something strange crossed her face

“His name is Kaden Vale.”

The name felt familiar.

“He was one of your mother’s students.”

I frowned.

“Students?”

Mrs. Bennett nodded.

“Your mother taught him for years, when we couldn’t find you we called him for help.” Her expression grew serious.”… if anyone alive knows what you are … help you unlock your abilities ,it is him.”

The room fell silent, after some time Mrs Bennett went to sleep. I sat by the fireplace digesting everything I had learned.

“ what’s on your mind what are you going to do now” Adelaide asked placing a comforting hand on my shoulder. I pondered her question and after sometime I had my answer

“ I want revenge… I will destroy the entire black wood name.”