Chapter 13:When Shadows Return
1169 Words
The golden light faded slowly.
Too slowly.
Elara’s hands trembled as she pulled them away from Kael’s wound, her breath coming in short, uneven bursts. The glow that once burned bright now flickered weakly, like a dying flame.
She swayed slightly.
Everything felt heavy.
Drained.
“Did it… work?” she whispered.
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
But his chest—
It rose.
Fell.
Weak… but alive.
Relief hit her all at once.
A shaky breath escaped her lips. “He’s breathing…”
Behind her, her mother let out a quiet sigh of relief. “You did it…”
But something wasn’t right.
Elara could feel it.
The power inside her—the one that once felt endless—was quieter now. Faint. Like part of it had been taken.
Or given.
She swallowed hard. “I feel… different…”
Her mother’s voice was soft, but serious. “Because you gave more than before.”
Elara looked down at her hands.
“They’re still shaking…”
“That’s the cost,” her mother said.
Before Elara could respond—
A cold wind swept through the broken doorway.
Sharp.
Sudden.
Wrong.
Kael’s eyes snapped open.
“Elara—”
Too late.
A slow clap echoed through the room.
Once.
Twice.
Then stopped.
“Well done.”
Elara’s entire body went still.
That voice.
She turned slowly.
The Alpha stood in the doorway again.
Watching.
Waiting.
His red eyes gleamed—not with anger this time.
With satisfaction.
Kael tried to sit up—but pain shot through him instantly. He fell back with a sharp breath.
“Don’t move,” Elara said quickly, panic rising again.
But her focus snapped back to the Alpha.
“You left,” she said, her voice low.
“I did,” he replied calmly.
A step forward.
“To give you a chance.”
Another step.
“To prove me right.”
Elara’s fists clenched. “About what?”
“That you are not ready.”
The words hit harder than she expected.
Because part of her…
Knew it was true.
The Alpha’s gaze flickered briefly to Kael, then to her mother—both weakened, both vulnerable.
Then back to Elara.
“You gave your power away,” he said.
Elara’s chest tightened. “I saved him.”
“At a cost,” he corrected.
Another step closer.
“And now…”
His eyes glowed faintly red.
“You are weaker.”
Elara tried to call her power—
Nothing.
Only a faint spark answered.
Her heart skipped.
No.
Not now.
Kael forced himself up slightly, his voice strained. “Stay away from her…”
The Alpha didn’t even look at him.
“You can barely stand,” he said coldly.
Then his gaze returned to Elara.
“This is the moment,” he said.
Elara frowned. “What moment?”
“The moment you understand,” he replied.
“That power without guidance… leads to loss.”
He stopped just a few steps away now.
Close enough that she could feel the weight of his presence pressing down on her.
“Come with me,” he said, his voice quieter now—but more dangerous.
“Let me teach you.”
Elara shook her head, even as her legs felt unsteady. “No.”
“You can’t protect them like this,” he continued.
A pause.
“Next time… you won’t be fast enough.”
Her breath hitched.
Images flashed in her mind—
Kael falling.
Her mother bleeding.
Herself… powerless.
“Stop…” she whispered.
But he didn’t.
“You felt it, didn’t you?” he said. “The weakness. The emptiness after you used your power.”
Elara’s hands trembled again.
“You don’t even understand what you are,” he continued.
“And yet… you think you can control it?”
“Enough!”
The word burst out of her.
But it didn’t carry the same force as before.
No command.
No power.
Just anger.
The Alpha noticed.
Of course he did.
And he smiled.
“Exactly,” he said softly.
“Nothing.”
The word echoed in the room like a verdict.
Elara’s chest tightened painfully.
For the first time since everything began—
She felt small.
Suddenly—
The Alpha moved.
Faster than before.
Elara tried to react—but her body lagged.
Too slow.
Too weak.
His hand closed around her wrist in an instant.
Cold.
Unbreakable.
“Elara!” Kael shouted.
She struggled—but his grip didn’t loosen.
“Let me go!”
“Or what?” he repeated, his voice calm again.
But this time—
She had no answer.
Her mother tried to stand—but collapsed back, too weak to move.
Kael forced himself forward despite the pain—but he couldn’t reach them in time.
The Alpha pulled Elara slightly closer.
“Look at you,” he murmured.
“The Moon’s Chosen… reduced to this.”
Elara’s breathing became uneven.
Not fear.
Not fully.
Something else.
Frustration.
Helplessness.
Then—
Something shifted.
Deep inside her.
Not strong.
Not powerful.
But there.
A spark.
Small… but steady.
The Alpha’s eyes narrowed slightly.
“You still resist,” he said.
Elara lifted her head slowly.
Her golden eyes flickered—faint, but present.
“I told you…” she said, her voice low, strained—
“I’m not yours.”
The spark flared.
Just a little.
Enough.
A sudden surge of energy shot through her arm.
The Alpha’s grip faltered—just for a second.
But that second was enough.
Elara pulled free, stumbling back.
Breathing hard.
Weak—but standing.
The Alpha watched her carefully now.
Not amused.
Interested.
“Even now…” he said.
“That power answers you.”
Elara steadied herself, placing herself back between him and the others.
Her body trembled.
But she didn’t move.
Didn’t run.
Didn’t break.
“Then take me,” she said suddenly.
Kael froze. “Elara, no—”
She didn’t look at him.
“If that’s what you want,” she continued, her voice steady despite everything, “then leave them alone.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Dangerous.
The Alpha studied her for a long moment.
Then—
He smiled.
Not cruel this time.
Satisfied.
“Now,” he said softly,
“You’re thinking like a leader.”
Kael shook his head weakly. “Don’t do this…”
Elara’s eyes flickered toward him briefly.
Soft.
Apologetic.
But determined.
The Alpha stepped forward again.
“No,” he said.
Elara frowned.
“What?”
“I don’t take bargains,” he replied.
A pause.
“I take what I want.”
Before she could react—
He turned.
And disappeared into the night once more.
Silence filled the room again.
But this time—
It wasn’t relief.
It was warning.
Kael’s voice broke the quiet.
“He’s not done…”
Elara stared at the doorway, her chest rising and falling.
“I know,” she said softly.
Her golden eyes flickered again—
Weak.
But unbroken.
- Writer
