UNCROWNED SILVER

CHAPTER TWO

ELARA

I got back to my room, a little cottage in the

servant’s wing.

I had spent my years scrubbing floors and

eating at the servants’ tables, but

at least, this was a place I could call home.

I quickly packed all my belongings neatly

into a worn-out leather bag.

It wasn’t much; 3 plain gowns, 2

undergarments, a pair of sandals, and a few

necessities.

I lay on the cold, hard mattress one last time. Just for a moment, I wanted to forget about my worries, just this time.. I decided to take a short nap,, and get recharged for the next day, as it was going to be a long one.

Just as I was about to finally give in to the tiredness that consumed me, I heard a knock on the door.

Did he finally regret treating me the way he did? I thought. I killed it as quickly as it came. This was not some scene out of a fairy tale, he has probably moved on to the next available female at the ball, and he won’t even notice your absence. I told myself the harsh truth.

I sluggishly got up from my bed and opened the door.

“Elara!” I was immediately pulled into a bone-crushing hug by the one person I was really happy to see

Elowyn Hatherway

Elowyn was my childhood friend, the one person I trusted the most in the pack. We were similar honestly. She was an Omega like me; bullied, laughed at, ignored, ridiculed just like me.

We had spent our years comforting each other, we would often cry together, fantasize together, gossip together. We were like sisters. I was surely going to miss her.

I suddenly felt an overwhelming surge of emotions , maybe it was because she was here, but I couldn’t hold back anymore.

I let the tears flow freely. For minutes, it was just the sound of my sobbing that filled the room. Elowyn sat beside me, and just let me cry to my heart’s content. She patted my back gently, while my tears soaked her dress.

“Everything will be fine eventually” she said gently.

“He rejected me El” I said, broken, dejected.

“I know” she said softly, her voice was shaky. I could tell she was worried about me. I probably sounded love-sick, maybe I was.

It was funny, seeing as I had just met him as my mate, but that was the power of “mate” I guess.

“He looked straight into my eyes and said he didn’t want me”

By this time, I was sobbing uncontrollably.

“ I thought my life was finally going to turn around for the better” I said in between sobs.

“I thought they would finally see me differently because I was his mate”…

“Hey..” Elowyn interrupted

“You don’t need a man for the world to see you for who you are” she said as she reached for my hand.

“If only you could give yourself the credit you deserve; you’re amazing Elara, never forget that”.

She pulled me into a comforting hug, I stayed there for minutes, until I had cried to my heart’s content.

“Are you okay?” She asked, her eyes full of concern

“I will be” I smiled.

I was used to people leaving me.

Over the years, everyone had somehow managed to leave.. I would make new friends, or even as much as get close to someone, and somehow end up losing them to misunderstandings that I clearly never remembered happening.

I never understood why.

Elowyn was different. She never left.

Maybe, I was actually the problem

***

I didn’t realize when I slept off, or when Elowyn left the room. I knew morning had come because of the single ray of sunlight that crept through the curtains, illuminating the room more than I wanted.

I had to leave before anyone woke up, i wasn’t mentally prepared to face any of the pack members, not after what happened last night.

I quickly grabbed my little belongings and headed for the door.

I paused, just for a moment.

I looked around my room. It was a small one, barely large enough to fit a bed and a table, hidden, tucked away at the far end of the servant’s wing.

It was a space that was forgotten by the pack… just like I was, but it was my home, and I was definitely going to miss it.

I finally pushed open the door, after saying my goodbyes.

Thankfully, the corridors were quiet. Everyone was probably worn out from last night, which worked perfectly for me.

I tiptoed through the corridors and was happy when I finally reached the exit unnoticed. I was heading to the Eastern gate, hoping that it would be empty as usual.

I pushed open the doors, and as expected, no pack members in view, or so I thought…

I walked faster, hoping to leave as soon as possible.

Just a few more steps, freedom was calling.

Then, I heard it.. laughter…

I froze

Four wolves came into view from nowhere; two betas I'd seen around the pack, one of the warriors, and another omega whom one of the betas favoured. How did they know I was going to leave through this gate?

I had only mentioned it to Elowyn last night; could it be that someone eavesdropped?

Stay calm I told myself.

I approached them cautiously

“Well well, who do we have here” one of the betas sneered.

My stomach dropped

They had clearly been waiting for me, like they didn’t have other things to do? Why wouldn’t they just let me be?

I ignored them and kept on walking, eyes lowered. The last thing I wanted was to draw the attention of the other pack members.

The other Beta stepped into my path

“Where do you think you’re going little omega?”

The other Omega and the warrior chuckled, clearly having the time of their lives.

“Move” I said, my voice betraying me.

“Scared already?” the warrior asked mockingly

“She actually thinks she still has some dignity after what happened last night” The omega chuckled.

“I don’t want trouble, please just let me go”

“Trouble?’ one of the betas scoffed. ” You practically asked for it!”

The other three laughed.

Heat crawled up my neck

“Did you think you would go scot-free after embarrassing our Alpha?”

“I didn’t ask the moon goddess to choose him as my mate..”

He stepped closer

“The mere fact that you thought you were worthy of him is an offense” he said condescendingly.

“I have nothing more to say to you”

I clutched my bag tighter and tried to walk around him.

He moved with me

“What do you want from me?”

“Just a little entertainment, nothing too deep” he sneered.

“Move!”

“Or what?”

By this time, a few of the pack members started to emerge from the surrounding cottages.

“Is that Elara?”

“She actually thought she could leave secretly?”

“Poor thing”

Great! Just my luck.. don’t they get tired?

More people gathered, some I recognized, some I didn’t. I honestly didn’t care about that, I just wanted to walk out of those gates.

The Beta reached for my right arm

“Don’t touch me!”

I quickly pulled away my arm

“You’re still acting all arrogant? Quite rich for a rejected and worthless Omega”

The pack members laughed hard.

He reached for my bag, and in one swift movement, tore it open. The contents spilled.

I heard a crack

My mirror

It was the only gift Elowyn had given me. The only thing I could use to remember her

My belongings were littered around the ground, something in me broke with my mirror. I was livid

It happened so fast, I shoved him. He stumbled backwards, the crowd grew silent

His face hardened as he lunged forward. Before I could think or move, his hand grabbed my shoulders and twisted them in a very painful manner. I was thrown to the ground roughly, my left arm caught against a shard of glass, pain exploded through my body from the impact I made with the ground.

I felt something warm trickle down my arm, palm, and fingers.

Blood

One drop of crimson red

Two drops

Three drops

Onto the ground beneath me; the ground began to glow

My heart stopped beating. A strange silver-white light appeared from the blood.

”Oh my…” Someone exclaimed. The wolves around stepped back

Then, I saw it… a gigantic ancient symbol appeared beneath me: A large silver wolf surrounded by seven broken crowns.

A silver light crept through the lines on the ground, the courtyard fell deadly silent, even the trees seemed to have gotten still.

My wolf whimpered, not from fear, but from recognition.

Look closely, this is what you are.

I trembled

“What’s happening?’ Nobody answered

The Beta who had been taunting me shivered, his face had been drained of the blood in it. Whispers spread through the crowd like wildfire

“The crowned wolf?”

“The lei…”

“No way!”

“Wait! Is that the ancient Leige wolf?”

The beta dropped to his knees, then the warrior, then the omega…

Every pack member began to drop to their knees, one after another.

I stared at them in confusion. Were they okay?

“Enough!” I was barely breathing at this point. I glanced at the gates, who opened them? I didn’t care about that anymore. I knew one thing though, I had to leave…I looked at the wolves that had been blocking the gates, now too terrified to move for some reason.

Now was my chance. I quickly gathered what was left of my belongings, and dashed towards the gates. I finally crossed the Eastern gates, my heart pounding violently against my chest.

The pack remained frozen behind me. I didn’t know what I was, but I didn’t look back. I ran, into the forest, because that was the only place for me now.

The Pack stood in the distance, watching me, but none of them crossed the boundary.

Then, an elderly woman’s voice cut through the silence, deep within the pack.

“She’s awakened!”

I took a few steps further into the thick forest.

A gust of wind sent shivers down my spine

My wolf shifted

She wasn’t afraid, she was listening. It was almost as if she was waiting for someone.

“SOMEONE STOP HER!”

It came from the pack. I didn’t see who gave the order, all I knew was I had to run. I ran like my life depended on it, because it actually did.

Nothing prepared me for what was to happen next…