Forsaken By The Alpha

chapter 6

Chapter 6: Shadows of the Gathering

Elara's POV

Time seemed to blur as the hours dragged by like slow-moving water before sundown. It was hard for me to pay attention to much of anything besides what was waiting for me later in the evening—Lucian's gathering. I had no idea what it would consist of, only that he seemed to want me to be present as the dutiful wife. My pulse began to race as I thought of my chance at slipping away in the darkness and chaos.

I took a deep breath, steeling myself in front of the mirror. The dress they'd left for me was a deep, midnight blue, draping over me in an almost ethereal way. Surprisingly simple, the elegance made me look… different, as if the dress had been designed to give me some role in Lucian's cold, relentless world. Perhaps that was exactly why he'd chosen it.

The door groaned open behind me. I jumped, turned to face the same guard from this morning. His eyes were firm, his expression unreadable.

"It's time," he said briefly, motioning for me to follow him.

I walked with him down the halls, my heart pounding faster with each step. The flickering of the torches along the walls cast long shadows that seemed to close in on me. I was near to the grand hall, and already I could hear the murmur of voices, a low hum that filled the air with energy.

We entered, and the hall fell silent.

Lucian stood at the head of the room, and his commanding presence was impossible to disregard. His eyes, dark as the night, landed on mine immediately, a faint curve on his lips that spoke volumes without saying anything. His hand extended toward me, his unspoken command clear: I was to join him.

I swallowed hard and moved toward him, the weight of every gaze in the room pressing down on me. Lucian's hand closed around mine, warm yet somehow cold, a shackle disguised as touch. He leaned into me just close enough that I could hear.

"Remember your role, Elara," he murmured, a silent threat lacing his tone.

"Of course," I whispered back, fighting the urge to pull away.

We stood there as the rest of the pack continued to assemble, their faces wary but curious. Some watched me with open hostility, others with an indifferent glint that made me feel as though I were nothing more than a passing amusement. I could almost hear their unspoken judgments, their whispers swirling around me.

Lucian's hand squeezed mine in silent reminder of who was in control. Now, I needed to play along, though I still seethed below the surface.

One at a time, members of the pack stepped forward-all of them nodding their respects first to Lucian, then to me. I held my head high and didn't back down.

A lean, tall man strode forward. Eyes keen and inquisitive. He exuded an aura of command but none like Lucian's.

"Lucian," he said, his voice silk as his eyes shifted to me. "And this is your bride, I presume?"

"Elara," Lucian confirmed shortly.

The man eyed me, something dancing in his eyes that I couldn't place. "Interesting choice," he said, his tone almost mocking. "Not quite what I'd expected from you, Lucian."

Lucian's jaw tightened, though his face didn't change a whit. "Elara is precisely what I need," he replied coolly, his grip on my hand tightening.

He laughed low in his throat, amused it seemed, though he didn't push the matter. He nodded slightly and moved off, joining a small cluster near the far end of the room.

The instant he was gone, Lucian let my hand fall, his expression diamond-hard, unreadable.

"Who was that?" I asked on a whisper.

"A very old acquaintance," Lucian replied, his voice chillier than usual. "But that doesn't concern you."

He turned away, his attention shifting to the crowd. I took a steadying breath, my eyes scanning the room. Maybe-just maybe-this was my chance.

Slowly, I took a step back, then another, slowly edging away as Lucian became engrossed in conversation with someone else. My heart thundered in my chest as I neared the edge of the room, where shadows pooled and guards stood watch.

I barely realized that someone approached me until a voice cut through the silence around me.

"You look like a frightened rabbit," a woman said, her voice humorous.

I turned to my right and was surprised. A young woman stood beside me, her auburn hair pulled back into a loose braid, and sharp with curiosity.

"I'm… just trying to take it all in," I replied carefully.

She smirked. "And here I thought the Alpha's new bride would be made of steel."

There was something in her tone, half mockery, half challenge. I studied her, realizing she wasn't just another pack member. Her bearing, her confidence were different. I could not afford to let my guard down, but maybe … maybe she was an ally.

"Who are you?" I asked neutral.

"Jade," she said, with one arched brow. "I'm Lucian's cousin. His closest family, actually."

My heart sank. I'd been hoping she might be some kind of neutral party, but family made things different. I had to be more careful.

She leaned in a bit closer, a curious expression on her face. "Tell me, Elara… really; you think you're going to last around here?"

Catching me off guard, I didn't quite know how to respond. I forced a small smile. "I'll have to, won't I?"

Jade laughed, but there was no humour in it. "Brave words. But Lucian doesn't make things easy for anyone-not even family." She paused, her gaze sliding to Lucian across the room. "Especially not family."

I looked at her, surprised by the bitterness in her voice.

"So, if you're planning on running…" Jade continued, voice lowering, "you'd better be clever about it.

My heart was racing. Was she on to me? Or trying to freak me out? I held her gaze, my expression guarded. "Why do you care?"

Jade shrugged, her smile returning though with something almost darker in it. "I don't. But watching you try to survive… now that might be interesting."

With that, she turned and disappeared into the crowd, leaving me more disturbed than ever.

Those were painfully slow minutes, silent tension filled each of them. Lucian had turned around to stand next to me, his eyes scanning across the room as if searching out some sign of dissension. I did not say anything. My mind was furiously running over all of the many and varied possibilities, each thrown away almost the instant it came into being. There was one guard at each exit and even if I could get past them, I'd be outnumbered in the forest.

But Jade's words still echoed in my head, a sliver of hope through the darkness. Maybe she'd had her fun with me, or maybe she gave me the warning I needed. Either way, this was an opportunity I couldn't let slip away.

Finally, the party started to disperse. Lucian turned to me, his eyes unrelenting.

"It is time we returned to our quarters," he said; or rather, ordered.

I nodded, willing my calm. But even as we were leaving the hall, even as Lucian's hand pressed lightly against my back, that spark of defiance in me burned all the stronger.

I would find a way. I had to.