Chapter 5
1188 Words
Elara POV
I couldn't sleep.
Every time I closed my eyes, I felt Silas through the bond.
By dawn, I had made my decision. I was leaving.
I shoved my clothes back into my backpack, fingers trembling as I wrapped the herb vials. The silver scent suppressant had maybe two days left, but two days was enough to disappear.
A soft knock made me freeze.
"Miss Vance? I've brought breakfast.".
I opened the door to find a young woman with brown eyes and a tray of food.
"I'm Sera," she said, "Beta Darius thought you might want to eat in your room."
"Thank you. Sera, can I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"The main gates, do they stay guarded all day?"
Her smile faded. "You're thinking of leaving."
"I can't stay here.”
"Everyone already knows about the mate bond. Word travels fast in a pack this size," She lowered her voice, "There's a service entrance near the kitchens. Guards change shift at seven. If someone wanted to slip out, that would be the time."
"Why are you helping me?"
"Because you deserve better than being passed around like property."
She left before I could thank her.
At six-thirty, I took my backpack and moved through the empty hallways, following Sera's directions.
I was almost there.
"Going somewhere?"
I spun around and I saw Dr. Reyna Solis standing in the corridor. Her expression was unreadable.
“I'm just exploring,” I said.
"With your backpack? Interesting exploration technique.
"You're a terrible liar, Elara," She added as stepped closer to where I was and studied me, "The bond is killing you already, isn't it? How long do you think you'll last?"
"Long enough to get away."
"The bond doesn't care about distance. It'll pull you constantly and painfully until you either come back or it drives you mad."
She pulled a small bottle from her pocket.
"This is a diluted wolfsbane extract. One drop every six hours. It won't break the bond, but it'll dull it enough that you can function."
I took the bottle, "Why?"
"Because I've known Silas since he was a boy, and I've never seen him look at anyone the way he looks at you," She turned to leave, "The guard shift changes in five minutes. If you're going to run, now's your chance."
I made it to the service entrance. The door was right there, unlocked. Through the window, I could see the forest.
My hand was on the doorknob when I felt it, it was a intense spike of pure agony through the bond.
Something was wrong with Silas. Silas was afraid.
My feet moved before my brain caught up, running back through the corridors and staircase following the bond. Shouting erupted from above.
"Where is she?" Silas said.
When I got there, a crowd had gathered outside his study.
I made way through the crowd and in the center, Silas had Kaelen pinned against the wall by his throat.
"Tell me what you did," Silas said, "She's gone and you were seen near the East Wing."
"I'm right here," I shouted toward Silas.
Silas dropped Kaelen and crossed the room in two steps, pulling me against his chest. The bond felt relief.
"You're here. You're safe."
"What's going on?"
"Sera told me you were planning to run. I thought something had happened to you."
Guilt stabbed through me, “I was going to run. But I changed my mind."
"Why?"
Before I could answer, Elena's voice cut through from the doorway.
"How touching. The Alpha is ready to murder his own brother over a girl he can't even keep,” She stood there, perfectly composed, "I'm not an i***t, Silas. I saw the way you looked at her at dinner," Her eyes moved to me, "You're his mate right?”
Silence fell in the room.
"That doesn't matter, yhe contract states that he marry the firstborn and that's you," I said.
"The contract doesn't account for fated mates." Elena said, "Tell me Alpha, what were you planning to do? Marry me and keep her as your mistress?"
"I was trying to find a solution to all of this,” Silas said.
"Well, let me save you the trouble. I don't want a husband who's in love with someone else.
"The contract requires marriage to a Vance daughter. It doesn't specify which brother marries which sister,” Elena added.
"You want to marry me?" Kaelen asked.
"You want power and a husband who'll actually pay attention to me. We can make that work right?"
"This is insane," I said.
"This is politics," Elena said as she circled the room, "You will get your mate and I will get a husband who wants me. Kaelen gets elevated status and the contract is fulfilled. Unless you have a better idea?"
"The Council will never approve it," Kaelen said.
"The Council answers to the Alpha," Elena said as she stared at Silas, "And the Alpha wants his mate more than he wants to admit."
Every eye in the room turned to Silas.
"I need time to review the legal implications," he said after a long silence, "Darius, get the Council together. We'll discuss terms this afternoon."
"And what about her?" Elena pointed toward me, "Does she get a say?"
"She's my mate," Silas said quietly, "Nothing happens without her agreement."
"How refreshing." Elena headed for the door and disappeared into the crowd.
"Are you really willing to hand me the firstborn? To give me that kind of leverage?" Kaelen said.
"I'm willing to find a solution that doesn't involve anyone being forced," Silas replied.
"This is a very stupid but noble act," Kaelen said as he smiled coldly, "But if this plan doesn't falls through and the contract still stands. I won't be generous about sharing."
He left. Finally, it was just Silas, Darius, and me.
"You were really going to run?" Silas asked.
"I was."
"Why did you come back?"
"Because I felt that you were in pain and I couldn't leave you like that."
"I'll let you two talk," Darius said quickly, disappearing through the door.
"You destroyed your study," I said.
"I thought I'd lost you before," He held my hands with warmth, "Please don't run from me again, Elara."
"Don't give me reasons to run,” I said.
"What if the Council rejects this and I have to choose between you and the pack?"
"Then I guess we'll just have to find out what you're really made of, Alpha."
"I'm starting to think you're the bravest person I've ever met,” Silas said.
"The Council meeting is in four hours. Will you be there?" He added.
"Do I have a choice?"
"Yes. You always have a choice with me, Elara."
"I'll be there. But Silas, If this doesn't work, I'm not marrying Kaelen. I don't care what the contract says."
"Neither am I marrying Elena. We'll find another way."
"And if there isn't one?"
"Then I'll burn the contract and deal with the consequences."
The bond surged between us.
Four hours until the Council meeting and four hours until everything changed.
Again.
- Writer
