Chapter 5 She Took More Than My Ring

Elara’s POV

The first thing I did when I got home was find the Desert Star necklace.

I remembered the night Damon gave it to me.He'd stood behind me, fastening the delicate chain around my neck before turning me toward the mirror.

“Beautiful,” he'd whispered, kissing my shoulder. “Though nothing could ever be as beautiful as my Luna.”

I'd turned around and kissed him, so happy I could barely speak.

I took the necklace out of its box, walked to the trash can, and dropped it in. The diamond caught the light once before disappearing beneath the rubbish.

I didn't look back.

Walking through the house, I noticed all the things I'd done to make it ours.

The photographs from our bonding ceremony that I'd carefully framed. The blanket I'd knitted for Damon during our first winter together. The empty nursery we'd decorated when I was pregnant with our first child.

I'd poured so much love into this house, believing we were building a life together.

And all I got in return was his betrayal.

My eyes burned. I pressed my lips together and waited until the feeling passed.

I couldn't afford to fall apart now.There were still things I needed to do.

I went upstairs, closed the bedroom door, and called the witch.She answered after the second ring.

“I need your help,” I said. “I'm going to disappear in a plane crash, and I need everyone to believe I died in it. Prepare something that can be found in the wreckage. Something that will convince the investigators I was on that plane.”

“You realize that once this is done, there's no going back.”

I looked around the bedroom I'd shared with Damon for years.

“I don't ever want to come back.”

We went over the details until I was certain everything had been arranged.

“I'll have everything ready before your departure,” she promised.

“Thank you.”

I ended the call and opened the airline website.

This time, I didn't use the name Elara Blackwood. I entered my new name and booked a flight north.

The confirmation appeared on my screen.

For a long moment, I simply stared at it.

I was really leaving.

In less than two weeks, I would be somewhere Damon couldn't find me.

And for the first time since discovering his betrayal, I felt something other than heartbreak.

I visited a small office outside pack territory to arrange the documents for my new identity, then stopped at a travel agency to book my flight under my new name. I paid in cash wherever I could, careful not to leave anything Damon might trace back to me.

I kept our mind link firmly closed the entire time.

By the time I'd finished everything, it was nearly dark. When I finally returned to the estate, I could hear Damon's voice from the entrance hall.

“Then find out where she went!”Damon stood in the living room, speaking sharply into his phone. “I've checked everywhere. She's not answering, and I can't reach her through the mind link.”

His voice was tight with anger. “I don't care what it takes. Keep looking until you find her!”

He ended the call and turned. The moment he saw me, his expression changed.

“Elara!” He crossed the room in a few long strides. “Where the hell have you been?”

I looked up at him, I saw the genuine worry in his eyes. Once, that would have been enough to make me throw my arms around him. Now I couldn't stop thinking about the way he'd held Vanessa's daughter.

“I had something to take care of,” I said.

“Something?” His brows drew together. “You disappeared from the boutique without telling me. The staff said you left everything behind. I've been looking for you everywhere. You even shut me out of the mind link.”

“One of the warriors reported something unusual near the border,” I said. “I went to check on it.”

Damon's expression eased slightly. “What happened?”

“Two lost wolf pups.We found their pack and made sure they got home safely.”

He exhaled in relief. Then he studied me for a moment. I could almost see what he was thinking. Two little wolf pups, and a wife who had lost her own babies. He must have assumed that was why I'd been acting so strangely.|

“Elara, if seeing those pups brought back painful memories, you can talk to me about it.And if you want pups around, we could always take the in.”

I almost smiled. “Taking them in?”

“Why not?” He gave my hand a reassuring squeeze. “You've always had a soft spot for children. If that's what would make you happy, we'll do it.”

I looked at him. “But they're someone else's children, Damon. We can't just take them in and raise them as the Alpha's heirs.”

His hand tightened around mine.

“Sometimes I wish I had what Vanessa has,” My words slipped out softly. “A little boy and a little girl. Wouldn't that be wonderful?”

Damon went still. I could feel his fingers tense against mine. Then he pulled me closer.

“Sweetheart, listen to me.” His voice was gentle again. “I don't care about anyone else's children. I only want yours.”

He brushed a strand of hair away from my face. “And don't give up hope. We'll have a baby someday. ”

We already did. There was a tiny life growing inside me, a child Damon didn't even know existed. The baby we'd wanted for so long.

I'd imagined telling him over dinner, watching his face light up before he swept me into his arms. Now that moment would never happen. He would never know about this child.

And when I left, he would lose us both.

“Elara?” Damon touched my cheek. “What's going on with you lately? You've been so quiet.”

“Nothing.” I tried to hide what I was feeling.

“Are you sure?”

“I'm just tired. There was a lot to deal with at the border.”

His expression softened. “My Luna. Always taking care of everyone.”

He then kissed my forehead. “You were in such a hurry to help that you didn't even wait for your jewelry.”

I looked at him, remembering how easily he'd agreed to give Vanessa the rings I'd chosen for our anniversary.

“Oh, the rings,” I said, keeping my voice casual. “They were supposed to be for our anniversary. Where are they?”

Something flickered across his face. He released my hand.

“Actually, they weren't special enough.” He gave me a reassuring smile. “I found another pair. Much more expensive. I think you'll love them.”

I watched him carefully. I wondered what he'd do if I insisted.

“But I liked the ones I chose.”

His smile faded. “Elara…”

“I don't care how much they cost. I wanted those rings.”I said it with a hint of disappointment in my voice.

The silence stretched between us. I waited for him to tell me he'd get them back. But Damon only looked away. And I knew the answer.

He'd already given them to Vanessa. The woman who had his children, his black card, and now even the rings I'd chosen for our bonding anniversary.

I wondered how much more of my life he intended to give her.

But I'd pushed the act far enough. I couldn't risk making him suspicious.

So I smiled. “I'm kidding.”

I gently pulled my hand from his. “I've changed my mind. I don't want those rings anymore. And I don't want the better ones you promised me, either.”

Damon looked confused. “Why not? ”

“Because a ring isn't that important, is it?”

His expression softened, as though he thought I was telling him our love mattered more than any piece of jewelry.

But the truth was much simpler.

What was the point of wearing a ring when our bond was already broken?