Chapter 3

ELARA'S POV 

The seriousness of the situation oppressed me like a gigantic wave, and with each inhalation, I was overcome by suffocation more than the room in front of me. I felt the pain of betrayal at my very heart. My chest tightened as I rose to my feet, my whole body trembling in fear. All of it was spinning beyond my control around me. My mind was weighed down, and I could not help but be overcome by shock and pain.

Kael's voice sliced through me like a blade. My whole body froze when he uttered the rejection words.

Seraphina materialized beside him suddenly. She wrapped her arms around his shoulders and had a sneer on her face. Her eyes were full of hatred for me.

Kael gazed at her and wrapped his arms around her waist possessively, drawing her close.

I missed a beat in my heart as I heard the next words spoken by Kael.

"Seraphina is my chosen mate," he stated with a chilly voice. "She will be your new Luna."

The pack started cheering as my whole world crumbled into pieces right before my eyes. I was numb, and all I could do was listen to the pounding in my heart.

Kael did not even look in my direction. He just stood there looking at her like she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.

"This can't be happening…" were on the tip of my tongue but nothing came out. In fact, I could barely breathe. My throat was constricted and my heart… it was as if it was being ripped apart.

"Your promise…" I spoke in a low voice, but the jeering pack covered my words.

I stood stock-still, staring at them. Kael and Seraphina were standing shoulder to shoulder. How did I miss that?

"Kael…" I croaked but he never glanced at me even once. Not when he told me about it, nor when I stood here, broken and heartbroken.

This was the man I had given the last three years to. I believed we were in love and lowered my guard. Now he has picked someone else.

It was unbearable. I couldn't breathe, and my chest was about to pop at any moment. I looked at them once more before I turned and sprinted to my room, the only room I could stay in. I simply had to get away.

I tugged the door to my room and jammed it hard and leaned back against it. The tears that had been accumulating started flowing down my face. My heart hurt, and I found myself having a hard time breathing.

"Why me? After praying to be his mate… where did I go wrong, Kael?" I was able to get out amidst tears streaming down my face.

"He promised…"

My knees buckled and I collapsed on the floor.

It had all been for nothing. I loved Kael. I had given him my all, I had believed the good things he said and thought we would be together. How pathetic.

I thought he could see me. I thought he loved me. But now… now it was clear I was just a fool.

I buried my face in my hands, unable to hold back the tears flowing down my face. I knew he had been acting suspiciously of late but… I had thought he was just doing that to keep us safe. I kept reassuring myself it was nothing. I had hoped. Oh, God, how I had hoped that he would choose me.

But he didn't. He picked her. He picked my worst bully. He picked Seraphina, right in front of me, without even considering it. Did I ever mean anything to him?

I pulled my knees up to my chest and blew my nose. Kael did not deserve my tears anymore. He had made his decision.

My body grew weaker and I tired easily. I could see the bed and realized I would be unable to rest there, not while Kael's memory still felt so clear in my head, so I shut my eyes and slept on the cold tiles.

***

I woke up the following morning to discover myself lying on the floor. My bones groaned and complained about the cold creeping into them. I did not rest well and was still very fatigued. I was in pieces.

But there was a knock on my door.

"Elara," a voice behind it gruffly said. "Alpha Kael has summoned you. Come along."

My heart skipped a beat. "Kael wants to see me?"

For a moment, and then no longer, hope flared up in me. Maybe he had realized his mistake. Maybe he had to apologize, to take back the words he'd uttered. Maybe… just maybe he had liked me better after all.

I rose and dressed in a hurry, my hands shaking as I was escorted by the guards to Kael's flat. My heart was racing, excitement and fear battling inside me. Was he going to apologize? That it was all a misunderstanding?

As I stepped into the room, that faint hope was shattered.

Kael sat beside the bed, his hands clasped around Seraphina's. He had a serious look on his face, and his expression was unreadable. Seraphina lay on the bed, eyes shut. Her breathing was weak, and it could only mean one thing. My stomach was in knots when I realized why he had called me.

"Elara," Kael's voice was tinged with pain. He regarded me. "You have to heal her. Now."

I blinked, not taken aback by his plea. Even when it hurts.

"What?"

"Seraphina came down with the disease last night," he went on, his voice breaking. "Dr. Alder left early this morning and cannot cure her. I know you can save her, so please do."

My lips folded together as I glared at him. I had already known but secretly hoped he would say something different.

I insisted, my voice shaking. "You want me to save her?"

He didn't even flinch. "Yes. She's my mate. She's more valuable than anything."

"Then what am I? The Moon Goddess gave us as mates and yet you chose another," I hissed with anger and hatred.

"You want me to save her, after what you've done to me? After discarding me like a piece of trash? Did you enjoy making a fool of me last night?"

Kael's eyes locked on mine. It was icier than ice.

"You were never anything to me, Elara. You're an orphan. A tool the Clan requires. I kept you in existence because I required you, but that is all. Seraphina requires your help now, so I'd appreciate it if you could just shut up and provide it for her. If anything happens to her, I'll personally kill you."

His words cut me and slapped me across the face. Kael was the Alpha now because he had gained his mate. I knew that I should not be speaking to him in this manner, but I was also hurting.

I had always thought that I was his first choice. But to have him say these words so bluntly, to use me like I was nothing…

I had to scream. I had to hate him. But even that was not allowed. All I could do was obey his orders.

"Fine," I breathed, barely able to force the words out. "I'll do it."

I stepped toward the bed, my trembling hands taking the knife from the drawer and cutting myself across the palm. Each member of my being yelled at me to do it, to kill her, to let Kael suffer the way he had already tormented me. But I couldn't do it. He had made me realize if I didn't rescue her, he would kill me.

I closed my eyes, invoking the healing energy deep inside me. I placed my injured hands on Seraphina's lips and allowed the blood to flow.

"That will not be enough," Kael growled and stood up from the ground.

He grasped my other hand and made a deep cut in my wrist and placed it on Seraphina's lips. I tried to wriggle free but couldn't.

I could sense my blood running and exhaustion hit me. My body grew weaker with every second that passed and my energy depleted quicker than I expected. But I couldn't give up. Not until she was healed.

There were minutes, and finally, she opened her eyes. Seraphina's breathing stabilized, pinkness flushed into her cheeks, and she stirred. She was alive.

But I was drained.

I attempted to keep my eyes open, but eventually, they got blurry and before I knew what was happening, everything went black.

***

When I woke up, I was in my room again. He must have brought me here after I fainted. I just lay there for a bit and stared at the wall.

My love life was over very abruptly. Kael had chosen Seraphina. He had attempted to murder me. And here I am, alone.

I sat up slowly, dazedly.

I shivered and pulled the faded sheets over my body. My life was not going to improve as I had wished. The information had me tearing up. I knew that I could not stay here.

I could not stay and continue to be used as a blood bank. I could not watch him happy with her while I was tossed aside like I did not matter. I could not bear to live in this pack anymore.

I needed to flee.

There was this sudden burst of determination in me and I stood up from bed. I had nowhere to go, but that was not going to stop me. Since I had very few clothes, I considered bringing just two so that nobody would readily suspect I had fled.

I gathered my belongings as fast as I could before changing my mind. When I was done, I slung the bag over my shoulder and took one last look at my room.

A tear fell from my cheeks but I wiped it off. I had cried enough. Now I must do what is best for me.

I rushed out of the pack house and was relieved when I did not see a soul. I silently ran to the edge of the territory, heading towards the border. When I arrived, I stopped and hid by the side when I saw some guards patrolling. I waited for them to leave before I ran out of the border.

I was a wild wolf now. I had left behind all that I had ever known but knew it was the only choice I could make.

Looking back one final time, I stepped across the border and moved on.

I wasn't running from heartbreak this time. This time I was running towards my freedom.