03: Secrets

Elara’s Pov 

Chapter 3

That day, I didn't hear from Cassian again and everything turned to shit. The files I was supposed to finish, the ones with the reports for the election… just piled up.

What if Avery actually believes I was pregnant or calls the doctor.

What if she tells him? The thought circled back like a bad fucking penny. Again. Again.

I washed my face, dressed in a simple grey gown, and stared at myself in the mirror.

"What's the plan?" Riley's voice floated in my head.

I don't know yet.

"Then start with Avery. Cassian listens to her. If you can't reach him, reach her."

Avery. She loved me once, and always called me daughter. Maybe she still did.

I left my room and walked the long corridor toward her wing. The pack house was quiet, most servants were still asleep.

But when I reached the door to Avery's private sitting room, two guards crossed their spears in front of me.

"State your business," one said. He didn't meet my eyes.

"I need to see the Grand Luna."

"She's not receiving visitors."

I blinked. "I'm her daughter-in-law. The Luna of this pack."

His gaze slid to me, flat and unimpressed. "The Grand Luna gave orders. No one enters."

My hands curled into fists. "Then send word that I'm here."

"She knows." His words landed like a slap.

She knows. And she still won't see me. I stood there for a long moment, the silence pressing down on my chest. Then I turned and walked away.

Avery had loved me. But Seris was back now and I was the heartless Luna who wants the victim of domestic violence gone. 

~~~~~

I didn't go back to my room. I went to the garden instead. The morning air was cold, and the roses were wet with dew. I sat on a stone bench and stared at nothing.

"She's not going to help us," Riley said.

My palms cupped my face. I had to act fast to save my child. Footsteps crunched on the gravel behind me. I didn't turn to know who it was. 

"You look like death, Luna."

Eliza. My Gamma and only real friend.

She sat beside me, close enough that her shoulder brushed mine. Her dark hair was messy, like she'd just rolled out of bed, and her eyes were sharp with worry.

"Couldn't sleep," I said slowly. 

"Neither could I." She paused. "I heard screaming last night. From the kitchen."

I closed my eyes. "Seris." Her name alone sounded heavy for my lips.

"I figured." Eliza's voice went low. "I also heard that your mother-in-law slapped you."

News traveled fast in this pack. "She thinks I pushed Seris."

"Did you?"

"To stop her from hitting me first, yes." I opened my eyes and looked at Eliza. 

"Seris is playing a game, Eliza. And everyone is falling for it."

"Elara." Her voice softened. "What are you going to do about everything?" 

“I've been your Gamma for three years. I've watched you shrink yourself to fit into spaces that were never meant for you. But that ends now. Seris won't give up, till she gets what she wants, and she doesn't care about how she gets it.”

"I know," I whispered. "What do I do?" Now, Eliza turned to face me fully. 

“There are rumors. About rogues gathering near the southern border. Cassian is distracted, he won't notice if we start making preparations."

"Preparations for what?"

"For you to leave." Her eyes didn't waver. "Before Avery and Seris decide to take matters into her own hands. I know what it is when those two come together." 

My heart pounded. Leave. The thought had crossed my mind once, but I still loved Cassian. I hadn't confronted him, I still believed that somewhere in his heart, was a space for me.

"Are you listening, Luna?” My gaze snapped back at her. 

"But, where would I go?” 

"Somewhere he can't find you." Eliza glanced around, then lowered her voice. "I have contacts. Old pack ties. Give me a week. It will be sorted.”

A week. Seven days. Could I survive that long? The thoughts pressed in my heart.

"Yes," Riley suddenly said. "For our daughter."

I touched my belly. "Okay," I said. "One week."

But the day wasn't done with me yet.

I left the garden and walked back through the pack house, keeping my head down. The servants were awake now, moving through the corridors with trays and linens. And they were talking.

"...heard she attacked Miss Seris in the kitchen…, heartless Luna, how was she even fit to be one."

"...the Grand Luna slapped her right across the face…"

"...can you blame her? Miss Seris is everything the Luna isn't."

"...someone like her should know her place, that's why she can't have a child."

They spat it out loud, not minding that I could hear them. I kept walking. My face burned, but I didn't stop. 

I found the Delta standing outside Seris' Villa.

Marcus. Tall, broad-shouldered, with eyes that had never once looked at me with respect. He had been blocking the Alpha's study for three years, every time I tried to bring Cassian tea or coffee or a message.

"I need to see the Alpha," I said. For Marcus to be here, Cassian was with Seris.

He didn't even look at me. "He's busy."

"I don't care." I replied, I was going to see him today. 

"Luna…" The word dripped with disdain. "...you should return to your chambers."

I stepped closer. "Move."

He finally met my eyes. And smirked. "The woman the Alpha truly cares about is Miss Seris. You're just…"

"...filling space. Yes, I've heard." My voice was steady. "Now move, or I will move you myself."

Marcus laughed. Actually laughed. 

“I follow only the Alpha's and Seris’ orders.” His gaze slid over me with irritation.

“Not orders from some irrelevant person.” I forced a smile, but my cheeks burned.

Eliza gasped. “You dare disrespect the Luna!” Instead of feeling remorseful, his mouth curled into a smirk.

“Respect?” he said slowly and his eyes met mine.

“The woman the Alpha truly cares about… is the real Luna and that is who I respect.”

“As for you, Miss Elara,” he added casually, stepping to block the door more firmly, “Leave.”

My nails dug into my palms.

Every humiliation of the past three years flashed through my mind at once. And now even the guard dares to mock me openly. 

I took one slow step forward, but they didn't move.

“Luna, please,” Eliza whispered nervously behind me.

But I was already done listening. If they insisted on treating me like a ghost in my own pack…

Then they should remember what I was.

Power surged through my veins as I released my Luna aura.

“Move.” and immediately he stiffened, the pressure forced him down before he could resist. 

“L-Luna…” one of them whimpered. I stepped closer, looking down at them.

“Now,” I said quietly, “tell me again.”

“Who exactly is the irrelevant one here?”

I walked past him without another glance. The front doors were still half open and two pairs of shoes sat by the entrance.

It was Cassian’s and a woman’s heels. My steps slowed, but I forced myself to keep walking.

In the cloakroom, a coat rack stood beside the wall and Cassian’s black shirt hung there, next to it was Seris's pale blue dress.

My stomach twisted violently, I felt bile rush up to my throat, but I pushed it down and walked further and above the fireplace hung a framed photograph. This place felt more like Cassian's home than mine. 

This was my husband and yet I couldn't remember the last time he laughed this way, maybe at our wedding.

My fingers trembled. Nothing was more terrifying than seeing the truth with your own eyes.

A voice drifted down the bedroom and when I pushed the door open, I froze at what I saw.

Seris was naked in bed, leaning comfortably against his chest, her hands moved around his nipples.

She was saying something and he laughed, kissing her lips.

My body trembled and it took all my will power not to fall. Cassian was cheating on me. He couldn't even wait till I left. 

“Seris,” he said, shaking his head with a smile, “when I’m with you…I'm home. I love you.”

“I love you baby." She responded and for a moment I stopped breathing. 

Cassian’s gaze suddenly lifted and when he saw me, the warmth on his face vanished.

“What are you doing here?” he thundered.

My voice trembled.

“You haven’t come home in days, You promised to do.”

“I need to talk to you.” He didn't give me a response. Seris leaned forward eyes on me and kissed him.

I forced a breath, ignoring her. “You won’t answer my messages. I was worried.”

“I’m busy. We’ll talk later.” His voice dripped with disgust.

“Can’t I even get at least five minutes with my husband?” I dared to step closer.

“I already told you…I’m busy. Leave. Now.” The room echoed.

“I just…” I tried again, but my words were cut off by Seris.

“Oh,” she said lightly, “I didn’t realise it's the Luna. I would have greeted.”

I narrowed my eyes, anger surged through me. “Seris?”

She turned her back to me and moved closer to Cassian, pulling him in a tight hug. Then she stared directly at me and announced.

“I’m pregnant with Cassian’s child.”

“What… what did you just say?” Her words didn’t make sense and I gripped the door for support.

I turned to Cassian and searched his eyes, maybe he’ll say it’s not true. But there was nothing, he just looked away.

“Cassian will be staying with me from now on,” she continued, her voice cruelly calm.

I turned to Cassian with tears. My knees wobbled.

“Is that true?” My voice cracked.

“Yes.” He didn’t flinch. “Seris needs me right now. Early pregnancy requires extra care.”

“Then why did you marry me? Was I just a servant to the pack?" 

Seris laughed softly. “Someone like you should be grateful just to hold the title of Luna. Don’t tell me you want to carry Cassian’s child too?”

I looked at him, still searching for any hint that he would correct or deny her, that he would defend me, but there was only indifference.

Something inside me… snapped and the last fragile piece of hope I had been holding onto shattered quietly.

“Cassian… is that really how you see me?” I asked quietly.

He didn’t answer immediately, then finally spoke.

“Your pack got protection. You got status and a comfortable life. Isn’t that enough?”

For a moment I stared.

Was that what he believed?

That I married him for protection and for status?

“That’s not why I married you, Cassian.” He paused and looked at me.

“Stop pretending to be so noble, you are clearly a gold digger."

“Look at the life you have now. You should learn to be grateful."

His words should have hurt me, but strangely it didn't and all my ill feelings slightly faded as something inside me slowly went still.

So this was what he believed, after three years together…he never wanted me.

I smiled faintly and for the first time, felt no anger toward him. There was no use fighting for a marriage that was built on misunderstanding. If he believed I married him for his status…

Then leaving would be the best way to prove him wrong.

But Cassian didn't seem to care at all.

“Leave Elara, you're interrupting a lovely moment.” he said nonchalantly and my heart finally went calm. My only priority was keeping my child safe.

“Then this isn’t the marriage I wanted, Cassian.” My voice was steady now.

“I want a divorce.”

The silence stretched. Cassian didn't move.

Then he said, very quietly. "No."