02: The Beginning of the End.

Chapter 2

Elara’s Pov

"I know you still love me." Her voice curled through the dark. I stopped breathing and Cassian didn't deny it.

He just stood there, letting her words hang.

“You know Pius never hurt me. He didn't even touch me for one day, I kept myself for you." My hands covered my mouth once I heard her statement.

Eliza's voice echoed in my head from three days ago: "Watch her, Luna. She framed her mate to get free. She'll do worse to get back what she lost." I never believed it. Until now.

Seris stepped closer to him. Her arms rose, wrapped around his neck, the sight looked natural like they were meant to be and I was the intruder.

"I couldn't let you go," she whispered against his chest. "And I won't. Not this time." My fingernails bit into my palms.

"You promised me." Her voice was broken?

"You said if I came back… things would be different."

He had promised her.

The floor tilted under my feet. I grabbed the doorframe, but the wood felt like it was dissolving.

Things would be different how? Different for who?

I wanted to scream. I wanted to run. But my legs had turned to water, and all I could do was stand there in the dark, listening to her sob against his chest like she had every right.

She had never left. How was I blind to it… Three years. Three years of flowers every Monday. Of hot meals gone cold. Of spreading my legs in the dark, moaning to his pleasures. I looked at Cassian. His hand hung at his side.

“Cassian… say something.” Seris whimpered as her hand brushed his shoulder. Slowly, his fingers moved to her hair in consoling gestures.

I froze, and in that moment, understood everything.

Seris was his white moonlight, the woman he had always loved… and I had only ever been a placeholder.

My fingers tightened into a fist before slowly moving to my stomach, where my little one was growing inside of me.

If he wouldn't reject her, then he would never choose me. What would that mean for my baby?

I backed away from the balcony, fleeing to my room. I shut the door with a soft click as my knees gave out and my body sagged against it.

“Of course…” I whispered hoarsely as it all finally made sense–everything.

A bitter laugh escaped me and my hand pressed my stomach with guilt.

“I’m sorry…” I didn’t know if I was apologizing to myself… or to the baby. My heart shattered as I collapsed onto the bed and cried until exhaustion dragged me to sleep.

And then I dreamed, and in the darkness, a familiar voice called softly.

“Elara…” It was my wolf. “Be strong.”

My eyes snapped open and for a second, I didn’t know where I was. Then I felt it, the long-lost connection. My wolf, Riley, was back.

“…you’re back?” I whispered into the darkness, my vision blurring with tears.

After the wedding to Cassian, she had gone dormant, and no matter how hard I tried, I could never reach her, until now.

I touched my stomach instinctively, my heart skipping.

“It’s the baby.” Riley's voice floated in my head. "She’s waking me up,” my hands trembled as they moved to my stomach.

Tears rolled down my cheeks. I needed to be strong, if not for myself, for my daughter and Cassian could never find out.

I exhaled slowly, pressing my emotions back.

“We’ll be fine,” I whispered. “Even if I have to do it alone.”

Morning came too quickly and by the time I walked downstairs, my mind was clear, I already knew what I had to do.

Seris was already in the kitchen, moving with effortless grace as she prepared breakfast, and when she sensed my presence, she turned with a soft smile.

“Good morning, Elara,” she said lightly.

“I’m making breakfast for Cassian,” she added. “He likes it this way.”

A hot and sour feeling crawled up my throat. I swallowed it back.

“Is that so?” I said evenly.

Her smile lifted and there was a hint of mockery in it.

“Of course. I used to take care of him,” she said casually. “Before you…”

There it was, the first crack in her act. My fists curled slightly at my sides.

“Interesting,” I replied evenly. “Considering he’s my husband.”

She laughed softly…an amused laughter.

“Your husband, for now, before you, I was.” she corrected, dipped the spoon into whatever soup she was preparing and stretched it to me.

"Taste it." She holds the spoon out like a peace offering. But her eyes say choke on it.

"You can upgrade your cooking skills from this.”

She turned back to the stove, stirring the pot as if nothing had happened.

“Cassian should start getting used to it again,” she continued. “My cooking, I mean. Especially since you won’t be around much longer.”

Her words were deliberate, sharp enough to land exactly where she intended, and I simply nodded and met her gaze.

“Took you long enough to stop pretending, Bitch.”

She turned to me, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

“There’s no need for it anymore,” she said flatly. My heartbeat slowed from the sheer audacity of her words.

“Even if we divorce,” I said calmly, “he is still my husband and mate.”

Her lips curved and she took a step close to me.

“And you think that matters?”

“You were just filling the space I left behind. He married you because I wasn’t here. But I’m back now. And you’re no longer needed.”

I heaved, knowing what was coming, but I didn’t step back. Her eyes darkened as she looked at me.

"You think I'm playing with you?"

“I think,” I said steadily, “if he truly chose you, you wouldn’t have to prove it.” With that statement, I turned to leave when she held on my wrist.

“Stop right there! How dare you walk out on me?” Her fingers clamped around my arm.

“Let go!” I yanked back, but she tightened her grip.

Her hand shot out to strike me, and before I could think, I pushed her in a bid to protect my child. She stumbled back and hit the floor hard. Instead of the shock I expected to see, she smiled triumphantly and then screamed at the top of her voice.

And in less than five seconds, the main door was pushed open and Cassian’s mother, the grand Luna stepped in.

Her platinum hair, flowing from the wind outside the door. The rain was drizzling already.

“How dare you?" Avery thundered, marching towards me.

"Mother…I…" A slap on my face. It echoed, attracting some servants.

"Mother?” I called slowly, not expecting what she did to me. Avery used to love me. Never had she treated me wrongly.

“Don't you have a conscience? At the very least, don't you have a heart or a brain?" Her voice was cold and everything in her screamed danger.

Seris began sobbing. “She… she pushed me, I can't feel my legs.”

Avery's eyes darkened and she walked towards her.

“Avery... it hurts…” Seris clung to her arm, as tears streaked down her flawless cheeks. My hands trembled at the sight before me.

The weeks when Cassian went for meetings, I was at her villa, keeping her company, but now, I wasn't sure what to think of.

“If anything happens to you,” Avery said, voice low but lethal, “she won’t get away with it. I will make sure of that.” The Betas walked in and picked Seris up effortlessly.

“Let's get you to the doctors.” And just like that, they were gone.

I sagged against the counter, trembling. Cassian listens to his mother more than anyone. Avery held the pack together and whatever she says, stands.

My chest heaved with fear and helplessness. Different thoughts ran through me. Should I run or wait for him, but I knew I would do anything to protect my child.

The rain outside grew heavier. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing. When I heard it, footsteps. My eyes snapped open. It was Avery.

Before I could speak she crossed the room in three strides, cupped my face roughly between her palms, and forced my chin up. Her gaze bored into mine, her purple iris searching.

Then, her thumbs pressed against my temples.

“You’re pregnant,” she hissed. The words felt like a death sentence, well it was.

“I… Mother…I’m not…”

Avery’s lips curled in disgust like she knew I would deny it.

“You know what this means for you. So,

if you love your life and the little life in you, pack the bags you came with, little placeholder and leave. When Cassian returns, this ends.”