Weighing Shadows

Elsa’s POV

Lady Selene still held my hand as though she didn’t want to let me go. Her grip was steady, warm, and stronger than I expected. It was strange how she made me feel safe in the middle of a room that reeked of tension.

“Sit with me, child,” she said, patting the seat beside her.

The maids quickly adjusted the cushions, clearing the space. I lowered myself onto the chair, my back straight, hands folded in my lap. My heart beat fast, though I forced my face to remain calm.

Neris plopped down at my other side, cheerful as ever, her curls bouncing. She leaned so close I could feel her excitement radiating. Lyra, however, chose to stand near the window, her posture elegant, her expression unreadable. She crossed her arms, eyes fixed on me like a hawk watching prey.

Lady Selene spoke first, her voice low but carrying weight. “You must forgive my daughters. One is too quick to trust, the other too slow. Both are young still, learning the ways of this world. But you…” Her sharp gaze flicked over me, examining me as though searching for hidden truths. “You are no child.”

A shiver crawled up my spine. “I’ve… had to grow quickly,” I admitted softly.

“Mm.” She nodded, as though that confirmed something. “Tell me, Elsa, what do you think it means to stand at my son’s side?”

I froze, caught off guard. Neris tilted her head curiously, and even Lyra shifted slightly, listening closer.

“I…” My throat tightened. The truth was, I didn’t know. I hadn’t chosen this life. It had chosen me, dragged me into its storm. But if I said that aloud, I’d be admitting weakness. “I think it means loyalty,” I said carefully. “Strength. To protect him where I can, and to hold my ground when others might not.”

Lady Selene’s lips curved into a faint smile. “A clever answer. But strength takes many forms. Some believe it is teeth and claws. Others believe it is silence and patience. Which do you think it is?”

Her question struck deeper than I expected. My wolf, Amy, stirred inside me, her voice sharp. Say both. Say what we truly believe.

“Both,” I said firmly. “There are times to fight and times to endure. A Luna must know the difference.”

The air seemed to thicken with silence. Lady Selene’s eyes glimmered with something approval, maybe even respect. But Lyra spoke for the first time, her tone cool.

“Enduring too much can look like weakness,” she said. “And weakness spreads like rot in a pack.”

Her words pierced me. I met her gaze, unwilling to bow. “So can cruelty. A Luna who rules only with fear will never inspire loyalty only obedience. And obedience breaks when tested.”

Neris let out a little gasp, covering her mouth in delight. “Oh, I like her even more now.”

But Lyra’s eyes narrowed, studying me as though peeling back my layers. She didn’t reply, yet I could feel the challenge in her silence.

Lady Selene broke it, her voice calm but edged with something deeper. “You are not wrong, Elsa. Yet remember this—every choice you make, every word, every glance, will reflect not only on you, but on Dylan. His enemies will use you to reach him. His allies will judge you before they ever judge him. That is the burden of standing at his side.”

Her hand pressed lightly over mine again. “Can you carry such weight?”

I hesitated, my chest tight. Could I? The girl who once scrubbed floors, who endured lashes and jeers, who had been nothing but a shadow in her own pack? But then Amy growled inside me, fierce and unyielding. We already carry it. We survived what others could not. This is no different.

“I can,” I said at last, steady and certain.

Lady Selene studied me for a long time before nodding. “Good. Then perhaps you truly belong here.”

My breath caught at her words. Belong. No one had ever spoken of me that way before.

But the warmth of the moment didn’t last.

The door creaked open, and a maid hurried in, bowing quickly. “My lady, forgive the intrusion. There are whispers spreading through the halls.”

Lady Selene’s brows rose. “Whispers?”

The maid’s eyes darted toward me before lowering again. “About the Alpha’s mate. Some… do not believe she will last.”

A sharp silence followed. My stomach knotted. I didn’t need to ask who had started those whispers. Veronica’s shadow lingered here too.

Neris’s face scrunched with anger. “That’s ridiculous! She’s wonderful. Anyone who says otherwise is just jealous.”

Lyra, however, only spoke with icy calm. “The pack has every right to question. They’ve known Elsa only a day, yet she is already in the Luna’s chamber. Respect is not given. It must be earned.”

Her words stung, even though I knew she wasn’t wrong.

Lady Selene’s expression darkened. She waved the maid away, then turned back to us. “Do not let whispers shake you, Elsa. The pack will test you, yes, but it is not their approval you need. It is mine.”

Her hand squeezed mine once more, firm and reassuring. “And today, you have not disappointed me.”

Relief washed through me, though unease remained.

Neris clapped her hands, smiling. “See? I told you Mother would like you.” She leaned closer, whispering loudly enough for everyone to hear. “I think she likes you more than Lyra already.”

Lyra’s lips pressed into a thin line, though she didn’t retort. Her silence felt heavier than words.

Lady Selene chuckled softly, breaking the tension. “That is enough, Neris. Give your sister time. She will see what I see.”

Neris pouted but obeyed.

The conversation drifted then—Neris bombarding me with questions about my favorite foods, colors, and stories, while Lyra observed quietly, her arms folded. Lady Selene guided the talk gently, listening more than she spoke, but every now and then she’d ask a question sharp enough to cut to the bone.

By the time the guards arrived to escort me back, my head spun. Relief and exhaustion tangled together.

As I rose to leave, Lady Selene caught my hand once more. Her voice was low, meant only for me. “Do not let Veronica’s games reach you. She will try. She will fail. But only if you do not give her what she wants.”

The mention of that name sent a chill down my spine. I bowed my head slightly. “Yes, my lady.”

Neris hugged me before I left, nearly knocking the air from my lungs. “Come back soon! I have so many more questions!”

Lyra only inclined her head, cool and distant.

And so I left, my heart heavy but strangely hopeful. Lady Selene had welcomed me, Neris had embraced me, and even Lyra though wary had not outright rejected me.

But in the shadows of my mind, one truth lingered.

Veronica’s glare still burned in my memory. The whispers had already begun.