Chapter 5

[Elara POV]

A soft knock sounded at the door. I forced myself to take a quiet breath and lower my hands from my face, swallowing the lump in my throat.

The door opened slowly, and Ares stepped back into the room. He stopped near the end of the bed, his eyes taking in my pale face and the tears drying on my cheeks. He didn't say a word for a while, he just stood there almost like he was thinking about what to do.

"Feeling any better now?" Ares asked, his voice low and calm. "You should be glad you finally get to see your Alpha's true colors."

I sniffled, wiping my wet cheeks with the back of my hand. The quiet confidence in his voice made me feel like he knew far more about my life than I did. "Who are you?" I asked, looking up at him. "And why did you jump into that freezing river to save me?"

He stared down at me for a long moment, then slowly shoved his hands into his pant pockets. "Like I said earlier, my name is Ares. And I am your brother."

My eyes widened. My heart gave a hard thump against my ribs. I had grown up completely alone, raised on the pity of the Blood Moon pack. I never had a family, let alone a tall, powerful Alpha brother standing right in front of my bed.

"My brother?" I whispered the word, staring at his strong jaw and the sharp shape of his eyes. A bitter sting tugged at my chest. "Thank you for saving my life, but I am not your sister. I don't have a brother. I am just a wolfless orphan. Everyone in this pack has known that since I was a child."

"Yeah, I've heard all about that," Ares said smoothly. He stepped closer to the side of the bed, watching every small twitch of my face. "I know you don't remember me. Before our parents died, our father never wanted you to know I existed. He called me weak because I couldn't shift into my wolf form when I was young, so he sent me away."

I pulled my knees up toward my chest, looking away from his gaze. "That doesn't make any sense."

"I have been searching for you for years," Ares continued, his voice softening just a fraction. "Ever since I found out you were still alive. I wanted to make sure our father hadn't done the exact same thing to you."

"Well, he didn't need to," I muttered, staring down at the hospital blanket. "I never even got a wolf. I am completely wolfless."

"You are not wolfless, Elara," Ares said firmly.

I froze, looking back up at him. "What?"

"The reason you think you don't have a wolf is because she hasn't been awakened yet," Ares explained, leaning his hands flat on the foot of my bed. "Our bloodline carries rare white wolves. They are dormant. They can only be awakened by the bond of a true mate who gives you his full heart."

My breath caught in my throat. "No... that can't be right. Lucian is my true mate. The Moon Goddess paired us together. I have been mated and married to him for three whole years, and my wolf never came out."

Ares looked at me, his eyes full of a heavy, painful truth. "And the reason your wolf never woke up is because Lucian's heart belonged to another woman the entire time. He never gave you his full bond, Elara. Without his true love, your wolf stayed asleep."

The words hit my chest like a heavy physical blow. Tears pooled in my eyes again, burning hot against my skin. Three years. Three whole years I spent blaming my own weak body, trying so hard to be the perfect Luna to make up for not having a wolf. I had worked until my hands bled, managing pack records and caring for warriors, all while thinking I was the broken one.

I lowered my head, hiding my face as silent tears fell onto my lap. The painful truth crushed whatever little pride I had left.

Ares took a step closer, resting a hand on the edge of the bed. "I came here to find you because I want us to be together as a family. I want my sister standing right beside me where she belongs, so no one will ever look down on you or call you a wolfless orphan ever again."

I shook my head, squeezing my eyes shut. "I don't know you. I don't know if any of this is true."

"Our mother's name was Evelyn," Ares said softly, his voice cutting straight through the quiet room. "And our father was Marcus. She used to sing a song about the moon to you when you were tiny, right before you went to sleep."

My whole body trembled at those names. The small memories I had buried deep in my mind suddenly burst open. My breath hitched, and a loud sob escaped my lips. It was true. He really was my brother.

Ares let out a heavy sigh. "I am so sorry I didn't come sooner, Elara. I heard and saw part of what you have been going through with that Alpha. That is why I want you to come to Boston with me."

I wiped my eyes, looking up at him through blurry vision. "Boston?"

"Yes," Ares said, nodding his head. "You can get a fresh start there. You will live a peaceful life in a proper home, surrounded by people who actually care about you. We can make up for all the lost years we missed out on."

I lowered my gaze, staring at my trembling fingers. "I... I don't know if I can just pack up and leave. The Blood Moon pack has been my home for my entire life..."

"They don't love you, Elara," Ares cut in, completing the sentence for me before I could even finish it. His tone was direct, but not cruel. "No one in this pack truly respects you. They just pretend to honor you because you wear the Luna title. But that fake respect won't last much longer anyway. I heard them in the hall. Your mate has already chosen another woman to take your place."

His words settled over me like a cold blanket. He was right. Lucian had already given my clothes, his jacket, his time, and his heart to Lina. He had even given her a pup while mine was washed away in the icy river water.

"If you come with me to Boston, you can start over," Ares said softly. "You can find real peace and be happy."

I swallowed hard, feeling the heavy exhaustion in my bones. "Please... just give me some time to think about it."

Ares nodded slowly. "Alright. I will give you time to rest. I'll be right outside when you are ready." He turned and walked out of the room, closing the door quietly behind him.

Once he was gone, the room fell into silent again. I lay back against the thin pillows, staring up at the plain ceiling.

Every word Ares said echoed in my mind alongside the harsh whispers I had heard in the hallway. Lucian had promised Lina he would get rid of me so she could take my place as Luna. He had forgotten our anniversary. He had ignored my pain.

I placed my hand flat over my stomach, over the empty space where my tiny pup had been just hours ago. There was nothing left for me here. The Blood Moon pack was never my home, it was just a cage where I had been trapped by a man who never truly loved me.

Maybe going to Boston with Ares was the only real chance I had to build a new life and leave the pain behind.