Chapter 8

[Elara POV]

I kept my gaze on the city, admiring the view of the tall buildings and the way the people looked so different here. But the sound of my phone buzzing in my hand pulled me out of my thoughts. I looked down at the screen and saw that Lucian had called me almost fifty times, along with several text messages I didn't bother to open.

I turned the phone face down and closed my eyes, letting out a soft breath.

"You'll need to change your phone and your number," Ares said, making me open my eyes to look at him. "Don't worry, I'll handle that if you let me."

He stretched out his arm, opening his palm. I hesitated for a moment before I placed the phone in his hand. "A new phone will be good. Thank you."

A small smile touched his lips as he shoved the phone into his jacket pocket, and we settled into silence as the car moved fast down the road.

I stared out the window, and at some point, I closed my eyes to rest from the thoughts running through my mind. It was not until I heard a beeping sound to a gate that I opened my eyes. My jaw dropped. It looked like a private estate, filled with modern houses made with clear glass walls.

One thing I noticed was the wolf head symbol stamped on the gate post, which made me wonder about Ares and his place.

"Welcome to Newcastle estate," Ares said with a smile after we got out of the car and headed toward a glass front door that slid open for us when we got close. "It's a sports estate, mostly home to hockey players."

We walked into a wide living room with clean, low gray couches and smooth tables. "You are an Alpha here, right?"

A small smirk touched his lips. "I'm a coach," he said, dropping his keys on a round glass table. "Boston is very different from the Blood Moon pack. It has Alphas, but people don't bow or make a big deal out of it unless there is a territory fight."

"Okay," I said softly, still looking around the bright room.

"I got your room ready for your arrival," he said, pointing toward the stairs. "I think you will like it."

He started walking up, and I followed him closely, looking at the clean gold metal trims along the walls. When we reached the top floor, Ares grabbed a door handle and pushed it open, showing a bright bedroom. It had a white bed, soft carpet on the floor, and a tall glass wall that let in the city sunlight.

"This is your room," he said, stepping aside so I could walk in. "Everything you need is here. I had Fiona fill the closet with clothes. Some might be big on you, but if you need anything else, let me know."

"Thank you," I said softly, looking around as he left the room. I walked over to the edge of the bed and sat down, I ran my fingers through my brown hair, pushing it over my shoulder.

Maybe I will cut it short soon, from my waist down to my shoulders, to leave my old self behind.

After sitting there for a while, I went to the bathroom to shower. Ares was right about the clothes; the grey shirt and sweatpants were loose on my frame, but I preferred them over tight clothes.

I stood opposite a full length mirror staring at my reflection, when I heard deep male voices laughing outside. My curiosity made me walk over to the glass wall to look down at the driveway. Two tall men stood close to Ares's car.

They were talking and laughing together. I looked closely at them, noting their broad chests, thick arms, and strong necks. They had the powerful build of wolf shifters, but they looked nothing like the warriors from the Blood Moon pack. They wore sports team jackets and carried themselves with a quiet, easy confidence.

I turned away when I realized I was staring, walking back to lie flat on the soft bed.

I lay there staring at the white ceiling, wondering what I was supposed to do with my life now. For three years, my whole day had been about making dinner for Lucian, waiting for him to come home, and trying to be a good Luna. Now, I had no pack to run, no husband to please, and no rules to follow. The blank space ahead of me felt scary, but it also felt like a gift.

A soft knock sounded at the door before it opened. First, I saw a head of bright ginger hair and a warm smile before a short girl stepped into the room. She was small, but her presence was lively, filled with a sweet scent of red apples that made her wolf aura feel friendly.

"Hi!" she said, her voice bright as she walked further in. "How long have you been here? Ares told me you were coming, so I rushed to get the clothes in the closet ready on time. I'm Fiona, Ares's mate."

I stood up from the bed and smiled at her. "I'm Elara. It's nice to meet you."

"I'm so happy to see you too!" Fiona said, stepping closer and looking at me with warm eyes. "Ares has been giving everyone a headache for years with his constant search for you. Every time he got a fake lead, he would leave for days. I'm so glad he finally found you."

I didn't know what to say to that, so I just smiled back, feeling a warm touch in my chest knowing my brother had cared that much for me.

Fiona looked around the room and then looked back at me. "If you need to rest, you can lie back down. But all the fun is happening outside right now. The state championship hockey tournament is happening this week. It's a huge event, and the team is leaving for the arena soon. Do you want to come watch with me?"

I shook my head gently. "No, I think I'll stay inside. I'm fine here."

Fiona gasped softly and shook her head. "Oh, come on! You can't stay locked up in this room on your first day. Staying inside alone in a quiet house is boring. Everyone in the estate will be at the game cheering for the team. You'll love the energy, I promise."

I hesitated, looking at the quiet walls of the bedroom. Fiona was right. If I stayed in this room by myself, my mind would only drift back to Lucian, Lina, and the broken pieces of my past in the Blood Moon pack. I had come to Boston for a fresh start, and hiding in a bedroom would not help me heal. Going out into the crowd would keep my mind busy and give me the fresh air I needed.

"Okay," I said, looking up at Fiona with a small nod. "I'll go with you."