Chapter 6

Elena & Killian

Elena

I stared down at where Killian’s hand was gripping my arm and felt nothing but cold resentment. Coolly, I met his gaze and replied, “I have a stomachache and wanted something to eat, so I had Lucas unlock the door for me.”

Killian frowned, clearly not buying my excuse. “One of the maids could have let you out.”

I scoffed. “None of them would dare disobey your orders. You know as well as I do that no one in this house sees me as the real Luna.”

“What about Maeve?”

“Even Maeve wouldn’t disobey your orders.”

And that part, at least, was true; Maeve, for all of her loyalty and love for me, was terrified of Killian. He was the Alpha, after all. Until we got out of here, she wouldn’t openly go against him, even if he locked me in my room like some kind of prisoner.

If I didn’t know any better, I would have said that Killian’s face softened ever so slightly at that. But only slightly.

Without a word, he released me and crossed to the door, poking his head out into the hallway. I heard him say something to someone outside, and a moment later, he turned to me.

“One of the maids will bring you dinner,” he said.

My lip curled. I wasn’t actually hungry—I had lost my appetite. Being killed, miscarrying your baby, and coming back to life years before those events will do that to a person. But I wasn’t about to admit any of that to Killian.

“Good,” I said instead, then gestured to the door behind Killian. “Leave me alone now.”

Killian’s black eyes flashed. “Whatever is going on with you today, it stops now,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous. “I don’t know if you’re acting out of character because it’s Natalie’s death anniversary, or if it is something else, but I won’t stand for it.”

I pursed my lips. Killian went on, “Furthermore, if you expect the staff to see you as the real Luna, then maybe you should start acting like it. Behave, be an obedient wife, and maybe take on your responsibilities for once.”

I would have laughed out loud at that had I not been so angry. I had always obeyed Killian in my past life, and it had only led to my misery and eventually my death.

As for my responsibilities as Luna, those were stripped from me long ago. Hardly two weeks after our wedding, Killian had suddenly decided that I couldn’t handle my duties. So he gave the responsibility to a woman named Tiffany Lovelace instead, naming her his female Beta—a title only used by an Alpha who lost his Luna or whose Luna was too incapacitated to work.

That was yet another reason for my humiliation. If my own husband couldn’t trust me to be a decent Luna, then who would? And Killian hadn’t even given me a chance to prove myself. I didn’t have a say in the matter.

Goddess, how badly I wanted to throttle that bastard right now. Each moment alone with him made me hate him even more.

But I restrained myself, knowing that it would only be a matter of time before I left this place. I would never have to look into those black eyes or see that sullen, handsome face ever again. I could finally be at peace.

Instead, I said bitterly, “What else would you ask of me, Alpha? To die for you, perhaps?”

…

Killian

“Die for me?”

I couldn’t believe the words that had just come out of Elena’s mouth. Was she seriously implying that I expected her to die just to make me happy?

Whatever was happening to her today wasn’t natural. Maybe it was because it was the anniversary of Natalie’s death—a day that impacted everyone in this pack—but I’d have to contact the doctor soon to have her head checked if this kept going on.

Elena just stared at me with a look of defiance and complete resentment masking her face.

I sighed. “You’re being unreasonable. Again,” I muttered. “No one is asking you to die, Elena. Don’t be ridiculous.”

Elena’s nostrils flared as she lifted her chin. “Whatever you say, Alpha. Now are you going to leave me alone like I asked, or will you keep pestering me?”

Goddess above, this woman…

I wanted to argue, but I decided against it. If it was alone time and a meal she needed to get her head screwed back on straight, then so be it. And today, on the anniversary of my first love’s death, I didn’t need this nonsense.

“Fine,” I said with a huff. Without another word, I turned on my heel and stormed out.

I didn’t lock the door that time, but I wasn’t even halfway down the hall before I heard the lock click—from the inside of the room.

A little while later, I found myself in the parlor, sitting in front of the dark, empty fireplace. I hated lighting fires these days. It reminded me too much of the night Natalie was taken from me. The rogues had set fire to several buildings in the village, and even now, I could still smell the ash and smoke.

I often wondered if Natalie had perished in a fire somewhere in the forest. It was strangely more comforting to picture that rather than her being eaten by rogues, leaving nothing but a few scraps of clothing behind.

But after that night, I couldn’t bear to light a fire unless absolutely necessary. It left the house cold and dreary, but no one dared to complain. Not even Elena.

Not until today.

Today, apparently, she hated everything I did.

What had come over her, truly? She was normally so meek and mild, but this… This was a far cry from her usual self.

Maybe, if she weren’t being so belligerent, I would have admired this sudden confident streak of hers. It was the exact sort of trait a Luna should possess, but she shouldn’t have turned it on me, trying to anger me instead of putting it to good use.

No, all she accomplished now was pissing me off.

“Sir? I have Lady Elena’s dinner, as you requested.”

I looked up at the sound of the voice and saw a servant standing in the doorway, holding a tray of food. Strangely, seeing that food made me soften just a little. Elena had mentioned feeling ill, and I wondered if that was partially to blame for her bad attitude.

“Leave it here,” I said, standing. “I’ll have her come out of her room to eat.”

“Yes, Sir.” The servant set the tray down on the coffee table and left.

I took a moment to smooth down my shirt and my mussed hair, as if it mattered what Elena thought of my appearance, and made my way back upstairs. There was no light spilling from beneath her door, and her room was quiet.

“Elena?” I called out, knocking. “Come downstairs and eat.”

There was no response, no movement from inside. I knocked again, then another time, and still she didn’t answer.

At that point, I couldn’t decide if I was more angry or concerned. If she was sick like she said, especially after that fainting episode earlier, then it was only right for me to check on her. But when I slipped the skeleton key into the lock and tried to open the door, I found that she had actually slid the deadbolt across, prohibiting the door from opening.

A surge of frustration coursed through me, and without hesitation, I stormed down the hall, back downstairs, and outside.

“This damn woman…” I muttered under my breath as I strode around the side of the house toward where her room was located. The evening air was cool against my skin but did nothing to soothe the angry heat that flushed my face.

I found the trellis beneath her window and climbed it.

For a moment, as I reached the top of the trellis, I hesitated, feeling like a foolish young wolf trying to sneak into his girlfriend’s bedroom at night. What was I doing, really? I wondered if I should go back down and let Elena starve in there, but decided against it. If she had fainted again…

With a sigh, I shoved the window open and climbed inside. “Elena—”

“Killian…”

Her soft voice was muffled, and when I turned, I found that she was fast asleep in bed, her long white hair spilled across the pillow. My breath hitched at the sound of my name. Was she dreaming about me?

“You were too harsh on her,” a familiar voice growled in my mind—my wolf. “See how much she loves you? She’s acting out because you don’t return her love.”

I bit the inside of my cheek as I watched her sleep, still whispering my name. My anger faded a little, and something buried deep inside my heart softened just a little.

That was, until I heard her whisper, “Killian… I hate you so much.”